Page 24 of Roman

“He’s still a member but not holding the officer patch anymore. We still haven’t heard who Rock is taking as his VP. Jake leaving was only a few days ago. One of his kids was diagnosed with leukemia. He is going with the family to Seattle where the kid will get treatment.”

“Fuck. Why the hell does bullshit like that happen to kids? Plenty of pieces of shit out there for cancer to get at.”

“Life is one hell of a bitch brother.” I nod in agreement and decline the pipe when he tries to hand it back. “No, I think I’m baked enough.”

“Lightweight,” Reek chuckles and takes another hit.

“Yeah well I don’t smoke five times a day.”

“I’m down to only two now. Ari got me on a strict no tolerance policy.” Laughing I shake my head at the man. No tolerance my ass.

“I’m going to find Pria.” I catch the sound of the lighter flicking on as I walk out of the surveillance room, the conversation we had about Jake’s and his family weighing heavily on my mind.

* * *

Pria

“Mom this place is so cool.” Rhylee comes bounding up to me, bright smile on her face. It’s good to see her smiling.

“Are you making new friends?” I brush my hand along her now braided hair. “This looks beautiful.”

“Kataya did it. She even gave me these.” She pulls out a pair of colorful circles from her pocket. “They are earrings.” She holds them out to me. Looking closer I now see they are beaded earrings with several bright colors creating an intricate pattern.

“Those look amazing sweetie. But you don’t have your ears pierced.” I smile and tug on one of her lobes. “You said you would never.” She always did, ever since she could talk.

“Well, I think I might be changing my mind. I mean how cool are these?” she holds them up to her ears and her bright beaming smile is enough to make me relent.

“We will see about getting them done sometime then. How about that?” I offer.

“Really?” Rhylee leaps forward and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. There is a place in town they said I could go and-”

“What has you so excited?” Roman asks coming to our side.

“Mom is going to take me to get my ears pierced,” Rhylee says jumping up and down.

“Oh well I didn’t-” I start to say when Roman cuts me off.

“I don’t think so.” Rhylee instantly drops the happy smile at his words. “You aren’t putting holes in your ears.”

“Roman. I have my ears pierced.” I find myself saying. “And she is thirteen. Well over the age girls normally get them pierced.”

“Don’t care.” He shakes his head.

“But daddy,” Rhylee complains and it almost feels as though we are having a normal mundane family disagreement.

“Don’t try that on me. You want to put holes in your ears when you are eighteen, we will talk about it. Until then it’s a no from me.” He shakes his head and I almost laugh at this fatherly side of him.

“Fine,” Rhylee sighs and rolls her eyes. “I’m going to go find Kaytaya and give her back the earrings.” She starts to walk away but I stop her, pulling her aside so only she can hear me.

“Don’t go give them back. I will talk to him.” I give her a hug making her smile again before she bounds off to find her new friends.

“You just took back what I said didn’t you?” Roman crosses his arms and looks down at me, his brows knitting. This stern Roman is new to me, I have only known the playful and asshole side of him. This is new territory to me.

“I didn’t take anything back. I just simply said I would talk to you. And you sir are being overdramatic.” I point a finger at his chest, one he catches in his hand and brings to his lips.

“Am I now?” he kisses my finger then moves his hand down further to turn mine around so he can kiss the top. “Want to correct my behavior?” I can’t help the blush that must spread across my cheeks. The man has a way with his words.

“I don’t think that is possible.” I cock my head to the side. “No changing a brute.” He tries to hide the smile on his face but does it poorly.

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