Just like the MC did.
However, Marc was grateful for Autumn letting his youngest brother adopt her baby. They all were.
“Carly’s bringing Levi,” Marc warned. “Autumn and Sig coming to watch the parade?”
“Don’t think so. Don’t think Sig wants her in town right now. See you’re workin’ the parade. Guess your brothers are, too. Figurin’ you don’t need me to watch over Levi. But if you do, I’m here, just in case.”
Marc studied the man for a long moment. Judge had taken on the role of Sergeant at Arms for the MC. That meant he was the muscle behind the club and was in charge of protecting its members and everyone else who fell under that umbrella. Marc had done some research on motorcycle clubs after Trip came back to town and began to rebuild the Fury. He wanted to be prepared. They all did.
He knew the women and children who belonged to club members were considered “property” of the club. And by Judge offering to keep an eye on Levi, the man probably still felt responsible for protecting Marc’s newest nephew, even though the baby was now a Bryson.
Protected by a family of cops instead of bikers.
“My wife will be here with them. As will my Pop. He might be retired but he’s still a cop and a Marine at heart. So, I think we got it covered. Adam and Matt will be sticking close, too.”
Judge pulled at his long beard and nodded. “Got it handled, then.”
“Yeah, but appreciate the offer.”
Judge tipped his head and stretched a hand out to Daisy. “C’mon, kid.”
The little girl pursed her lips. “I want them to be my friends.”
“’Nother time,” Judge told her. “Sure you’ll hang with them when you start school.”
That had Marc’s ears perking and he noticed Leah’s had, too. “So, she is staying in the area?”
“Yeah, she’s staying,” he answered, putting his arm around Cassie’s shoulder.
The woman hadn’t said a word to that, so he wondered if she was aware that the big man was making the decision for her.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Cassie.” He offered her his hand and she shook it. “Marc Bryson. That’s my wife, Leah, who you’ve met. My parents, Ron and Mary Ann. Hannah, my niece, and you’ve met Greg, Hannah’s uncle. Welcome to Manning Grove. Great town. Great people.” He lifted his gaze to Judge. “We’d like to keep it that way.”
Judge’s jaw shifted but he gave Marc a sharp nod. “Same here.” Then he picked Daisy up, wrapped a large hand around the back of Cassie’s neck and took them back to where he had set up their chairs a few yards down the block.
Marc glanced at his wife.
She murmured, “Interesting.”
“Having women and children might keep the club on the straight and narrow,” Marc hoped.
“Didn’t last time,” Ron said. “Judge was one of those kids. Trip, Cage, Rook and Sig, too. I’m going to tell your brother to keep a close watch on that MC. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself. Never thought I’d see the day when our town would be dealing with not only an MC but that crazy clan on the mountain. Once the Fury disintegrated, we thought the worst thing the force would have to deal with was moonshiners and meth makers.”
“Yeah, those were the good ol’ days, right, Pop?”
Ron shook his head. “Max has got his work cut out for him.”
“Let’s just hope Dutch was being honest when he told you that they weren’t going to bring trouble into town.”
“We’ll see,” his old man said. Oliver climbed into Ron’s lap, while Jax was already settled on Mary Ann’s.
“Going to go walk, see if I can spot the beginning of the parade. They should start moving through any time now.”
“Carly, Amanda and Teddy aren’t here yet,” Mary Ann exclaimed. “They better hurry or they might miss Max.”
Marc scanned the crowd. “Carly’s coming. She just stopped with Judge. Looks like she’s showing him the baby.”
“Well, Teddy needs to open the salon so she can take Levi in where it’s warm. I don’t want him outside in this weather.”
“It’ll toughen him up, woman,” Ron told his wife.
“A five-week-old baby does not need to be toughened up,” Mary Ann scoffed.
“Bah!”
“No pie for you later,” Marc’s mother said.
“I want pie, I’m eating pie,” his father answered.
Marc clapped his hands together. “Okay, then. I’m heading down the street. You all have fun.” He leaned over to give Leah a kiss and when he did, he whispered, “Things go sideways, text me. Don’t jump into anything.”
“What’s going sideways? Your parents fighting over pie?” Leah had air-quoted the last.
Marc pressed a kiss to her lips. When he straightened, he said, “Just text me if you need me.”
“How about if I just tell you I need you?” she whispered with a smile. “If I’m asleep when you get home, wake me.”
That sounded promising.
“Don’t eat too much sugar before bedtime,” his father butted in. “Might not get any sleep. And we got a big day tomorrow.”
Leah’s lips twisted.
“Yeah, it’s Chriss-mas!” Greg shouted. “Santa’s comin’!”
“Yeah, Santa’s coming!” Jax yelled.
“Down the chimney, right, Grandpa?” Austin asked.
“Only if you’ve been good this year,” Ron said.
“I’ll check back later. Be good for your grandparents, boys.”
With a last look at his family, Marc shook his head and headed back in the direction he came. The opposite direction from a whirlwind named Teddy, who was heading their way.
Chapter Six Matt & Carly
Carly carefully steered the stroller through the crowd, trying to avoid everyone’s toes and shins. This was the first time she’d actually used the hand-me down from Amanda and Max.
She felt like a Nervous Nellie taking her baby out in public for the first time. She wished Matt could be there with her, but the reality was he needed to work today to have tomorrow off.
And tomorrow would be a special day none of them should miss.
She hoped she hadn’t forgotten to pack everything she needed in the diaper bag and
