Page 5 of Marx

A rush of air leaves me as Debs backhands me to the gut. It’s her favorite move. “Behave, Sid. He’s been with Lovely.”

“As he should. He should have locked that woman down well before now, but the kid is way dumber than he looks.” She gives me a disapproving look before rushing up to Marx’s door.

As soon as he steps out of the SUV she pulls him into her arms, running a hand down his hair before shoving him backwards, jiggling him a little while she barks orders at him. I fucking love when she’s in her bossy mode. I can feel myself starting to get a chub and if she keeps going I’ll have to drag her away to have my way with her.

“Stop ogling my grandmother,” Tav whines, coming to stand next to me, my new little granddaughter nestled into his chest.

I make grabby hands and Tav places his hand protectively over Tess, angling her away so I can’t have my fill of baby goodness.

“You’re my least favourite grandkid.”

“You have a million babies here to love on! Go grab Laney or something.”

“I can’t. She’s napping and Dayz is sharpening her tools. If I wake the kid up I’ll get stabbed.” I grin.

Tav lets out a sigh and gently hands over Tess. I breathe in her baby scent before snuggling her against my chest.

“So, who we got living in the mobile homes?” Tav lifts his chin to the mobile homes dotted around the yard.

“Oh oh, I can tell you that!” Debs bustles back over now that she’s bossed Marx into the house. She nestles back where she belongs, under my arm, and I cuddle her and Tess to me. “You, Blanche and the kids will have one.”

“I call dibs on that fancy one far, far away from Gus,” Tav says, hand up in the air like a school boy.

“Done!” Debs giggles. “I’m putting Fox and Nitro in the smaller one, Fox will need the quiet to heal. Marx and the couples will get first dibs on the others. The single men and Niko will be bunking down inside until we can sort something out long term.” She nods.

Tav brows raise. “You do know this is just temporary, right?”

“We’ll see,” she grins, and I roll my eyes. If she had her way she’d adopt all these bikers. “Oh, and so you know, Marx is showering, eating, then napping. He’ll be calling Church tomorrow.”

“Did he decide that or did you?” Tav asks.

“Bit of both?” Debs grins and the twinkle in her eye does something to me.

“Take your kid, I need some alone time with my woman.” Debs’ laughter rings out and she races away from me. I let her get a head start before I chase her.

I’ll always catch her. She’s mine. Til my body leaves this mortal coil.

Chapter 3

Marx

Imake my way through the farmhouse, stopping here and there to look at the pictures of Chewy and her brothers lining the walls. There’s one of them in sports uniforms, another with their arms thrown over each other’s shoulders, smiling. Well, the boys are smiling, Chewy is staring down the lens in that unnerving way of hers. My lips tug up at the sight. I move further down the line, finally coming to the hall cupboard where Mama Debs directed me. Opening the door a fresh linen scent hits me, the towels inside are fluffy as hell so I know they’re going to feel like heaven after days of sitting in the hospital.

Opening doors until I find the downstairs bathroom, I step inside and rid myself of my clothing as quickly as I can. I never noticed it so much when I was on that hard ass chair in Lovely’s room, but now that I’m out in the world the guys were right, I downright reek. Hanging a towel on the rail I notice the pile of clothes left on the vanity. I have no idea how the hell she did it, but Mama Debs has left my own clean clothing for me. Shit, if she wasn’t Pops’ woman I’d try and set her up with Mad Dog.Speaking of, I need to sit down with him and the rest of my men. I guess that’ll have to wait until after I sleep. Mama Debs’ orders.

Cranking the water on, I step in immediately, welcoming the cold water on my skin, the blast waking me up a little before it grows warmer. The water beats down on my shoulders and back and I can feel my age. My back cracks like a damned glow stick these days. Grabbing the Old Spice body wash, I can’t help the smirk that paints my face knowing I’ll smell like Pops.

I can’t believe the old man has not only opened his home to us, but from what I could see driving in, has also arranged extra accommodation for the club. I know when he first turned up he was nothing but a pain in the ass, I mean, he still is, but shit, there isn’t a man, or a family I’d want at my back more than the Tombs. They should really patch in. Maybe when shit settles down I’ll bring it up in Church.

Washing off the suds I face the water, palms to the wall, head angled down so the water rolls down my back, washing away dirt, dust and hospital funk. Closing my eyes I take two long, deep breaths, turn off the water, dry myself and dress in quick succession. Looking at my dirty clothes I contemplate what to do with them. They’re stained with Lovely’s blood and the sight makes my hands shake and my throat tighten up. She’s lying in the hospital, without her little girl because of me and here I am wanting to make her mine. I don’t fucking deserve a woman like her. She thinks I keep her at arm’s length because I think she’s weak. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I keep her at arm’s length because she scares the fuck out of me. That little woman survived shit that could break a grown man, and yet she’s out here, eyes wide open, experiencing everything the world has to offer with little to no judgement. She’s kind and loving, mothering everyone she comes into contact with, and yet like a Mama Bear she will throw down with the best of them. Case in point, the pep talk she gave me at Christmas when shebasically told me to get my head outta my ass. Lovely is like a fucking phoenix, she walked through fire and came out the other side as pure light.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts, “Leave your clothes on the floor,e tama, I’ll put them in the incinerator when you’re done. I have a load to do anyway,” Mama Debs’ voice calls through the door.

Incinerator? What? I’m frozen in place with confusion and just cannot wrap my head around this new information, even though shit like this is par for the course with these guys.

Someone’s fist bangs against the door, “Get out here, Son. Your men are asking for updates,.”

Opening the door Mad Dog stares at me mid-knock. “Hey Dad. Did you know these guys have an incinerator?”

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