Page 50 of Smoke

Stone is standing in the living room with Sasha in his arms. As soon as he sees me, he strides towards me, meeting me halfway.

“Uncle Smoke,” Sasha gushes before Stone has time to get a word in. She holds out her arms to me, the biggest smile on her face. A perpetual shining light amongst the current darkness.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Despite my need to see Tenley, I don’t hesitate to take Sasha into my arms, and place a kiss to her forehead.

“I’ve not seen you in like forever,” she drags out the ever, her hands coming to each side of my face, a signature Sasha move.

“I know, I’m sorry.” I drop another kiss to the tip of her nose. “I promise I’ll do better, but forgive me, I need to go check on Tenley.”

“Okay.” She wriggles in my arms, which tells me she wants to get down. I place her feet on the floor, not letting go until I know she’s gained her balance.

“I need you to get back to the clubhouse?” I instructStone. “Once Doc has done, can you send him up to check Tenley over?”

“Sure thing, Prez.” Stone immediately stepping up without question.

“Come on, Aunt Tenley is in her room.” Sasha’s little hand catches mine, and she pulls me towards the back of the house.

“Just one second, sweetheart.” I give her hand a gentle squeeze. I turn my attention back to Stone. “I want to know as soon as Wolf gets back. Don’t want him to face this on his own. I need to be by his side.”

“I’ll ring you as soon as he gets here and keep him out of the clubhouse until you get down there.”

“Thank you, brother.” For a few moments, we stand face to face, no words needed to express the crushing pain of our mutual loss. I give out a heavy sigh before turning my attention back to the sweetness in our life. “Lead the way, Sasha.”

With her hand firmly in mine, Sasha leads me towards the back of the house, towards the room that Oriana had when she first arrived to take up the position of nanny to Sasha. In truth, it wasn’t that long ago, but strangely, it feels like Oriana has always been here.

When we get to the bedroom door, it’s open. Tenley is sitting at the top of the bed, her knees pulled up, her chin resting on the top. She’s cradling the arm that she hurt with the other. Oriana, who sits at her side, has her arm slung across the back of Tenley’s shoulders. I can’t hear what she’s saying to her because it’s nothing more than a whisper. Whatever it is, Oriana’s face is full ofconcern for her stepsister, a far cry from the first time I saw them in a room together.

“Can I come in?” I ask with a light wrap of my knuckles against the door frame. Oriana looks to her sibling for approval and when Tenley gives her a quick nod of the head, she pushes up off the bed and walks towards me.

“She’s hurting,” she whispers fiercely, so only I can hear what she has to say, protecting Sasha from the drama. “I’m not just talking about physical pains. I’m worried about her mental health, so tread gently Smoke, otherwise, I will make your life a living hell.” Like a switch has been flicked, Oriana’s demeanor changes instantly. “Come on, Sasha, let’s go make Aunt Tenley some chicken noodle soup.”

“Chicken soup, yes, that always makes you better when you’re hurting, doesn’t it, Mummy?”

“I don’t know why I bother trying to talk quietly,” Oriana huffs. “She’s got supersonic hearing, I’m sure.” I place my hand on Sasha’s head, her sweet face lifts towards me, a knowing smile on her face. “Come on,” she swings Sasha up onto her hip and walks back towards the kitchen.

I step inside Tenley’s room and slowly push the door closed behind me. Tenley looks devastated. Pain and fear etched on her face. ‘

“How are you feeling?” I stupidly ask. Look at her; she’s a far cry from the Tenley that came crashing into my office full of confident and gall. The Tenley that has a profound effect on me, testing me, having me questioning my loyalty to Violet.

“It’s all my fault,” she repeats what she had been insisting earlier.

“This is not your fault,” I reply, harsher than intended, but I’m not letting her hold the responsibility of what has happened today on her shoulders. “This is undoubtedly Dunne and the Irish, not you.”

“But I should have come to you earlier, I… I…” Coming to the side of the bed, I perch myself on the edge, facing her.

“Tenley, you’re not making sense. Start from the beginning, baby. Help me understand why you think you’re to blame.”

“Last night, I couldn’t sleep, so I saw what else I could find out about the Death Valley Irish. I’d already researched Paddy Dunne extensively, but not any of his known associates, to any extent.” She sniffs and blinks back her tears before swiping the wetness of the previously shed ones from her face with the back of her hand. I take that hand and hold it in mine, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. Her breath hitches before she starts talking again. “I found a number of old news articles relating to the people back in Northern Ireland that were linked to Paddy and the Death Valley Irish.” Tilting her head up towards me, her tearful eyes, that are full of remorse, find mine. “It got me thinking, what if his ‘guests’ are those people and the reason they’re here is that Paddy is planning something big? A hit against the Young Outlaws?”

“Ten, we’ve come to that conclusion too, but what happened just now, why on earth would you be responsible for it?”

“With the way Paddy came at me at my apartment that day, and his parting words of warning, with that and what I found in the news clippings, the chances he was planning something were high. I came to that conclusion last night. I should have come to you then, but it was late, so I thought it could wait until the morning. Then, when I got up, Sasha was vying for my attention, so by the time I’d got dressed to come and find you…to tell you...”

“Tell me what, darlin’?”

“Dunnes associations have been linked to a number of bombings.”

“Fuck,” I curse out. “That just confirms the fucker Dunne was behind this.” Taking a hold of her shoulders I turn her to face me. “You couldn’t have known they would target us like that and you’re certainly not to blame for what they have done. This is not your fault,” I say firmly.

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