Cage beeps his horn forty minutes later as we approach the club's gates, his light shining up the prospect box with the brothers riding in formation behind me, my girl holding onto me tightly, wearing my property patch.
Fuck, when she put that leather on, it took everything in me not to readjust myself. Even knowing Crash would have shot me, but riding with her on the back of my bike…
Ten-minute ride from the hospital just wasn’t enough, and Cage knew it, which is why he directed us to the opposite wayfrom the clubhouse and the officer brothers got to see me claim my wife.
Clark squeezes my waist tighter as I turn into the club parking lot, and I smile slightly.
I know she doesn’t want to do this, that the club lost her trust, but honestly, we’re happy, we’ve found our footing, and now I need her to heal with the club. If I have it my way, we’ll need all the childcare we can get.
I pull up in my designated spot next to Cage near the front and switch the ignition off before I gently rub my girl's hands.
Fuck, I could ride for hours with her on my back, I really fucking could, and I let that notion sink in for a moment. My peace is quickly ruined when her brother opens his mouth.
“Right, let's get this shit done. I want some time with my niece!” Crash calls and Clark groans, dropping her forehead to my back, and I grin as I remove her linked fingers before climbing off, ensuring I don’t kick her in the face before I get my phone out of my cut.
“Buttercup,” I say, and she looks my way and smiles wide seeing my phone up, and I take several photos and mutter, “Now I just need one with you and Willow, and I’ll be happy,” as I set one of the photos as my screensaver, the main screen being her with our newborn baby.
Her smile softens, and I put my phone away and hold my hand out for her, helping her off my bike before dragging her into my body. I then cup her cheek, gently rubbing my thumb over her beautiful, soft skin.
“That was the best feeling in the world, buttercup,” I whisper, and her tears brim.
“Are you sure about this?” she asks softly, and I move down and gently caress her lips, then murmur, “Surer than anything else in my life, I want forever with you.”
I kiss her, gently pulling her towards the clubhouse, where only brothers and old ladies should be inside. But as soon as we walk inside, I hear Crash growl, “This is for fucking brothers and old ladies, Mom, what is Nova doing here?”
I sigh in frustration at the situation.
“Why am I not surprised?” Clark mutters, and I squeeze her closer to me as I look into the common room and find Nova staring at Crash like he’s her last meal, dressed skimpily enough that she’s giving the club bunnies a run for their money.
I shudder with disgust, that look even makes me feel dirty.
“She is family,” Clarisse says vehemently, making Nova preen as she twirls her light pink hair in her fingers.
Wait, since when is her hair pink??
I shake my head and declare, “She is not club,” causing all eyes to come our way.
Spike sits up along with my father and mother seeing Clark, while Clarisse turns her head from her daughter, which has me rolling my eyes.
“She will be club,” Clarisse declares, and Crash growls while my girl finally speaks up.
“Just because you want Crash with Nova doesn’t mean it’ll ever happen, Mom. This is why I pulled back from you, not because I was forced into a marriage but because you’re set in your ways and it’s frustrating when you only see your way,” Clark says fiercely, “Even now, you’re pushing Nova on Crash but you haven’t stopped to notice he hasn’t screwed one club bunny, that he hasn’t brought women home.”
Clarisse huffs, “I don’t care, he and Nova are meant to be,” completely ignoring her daughter's words.
“No, we’re fucking not!” Crash shouts, “And we’re here to try and convince my fucking sister to allow us to have contact with Willow, and you’ve yet again tried to make it all about you!”
Clarisse’s eyes widen at her son’s words just as Cage takes a step forward. Being the only brother without his old lady here, and probably wanting to get home to her, states, “Nova, you need to leave now, this is family business, and Saturday you are not to show up.”
Nova gasps and looks at Clarisse, who looks down, knowing not to go against the Pres, and she huffs before storming to the door, giving my girl a glare as she shoves past, and I growl, causing her to jump and move quicker.
“Looks like Nova is banned from any club premises for a month for that act,” I declare, causing the woman to freeze in the doorway.
“I work at the diner,” she gasps, and I raise a brow.
“And who hired you?” I ask, and Clarisse now jumps in, stating, “I did.”
“On whose authority?" Cage demands, “Because last time I checked, you are only an old lady, you don’t have that kind of power, meaning she is not employed by the club.”
