Page 31 of Johny B

“Who are you trying to kid? The way he talks about you, there’s no doubt that he’s totally in love with you. He’s made his claim clear with all the brothers in the club. You are strictly off limits. It’s only a matter of time before you’ll be wearing a ‘property of Stone’ cut on your back.”

“He never?” she chokes on her own words.

“Well, what do you expect?” Tenley speaks up. “He won’t have a single word said against you. Just the other day he shot Smoke down because of something he said.”

“Oh God, what have I done to upset Prez?” she cries out.

“Nothing bad,” Tenley reassures her. “It was some throw away comment about nothing important. In fact, Smoke meant it as a joke, but you know how straight faced he is. Sometimes it hard to tell when he is or isn’t being serious. That’s why Prez was shocked when he bit back so quickly.”

Oriana’s face transforms from worried to relaxed, instantly.

“Uncle Smoke likes you, Mummy.” Sasha jumps to her feet and comes running full speed towards her. Oriana catches her wrist just before she tries to fling them around her legs. “He told me so.”

“He did, did he?” Oriana smiles the biggest of smiles that reach right up to her eyes, glowing with love as she looks down at the little girl who now calls her mummy.

Although she might have started off being Sasha’s nanny, it’s blatantly clear their relationship has morphed into something quite special. And with the connection she now has with Stone, from what my dad has mentioned, they have become a strong, perfect family.

“Why don’t you tell me exactly what Uncle Smoke said to you while we give your hands a good clean?”

“But I’m still painting, Mummy,” Sasha grumbles.

“I think that’s enough for today, besides it’s lovely outside, so once you’re cleaned up we can go into the garden and get some fresh air.”

While Oriana takes Sasha off to clean her up, Tenley goes behind the kitchen counter and opens up one of the cupboards. Placing three wine glasses onto the countertop, she then goes to the fridge and brings out a bottle of white wine.

“I have a feeling that I’m going to need this,” she sighs, hooking the glasses between her fingers, her other hand firmly gripping the neck of the bottle.

“Let’s go sit outside and I’ll crack this baby open.”

I follow her down the hallway that leads from the far side of the living area, past the bedroom where I’d witnessed her cozying up with my dad, and out through the back door. Which brings us to a quiet, good-sized patio area. There’s also a grassed space that holds a dual swing, slide and two or three other play items. The area is surrounded by a white picket fence, which I’m sure is all Stone’s doing. Making sure that Sasha has a safe and secure place to play. Beyond the fence is a thick wooded area that’s still part of the overall compound, as the land that comes with the clubhouse is a substantial amount. I know that Smoke originally planned on having this cabin as his home, but when Stone’s situation changed unexpectedly, and he needed a good living environment for Sasha, he had selflessly given it up. The last thing any Prez want’s is to lose his VP, so giving Stone the use of the cabin was a small price to pay.

Now Tenley is on the scene, and the way my dad seems to be all enamoured with her, I guess that the plan he already has for a new smaller cabin for his own use, might have to be reworked to a larger building.

“Take a seat,” Tenley offers, pointing to one of the eight oak chairs, set around an oblong shaped table.

She waits until I take a seat before she places herself directly opposite me. The door swings open and out comes Sasha at a trillion miles an hour, causing a waft of air to brush my skin as she runs past me, making a beeline for a sandbox over near the far fence.

“Wow, she’s full of jumping beans today.” Oriana puffs out air from between her lips before falling into the seat next to me. “Thanks,” she responds to Tenley when she fills the empty glass placed in front of her. “I really fucking need this.” Grabbing the stem of the glass, she brings it to her lips and takes a good, long sip. “Sasha loves building sandcastles, so the good news is, we have a good hour before she gets bored and wants to do something else. She’s a bit of a perfectionist, even at her age.” She lets out a long, relaxed exhale. “Let’s talk.”

The chat goes well once Tenley realizes that I’m seriously not here to give her the third degree, and that I truly want to get to know her and Oriana. With us all now relaxed, thanks to the wine, the conversation flows.

It’s not until Sasha starts to get restless, now on the swings after finishing her sand masterpiece, that Tenley starts to make a move. Sasha has already had me check out her handiwork, but to me it looks like a pile of sand with a naked Barbie sticking out the top, from the waist upwards, circled by a number of colorful building blocks pushed into the perimeter. It was then that I realized that I’m a little tipsy, but it wasn’t enough to stop me. We’d already drunk a lot of wine between us, and I’d already come to the conclusion that I was no longer fit to drive myself home so it won’t hurt if I have a little more.

“Shit,” I giggle when I get to my feet again, now having to hold on to the edge of the table to steady myself. “How did that happen?”

“What?” Tenley smirks. “You mean the putting of a glass to your mouth, and knocking back wine like you’ve just spenthours in the Nevada Dessert, and it’s the only liquid refreshment available?”

“I blame you,” I point a shaking finger towards Oriana. “You should have listened to me when I said it was a bad idea to open that third bottle.”

“Oops!” Oriana looks back at me all innocently, holding the neck of the bottle, and tipping it upside down. Not a single drop falls from the opening. She then starts to snigger behind her hand. “I think we have another bottle in the fridge, should I go get it?”

“No!” both I and Tenley shout out at the same time.

“I think you’ve had enough.” Tenley walks around and removes the bottle that Oriana’s now swinging from side to side before it flies off erratically.

“Party pooper,” Oriana fires back at her stepsister.

Despite me having my share of the delicious vino, I have noticed that Tenley has mostly nursed her glass throughout the conversation, and has only topped it up the once. Which can only mean that both Oriana and I, have had the lion’s share. Damn! I’m way over the limit and Oriana is in no fit state to be in charge of Sasha either. Oriana is now slumped down in the chair. If she slides down any further, she’ll be on the floor, and is struggling to keep her eyes open.

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