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The warmth behind Irina’s words instantly makes me like her on a deeper level. She doesn’t view Hobo as a weirdo lucky to have any woman’s attention. Irina can see his charms. She also understands what it’s like to be an outsider brought into the Steel Berserkers’ world.
Mostly, I sense Irina wants Hobo to have a safe place to call home. Based on her helpful hints, she thinks I can offer him what he needs.
TOMMY
Ihaven’t been nervousabout anything in a long damn time. The last time I probably felt that way was decades ago when the club fought the Edwards family, and I heard they might go after our families. I’d walked around in a constant state of anxiety over my sister’s safety. Kourtney was a college student back then, just starting her life. I couldn’t be the reason she suffered.
The same prickly worry crawls over my skin now. Not for Kourtney but Xenia. I don’t think Velma is the reason I’m nervous. It’s not like the old lady will hunt down Xenia. Francis is also smart enough to keep his distance. I haven’t noticed any Halvorson workers around our territory, though Dice said he spotted a few lingering near the Gin Mill when Tomcat was inside.
I text Xenia a few times during her salon and lunch with the ladies. She always responds immediately, never sharing much about what they’re doing. Her messages mostly focus on if I’m okay. She also says she misses me.
Those texts calm my anxiety, and I realize why I’ve gotten myself worked up.
Xenia’s in my world now with my people. I didn’t do much to impress my woman early on. Helped her out, sure, and wasn’t a total asshole. But it was always just us. Even when we ate out and went to the movies, no one interacted with us.
Now, she’s gossiping with ladies who know my history. Tomorrow is the Pigsty’s party. My club family will get drunk and rowdy. Who knows what they might tell her?
I’m still worried Xenia will come to her senses. Someone is bound to explain how she can do better than this life with me. Could just be Wynonna gossiping in a way that makes me look like a loser, but something will spark a realization inside Xenia.
I feel like we didn’t get enough time together before the world shoved its way into our relationship. If I could have wrapped up her heart a little more, I don’t think I’d worry so much.
I spend my afternoon riding around. I trail Smokey and Goose at one point. When they decide to get ice cream, I bail and keep riding. I end up following Nomad when I spot him on the roads. We make a circle around McMurdo Valley. We aren’t really looking for problems, just wanting to be seen. The more locals hear our hogs’ rumbling, the less they’ll want to start shit. The club might not be big, but we’re always around.
Nomad peels away at one point to head home. I assume Landry’s done with her lady time, meaning so is Xenia. Eagle is probably spending the afternoon home with his little girl. He’s charmed by Clementine.
I try to imagine myself falling for a kid like I did for Xenia. Maybe that’s why I end up at the large, wild piece of land I’ve owned for decades. No matter how much I squint, I cannot for the life of me picture a house here. I try to see Xenia in this place. She mentioned she might want a greenhouse. Said something about chickens, too. Don’t know how well those cats she’s taken in will do with birds around.
Finally, I try to imagine a little version of me. My gaze flashes to the woods surrounding the open patch where a house might fit. I think of the cult watching and stalking. What if they try to hurt my kid? Or steal him away for their bullshit prophecies? I have no doubt I’d track them down. The Valley belongs to me. I know where people go to hide. I’ll get my kid back, but he’ll be all banged up like I was early on. Will he ever be okay again once they get their grimy hands on him?
To avoid such a trauma, I’ll need to be on guard at all times. Or I can just hunt down the cult and kill them all. Yeah, that last one sounds like the best plan.
My phone rings. Frowning, I don’t know who’d call me. Though I assume something bad is going down, it’s only Kourtney.
“What?”
“Tell me about the cupcake lady.”
