“I don’t think he’s changed in the couple times he came around, but I think I got the best deal out of it all. I got you and Ma.” He moves his arm around me, hugs me to him, and kisses my head.
“Oh, my girl, you were a gift from the gods. After you, they kept on giving. I don’t think Ma and I could have dreamed up the family we ended up getting, but I wouldn’t trade a one of you for anything in the world.” My eyes tear up. I want nothing more to tell Pa what’s goin’ on. The universe must know, because as soon as I sit up, Ma, Anna, and Ben come back into the waiting room from one direction, and Shane is with them. From the other door walks in Mads, Nicky, Ry, and Mick is with them. I’m still wiping my eyes when they all walk up and I can tell the second Shane notices my tears.
Ma must see it too and asks, “Everything okay, you two?” I nod at her while looking at Shane.
“Yeah, just reminiscing, and Pa was being sweet.” Pa pretends to glare at me.
“Don’t know about all that sweet bullshit, but yeah, we were just talkin’, me and my girl.”
Ma gives us an update on Mario. He’s about to be discharged and Anna is taking him to their place so she can make sure he recovers fine. Everyone is about to sit back down to wait when Jon comes out and updates us on Jane. She’s gotta stay the night but should be released in the morning. Ma goes into delegating mode. Both Mads and I agree to help her in the morning to get food and stuff over to the guys’ house so Jane can relax and recover there. Shane, Mick, and Ben offer to help clean up the place and then go over to Jane’s and clean up there. That will be more involved from the sounds of it. We’re all getting ready to go home, except for Ry, who’s gonna stay and wait for Nicky to go back for a bit. Mick offers me a ride home since he’s giving Mads a ride to her place. Before I can think of a reason to turn him down, Shane throws in that he was going to take me back to my car so he can check on the shop since it was closed up so fast.
As soon as we get in his truck, Shane grabs my hand and squeezes it. Looking over at him, I can see he’s worried.
“What’s wrong?” He looks out the windshield.
“I just never want to be in the position your brothers were in today. I can’t imagine anything happening to you, gorgeous.” I squeeze his hand.
“Pa would tell you to not borrow trouble and don’t put that out into the world. I don’t have a stalker and you know everyone who wants to join the club from now on will have averythorough background check done. Both Jon and Juan will make sure as shit on that.” He starts the truck and puts it in gear. We head out of the hospital parking lot and I realize he hasn’t turned toward the shop, but toward my place.
“We’re not going to get my car?”
“Nope. We’ll stop by before the shop opens to grab it on our way to the guys’ place. I just need to get you home, feed all of us, and spend the evening on the couch with you two.” This is the first time I think he’s told me something he needs, and it’s a simple request.
“Sounds like the perfect evening to me.”
CHAPTER 6
Shane
Since Monday, I’ve barely left Kierstie’s side. At work, I know she’s safe in the office and I’ve left just about the same time as her at the end of the day so I know she’s not home alone for long. I know my fear is unfounded and the threat is gone, but I think the world not knowing that she’s mine is getting to me. I’m actually thankful that today’s the day. I know they won’t actually kill me…well, they probably won’t.
I spent the night last night and we’re going to go over together in my truck—Kierstie’s idea. Kind of a united front, plus she said that she can drive me home if needed. It wouldn’t be quite as blatant as if I rode up on my bike with her on the back of it. I don’t know what her plan is, but she swears she’s got one.
She’s lucky that she’s irresistible, otherwise, her plan to keep me preoccupied most of the day, by distracting me with her body and sex wouldn’t have worked. But as a man who might be facing death later, I wasn’t going to argue with her. I’m not a complete idiot, after all.
We pull up to her parents’ house and I park behind Grant’s bike. Good to know my backup is already here. I walk around the truck and open the door for Kierstie. She smiles at me and I’m reminded again why I’m willing to go head-to-head with her brothers—my pres and VPs for this. She’s it for me. That smile reminds me that she’s my home. She and our baby are everything. I love our club and would die for all my brothers, but if I was told it was her or them, it would be her.Holy shit. It really would.
Kierstie helps so much by patting my face and reminds me, “Don’t worry. Remember, I’ve got a plan and I know their weaknesses. We can do this.” She points to herself, our little one, and me. She knows I needed to hear that before going inside. I nod and follow her in, the itch to grab her hand so strong that I put it in my pocket to keep myself from doing it. We get to the door just as Ry is pulling up with Nicky on his bike. Guess once he outed himself, he decided to really out himself to the whole world. Good for them. Kierstie yells her hello to them and waits for them to catch up. We all walk inside together. She wraps her arm around Nicky’s elbow.
“You know, since you’ve sunken to datin’ Ry here, and you’re Jane’s BFF, we’re gonna have to hang out and get to know each other.” Nicky gives her a smile and looks at Ry.
“I would love that, darlin’. Maybe you and Mads need to join me and Jane at our next brunch. It’s always a gabfest with great food.” Ry shakes his head, but still smiles.
“I might live to regret you gettin’ close to my sisters, but I know better than to stop it.” Kierstie glares at him.
Deciding to stop this before the real bickering starts, I chime in, “Looks like everyone is out back. Should we join ‘em?” Ry looks at me in a way that makes me think he might be questioning things, like why we came together. Luckily for me, as soon as we’re in the back, he’s distracted by everyone greeting all of us. I can see everyone is here and relaxing on the back patio.
Ma walks up and greets us, hugging Ry and Nicky first. She then gives me a hug and whispers in my ear, “You’ve got this. They may be mad, but I ain’t gonna let them kill ya. You’ve given me my first grandbaby and you’re a good boy. That’s more than enough for me.” She squeezes my arm and hugs my woman before heading back to sit next to Pa.
Kierstie looks around after hugging her mom and points to the picnic table bench that’s empty.
“Let’s go sit there and then I’ll drop the bomb.” She says it quietly but I can tell Nicky caught what she said as his eyes go big. He doesn’t say anything. Maybe there’s another person on my side.
Kierstie
I have us sit on the picnic bench ’cause I think it’s the best spot to be able to defend Shane from. This is it. Right here, right now. It’s time to lay all the cards out there.
“I’ve got somethin’ to tell ya’ll.” I must not say it loud enough ’cause no one seems to stop their conversations, but Pa heard me. He gets everyone to pay attention.
