Page 95 of A New Era

“Please, Mum. Please, can I get one?”

I think her name is Tamara, grits her teeth and looks at Austin.

“He’s your son too, deal with him.”

“Felix, eat your dinner and we’ll chat later.”

The kid sulks over his chicken and I suppress a laugh. He goes on to ask, “Uncle Ritchie also said you own a gun. Is that true?”

I shoot a glance at his parents and while Austin doesn’t seem to care, his mother is clenching her teeth.

“I do, but I don’t have it on me.”

“My dad has a gun and all of my uncles, but they only shoot bad guys. Do you shoot bad guys?”

“Oh wow. Austin, please sort him out,” Tamara snaps.

Ritchie laughs and looks down at his nephew. “What have we said about not telling people our business?”

“That I shouldn’t. But he’s in Grandma’s house.”

Tamara stands and pushes away from the table. She picks up her dinner and instructs Felix to follow her. Once they’ve both left the kitchen, Flo explains, “Don’t mind her, she likes to live as we’re not who we are.”

Holly and I nod, and it makes me wonder how Rayna will be the older she gets.

“So, Holly, what do you think of London?” Natalee asks and I keep my eye on her. She’s the writer and she’s always looking to write a book on the club.

“It’s just like the movies,” she says and laughs. “I was warned it was winter but it’s too cold. I don’t know how you guys live with it.”

“You get used to it,” Flo says, then asks me, “My boys tell me your mother is quite a woman.”

It’s not quite a question but she’s waiting for me to say something, so I clear my throat and say, “She’s one of the strongest women I know. She’s held down my dad, that's for sure.”

“Sounds like you, Mum,” Cody says around his mouthful of potatoes.

The rest of dinner is polite chat and I’m glad when it’s time to leave. It’s our last night and I want to spend it with my wife. On our own. Ben drives us back to the hotel and I start to relax when we ride the elevator up to our suite. Holly dumps her bags by our cases and falls on the bed.

“Today has felt like it lasted a month.” She leans up on her elbows. “How was your day?”

“Just as long. I didn’t see what the hype around their uncle was, he seemed pretty normal to me.”

“Maybe all those years in prison mellowed him?”

“Maybe.” I cross the room, undressing as I move. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about them any longer. I want to spend our last night here, just the two of us, minus our clothes, and in the shower and then the bed.”

“I like how you think, Mr. Jackson.”

She sits up on her legs and unbuttons her blouse. I push her back on the mattress and drag her jeans down her legs.

Trailing my lips up her inner thigh, I say, “When we get home, things are going to be a lot different.”

“I’m ready for it.”

Slipping her panties to the side, I run my tongue up her clit. “I love you, babe, and I’m going to give you the fuckin’ world.”

She gasps as I assault her entrance and she digs her fingers into my hair. I have my responsibilities and as far as this one goes, it’s one of my favourites. I had hoped this trip would set in motion the future of the club and it’s certainly been successful. The Lost Souls are heading into a new era and dare any motherfucker try to come for us.

Epilogue

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