Page 4 of Marx

“And the worst case?”

He stares at me, and I know that look. Motherfucker. Lovely took the bullet meant for me. Without Lovely I could have died out there, in the fucking dirt outside my clubhouse. My head hangs and my eyes close as I try to control my rage and guilt. Getting worked up isnt going to do me any fucking favours right now. The door opens and closes, Switch leaving me alone. I close my eyes, thinking of strategies, intel I need, plans I need to make, people I need to mobilize-

“You need to take a break.” My eyes open at the sound of Rhodie’s voice. He stands in the doorway with the Landrys at his back, cups of coffee in their hands.

“I’m good, brother,” my voice comes out in a rasp, thick with fatigue and guilt.

“Like hell you are. You can’t lead shit if you’re burnt out.” He frowns at me, clearly not impressed with how crappy I look. My smell probably offends him too. He had no trouble with smells until Chewy and her damned bloodhound nose turned up. “Go home, take a shower, catch a couple of hours sleep. Vic, Dom and Chris have got this.”

I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but he raises his hand, “Brother, your men need you. You haven’t seen the new digs, you haven’t checked in with the wounded brothers. We need to have Church, the Computas have found some shit -”

“No,” I growl, standing to my full height, going toe to toe with my brother. “She fuckingsavedme, Rhodes.” My anger rushes out of my body, deflating me and I slump into my chair. “She shoved me out of the way and took the bullet meant for me, brother. I’m not walking out of here when she needs me. Iwant to be here when she wakes up, Ineedto be here when that happens.”

He stares at me for a moment, his green eyes boring into mine. Rhodie’s eyes are like his mother’s, the woman who raised me.

“I know where you’re at. I know exactly why you feel the need to be here, at her side, but is that what Lovely would want?”

I scowl at him before looking at her brothers who have remained silent this whole time. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

He takes a seat, letting out a long sigh. My gaze bounces between him, Dom, Chris and Vic.

“Marx, what do you think is the most important thing in Lovely’s world?” Vic asks softly, placing his hand on Lovely’s.

“Little Bee,” I answer immediately. Lovely adores that little girl.

“Do you think Lovely would like knowing that Bee is being bumped from person to person at the moment? That she’s unsettled but too little to know what’s going on?” Chris says, eyes never moving from his sister.

Closing my eyes I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I shake my head slowly. I know for a damn fact that if Lovely were awake she’d demand her little girl be here with her. She’d want to see with her own eyes that she’s OK.

“How about you go home, get a couple of hours rest, wash because you fucking reek, and then bring Bee back to visit her mom?” Rhodie says.

I eye him then the Landrys for a moment. “Guilt trip, huh, fuckers?”

“Whatever works.” Dom shrugs. “And I didnt want to say anything, but I can’t do another minute in this room with your unwashed ass.”

“Everyone is a goddamn comedian,” I mutter and I move to stand then head for the door. “Message me as soon as anything happens.”

Vic gives me a chin lift then takes my seat and Rhodie moves to my side, waiting for me to leave. I take one look back at Lovely before heading out, Rhodie at my back.

“You claiming her?”

“Yeah.”

Rhodie side eyes me, “You got a lot of work to do.”

I grunt at him, “Know that brother, but she’s fucking worth it.”

Pops

I tug my chino’s up a little higher and my hands find my hips as I survey the surroundings.

“You did good, Sid,” Debs beams up at me as she lifts my arm and snuggles under it. I squeeze her to me, soaking up her warm adoration.

“Needed to be done babe.” The last of the mobile homes that could fit on the section between the house and the cabins moves into place, bringing the total number of mobile homes on the property to five.

Thank fuck this property is huge and empty. After my son and his wife were taken I kept the place, not wanting to move the kids. I’m glad we did, now we have enough space for the MC.OurMC. Because that’s what it is. Now I just have to wait for thesebastards to give me a cut. I ain’t prospecting so they’ll just have to hand it over.

“Well, if it ain’t the fearless leader,” I mutter, watching Rhodie drive in with Marx in the passenger seat.

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