Page 8 of Stone

“Problem is, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to stop at one,” I confess, glancing up at him.

“See,” he chuckles. “I’m sure I saw some OJ in the refrigerator, and look, you’re already in protective dad mode. I think you’re going to do just fine.” My lips twitch but don’t quite make it into a smile.

“So, what’s it going to cost the club to get my record wiped?” Smoke walks back to where I sit and hands me a glass of orange juice before taking up a place on the couch opposite me.

“One of Cannon’s brothers has got himself into some heat and needs to disappear for a bit.”

“What’s he done and who’s he pissed off?” It could be the cops, but the last I heard, Florida had all that shit in the bag after clearing up a messy run-in with the local mayor.

“Got caught dipping his cock in the Chief of Police’s wife and despite having the local cops in their back pocket, he’s on the war path. Could cause a whole lot of fucked up trouble for the club if they don’t find something on the dude that will force him to back off.”

“Don’t tell me,” I snigger. “It was Johnny Bravo that got caught getting his dick wet in restricted waters.”

“Yep, you called it.” Smoke laughed along with me. “JB never could keep it in his pants. He’s too much of a fucking pretty boy for his own good.”

“So, he wants to send him up here to hang out in the club?”

“I reckon that would be too obvious and it wouldn’t take a genius to work out that’s where he’d be hiding.” Smoke rubs his hand over his stubbled chin. “I was mulling over the idea of sending him over to Velvet Reds, let him hang out over there.”

Velvet Reds is one of the two legal brothels we co-own along with the Florida chapter and is run by a young woman aptly called Scarlett.

“JB in a house with all those working women? Shit that could be a recipe for disaster.”

“True. Maybe I need to think about that, because once the girls catch sight of him, they’ll want a piece of his pretty ass.”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” I assure Smoke. “Me, I’ve got to work out how the fuck I’m going to do this.” I let out a deep sigh. “Shit, Smoke, I think I’m going to have to step away from the club. There’s no way that I’m going to be able to drop everything to handle business when I have a three-year-old to look after.”

“Like fuck you are,” Smoke hollers. I shush him, and despite the dark scowl he throws back at me, he does lower his voice. The last thing I need is for him to disturb sleeping Sasha. “Look,” he says softly, “There’s going to be plenty of people on hand to help.”

“Not club whores,” I sneer back at him. “I don’t want her anywhere near the clubhouse or seeing anything that goes on there. If the authorities get wind of that, they’ll take her away from me. I’m all she’s got and I’m not going to let her, my brother or Savannah down.”

“What about the cabin?” There’s a large area of land where the clubhouse sits, which all belongs to the club. About a quarter mile on the edge of the land up a small ridge is what we have always called the cabin, but in reality, it’s a small two-storey, three-bedroomed dwelling. It had been left empty and neglected for some time, but two months ago, Smoke had got some of the brothers to start cleaning it up on the pretence of moving into it once it was liveable. “It would offer you some privacy, far enough away, but near enough so you could still be involved.”

“You were fixing it up for you.”

“Yeah, but you and that little darlin’ needs it more.”

“It would be perfect, but it’s not like I could leave her there on her own even if it is on our land.” I run my hand down my face. “What if I step down as VP, take another role, one where I could work from home?”

“Fuck that, if you think I’d have anyone of those motherfuckers take your place, then you’re deluded.” He’s not having any of it.

“Jesus, I’m so fucking tired, I can’t even think straight anymore,” I say around a yawn. “You gonna stay the night?”

“I’m not going anywhere, brother. I’m here for you.” Smoke leans across the counter, drops his palm to my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “We’re going to make this work, Stone. I’ll think of something.”

“Thanks, brother,” I give him a lazy smile. “Why don’t you take the guest room, second door on the left. I don’t think I can cope with anyone going into Jacob and Savannah’s room yet.”

“Hey, man. You take it. The couch will be fine by me.”

“No, you take it, I insist. I’m going to crash in Sasha’s room anyway, in case she wakes up during the night.”

“Okay,” Smoke stands and moves towards the staircase. When he gets to the bottom step, he glances back at me, “I got your back, brother and whatever you need, you got it.”

I wait until I hear the guest room door closing before letting myself go. Tears I’ve been holding back spill as I give into the pain that spears my heart. For Jacob. For Savannah. But mostly for the little girl that’s had her life shattered.

After I shake myself out of my pity fest, I wipe away any remaining wetness on my face with the palm of my hand, before walking upstairs. I slip quietly into Sasha’s room, finding her sleeping. I watch her for a few minutes, her lids flickering as she dreams, her breathing even, one arm wrapped tightly around a pink teddy bear wearing a red and white striped skirt and black leather jacket. Her comfort blanket tucked under the other.

I grab the spare pillow that had fallen off the bed, lay down on the floor and stuff it under my head, close my eyes and feel myself drifting off to the sound of Sasha’s rhythmic breathing.

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