Page 12 of Tinsel & Chrome

Both children tore into their gifts, squealing over each item. They had everything from dolls and dress-up clothes for Darby and legos and a remote control truck for Lorcan. There were games, some clothes, and Sinner and Hallie had gotten them both bicycles with training wheels.

“Looks like we get to teach our kids how to ride,” Chaos said with a laugh.

“When there’s no snow or ice on the ground. No way am I letting my babies get hurt,” Indi replied.

“Whatever you say, Kitten,” he agreed with a chuckle.

“You know it’s going to take two trips to get everything home, right?” she questioned.

“Yeah, but that’s fine. I’ll run you three home with the first load and then come back for the rest,” he replied.

“Sounds good.”

When Ripper pulled out his guitar and started playing, the music was turned off and Ivy, who they’d discovered loved to sing, led them all in Christmas carols. Even Darby and Lorcan sang the ones they knew.

When the kids started yawning and rubbing their eyes, Indi nodded at her husband. “Time to get these two home and into bed. Have a good night everyone,” she called out as she picked Darby up.

Chaos scooped Lorcan up and they headed home.

After tucking two very sleepy children into bed, Chaos left to get the rest of their gifts. “We can put everything away tomorrow,” he said once he returned.

“Yeah. I can’t believe how much our lives have changed in the last few weeks,” Indi murmured softly. “Things felt... incomplete, and now the laughter of children fills our home.”

“Our family is complete,” Chaos replied.

Thinking about his words, Indi realized he was right. With Darby and Lorcan in their lives, their family was indeed complete.

Jingle Blaze

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By Candi Fox

Muddy Water Colored Memories

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Grizzly

July Twenty-three years ago...

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“Yo, Griz, did you drug the rugrats so they’ll sleep in tomorrow? We have a lot of shit to get done. Remind me why we’re doing Christmas in fucking July?” Mad Dog whines.

I slap him upside the head. “You know damn good and well why we have Christmas in July.”

My no account ol’ lady took off and left us when my kids were one, three, and five. I’ll never forget the morning I came home from work to find her gone. July 2, 1995; the day my life changed. I’d been doing a shift at the fishery. It’s the legit cover for some of our illegal operations. The Merciless Few have chapters all over the states. Some are legit, some aren’t, but we all have one one thing in common. We’re bad motherfuckers.

Our chapter is part of that fabled one percent. We live life to the fullest. That doesn’t mean we don’t fall in love or get our hearts broken, though. And the ol’ lady leaving me shredded mine. And she didn’t even want our children. That hurt more. Honestly, it’s for the better. If she didn’t want or love the kids, she should have told me after Walker was born. Instead we had two more, Wade and Wynn. The apples of my eye. I shifted all my love and attention to my children. My club and my kids are my life. It’s why I started the whole Christmas in July celebration.

It was a panic move. A move to make my kids smile again after Sarah left. That first year, they didn’t understand why their mama was gone. Walker kept asking when she was coming back.Wade cried himself to sleep every night. Wynn, my baby girl, was too young to know any different, but she still felt the shift, the absence.

I was desperate. I didn’t know how to fix it, how to make it better. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I gave them Christmas in the middle of summer. Bought a damn tree, strung up some lights, and had the guys pitch in for presents. We grilled out, set off fireworks, and for one night, my kids had smiles on their faces again. It stuck. Every year since, we’ve done it.

Mad Dog rubs the back of his head, scowling at me. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Doesn’t mean I gotta like it.”

I smirk. “Then don’t show up.”

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