The thoughts in my brain are bouncing this way and that, going between wanting to make my old lady happy and give her a day she’ll never forget for all the right reasons, and trying to recall whether I’ve done all I can to keep all the men I’m responsible for safe. Not just my Tucson brothers, but those who wear Satan’s Devils’ cuts and who tonight are under my roof, together with the property they’ve brought with them.
I feel my shoulders slump under the weight and try to draw them back up. But watching her, I see her straighten her back, then she comes over. “Can I take this off, or are you going out again?”
“I’m staying here with you.”
She checks, then at my nod of permission, removes my cut, taking as much care of it as I do myself. Then she removes my tee, but I stop her when she gets to my jeans.
“I’m leaving them on.”
“In case you’re needed?”
“In case,” I agree.
She leads me to the bed. “Just hold me tonight, Drew. Tomorrow, let me know if there’s something I need to do.”
Fuck, but she’s going to make a fucking good first lady. No demands to know what’s going on, no fussing about anything at all. She’s just giving me an oasis, a place of safety and calm, an escape from the chaos around me, and the turmoil in my head. Surprisingly, I sleep.
I’m shooed out of the suite almost immediately upon waking. The girls have got a fuck load of prep it would seem to get themselves and Jayden’s kids ready. Amy will be heading up to Drummer’s house as that’s where they’ll be dressing and having hair and nails sorted.
I go immediately to Mouse. He yawns when he sees me and stretches. “Nothing more.”
I didn’t even have to ask him.
I go back out into the clubroom.
“What time’s the ceremony?” Red, still president in Vegas, calls out.
“Noon,” I reply.
He nods and goes back to discussing things with his crew who are standing around him.
“Fuckin’ hate this.” Heart comes over. “Amy and Olivia’s special day and it’s being ruined.”
“We’ll do our best to make sure they enjoy it, a wedding to remember.” Wraith comes across.
I just hope it’s because their day was special, and not that it all went wrong.
Men wander in coming to fill their stomachs having been on guard duty during the night, others go out to take over. Everyone seems to know what they’re doing.
“Just checking it’s going ahead,” Lady comes across to ask. His joking demeanour totally missing.
“We’re doing this,” I confirm. “I, er, don’t rush it, Brother. The girls deserve…”
“I know,” he says. “I’ll give them no cause for worry.”
I’m rushed off my feet, making sure everyone’s where they should be and all know what they should be doing. Most important of all, those who should witness our wedding organised with replacements for when they come back here at noon.
It seems no time has passed at all when a voice sounds from beside me. “Better get ready, Prez,” Hawk advises. “It’s eleven-thirty now. We need to get changed and be there before our brides turn up.”
I allow myself a moment to remember why we’re here. Bumping his arm with my fist, I ask, “We really doing this, Brother? Getting hitched?”
“We’re really doing this.” His smile is broad as he replies.
“Prez! Prez!” I’m halfway across the room when Mouse calls me back.
I’m at his side in a flash. “What you got?”
“A location. Flagstaff.”
