Page 46 of Sweet Revenge for the Bikers

Maybe that’s what strikes me more than anything here. Whether it’s between the men, the women, or all of them together, they feel like family. We can’t choose who we’re blood with, but we can choose who we bleed with. I think I read that somewhere, and it was really cheesy, but at the same time, here it feels so true.

The cry of a baby cuts through the comfortable chatter. Faith sits up. “Oh no. If one goes off, the rest will too. It’s like throwing a grenade into the armory.”

I’m not going to question how she knows that, but she’s right. A moment later two more voices join in, sounding like they’re feeding off each other’s energy.

“Guess it couldn’t last.” Shelby gets up, followed by Faith and Natalie. Apparently they were all sleeping in the next room, since each woman returns with a whimpering bundle in her arms.

Sandra takes Natalie’s spot next to me and gestures. “Meet the newest members of the Screaming Eagles family, including the president’s new grandson, Hudson. Then Shelby’s Reid, and the best little nephew anyone’s ever had, Natalie’s Shawn. We had a bit of a baby boom a few months ago.”

The ladies sit back down where they find space, and then three hungry boys are getting fed. From the sound of it, they were starving, though I’m imagining that babies are a little bit like cats: always on the brink of starvation—if you ask their opinion anyway.

Kaylee laughs. “I swear, no matter how old men are, they’re fixated on boobs.”

“Ain’t that the truth” and “No kidding” echo around the whole room. I’m not the only one without a kid here at the party, but we’re obviously in the minority. Bikers and their old ladies are fertile on top of everything else, apparently.

While the other old ladies get to talking about baby care, Sandra gives me a nudge. “So what do you think?”

“About what? This? It’s nice. Everyone’s so friendly, and everyone seems to care about everyone else.”

“Yeah. I ran away from it, at least for a few years. I got in a lot of trouble as a teenager, so it was a little crazy that it was Natalie, the goodie two-shoes, who ended up a biker babe first. I went to college, messed up that too, came home, messed up some other stuff… Are you seeing a pattern? I was going to put the wild life behind me and settle down a little more normally until Zero, Piston and Beast came into my life. That sort of turned everything on its head.” With a shrug, she nods her head in the old ladies’ direction. “They’re a great bunch, and you can do a lot worse than having three Screaming Eagles on your side. Each one is like a force of nature, and when they get going, you better get out of their way. Luckily, they’re your forces of nature, and that’s amazing.”

“They definitely seem like something special. This is so out of my wheelhouse, I really don’t know what I’m doing.” I pick up my tea and take a sip.

“That’s okay, because they’ll help you figure it out and we’re here, too. Shelby was right. When they fall, they’re yours for as long as you need them. And if you don’t watch out, that turns out to be forever.” She smiles fondly. “And the sex, right? The sex.”

Tea catches in my throat and I end up spitting it back into the cup, followed by a racking cough.

“You okay, honey?” Alessa starts to stand, but I wave her off.

“Fine. Just went… down the… wrong way.”

Sandra laughs next to me. “Let’s do something without all the babies next time. I know it seems like a whole nursery right now, but apparently half of them forgot how to use protection last year.” She rolls her eyes. “Not all of us have kids, believe it or not. I do have a dog though! Her name is Princess Junkyard and she’s perfect.”

“Next time, sure.” I nod.

Everyone seems so convinced I’m sticking around that I nearly believe it myself, but it’s not something Riptide and the others have talked to me about. Sure, we’re all having fun, but Rebel told me he wasn’t sure about having an old lady mixed in with the club. Is that something that could change just because of me?

And things are complicated.

I’m actively avoiding thinking about the fact that Dad is still a suspect in the shooting, and even if he didn’t do it, he’s a member of a rival club.

We’re having fun, but the boys will want to move on when the excitement is over. Until then, I’m going to enjoy my time here as much as I can while we figure out the mess we’re in.

24

MELODY

Riptide is the one who meets me when the meeting is over. He’s leaning against the side of the garage talking to a few other men. He smiles when he sees me and breaks away from the group. I wish I could have him smiling at me like that all the time, since it travels right down to my belly to settle there as a warm, fuzzy feeling.

“Have a good time?” he asks.

“Yeah, it was nice. They’re really good people. Is Rebel busy?”

“He and Mad Dog had to go help King with…” He trails off. “Fuck, you’d think I would’ve caught it. Swear they said it. Anyway, I’m on bodyguard duty for the moment.”

I laugh. “Or are you just trying to steal me away for yourself?”

“You already know that we don’t mind sharing,” he whispers, nipping at my ear.