Page 1 of Cooper

Prologue

Cooper

I can’t believethe year we’ve had. Saige getting kidnapped, Pyro turning on us the way he did. Getting Sis and Bexley back from the Ghost of Darkness. Cotton and Sis getting together, getting pregnant. I just got through watching Saige and Cotton get married and adopt lil Bethany. Poor Bethany, I hope we can find out what happened to her mom and granddad. We’re all going to meet back at the clubhouse for a little party. It won’t last too long; Saige is getting tired so fast carrying the twins. Cotton helps his girls into his truck while Bexley and I head to my Mustang. We leave after they do because I need to stop by the bank and get a little cash out. As soon as I pull out from the ATM, a car comes barreling toward us. I slam my Mustang in reverse and hit the gas, trying to keep it from hitting us. I swerve out of the way, looking up to see that it is Buck’s car. He and Beth are both in it, but they look almost like they are made of wax or something. After it goes past us it hits a column a few car lengths from us, exploding. I throw my body over Bexley, the explosion drowning out her screams. I had hit Dad’s number on speed dial right as the car went by us, I don’t know if he can hear us, but I know he’ll have Tech triangulating where we are and get help to us fast.

One

Tires

Two weekslater

I walkinto the common room at the clubhouse to see that Bexley is handing over the security tapes from Saige’s bakery to Tech. Commander Thomas had said that Beth and Buck were both dead when the car they were in came barreling towards us. Bexley and Saige have been combing the tapes to find the guy that Beth had been leaving with sometimes before they disappeared. It was while they were combing through them that Saige had screamed out in anger. Rancor was standing right outside the bakery, waving at the camera. Tonya had lied about him dying in a shoot-out with the cops in another county. Now we need to find out why. She is still locked up in jail from when, she tried robbing the store by the bakery. We’ve no clue if she is actually working with Rancor or not. My bet is that she is. Stockholm syndrome or she really does love him, I don’t know, I just want her away from my sister and my woman.

Bexley sees me approaching and she smiles. She didn’t like me calling her gingersnap, so now I need to find another pet name for her. I may just have to mess with her until I find the right one. She puts her arms around me when I get to her and tiptoes up for a kiss. I hate that I wasted so much time. I had my head up my ass, but I’m trying to make up for that now. “Hey honeybunch. Are you okay?”

Bex crinkles her nose up, “Honeybunch? Um no! That’s as bad as gingersnap. I gave Tech the security tapes. He’s going to make a copy of them before he turns them over to Commander Thomas. He said he doesn’t want the tapes to disappear or us not know what’s on them. He’s setting it up, so that the live feed will come here to his huge computer system. I need to head to the bakery and open soon. Saige has some things at her house that I need to pick up to take with me. She made some new pies, and several desserts in jars to try. I’m going to do a poll for a few days to ask about salads in jars, or maybe sandwiches.”

I smile at her enthusiasm, “I like that. But I think you and Sis are taking on so much right now. I know y’all want to stay busy. But don’t you think some of that should wait until she has the twins and they’re in daycare so that she can be there to run the place?”

Bexley looks at me indignantly asking, “Do you think I can’t handle it? Saige made me manager for a reason. I’ve hired a couple of the teenagers that applied to work that passed background checks and I have Saige. Some of the guys actually help out while they’re there. Wolfe makes a mean turnover. I need to be independent as much as possible Coop. You know what I’ve been through, well most of it. I need to be able to stand on my own two feet so that I know that no matter what comes at me I can do what needs to be done.”

I look down at Bexley smiling. I get where she is coming from. I really do. Sighing, I give in. “Okay, who all’s with you today? I’ve got to work on the bike that a lady wants done for her man’s birthday. Is Loki on shift at the fire department or is it Bacon’s shift at the police station? I need to know someone is there with Saige since Cotton will be working today too.”

We are walking outside, going over to my bike as she answers me. “I know that Loki is on shift, so it’ll be Bacon and Lynch with Saige and Alivia. I have Wolfe, Crow, Brennon, and Hawke. They’re all going to be there. I think your dad said that he’s going to drop in too. He’s already placed an order. He’s going to go have lunch with Leilani at the tattoo shop.”

