Page 14 of Marx

My brows pinch at Marx’s concern, but I guess it’s par for the course. He’s a good Pres, always worried about his people. In some ways he’s similar to my father, always worried about his flock. Although that is where the similarities end.

“I’m good.” I nod once and turn back to focus on Chewy and whatever her plan for us may be.

I marvel at how she can command a room. She’s front and center, working through all the threads of information to come up with a plan. What she says goes, that’s how high in esteem the MC holds her. But she’s not the only one. Each and every Ol Lady here brings skills. Nat, Blanche and Ana all bring sass and the ability to speak their minds and go to war for their men if needed. Chewy and Remy beaver away in the background, feeding us with intel and all the things we need to keep ourselves safe. Mira and Vi, while new at this Ol Lady thing, have the ability to bring out the best in their men, while helping keep a rein on the Girl Gang. I used to think that I would never fit in, but since our little fun in the Rev Room I’ve learned that perhaps I straddle the space between the women. I’m brave and ballsy in my own way, and like Mama Debs, Vi and Mira I like to nurture and care for those around me. I’m not quite the woman who left the Keep all those months ago, scared to enter the wide world around me. I’m out here holding on with both hands to make my life, and the life of my daughter so much richer, and I have all these people to thank for that.

“So, what’s the plan?” Nitro asks, over the big screen where his face is showing in a little square in the corner.

It’s quiet except for the rasping coming from behind me. I know without looking that Marx is running his big, tattooed hand down his beard, tugging on it while he thinks. There was a time where all I could think about was what those hands wouldfeel like on me. Would they be rough to the touch? Would they be gentle hands or would they grip and massage me firmly? I could never decide. Although the one thing I knew deep in my soul, was that those hands would never hurt me. Not when his words could do that on their own.

I swallow the lump in my throat, remembering what he said, that I was just his MC brother’s sister-in-law. It hurt at the time, but thinking deeper I get it. He is a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and to him I’ll always be the woman who needed saving. Even though I’m stronger than he’ll ever know, I also know that I’m quite naive when it comes to men. My attraction to Marx is just a silly school girl crush. An attraction to a man so completely opposite to my husband, so handsome and caring and gruff, instead of the slick, smarminess of Royal. His words popped the bubble and I see that at this moment, at this time, Marx is not the man for me, and that’s OK. I believe that love, the right love, will find me when it’s ready, and when it does I’ll grab on with both hands. I smile to myself as I nuzzle my face into Little Bee’s hair as she rests on me, her legs straddling mine, her arms hanging loosely at her sides as she rests against my chest, her body plastered against me. Her little breaths puff out of her plump lips and I feel dampness where I’m sure she is drooling on me.

“These men came into my town, and tried to wipe out my MC, myfamily.” Marx pauses, as if weighing his words. “I can’t make the decision alone. Whatever we decide, we decide as a collective, as this affects all of us. Some of you have Ol Ladies, children, babies-” Marx rests his hand gently on Bee’s back, stroking her gently before pulling back to stand. “We need to make the decision based on this, and not just revenge. I say we think about it for the rest of the day. I’ll be coming to talk to each and every one of you. I want your thoughts, fears, anything that you think is important. We’ll then make a decision afterdinner.” The tension that had been hanging in the room lessens as everyone nods at Marx. Nat and Savage have their heads together, as do Gus and Ana, whispering to each other. The couples with children all look thoughtful, but so do the single brothers. Everyone wants to make the right decision for our family, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this. “Roman and his crew will be arriving in an hour or so. Rhodie, I want you with me to rep the MC, Gus, you’ll rep the Tombs and Vic, if you could rep the Landrys.”

The men all nod in agreement. “I’ll be there, I may not be MC, but you’re still my Pres,” Gus answers seriously, Vic nodding in agreement.

“Good. OK, Church dismissed, I’m going to get Lovely settled and then I’ll be doing my rounds. Stick together, watch each other’s backs,” he looks toward where Chewy and Pops are having a conversation, “and don’t do dumb shit.”

With that he twirls my chair around until we’re pointing in the direction of the doorway, where he pushes me at a fast clip out of the room and away from Pops’ complaining.

Chapter 6

Marx

“Um, you know that I could probably get one of my brothers to get me home, you don’t have to do this,” Lovely’s soft voice washes over me as I stride out of the house, down the ramp and make a beeline to her cabin.

I dodge a few kids’ bikes that are lying on the path, and make a note to have a word with Mama Debs and the kids. With Lovely in a wheelchair, and probably Fox when he comes home, it’ll be best to keep the path clear.

“No. I’m looking after you,” I grumble down at her.

“Pres, stop.” Her voice is firm and I do as she says.

She twists to look up at me over her shoulder, and I know it must pull something because she winces slightly before covering it up. Not wanting to be an asshole I move to stand in front of her, and then feel like more of an asshole as I loom, so I squat down, face to face with the woman who has had me in knots for longer than I care to admit.

“I appreciate everything you have done and are doing to make sure I’m OK, and I am OK. But you have a whole group of people relying on you and your decisions.”

“Lovely, I-”

“No, Pres.” Her eyes search mine for a moment. They still have that kind look in them, but where she used to look at me with stars in her eyes, that look has faded. She gives me a tight smile. “You’re the leader, it’s up to you to lead, not play house with me and Bee.” She pulls her shoulders back, straightening a little. “I’d really appreciate it if you could maybe get me into my house, and then we’ll be fine from there. Vi said she’d hang out at mine and keep an ear out for Bee while I nap.” Her smile turns genuine, and I know that I won’t win this battle.

I keep my mouth shut, and nod jerkily, moving to stand behind her, I grip the wheelchair handles and push her to her cabin. Vi must see us from her window because she comes rushing out of the cabin next to Lovely’s and meets us on the porch. Damn woman butting in. I don’t even know when they arranged all this, I was with Lovely the whole time. I should have known that winning over Lovely wasn’t going to be as easy as I hoped. These women are sneaky.

“I can take over from here Marx,” Vi says, smiling up at me. She doesn’t even wait for my reply, just hip bumps me out of the way, grabs the handles and shoves Lovely and Bee through the front door. “Byeeeeee!” she calls over her shoulder, a huge smile on her face, as if she knows she’s ruined my plans.

Shit. Looks like I’ll be doing the rounds of my brothers sooner rather than later. I tip my head back, and take in a deep breath, exhaling before rolling my shoulders.

“So, what’s the plan?”

I don’t even need to look to see who’s standing next to me. I can smell the Old Spice emanating from him, not to mention he jabbed me with his boney elbow to gain my attention.

“Pops, were you even listening in Church?”

“Yes. The end of Church concluded with there not being a plan. But I’m not talking about Church, I’m talking ‘bout Lovely.”

I glance at him from the corner of my eye to find him full frontal, glaring at me. I could feed him up on some bullshit, but Pops is a wily old bastard with the ability to make my life a living hell, so I may as well tell him.

“Somehow get her to forgive me.”

His bushy brows pinch in as he nods thoughtfully. He even adds in a chin stroke, like a wise, old man. “It’s a shit plan, but pop off if that’s what you want to do.”

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