Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Whatever Mo saw in Alex’s face must have clued the man in to the fact he was very deadly serious. “Yeah, man. You’re right. We should set a good example for the kids.”
“They don’t need to think violence is OK,” Alex replied in a gruff voice. “It distresses their mother, and I won’t have her upset.”
All the men immediately looked around for Gracie. Once they spotted her, with the grip she had on the kids, they immediately settled.
“Sorry, man,” Brutal said, sticking his hand out to Mo. There was no hesitation on either man’s part. They immediately shook hands.
“Yeah. My fault. I got frustrated and meant to hit the bike.”
“Don’t take it out on the poor bike either.” Brutal grinned. “Let me help. Then we’ll do my bike together too.” He shrugged. “Take half the time.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
Alex gave the men a nod, slapping Brutal on the shoulder as he left to go to Gracie. The young woman immediately threw herself into her man’s arms.
“I thought they were beating on you,” she whimpered. I could barely hear her. She was far enough away I couldn’t hear whatever Alex said to her, but I could hear his deep voice as he tried to soothe her.
Liam looked at the group of men with a scowl. He marched over to the group and I started to intervene. Mama gripped my hand tighter, a signal to stay where I was. The kid went straight to Mo and Brutal, his little fists clenched tightly.
“Hey, buddy,” Mo said by way of greeting, obviously trying to pretend nothing had happened.
“You upset my mom.” That got a raised eyebrow from me. Gracie had same as adopted Liam, but the kid usually called her Gracie. This was the first time he’d referred to her as Mom. “Do it again and I’ll hurt you.”
Instead of scoffing at Liam or waving off the threat, Brutal crouched down to be on Liam’s level. “You’re right, Liam. I’m sorry. We shouldn’t bring violence home to our women. I’ll go apologize to Gracie.”
“Yeah,” Mo agreed. “Me too. I’m sorry I upset your mom, Liam.”
The two big men hung their heads, appropriately chastised, and shuffled over to where Gracie was clinging to Alex and quietly crying. There was a soft, gentle exchange while they spoke to both Alex and Gracie. Alex had picked up little Abraham in one arm while he held Gracie with the other. Gracie looked up at the men while they spoke and nodded her head as she swiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Brutal then stuck out his hand to Alex. The other man hesitated but took his hand, then Mo’s.
Mama let out a little sigh and sat back in her chair. I squeezed her hand and she looked over at me. We shared a satisfied smile. Our boys were definitely growing into themselves. They were going to make fine men. Already were fine men. But they were going to be better. The guys needed direction and a lot of structure, so Mama and I provided.
Then, almost three years to the day, Taz showed back up. Changed in ways I didn’t want to think about. He was harder. Colder. It felt like death followed him. When he met us, we did so on neutral ground. Just me and Mama.
“Back just like you promised.” Mama might have smiled at Taz, but it didn’t reach her eyes and she didn’t move to shake his hand.
“I am. You kept my son safe?”
“You know we did, and I’m trying not to take offense at the implication we might not have.” Mama’s expression never wavered. Her tone was congenial, but I could feel the underlying tension and a healthy dose of anger radiating from her.
“I meant no offense, Mama. I think you know that.” Taz spoke slowly, using the name everyone had given Jo, not addressing her in a way that might seem familiar. He was dancing around us, being very careful about what he said. We were the ones who suggested a place away from the compound, but Taz hadn’t balked or even tried to get in to see the men he’d taken in as family. Which sent up all kinds of red flags. I also noticed that, since the very first message when he contacted us to let us know he was back, he’d always used our club names, but hadn’t thought anything of it. I was thinking about it now.
“What’s going on?” I moved slightly in front of Mama. If she minded, she didn’t let on. Which told me all I needed to know about what Jo thought of the situation. She would never go against anything I said or did in the presence of an enemy or someone who was questionable, no matter if she didn’t like that I was taking the lead. Or protecting her when she was perfectly capable of protecting herself. Taz realized it too.