Nodding while I think she tiptoes up and kisses me really quick. “I’ve got to go Coop. I’m going to be late. Love ya.” With that she is walking away talking on the phone before I can say anything. I just shake my head. I need to get to the garage. I get on my bike that I built from the ground up, put my helmet on and fly down the road.

Bexley

I’m so going to be late. I call Saige, “Hey girl! Is there any way that Cotton can drop off the desserts and stuff on his way into work? I’m running so late. If not, I can send Crow over to get them. That’ll leave me with the three patches that Stone wants. I’m so happy that he and the guys patched Brennon in.”

Laughing Saige replies, “Yeah that’s fine. It may take Crow coming to help though. Some little princess asked me to make some cupcakes so I’m sending some of those too. They are the cherry-limeade. I made the icing lime, so she added pink sprinkles on top. They look cute, so they should go when the school crowd comes in. Just set them on the little pedestal that we set up for Bethany’s Concoctions.”

I grin as I think about that little table set up just for Bethany. She was so excited when we did that. Any money made from sales off that table go to Bethany. She is putting them in a piggy bank, and she’ll decide later what she wants to do with it. She’s already said something about toys for kids in hospitals. “Yeah, okay. Thanks Saige. Tell my little princess that Auntie Bex loves her and that I’m going to buy the first cupcake that it sounds so yummy!’

Laughing Saige says, “I sure will. I’m going to get her breakfast ready in a little bit. Alivia’s getting her dressed. Y’all be careful going in. If you need anything call me. Love ya.”

“Love ya too. I will.” I hang up the phone as I get in the truck with Brennon. Hawke and Wolfe are on their bikes following us, as Crow takes off to get the desserts from Saige.

Two

Bexley

When we pullup to the back of the bakery, Brennon takes the keys from me and goes in to check out the shop. He comes back out giving the all clear and the rest of us walk in. Brennon had turned on the lights and the ovens on his way back out, so I turn on the radio I have here in back smiling as the rock music fills the air. I set my stuff in the office then walk out front to turn the coffee pots on and check the inventory. I have a few things made in advance that I had put in the freezer. All I have to do is pop them in the oven. Saige and I have experimented with what would do good being made up beforehand then baked later. The turnovers, pies, some of the breads, and a few of the cookies work really well this way. After writing down everything I need the guys turn the open sign over as I go back in the kitchen.

I walk in to see Wolfe already popping some muffins in the oven. He has the ingredients and pans out to make a couple cobblers. He is a great help, as he loves to cook. Brennon is watching for Cotton and Crow to help them carry stuff in, Hawke is watching the front with Destiny, a sweet girl that quit school, got her GED, and is a very hard worker for a teenager. Hawke has really taken a liking to her but won’t say anything to her. I overheard him telling Wolfe that he wished she were a couple of years older. But with the way she watches him, I don’t think it will be long before they are dating.

Cotton and Crow pull up about thirty minutes later. Brennon helps them carry everything in as Destiny and I set everything up out front. “Cotton, will you have Cooper call me and let me know what he wants me to bring back to the clubhouse? He said he wanted something to snack on. I know I’ll take a couple of Bethany’s cupcakes.” I can’t help but notice that he looks a little pale. “Are you feeling okay Cotton? You look pale.”

He grins really big. “Yeah, though I can tell you that the lemon cookies, cupcakes, the tarts, and lemon bars, are his favorite. He and Stone both love lemon. My stomach has been hurting. I think I have an ulcer. It’s fine, I’m fine.”

I laugh. “Well, now I know how to butter them up if I need to. Thank you, Cotton. You need to get that checked if it keeps up.”

He laughs and gives me a thumbs up as he heads out to the garage. I get busy baking. There is a special cake order that I’ve got to get done that Commander Thomas ordered. One of the officers that’s been there for over forty years has decided to retire. I get to working on it, while Wolfe is experimenting with something new. I love this group of guys. The family that I’ve made here sure makes up for the one I grew up in.

Tires

I look up when I hear a noise to see Cotton enter the garage. I’m almost done painting the frame of this new bike then it’ll be time to wire it. “Perfect timing, Brother. She’s ready to have the wiring and everything done. I have the gas tank, fender, and helmet in to be painted and detailed. Hey, also, some magazine called wanting to do a spread on us and our bikes.”

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