“I’m not ready to think of either of them wanting to be on a bike. You know I have no problem with the life you live and the way you do it, but I can’t think of them living it. Not yet,” she proclaims.
“Didn’t say we need to go out and get it for them right this second, babe, just when both boys are old enough,” I say clearly. “Now tell me what you’ve been up to.” I decide a change in subject is in order because I know she’ll stress herself out about it.
“Nothing much, work and then spending time with a few of my friends. Charm, she just moved in with her grandma not too long ago, and I took the kids to the movies. She’s been a big help. I wanted to do something nice for her but I’m not sure what. I saw this necklace I thought about getting her but I thought the cost was too much. But it would have been perfect for her.” As is Amanda’s way she loves making others feel special and finding a way to show them she appreciates them.
“I’ll send you another three-grand, babe, you get it and yourself something special. I’m coming to town in a few months, and I look forward to seeing what you get,” I mutter with a promise in my voice to see her soon.
It sucks I didn’t get the chance because now she’s gone and the thought of her gone fuckin’ hurts. We might not have been together anymore in the sense of marriage and shit, but fuck, I still cared for her. Still loved her in some ways. Just not enough to give up my life as a Nomad.
The plane touching down draws me from my thoughts and I’m ready to go by the time the damn thing comes to a stop and the doors open. I thought I’d have to find a cab or some bullshit when I got here, but lucky for me, I don’t. Marker worked his magic one last time by calling the Prez of their Florida charter. They’d gotten a bike for me to use until mine gets here. Runes already ordered one of the prospects to go get a truck and trailer to haul theirs and mine.
No one had been around when I got to the bike. I just knew it was for me, considering Marker told me what it looked like before the plane took off. Grateful for this, I told him I’d owe him for his help.
Straddling the bike, I switch her on and head in the direction of the house. It’s the same house I grew up in with my pops. When he passed due to colon cancer, the house became mine and I gave it to Amanda so she didn’t have to pay for rent or have a mortgage since the place was paid off.
Speeding down the streets of Tallahassee I see new buildings up, some of the old buildings remodeled, and others all the same. It doesn’t take me long to pull into the driveway of the house.
No sooner I put the kickstand down, my daughter Astrid is barreling through the door, her brothers coming up behind her more cautiously, and a woman with vibrant colored red hair who’s looking at me wearily.
“Daddy. Daddy. Daddy, you’re home. Are you here to surprise Mommy? She’s not home yet.” My chest clenches as I lift my daughter into my arms.
“Hey, baby girl. What have I told you about running out of the house?” I mutter and place a kiss on her cheek and swing my leg over my bike to stand. Turning to my boys, I see the suspicion in their eyes and know I’m gonna have to break it down to them separately than I will with my little girl.
Greeting my boys, I put Astrid down but keep her close as I know my little girl can be clingy when she’s with me. Just means she’s missed me as much as I missed her. Her arms wrap around my leg and she puts her feet on the top of my boot. I pull my boys in for a hug even if they seem upset with me. Due to the situation we’d been helping the Inferno’s Clutch MC out with in Arizona, it’s been a week since I spent time with my boys. Normally we play one of their favorite video games together online. Most of my brothers get in on it too. Shit, Runes’s kid even gets in on the action sometimes. This is one of the things I’ll also have to explain in a sense to them, seeing as they somewhat understand club life.
“You must be Soren,” the woman who’s stepped out from behind the kids says in greeting.
“Fenrir,” I correct her. This woman doesn’t know me and she sure as hell isn’t gonna be allowed to use my real name.
“Come again?” she asks, furrowing her brows. She’s got a sass about her, and it isn’t one I’m appreciative of at the moment.
“You call me by my road name, not Soren,” I mutter in annoyance.
“Oh . . . okay, well, Fenrir, I’m Charmaine but everyone calls me Charm,” she says, and I don’t miss the sarcastic tone in her voice.
“Good to know. Now can I go into the house?” I don’t bother hiding my annoyance. For one, I just got here after a long trip from Arizona. Two, it’s been less than a day since finding out my ex was killed, and I’ve gotta tell my kids. And three, I haven’t eaten yet, and I’m starting to get a fuckin’ headache.
Right now, I need to get inside, spend time with my three kids, and then this evening, I’ll break it to them. I can’t bring myself to hurt my little Astrid’s feelings right when I get here. I need her to know that’s not the only reason I’m here. Same with Oskar and
