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“I was going to speak to you about that, Pres. My original thought was that we didn’t have enough men. But we could have moved Jeremy’s working prospects and left Jeremy to find new crew to finish our home builds. I think your idea of the veterans would cover that easily, and everyone else can stay where they are,” I think I may have jumbled that somewhat, but hey, I’m sure they’ll follow my drift.

“My thoughts, Joker,” Cap adds as he nods and looks at Finger.

Finger rubs his chin as he speaks. “I think we leave the six with Jeremy, and we pull in some of the veterans you spoke with, Pres. Give them a purpose, but we need someone who understands legalities because leasing out properties isn’t as easy as it looks.”

I slowly look at Tracker, and Tracker slowly looks at me. I’m sure it looks mirrored when we both give huge smirks. We both speak at the same time, “Thumper.” “Fuse.”

“I’ll do it, Joker,” Tracker says with a gleam in his eye. Fuck me, I hope this isn’t going to come back and bite me on the ass!

I notice Miri coming out of the kitchen carrying Ayla while Cilla walks behind her carrying a tray with drinks and snacks. Ayla sees Pres and struggles to be put down.

“Should I put her down, Cilla?” Miri asks, while hanging on to Ayla, who is getting ready to wail.

“Yeah, I bet I know where she’s going.”

Miri places Ayla down gently, and instead of crawling, which is what I’m expecting, she stands, wobbly, but on her feet. I’m thinking she’s going to Finger, who is her father after all. But, nope, she shocks me when she gets to her feet and slowly takes steps toward Tracker.

Now, to say he is a tough president of a biker club, he surprises everyone, and by the look on Miri’s face more than a little, when he rushes around the table to squat a little in front of Ayla. Holding his hands out to her. Ayla laughs as she reaches Tracker. He picks her up, tosses her in the air, making her squeal with delight.

Finger is rubbing the palm of his hand down his face, but doesn’t look like he’s worried about his daughter at all. Cilla is mumbling under her breath about asshole men and disobedient daughters. I keep quiet and watch it all play out.

Tracker throws a still giggling Ayla onto his shoulders. She grabs handfuls of his hair, and he has her firmly held against his neck as he walks out of the common room.

“Is that okay, Cilla?” Miri asks as she looks back at Cilla.

Cilla replies after she sighs loudly, “Oh, she’s fine. Tracker is her godfather, and he thinks that makes him an actual god and a father, so he has taken it as far as he can. I have no worries at all and if anything happened to either Finger or myself, she’d be happy and looked after by Tracker.”

Brewer walks into the common room mumbling about something. Cap speaks before anyone else has the opportunity, “What’s going on, Brewer?”

“Fuckin’ ghosts are what’s going on. Assholes are what they are. You know they are fuckin’ about with my truck and when I was at my last job, the assholes were messing with the push start. On, off, on, off. You’re all fuckin’ assholes!” Brewer bellows.

Now, if it wasn’t for Cilla still being in the room, I think most of us would have panicked because suddenly Brewer was two feet off the floor, hanging in midair. Everyone in the room slowly rose to their feet. I notice Miri steps behind Cilla, either because she was the closest to her, or she thought Cilla would protect her.

“Put me down. When I’m dead, I’m gonna kill you three. You hear me? I’m gonna kill you!” Brewer is struggling and shouting, spit flying out of his mouth he’s so angry.

A giggle bursts out of Miri who throws her hand over her mouth. Cilla turns and pats Miri’s shoulder, trying to calm her, thinking she’s going to have some kind of breakdown. “It’s okay, Miri. I’ll deal with this.”

Miri looks at Cilla, then at Brewer, but she looks at me as though she needs saving. You guessed, I‘m gonna save her. I walk over quickly and wrap an arm around her shoulders, pull her against my side and whisper, “It’s okay, Thumper. They’ll put him down in a minute. You know he can’t really kill them because they are already dead.” I look down at her, giving her my best smile. “Right?”

Miri nods as a reply, then looks at Cilla and Brewer once more. “Yeah, that’s right, they are already dead.” Now, I’m not sure if she’s convincing herself all is going to be good, but I have hold of her and that’s all that I’m thinking about.

“Put him down,” Cilla is saying in an exasperated voice. She cocks her head to one side, listening, then speaks again. “Put him down. He’s your brother, now put him down. Gently.”

Nope, Brewer is still kicking and struggling midair, which, if it wasn’t weird it would be funny as all hell.

“Brewer, say you are sorry for calling them assholes,” Cilla says while placing her hands on her hips.

“No. They are assholes,” Brewer responds, but I’m not sure that is a suitable answer from where he’s hanging.

Cilla sighs again. “You are not going to be let down until you say you are sorry for calling them assholes. So just do it and let’s move on with our day.”

It takes a few more attempts on Cilla’s part to get Brewer to conform, but eventually he snarls. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry for calling you assholes.”

Before anyone can blink Brewer drops to the floor with such a thud, it’s a wonder he hasn’t broken something. He, however, gets to his feet, tidies himself, then scowls around the room. “I’m still gonna kill them when I die.” We all chuckle at his comment and his retreating form as he rushes out of the common room.

“Well, that’s another calamity sorted,” Cilla sighs before she blows Finger a kiss then walks out of the common room herself.

“I’m going to sit outside a while,” Miri says as she attempts to step away, but I hold on to her until I’ve placed my lips on hers and kissed her sweetly. It’s only then that I let go of her. She frowns at me a little, says nothing, then walks out of the common room much to everyone’s amusement.