“Didn’t say he got blown up,” Onyx commented idly.
“Word gets around.” I grinned.
Onyx held my gaze and tipped his glass with a smirk. “Motherfuckin’ nutcase,” he muttered. I couldn’t disagree.
Jody – December 2008.
I stared at the diamond ring on my finger. Vulcan had given it to me the moment we got home and asked me to marry him again. We were getting married with Aster and Kanon in two months, and I still wasn’t used to the feeling of it. Instead of gold, Vulcan had gone for platinum.
Laila was arguing with Aster over flowers, with the latter digging her heels in. I was ignoring them both as I fed Lars. He was already twice the size of little Laila, although she had her own healthy appetite. There was no doubt who Lars took after; he was his donor father’s image. Laila was a mix of Magic and me.
At first, I’d had pangs when I looked at Lars. Magic was missing out on so much, but regret was fading slowly. And Vulcan was an amazing father. If the twins squeaked, he was there, hovering like a mother hen. Vulcan adored them, and I was so grateful for that. Between them and Vulcan’s family, the kids would never be unloved. It didn’t bother me that my family was being deprived of Lars and Laila either. They weren’t worth the air they breathed, but Magic stayed with me despitemy promises to myself. In time, I hoped Magic’s memory would fade.
“Are you okay, my love?” Vulcan asked as he sat down beside me.
“Fine. I’m letting them argue. I’m not really bothered about the wedding,” I said. Vulcan’s face fell, and I realised how awful my words sounded. “Vulcan, the only important thing I care about is being married to you. How I get there, I’m not fussed about; just being at the altar with you is what’s important to me.”
Vulcan’s expression cleared, and he leaned over and kissed me. I slid my hands into his hair and kissed him back—properly. When we broke off, Vulcan searched my eyes and rubbed his thumb over my lip.
“I’d like more of that,” he murmured.
“So would I. But we can’t until the doctor signs me off,” I replied regretfully.
“Lort!(crap!)” Vulcan swore, and I began laughing as I edged closer and tucked into his hard body. I tugged on his blond beard and bit his bottom lip when Vulcan ducked his head.
“They should have named you Viking,” I teased as I played with the plaits in his hair. Vulcan also had two small ones in his beard.
“The club already had a Viking, but my ancestors can be traced to Erick Jakobson. A real Viking,” Vulcan stated.
“His genes were strong if you resemble him,” I replied, and Vulcan grinned.
“If you say I look like a warrior, then I do, because nobody else’s opinion matters other than yours,” Vulcan said. Laila chose to shriek at that precise moment, and Vulcan was up and out of his chair in a blink.
“Apart from Laila’s,” I teased. Vulcan’s laughter was ambrosia to my ears.
Magic – May 2009 – a year after Jody left.
“Hear you’re making waves,” Drake Michaelson said.
“Just like you?” I challenged, and Drake chuckled dryly. “Heard you cut your final ties with the underworld.”
“We voted and don’t want it. Rage has legitimate businesses now; we’re gonna stay lawful. We bled for that,” Drake replied.
I lifted a glass. Rage had shed blood and had gone to war against their former brothers. Drake and those currently in Rage MC had got clean—at a harsh price. Hellfire MC, their brother club, had also had a dirty fight on their hands, losing a member in their battle. Local MCs were looking to Rage and Hellfire as the way forward. Tidy or not, Drake and Chance, the Hellfire president and Drake’s cousin, were reinforcing their allies’ bonds.
“Shit, don’t touch this bar, Drake. This is neutral ground.”
“Wanna keep it that way. Magic zero point one ensured we knew the rules. Don’t expect you to be any different.”
I chuckled. “Zero point one? Really?”
“Yeah. Better than old Magic, new Magic.”
“How about the previous owner and me?”
“Nah, I like zero point one.” Drake had a swallow of beer.
“You forget how long I’ve owned this. Took this over at eighteen, shit, I couldn’t even drink back then legally. A damn kid who had no idea.” I laughed at younger me.
