“We need to slow down.” He rasps out against my neck, placing gentle kisses along the column.
“I didn’t know…I didn’t think it would be like that. One kiss and I turn into a stage 5 clinger.” I drop my head to his shoulder, even as I tighten my arms around him. I don’t want to move from this spot, I could live here, in his lap forever. It might make rounds at the hospital difficult, but I’m willing to make it work.
“Is there something higher than a stage 5?” I gasp, drawing my head back to look at him. Oh my God, he’s uncomfortable! Except, he pulls on my lower back, moving one hand up to the back of my head, pushing it back down to his shoulder. “Cuz, I would be ok if you were an over achiever and wanted to be clingier.”
“I’m sorry.” I whisper against his neck. Inhaling his spicy leather scent into my greedy lungs.
“Why are you sorry, b’shert?” He asks concerned, still smoothing his hand over my head. I realize why Elead was so comfortable resting in this man’s embrace.
“That was a hell of a first kiss. The success of that can only carry you so far, you gotta bring you’re A-game with each new first we experience.”
“Oh, yeah?” He asks laughing, “And what about you? Don’t you feel the pressure to live up to such high expectations?”
“Nope.” I pop the “p” with sass. Kissing up his neck, I whisper into his ear, “I don’t have a gag reflex. I once beat my uncles in a hot dog eating contest.”
My body shakes from his uproarious laughter. “Were they kosher hot dogs?”
“Hebrew National All Beef Bun Length.”
“Fuck, that’s hot.” He groans, nipping at my shoulder.
“All right. Time to adult. Let’s allow the hormones to simmer while we go through all of the unnecessary purchases your brothers made, we can revisit your couch later.”
“Ugh. Fine.” His pout is hard to resist, so I lean in for one more quick kiss, pulling back before he can wrap his arms back around me. “When we are done, will you come visit Elead with me?”
“Not working, being fed lunch by vigilante bankers, making out with my sexy boyfriend and snuggling with my favorite baby boy?” Garrett grins, nodding his head, while I clutch my chest dramatically. “Don’t pinch me, I want to keep dreaming.”
Ephraim 14.
“Ephraim.” I answer the phone quietly, sitting next to Elead’s incubator. The doctors said he should be moved to an open bassinet in the next day or so. He has been improving leaps and bounds and it has been fascinating to watch him change before my eyes.
“Clubhouse.” Judah responds curtly. Well, he’s always curt, but this seems curter than usual.
“I can be there in 40 minutes, I’m at the hospital.” I stand, placing my hand on the plastic above my son, watching him sleep peacefully.
Judah disconnects the call, so I say my goodbyes to El and leave the NICU. I send a quick text to Priss to let her know that I am leaving, and I don’t know if I will be back to pick her up. She is working in the Pediatric ICU this week, given our relationship and the PICU being short staffed, it seemed a good move for now.
On my bike, I allow the wind and road to clear my head for whatever is to come. I don’t want my baby boy and my woman to mix with what we do, even if it’s only in my head.
I arrive at the clubhouse, noting everyone’s here already. Walking into the conference room we use as synagogue (most MC’s call it church but, you know, we’re Jewish, even if some of us aren’t practicing). Judah is sitting with his elbows resting on the table, while my brothers talk quietly around him.
“Now, that everyone is here, let’s begin.” Judah stands abruptly, not even giving me a chance to sit down before he speaks. “A woman came to the shelter today, bruised and scared. She claims to have been raped by a man about two months ago. She was able to identify him as Dalton Gellen.” At the name, a murmur breaks out. “Yes, he is from that Gellen family. As you can imagine, he was picked up, and immediately released due to his family connections. He attacked her again about six weeks ago but was not able to rape her again before a couple of concerned citizens stopped him. Of course, these same concerned citizens then submitted sworn affidavits that they saw her harass him, so his case was dismissed.”
“Fuck.” Ash slams his fist on the table.
“Last night, he broke into her apartment, roughed her up a bit, laughing that no one could touch him, yet he was free to touch whoever he wanted. She decided that the cops might not be her best option and came to us instead. Sim has checked out her story, the court papers and police reports match. She was told by a neighbor about Maimonides Mitzvot and hoped we might be able to help.”
“Those who believe they are invincible are often the most fun to set straight.” Zeb says with an evil grin on his face. As one of our enforcers, he is used to teaching the difficult lessons to those who need them. And occasionally, he enjoys it.
“Do we know where he is? Any kind of protection?” Levi, our other enforcer, asks seriously from his seat.
Sim clears his throat, “He is at his apartment, security on the building, but not personally. Alarm system, but easily bypassed. He’s a cocky son-of-a-bitch.”
“How exciting.” Zeb cheers, making us all laugh.
“How is the woman?” I inquire, concerned what her state of mind is at the shelter.
“Surprisingly strong, given the circumstances. Karly talked with her, did her intake, and feels that she is appropriately angry at both her attacker and the fucked-up system,
