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While I eat my awesome breakfast, the two of them keep me in giggles with their antics and stories. Atlas is so taken with Cletus it’s funny to watch them together. This man is growing on me more and more each single day. It scares the hell out of me because it seems like every time I let my guard down then I get hurt, either physically or emotionally. I’ve been playing it close to the heart because I now have Atlas and can’t allow my kid to get hurt.
“Hey, where’d you go? Baby girl, you okay? Talk to us. Does something not taste good?”
Shit, don’t want him to think I don’t appreciate all they went through to give me a good morning and breakfast in bed. That’s when it hits me: no one ever went to the trouble to make me breakfast and bring it to me in bed. And now not only my man but my kid worked together to make my day. I feel it and can’t stop them. Slowly tears fill my eyes and start to run down my cheeks.
“Atlas, bro, could you go get me a refill on my coffee? I’d appreciate it, dude.”
My son gets up, looking my way first, then grabs Clet’s mug and moves like lightning out the door. As soon as he’s gone my man is up in my face.
“All right, Lucy, talk to me now ’cause that kid is goin’ to make the quickest cup of coffee in the history of coffee. Probably won’t wait for the Keurig to finish. What’s got you so upset, darlin’?”
How do I explain to him why I’m so emotional? Then it hits me, we both agreed on total honesty so I lay it on him.
“This just blew me away. No one has ever done anything like this for me, and that you and Atlas did this, I’m just… My heart is so full right now, Clet, and couldn’t hold it in. Thank you so very much and for including my kid in it.”
He gives me his lopsided grin before leaning into me, pressing his lips onto mine quickly.
“I’ll always include Atlas because he’s your heart and you’re both mine. I’m glad this made you happy, baby girl, ’cause you deserve this and so much more. Maybe we can… damn it, let me grab this, give me a second.”
He reaches for his burner phone and I can tell something is up because his face goes blank, then his eyes immediately look at me. Oh shit, now what’s up? Can we never have a normal day?
“’Kay, yeah, I hear ya, Chains. Gonna get ready and will be out the door in less than five minutes. I got ya, brother. Later.”
Disconnecting, Clet leans into me but doesn’t kiss me, just looks in my eyes intently.
“Woman, I gotta run. I’ll tell ya later, not sure when Atlas is gonna show up, don’t want him to hear. Take the day, you two do something fun. I’ll try to keep you in the loop. Give me a kiss now.”
Leaning up, I give him my lips and just when it’s starting to get good I hear the “Oh God” behind Clet’s back. I lean to the left to see Atlas with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands, his eyes looking up to the ceiling.
“Atlas, gotta run, make sure to watch over your momma. Told her to do something fun today, so make sure she does. I’ll be back later.”
“Slick, is this to do with the club? Is it dangerous?”
I watch my two men stare at each other for a quick second before Clet pulls Atlas in and hugs him. I don’t hear what he says to my kid, but whatever it is has Atlas relaxing a bit. He grins my way, then is gone. I do something I don’t do much anymore, I say a prayer that he returns back to us both whole, because if something happens to him don’t think either Atlas or I will survive. My kid must see something on my face ’cause he grabs the tray, putting it on the floor, then crawls into bed with me and we do something we never do ’cause he’s getting too old. We cuddle.
CHAPTER 5
SLICK
CLETUS/CUPCAKE
I feel like I’m a kid in school again getting called to the principal’s office, as I make my way to Brick’s office. Seeing the door closed, I knock on it a couple of times and wait until I hear Brick’s voice scream, “Come on in.”
Walking in, the hair on the back of my neck starts to stand when I see not only Brick but Iron and Beast also sitting around, looking like they are shooting the shit. When Chains sees me, he squints his eyes and snarls my way. Yeah, snarls like the fuckin’ animal he is. Iron just gives me a slight chin lift and Beast does nothing, like I’m not even right in front of him. Asshole, I think to myself but make sure my face nor eyes show any of my feelings. That would not be in my best interest.
