Page 23 of Property of Madman

“They’ll get fuckin’ dead, is what they’ll get.” War grumbles, already on the hunt to take some bodies down, should they challenge us.

Spade catches my eye as I stand behind my chair and offers his opinion. “We all need to stay cool while we figure this out. It pisses me off too, but we have to keep our heads clear to figure out who is at the bottom of this and not go off half-cocked, killing innocent folks.”

Shadow shakes his head, “We don’t kill innocent people, but obviously whoever started this shit doesn’t mind, or we wouldn’t have a dead chick knocking next door.”

“Alright, enough,” I huff. “I’m torn the fuck up over this too. I don’t want any of this shit touching my kids or Audrey. That’sanother issue altogether, I wanted to discuss before we went off the rails.”

I release a breath, my shoulders dropping as I come clean to the overwhelming feelings I’ve been carrying around for far too long in secret. “Timing is shit, but I’m in love with her. I confessed as much to her, and she admitted she’s in love with me too. I know ol’ ladies aren’t a thing around here, and I don’t think she could ever live the MC wife life, so putting my ring on her finger most likely won’t ever happen. However, I want you all to know that as long as she’ll have me, I want her in my life. Same with our kids. I need to know you’re all on board with having them around when they can be here. She’s been trying to get pregnant again, so she won’t be working as much here soon, hopefully.”

The room falls completely silent, the brothers still, not even the chairs squeak from their weight. It’s unnerving as they exchange glances that speak volumes. None of them has to say a thing. I know what everyone’s thinking already. They’re remembering the unspoken rules of our business, the warnings echoing in their minds.

We don’t date our clients.

We don’t fuck them outside of scheduled breeding appointments.

We damn sure don’t love them.

“I get it. I fucked up and fell. Everyone else has played by the rules, yet here I am, supposed to be your leader, and I’ve gone against the most important set of rules of our business.”

Their silence is strong enough they may as well have struck me. I continue, trying to rationalize how I’m any different from anyone else in this club, how it’s somehow acceptable for me to break the rules. Audrey, she’s…” I release a sigh, fists clenching at my sides as I meet their stares full on. “She’s different. She’s everything to me.They’reeverything to me.”

Brass is the first to break the silence. “Everything, as in more than the club, is to you?”

It kills me inside to come to terms with this truth, because it’s not what I want to do. I have no choice, I have to. My brothers deserve to know the truth. “Yes. At the end of the day, she and the kids are more to me. I have never put the club second before, but no matter how hard I try, they’re coming in first now. I will always protect my brothers and do what is best for the club, but I have to be real with each of you. You all deserve as much.”

Spade holds his hands up, “Look, I don’t know how everyone around this table feels about what’s going on with you and Audrey, but I do know the truth. You’ve devoted your adult life to this club. You’ve done everything in your power to keep us all on the straight and narrow. Not only have you helped provide us with a place to call home, but you’ve made us successful while living the type of lives we want to live. Look around at other clubs, Madman, they’re addicts, thieves, and much worse. Somehow, you’ve managed to run a club and keep that sort out of it.”

He glances around; his questioning stare is met with small nods from each of the brothers. Our chaplain continues, “I know that you’vesacrificed. You’ve lived this life a long time, and it has its lonely moments. You have a house full of children now, and you get to be a part of their lives. You have a woman, not only willing, butwantingto have more, and love you all in the same breath. Doesn’t seem like any reason to be worried about breaking rules, you fell in love, brother. You deserve that love and happiness along with it. Can’t think of more of a success story than our prez running the MC, finding true love, and having a houseful in the process.”

His spiel is met with the brothers slamming their palms on the tabletop and grunting out their agreement. I won’t lie; the noisiness is a welcoming relief after being shaken up by what they could’ve said to my admission.

“I appreciate that, brother.” I acknowledge and glance around, asking, “Does anyone object to my family being on the ranch for the long run? To me, making Audrey my ol’ lady someday, if she’ll ever want that spot?”

Brass shakes his head, “Nah, Prez, but if y’all keep having kids, maybe start naming them after us?”

“Oh fuck off, Brass ass,” I mutter, and the table is back to their shit talking towards each other, and everything seems right somehow.

Chapter 15

AUDREY

We’ve been on the ranch long enough at this point; it’s time I quit procrastinating and do it. “This is the fifth time, it’slike riding a bike,” I mumble to myself as I close the bathroom door. I dig around under the sink in my bag until I come back with one of the pregnancy tests I’d pre-purchased before ever getting on my plane to visit again. I knew without a doubt in my mind then, this is what I wanted, and I still do.

Tearing off the packaging, I lift my skirt, shove my underwear down to my ankles, and sit on the toilet. I can already imagine the sweet face of another baby from Gavin. He truly does make the most beautiful babies. So why am I hesitating? Is it because it’s different this time? I won’t be getting pregnant and then leaving, never to return. This child we have together will be for both of us. Somehow, I already know that when it’s born, it’ll be calling Gavin ‘Daddy’from the start.

This baby won’t only be mine, and instead of feeling territorial, I’m excited to share all the wonders being a parent truly brings. With that resolution, I shove the stick between my legs, pee on it, slam the cap on, and release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

It’s done. No more questions about whether or not I’m pregnant, we’re about to find out. There’s no going back, not as if I’d ever want to.

Once I’m fully clothed and my hands are washed, waiting the full three-minute timeframe is always the hardest, and it makes me jittery inside, my stomach tumbling around. However, I’m quickly put out of my misery as almost immediately the digital screen lights up with the magic word.

Pregnant.

A scream of excitement, of triumph, of pure love escapes me. Feelings overwhelm me as I can't stop staring at the word ‘Pregnant’ on the screen. A rush of emotions floods through me all at once - joy, gratitude, and anticipation. It feels like a dream come true, as if our family is expanding in the most fulfilling way possible. Tears momentarily crest as I silently utter a prayer, a whispered thank you to up above, promising to do everything in my power to be a good parent to this new life growing inside me.

“Darlin’, you okay in there?” Gavin interrupts with his sexy Texas twang. He is every bit a cowboy and nothing like my type, but it means absolutely nothing when you love someone as much as I’ve realized I do with him.

I can't wait to tell him the news. My heart races with exhilaration as I think about his reaction. Opening the bathroom door, I meet his panicked stare. With my voice barely above a whisper, I offer, “We’re going to have another baby! It’s happening, the test is positive. I-I didn’t want to wait for the doctor or Sher to make their next stop and run the test, so I brought my own to take.”

---