Anger spikes and I try like hell to shove it down. “With all due respect, Prez, you don’t know her. And the little time I spent with her was enough for me to know she’s everything I want in a woman: I’m sure she’s mine. And she’s Colt’s sister for fuck’s sake.”
“My point, Ledger. You’re not the type to jump in the middle of something and take lead. You’re the silent, watch from a distance, sneak up and kill them without blinking type. From what I’ve seen and heard you staked claim even before Alfie tried to make a move.”
“She controlled Toby when he tried to buck her off. She’s determined, confident, and fucking gorgeous. I can’t explain it, I saw her and I wanted her. Not just a careless fuck since I also never had a lust crush or anything. Then she starts to explain why she’s here and a wave of protectiveness consumes me. I…I can’t explain it.”
I grab my Stetson and pull it off to scratch my head with my other hand.
“Just making sure, Ledger.” Weston smacks my shoulder. “The right woman can simply poke you in the heart before she grabs and squeezes the organ to make it beat to her rhythm. Complicated. Shocking. But it feels so fucking good.”
I can only manage a nod.
Roper stalks toward me. “Colt called. I checked the new cabin, it’s all set. I have a prospect stocking the cabinets right now and he also brought some fresh linens and towels and shit. Give him another fifteen minutes and you can take your old lady there. Bring her back here tomorrow morning. Church. We have enough to talk about and I’m sure Colt will have all the details for us too since he’s diving into the background of the MC.”
“Harlene and Cassidy packed a bag with some clothes and shit.” Weston steps closer and lowers his voice, his eyes sliding to where his old lady is watching their two-year-old daughter, Magdalena, and Roper’s son, Parker, playing. “It goes without saying that I’m not liking the danger accompanying this woman, right? We have kids to protect now. We have worked hard to steer our MC out of dirty shit and lessen the danger. The ranch gives us all the money and work we need. You claiming her pulls us toward a possible collision with another MC.” Weston points a finger in his old lady’s direction. “Those lives playing carelessly? They lay a heavy weight in our well-oiled family every single one of us has made possible. We make fucking sure they can, and always will, play without fear.” His words are spoken in punches.
I know damn well my prez is not only responsible for leading this MC and the ranch, but the extended family we embraced along with it. The old ladies, the kids…like Weston said; we’ve come a long way in creating the life we all love and respect.
But he doesn’t realize the change I felt when this woman entered my life, riding on a horse that’s barely broken in. “Future isn’t a given gift of life, I get it. We fight hard for it, and I wouldn’t have claimed a woman if I didn’t think she was worth fighting for.”
“Good. Just making sure, brother,” Weston says as he smacks my shoulder.
I head for my room and find Mayven wrapped in a pair of my sweatpants and a black shirt. “Come on, let’s get settled in the cabin. From what I’ve just been told the cabinets are stocked and the old ladies have a bag filled with stuff you might need. Whatever else you want, I can order or have a prospect head out to get it.”
“I have money too, you know. I was about to start my own company and had a list of things I was going to do on Monday.” Her shoulders sag but there’s no damn reason for it.
“Write a new list. It doesn’t matter where you are. If you had everything set to start, start right here. What was the plan? Make lunch and bring it to people? If so, I can tell you for sure you’ll have a few clients already.”
Her eyes fill with gratitude and curiosity. “I do?”
“Harlene owns a veterinary clinic. Cassidy is a vet too and Joaquin is the assistant who also works there. They’ve hired two other vets and they are always complaining about lunch and fixing something in between or who needs to go get it. They would love to order and have it brought at set times. Same goes for the junkyard we own. Hell, I’m sure all my brothers would gladly pay to have their lunch ready when they need it.”
“Are you sure?” The smile she’s wearing right now is so damn bright, it warms my heart.
“Unless you suck at making food.” I raise my eyebrow in question.
She narrows her eyes. “I do not suck at making food.”
“Nice. I knew I claimed the right woman. So, breakfast in bed every day, I could sure get used to that.”
“Who wouldn’t,” she mutters.
“Come on.” I lace our fingers and head for the cabin.
After living in a room with a bathroom and basic necessities, it’s a major difference to be in the comfort of a cabin. Everything is twice as big and the added kitchen is a bonus, even more when you have a woman with mad cooking and baking skills.
************
Eight days have come and gone since she arrived here and they are all filled with me being spoiled with a flow of food. Eight fucking days where Colt has gathered information about the MC Mayven’s friend, Kay, is linked with.
There’s a huge negative angle knowing the flow of information Colt discovered. The Deranged Hounds MC have had some insider issues. Follow that by a shift of leadership which they
