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A couple customers coming in had held up my getting out of the shop. Originally, I was just going to close for the rest of the day, but it seemed everyone wanted to restock their ammo before the weekend. I’d called in Gus, who’d been more than happy to take over. Instead of joining today’s party, Flick’s uncle was going to come around to our place for lunch tomorrow to celebrate Lolly’s birthday. He was a lot better about being around the club since we’d saved Flick, but he still didn’t want to be inside the clubhouse. I’d vowed we’d get him in there one day, but that day wouldn’t be today.
“Why you working at all today, boy?”
I winced at his question as he walked through the door.
“I haven’t been watching the date. Didn’t realize it was the thirteenth.”
That earned me a hard stare. “Do we need to have words, boy?”
I shook my head. “No, sir. No words needed. My sister already gave me the lecture, and if I can ever get out of here, I’ll be on my way to try to fix things.”
“Well, getcha ass moving. I can handle this place with my eyes closed. Go fix shit with my niece.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. It was only seconds before I was grabbing my keys and dashing out the door. I’d been a damn fool. That’s what I’d come to realize since Jacie had ripped me a new one. If Flick and my roles had been reversed, I’d have done the same fucking thing. I hadn’t married a woman who needed to be protected like some hot house flower, I’d married a warrior. A partner. My equal.
And I fucking missed her like crazy. Her and Lolly both.
It was a bitter pill to swallow that by being so fucking butt-hurt over Flick’s keeping shit from me nearly costing me my family, I’d potentially cost myself exactly that. Such a moron.
Swinging my leg over the seat, I wasted no time in getting my ride started and headed straight for the clubhouse, hoping like hell my woman hadn’t given up on me yet. Ignoring speed limits, I made it in record time. Moments after pulling in, I was off and striding to the door. The prospect manning the door shook his head at me with a frown, making it clear the whole damn club no doubt knew how badly I’d fucked up, but I ignored him. One of the first things I learned after joining the Charons was how quickly gossip spread around this place.
Jogging through the empty clubhouse, I slipped out the rear door and bit back a curse as I watched Flick down a shot of whiskey. Before I could go over to her, I had a squealing toddler wrapped around my legs.
“Daddy! Daaaaaddy! Daddy!”
I swung Lolly up in my arms and blew a raspberry into her neck, getting me a giggle as my beard tickled her soft skin. Shifting her to sit on my hip, I took in the stuffed koala she shoved under my nose proudly.
“Oh, that’s a very nice koala, baby girl. Did your Aunty Jacie give that to you?”
She garbled in baby speak for a bit then wriggled to be let down. As soon as her little feet hit the ground, she was off. I watched her, Raven and Cleo playing for a few moments before I braved turning back toward my old lady.
Jacie, Silk and Zara surrounded her, all frowning as Flick argued with Silk, who held a bottle of whiskey out of my woman’s reach. Clearly, the other women were trying to cut Flick off and she wasn’t having it. I rubbed the ache in my chest as a pang of guilt hit me hard that I’d driven her to this. She wasn’t one to drink much, especially this early in the day. And definitely not when our daughter was near and might need her.
While Lolly was too little to remember anything about today once she was older, Flick would. And she’d never forgive herself for spending Lolly’s first birthday drunk. Rolling my shoulders while blowing out a breath, I headed over to her and wrapping one hand around her wrist, took the empty glass from her and handed it off to Silk. With a snarl, she tried to tug her arm free but quickly gave up when I wouldn’t release her. Instead, she aimed a glare my way.
“Let me go and give me my damn glass back! I’m not done.”
“You’re more than done, hellcat.” I didn’t take my gaze off her as I spoke to the others.
“Ladies, please keep an eye on Lolly for us while I take Flick inside for a coffee.”
“You’ve got twenty minutes before we come looking for her.” The anger in Zara’s voice was barely leashed. Guess I was in the doghouse with everyone today.
I nodded then scooped my woman up in my arms.
“Put me down.” She wriggled as she growled out the words, but I wasn’t letting her go.
“Stop making a scene, hellcat.”
With a sharp inhale that I took for the curse it was, she wrapped a fist in my cut but otherwise stilled as she noticed we had the attention of all the adults in the yard. She held herself stiff against me as I strode toward the clubhouse, but it didn’t matter. I’d missed her like crazy and having her in my arms was already soothing the ache I’d had in my soul these past days. It also had my cock rock-hard and ready for action, throbbing to get inside my woman. Although, I doubted I was going to get any relief in that department any time soon. Blue balls were most likely in my immediate future, but I’d deal. If it took a little while to seduce my wife, I could handle it.
I didn’t stop until we were alone in the kitchen. I lowered her down onto a stool before I moved over to the row of pod machines and set one going.
“Lolly’s missed you.”
Her quiet words were like a knife to my gut, and I ground my teeth as I waited on her coffee to brew. Once it was done, I tossed the used pod in the trash then returned to where Flick sat, watching me with tears in her eyes. My tough woman rarely cried. I hated I’d brought her to her knees like this. Part of me wanted to know if she’d missed me too, but asking would only make her more upset so I didn’t go there.
Setting the mug on the table in front of her, I nodded at it. “Start drinking, kitty. Need to get you sober for our girl’s party. Then tonight we’ll talk and get everything sorted.”
