I open my mouth to give him my bite, but I don’t even have the goddamn energy anymore because he’s right.Instead, I fall back in my seat and pick up my gavel.I stare it, remembering when Birdie gave it to me after I stepped into my position.Fuck.She was so proud of me, and the happiness on her face is something I used to crave from her.Then all my fears were realized when she became a target because of who she was to me.So, instead of trusting her like Gavel said I should have done, I pushed her away then betrayed her, not just losing her but also my kids in the process.
That’s something I need to learn to live with.
My jaw works back and forth before I slam it against the sound block.“You have your orders.”
I don’t say anything else as I slam out of the chapel.
As much as I want to solely blame Birdie for missing so much of my children’s lives, it also lays heavily on me.
Gavel said choices have consequences.
I’m suddenly living mine in full color.
Chapter Eight
Peoplehaveconvergedbackinto the common room as I escape the chapel.At least they’re keeping their fucking clothes on while my kids are here.
Cookie isn’t around anymore, which is a good thing after the way she mouthed off earlier.Can’t guarantee I wouldn’t have dragged her out of here by her hair and tossed her in the fucking street.Doesn’t matter if she didn’t know about Birdie.She knew better than to talk out of turn like she did.I don’t like putting my hands on women in a way that isn’t pleasurable for us both.That’s shit I leave to another woman in the club, but I was damn tempted to do it myself this time.
Eyes crawl over me as I march through the room and toward the stairs.When I glance to the left, my gaze clash with Dimples.Anger shines in her eyes, but it’s the small bite of fear as she glances toward the stairs that has me curious.
Is it Birdie and Valkyrie she’s afraid of or someone else?
That’s something I’ll consider later.Right now, getting Birdie and my kids tucked away in my house takes priority.
Dimples steps toward me, but the look I shoot her sends her scurrying back to her spot.If the brothers didn’t like her pussy so much, she’d have been gone a long time ago.
She doesn’t know when the hell to quit.No matter how many times I tell her no, she still fucking tries.Never met a bitch so hungry for one dick when there’s a fucking club full of brothers who would dick her down anytime.
Scorch said it’s because she wants what she can’t have.It makes me a morsel she’s dying to get a taste of.
I can make her wish come true if she doesn’t watch herself.
The dying part, that is.
I might even shed a tear.
More than likely not, though.
Basilisk leans against the wall with his arms folded and his booted foot propping him up as he watches me climb the stairs.He appears relaxed, but if I had been a threat, I’d have a knife buried in my throat before I could blink.For how big the motherfucker is, he strikes quickly, and his aim is always true.People assume he earned his road name because of that.It’s not until someone is on the receiving end of his death stare that the real reason is unveiled.
“I’m going to get them moved to my place.Then I’ll go over what I need from you.”
He nods, tapping me twice on my shoulder in confirmation before jogging down the steps.
Basilisk hasn’t spoken much since he got out of prison a few years ago.He had some dark shit go down in there.Shit he doesn’t talk about but carries the scars of for us all to see.
My knuckles crack against the wood with a quick rat-a-tat-tat.“Just me, little mama.”
There’s a quiet snick and the door creeps open.Valkyrie blinks, blinking away the dislike for me in her eyes before she steps to the side so I can enter.
She might as well get in line.I got a lot of fucking haters at this point, but I’d have to give a shit about it to care.She should ask me if I do because she’d find out how little I don’t.
Birdie is sitting on the floor, her back straight and resting against my bedframe.Lovelyn huddles against one side of her while Legend takes the other side.Birdie stares at me, her eyes a dark void, and Legend regards me warily.Lovelyn, my sweet little love, gives me a tiny smile.When I wink her at her and she giggles, her mama curls her arm tighter around her shoulder.
“You could’ve sat on the bed.”
Her stony silence and empty stare would unnerve a normal person, but all it does is make me want to split her chest cavity open to ensure she’s still got a beating heart in there.
