Page 52 of Timber

Sunshine’s gaze goes to everyone, and she sees us all wearing them, including Sadie and Jordan, before back to Levi. Her eyes mist with tears as she nods. Taking a deep breath, she steps forward and hugs Levi. “Thank you.”

Levi helps her put them on. Later I’ll help her get familiar with them, so she’s able to easily get them off and on.

We all head outside and the women and kids veer off to head to Levi’s house. When we’re up by our bikes, Tripp steps closer to me and I give him the information he needs for our contact. Surprisingly, Dragon comes out and straddles his bike as he gives me a chin lift. I hope like fuck he’s starting to realize how wrong he was yesterday.

A few minutes later, Levi pulls up and we split up—three in front of the vehicle and three behind it. Levi already told me where we’re going first, and while I don’t like it, I understand why they picked the mall. It’d be easier to go there first and get everything she needs while not driving to a bunch of different stores all day.

“Good, now everyone get out of here except for Phoenix and Smoke.”

They all get up, but Wildcat stays in her seat. I level her a look for not listening, but she shakes her head.

“I want to say something else to my dear brother and then I’ll leave.”

I give her a chin lift because I know how much she needs to do this. Her and Mae have become really close already, and Smoke needs a wake-up call. One I’m hoping Wildcat can give him.

Everyone can see the truth except for him. I get that Lillian screwed him over years ago, but he’s taking things too far with Mae. My gaze goes to Smoke, and he swallows thickly when he sees how pissed I am. On the way out, Reaper steps up close to me.

“My offer still stands to have Python look into anything regarding Mae, so there’s no conflict of interest. My other offer regarding those two also still stands if she needs to get away from this,” he tells me quietly, his gaze going to Smoke before coming back to me.

“Thanks, and I’ll take you up on having him verify and look into things on her. I’ll talk to Mae and Timber about your other offer,” I reply with a chin lift. I’m pretty sure I know what they’re going to do, but the decision is ultimately Mae’s.

I’d already intended to ask him about Python before Timber told me he’d offered yesterday. Having already seen the papers in her hand, I knew Smoke would flip the fuck out as soon as she said he was her dad. I just didn’t realize how bad it would turn out.

Bear’s the last one out and he closes the door behind him. Instantly, Levi’s out of her seat and in front of Smoke, brandishing a blade at him.

“I cannot fucking believe the bullshit that you’ve been spewing to that sweet girl. I get that you’re pissed as fuck at what Lillian did to you, but Mae never asked for any of this to happen. She’s innocent in all of this. How can you say such hateful things to your own daughter? The daughter you’ve been mourning all this time. The daughter that you thought you’d lost forever and had contemplated I don’t know how many times in joining her. The daughter that’s so much like you, that if you looked close enough, you’d see it. She’s practically your carbon copy, not Lillian’s. Did you notice she didn’t need any help with the computer? While I know what she did were pretty simple tasks, the fact of the matter is, she didn’t even bat an eye at it.”

I’m tempted to step in, but I know my wildcat needs to get this all off her chest. I just hope she doesn’t work herself up too much. Stress isn’t good for her or the babies.

“I want you to watch everything on the feeds that you did and said to her yesterday when you were drunk. Then I want you to read through everything in those journals and papers once they are scanned. And I know for a fact that what she told us in Church was only a fraction of what that fucker did to her over the years.

“She told us ladies last night that in the beginning, she tried to get Preston to stop hurting her mom or giving her drugs. That he ended up beating them both whenever she tried to intervene. She only stopped interfering when her mom left her a note telling her to stop. That it was better that only she be hurt. That didn’t save Mae from all of his beatings, though. He’d regularly beat her and tried to break her down like he did Lillian, but it didn’t work.” She pauses, her chest heaving.

If it weren’t that I need to set Smoke straight, I’d be dragging her out of here and sinking into her wet pussy. Fuck, I love when she’s feisty like this. So long as those blades and blazing eyes aren’t pointed in my direction, that is.

“You need to think long and hard about what you’ve done to that poor girl. And even though I’m pissed as fuck at you, I’m also here for you. I get this is a major cluster-mind-fuck. Not only for you, but also for Mae. If you need to talk to someone, I’ll be there for you. Now, I’ll leave so Thor can do his thing.”

She pulls back, sheaths her knife, and walks over to me. Pulling her close, I give her a kiss that ends far too fucking quick. “You going with Mae today?”

“Yeah, I’ll help her get what she needs, but also be there for her. Smoke’s world isn’t the only one that’s been blown apart. So has hers since she only found out the truth of things a little over a day ago.”

“Take the club card. She’s family, so get her riding gear on us.”

“Alright. Just so you know, I also plan to pay for some things today as well. Last night, when Susie mentioned we should have a party for Mae’s birthday, Mae immediately said she didn’t want us to fuss over her birthday. That she didn’t need a party or anything.” Wildcat pauses and judging by the emotions flitting across her face, there was more to that conversation that she isn’t telling me.

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “Mae’s gone far too many years without anyone giving a shit about her. That ends today. We won’t do a party, but we are going to take care of her and get her a few things.”

Giving her hip a squeeze, I let go and wait for her to shut the door. Only then do I let Smoke see exactly how fucking pissed I am. I already know without looking that Phoenix is giving Smoke his own icy glare. Smoke’s face pales slightly as his gaze bounces between us and he swallows thickly.

“Speaking as a friend, you are a fucking asshole for what you’ve done and said to that poor girl. I get that your mind is in a fucked-up place right now, but you need to get your head on straight because I will not allow your behavior to continue. She doesn’t deserve to be treated the way you’re treating her.

“As your President, you’re lucky I’m not stripping you of your patch for what you’ve done, especially this morning. You do not flip your shit in front of children. When you watch the video feed, I want you to make sure you take into account how scared they both were.”

I pause and it’s only then that a sliver of guilt flashes on his face. Fucking asshole. He should have been feeling guilty far before now.

“I know Mae’s asked that you not be hurt for what you’ve done to her, but you’re still going to take a beating once everyone’s back. You’re lucky that’s all I’m making you go through and that’s only because I was there that day and know just how much that fucked you up. But if you do anything else toward Mae, your ass will be out of here. We don’t treat women like that. Right now, you’re acting no better than Preston did to Lillian.”

Smoke blanches at that and thank fuck he’s starting to realize just how much of an asshole he really was. He gives me a chin lift.

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