“Slick, sit your ass down. I gotta ask some questions as my phone has been ringing off the hook since late last night. First, it was Tank, then Tink and, finally, Enforcer. So, prospect, explain to me why Montana clubs are reaching out to me in regards to you and that asshole group the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood. From what I’m gatherin’, you might have some information that might be able to help our friends out in Montana, is that right? First question is, why didn’t you come to one or all of your brothers before just puttin’ this shit out there for everyone to mull over? It’s gettin’ really crazy, Slick, and we don’t need any more bullshit. Haven’t recovered from Dingo and Celestina’s shit. So mind explaining what the fuck you were thinking, brother?”
Not sure how long I speak for but my throat is parched. Not sure how he knows but Iron hits up Brick’s refrigerator in the corner, grabbing some water and actually throwing it my way. Thank God I’m paying attention or I would have ended up with a black eye. I gulp that shit down, drinking three-fourths of it. Then I wait to see what’s next. I’ve been walking on eggshells since I came here. Well, since they switched me with Presley. So now Presley is a prospect with the Intruders MC in Timber-Ghost, Montana while I’m a prospect with the Grimm Wolves MC in Bumfuck, Midwest USA. Lucky ass me.
“Asshole, whatcha got as far as info? Is it worth anything to any one of us? Or are you trying to make yourself look good in your ex’s eyes? I’m thinkin’ now that Taz has found herself a real man in Enforcer, ya don’t even pass her thoughts. Looks like that bothers ya, Slick.”
Knowing that Chains is just wanting to get under my skin, I take a minute and just breathe while I try to gather my thoughts. Now is a good time to just tell them what’s on my mind, so I do just that.
“Yeah, actually, Chains, it does bother me but not how you think. Believe it or not, I’m fuckin’ glad Raquel or as y’all know her, Taz, has found some happiness. I’m not proud of what I did back in Wisconsin to not only her but Teddy. No excuse but I was young and at the time on the same road as some of my friends. Booze and drugs. If I hadn’t found that brotherhood, I’d either be dead or in prison by now. Instead, I got wrapped up in all the money and power each of them talked about twenty-four hours a day. What happened between Raquel and me is no one’s business. Yeah, I just said it and I mean it. I was a total dick with the shit I pulled. And for what… money and some imaginary power trip?
“So if at all possible, if I can help her by passing on some information I’ve stored in my head, by fuck I’m gonna do it. I owe both Raquel and her son Teddy for past sins. I also want to be a better person. I know, go ahead and laugh your asses off. It’s the truth and here’s another one. I can’t be around any child without second-guessing myself. Since all the brothers gossip worse than everyone’s ol’ ladies, I’ll tell each of you this. I’m fallin’ hard for Lucy, or as you all know her as Cashmere, and I can’t move forward until I manage somehow to make amends. I don’t think I’ll ever get another chance at whatever this is turning out to be, so want to fix or do my utmost to give Atlas and his momma some of their best times around the holidays. The other shit I’m muddling with is how to interact with Atlas. He’s a smart-ass lil’ fucker and don’t want this relationship to turn out like the one I had before. Can’t put Lucy or Atlas in any kind of danger. Sayin’ that, if I continue with these journals and turn them in, as I’ve told everyone I would, that will probably put a target on Lucy and Atlas. I can’t, no wait, won’t let that happen. So gonna ask for a huge favor. After the release of the journals, I need each of you to promise me to protect my two family members. Is that even possible or would you all turn your faces up at her and her kid because she’s now with me?”
“Slick, fuck, you don’t know me at all, except for being Beast who’s a brother and a part of the Grimm Wolves club, my family—well, dad and brother—run another club here in town. The Satan’s Flaming Marauders club. Now, shit has gone down with them and I’m talking really terrible stuff that included my mother. My brothers in this club have never judged me or put me down, no matter how I fucked up. So for you to ask for a favor then try to take it back ’cause you’re chickenshit of what’s gonna be said, dude, you got some issues. Each and every one of us, regardless if a member or prospect, joined this club so we know that our ‘chosen’ family is always there, no judgment or bullshit. So just ask us what ya need, brother.”
