Watching her go about her morning routine, stacking the dishwasher and wiping down the surfaces, I breathe deeply. I’m in unchartered territory here. What do you say to a woman you might have made pregnant? In nearly six decades, I haven’t had to face up to anything of its like.
Do I mention it? Avoid the subject?
Mary, too, seems undecided. But when she picks up her purse, grabs the keys from the table by the door, it’s clear she doesn’t want to say anything.
“I’ve got to go, Grumbler, else I’ll be late.”
Taking a last swig of my coffee I stand, go rinse my cup, then pat my pockets to make sure I’ve got everything. “Me too, babe. But I’ll be back tonight. There may be an update about the video.”
For a second, I’m not sure if she’ll agree. Clearly, she’s warring within herself between finding out if that tape isn’t going to bite Alicia on the ass and moving into dangerous territory with me.
Then she comes to a decision. “We only have takeout during the week, but if you want to eat with us…?”
While thinking how domesticated it all seems, I nod. “Takeout is fine with me.” I don’t say the words, we need to talk, but my eyes must signal it anyway. I leave her with just one thought. “I’m all in, babe. I mean it.” I told her I’d claimed her, but I’m not sure my words have sunk in.
Her eyes meet mine briefly, then, the hustle and bustle of the morning comes to a close when she leaves the front door unlocked, trusting me to close up behind her. She goes to her car and opens the driver’s side door. I’ve left the stool, followed her out and am now beside her.
“Think you’ve forgotten something, babe.” At her scrunched brow, I add, “Want your lips.”
She glances around as if the neighbours are all choosing that moment to peer through the curtains. But I’m not letting her get away without reminding her, she belongs to me. Which I do, thoroughly. Her mouth looks thoroughly ravished when I’ve finished.
“Good morning,” I tell her, as I pat her butt and hold open the car door for her.
She gives me a half-smile, then settles herself in. As I close the door, I realise I’m already looking forward to seeing her again.
Having gone back to quickly lock up, I’m only a minute or so behind her, but turning left instead of the right she’d taken.
My bike backfires as though voicing its objections, though probably down to the mixture being too rich. I pat the tank. Hey, baby. I’m not replacing you, okay? That seems to settle her, and the remainder of the ride to the compound goes without further incident.
Unlike yesterday, I’m now riding in Monday morning rush hour. Too many cars and trucks around to get lost in my head. So it’s not until I’m nearing the compound that I let thoughts of last night come back to me.
Damn that condom being out of date. Surely any repercussion is beyond unlikely? Nonetheless, I know it’s going to take however many days it takes for Mary to get a negative pregnancy test result for me to be able to breathe again.
I promised her I’d be by her side. But in the cold light of day I have to ask myself, just how hard will that be? A baby for fuck’s sake?
“Hey. You look like a man with the world on his shoulders.” Niran’s concerned eyes break me out of my reverie as soon as I pull my bike up.
Mentally shaking myself, needing to keep my personal shit to myself, I offer an excuse that will work. “I just fuckin’ hope the Utah guys can live up to their advertisement.” Personally, I hope they destroy that footage of Alicia. Kid doesn’t deserve that. As for the rest of the shit Devon’s into, I haven’t got words to express how much I need that to stop.
Niran raises his chin. “Utah’s landed. Wrangler’s on his way to pick them up. Prez thought a sit-down might be useful before they arrive. He wants us in church for a pre-meet.”
I can see the sense in that.
“They flying in on their fuckin’ private plane?” If nothing else shouts Utah is different, that does.
“Nah, they’ve flown commercial for some reason.” Niran waits while I back my bike into its parking space. His narrowed eyes watch me carefully as I swing my leg over the saddle. Pointing to my leg, he asks, “You put a strain on that last night? You look a bit stiff, old man.” He grins. “Might want to ask Eva to give you a massage later.”
Something she’s done a few times before. She’s a nurse. And while she kept well away from my dick, knowing I’d shown no interest in her, it still seems wrong to go back to her now. Maybe I can persuade Mary to give me a rub down when I see her? Sure, and like that will end with her panties still on.
Making a note to stop off and buy new condoms later, I don’t give him an answer beyond a noncommittal grunt and follow him inside.
Most brothers are already seated around the table when I walk into our meeting room. Those that aren’t, don’t take long wandering in, some with cups of coffee in their hands. I notice two extra chairs have been placed, ready in anticipation for our visitors. As the brothers enter, they shift toward the top of the table, leaving the spaces empty at the end.
“How the fuck is this going to work?” Brakes asks as he sits down. “We really gonna be comfortable with having a fuckin’ bitch in this room?”
“Whether we are or not,” the VP replies, eyeing the manager of our strip club carefully, “that’s where she’s going to be sat.”
“Give her a chance,” Lost starts, supporting his VP. “See what she’s made of before passing judgement. I, for one, liked what I saw.”
“I can
