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Good on him for scoring himself a cougar.
And from what I’ve heard, he’s gone and knocked her up too.
The thing is, South’s baby sister, Bella, is sick—the kind of sick you don’t come back from.
So I know South and his Old Lady, Ingrid, will be spending a lot of their time with Bella. Even sleeping at her huge house in the hills. But we have made a room up for them in the downstairs quarters, just in case they need to stay here sometimes. We want them to feel welcome like this is their home too.
Not only are South and Ingrid coming from NOLA, but I got a call from Hurricane requesting that their newest patched member, Maverick—who’s just been promoted from prospect—is also on his way and is bringing his little sister, Clover. She’s seventeen, which will be nice for Rhyan to have someone close-ish to her age to hang out with at the clubhouse.
I’m not sure what the motive is behind Maverick and Clover’s move, but I feel like it’s a ploy on Hurricane’s behalf so Maverick can keep an eye on Ingrid and report back. I guess if my stepmom was pregnant with a much younger brother and moving states to be with him, I’d send someone to be my eyes and ears too.
It’s a smart play.
Though he could have just asked me, president-to-president, without sending in a spy.
But it’s his way of keeping tabs.
I get that.
Family means everything.
I, out of everyone, understand the value of that sentiment.
When you have family, you doanythingto protect them. Because when they’re gone, you can’t get them back. And that pain eats at you every second of every fucking day.
My hand moves to my back, where the electrical surge shoots through me again at the site of the bullet wound. Another constant painful reminder that my family, blood, and bond are all gone.
Clearing my throat, Ink strides back inside, chuckling with South next to him. A smile lights my face seeing my long-lost brother. I glance back over my shoulder toward the bar and send a whistle through the clubhouse. “Prospects, get off your sorry sack-of-shit asses and go help with the bags.” Noah and Hayes throw the remainder of their drinks back, jump up, run for the door, and dip their head at South as they go.
South chuckles when Ingrid walks in behind him with, who I assume is Clover, next to her and Maverick behind them.
The guys all glance at me, waiting for me to give the go-ahead, and I dip my chin. They all take off, surrounding South, laughing and back-slapping, welcoming our brother back into the fold.
I approach Ingrid, Clover, and Maverick, who are standingback, taking in all this energy. I step up to Ingrid, her small two-month baby bump only just visible as her hand instinctively falls to protect her stomach while the guys fuck about making as much noise as humanly possible. She smiles at me with a warm greeting, and I put out my hand for her to shake. “Ingrid, it’s great to have you here. Though I must admit, having the stepmother of a fellow president in my ranks means I need to keep an extra cautious eye on you.”
She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Oh Lord, Alpha, don’t you start too. South is already protective as hell over me. Don’t look at me as Hurricane’s stepmom. Just think of me as South’s Old Lady. Just another member of the club. I don’t expect nor want any special treatment while we’re here, okay?”
Dipping my head once, I agree. “All right, we can definitely do that.” My eyes shift to Maverick and Clover, greeting the rest of my brothers, and I tilt my head toward them. “You know they’re here for you, right?” I ask her with a chuckle.
Ingrid exhales, slumping her shoulders. “Thought as much. Fucking Hurricane. I love him, but he doesn’t know when to let go and stop being so damn overbearing.”
I let out a laugh. “He’s just looking out for you. The guy loves you, Ingrid. He thinks of you as his real mother. Anyone can see that.”
Her hand falls to her stomach again, and she sighs. “Yeah… I know. The fact I have adult children, who have children of their own, and I am two months pregnant right now still blows my freaking mind. I have to personally thank you, Alpha, for taking us in, even knowing there will be a screaming baby in seven months’ time. I’m sure it’s not something you guys are looking forward to.”
My stomach twists a little at the thought, not because I don’t like the idea but because it reminds me of when Poppy was a baby. The club was so good when she was screaming at all hoursof the night with her colic. I reach out, caressing her shoulder for comfort. “We’ve done babies before. We’re a good bunch of guys, Ingrid. And with Ellie, Rhyan, and the club girls, you’ll have a ton of women who can help you.”
“Appreciate that, Pres,” she replies.
South steps up to us, a giant smile on his face. His long hair is tied back into a man bun today. “Swift said you prepped a room for us in the downstairs quarters, just in case we ever need to stay over at the clubhouse. Thanks, brother, that’s going to be helpful. We will be spending a lot of time with my sister, Bella, while she’s going through the end stages of Motor Neuron Disease…” He closes and opens his eyes with a sigh before continuing, “We don’t know how long she has, so we want to spend as much time with Bella as we can.”
Gritting my teeth, I can only imagine what that must be like for them. “I’m so fucking sorry, man. If you need anything from me or the club, you let us know anytime throughout this process. We’re here for you… the both of you.”
Maverick steps up and exhales. “I have a favor to ask of you, Pres. If it’s not too presumptuous to ask this early.”
I don’t know shit about Maverick other than what Hurricane has told me. He’s a loyal brother. Would lay down his life for any member of the club. He fights for what he believes in and does whatever he’s told. And I like that in a brother, especially one so fresh out of prospecting as he is.
“Hit me, Mav.”
