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Story: Duncan

Lannie eyed her carefully. “You already planned on having dinner there, didn’t you? What is he making?”

Maureen looked sheepish when she answered, “Tacos.”

“Jesus Christ. I can’t wait ’til this baby comes,” he muttered.

Colleen gasped, and Maureen closed her eyes. “Big mouth.”

“You’re pregnant?” Colleen asked, and I looked at Sal.

His eyes softened toward his brother. He walked over and threw his arms around Lannie. “Congratulations, brother.” Lannie hesitated, but then embraced his older brother.

“It’s still early. I was waiting to tell you once I was out of the first trimester,” Maureen explained to her daughter.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Colleen asked, surprisingly happy about having a sibling that would be twenty-five years younger than her.

“It’s a boy. We haven’t told anyone at the clubhouse yet, though. So keep your mouths shut,” Maureen ordered.

I pulled Maureen into my arms and whispered, “I thought you couldn’t have more?” Duane had told me Maureen wanted more, but it just never happened.

“I didn’t think I could. But...” She shrugged. The smile on her face told me how happy she was.

“Maureen, you realize you’ll be—”

“Don’t fucking say it, Ci,” she warned, pointing her finger at him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug.

Mac was next. “Happy for you, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mac. Ok, let’s go. Baby wants tacos.” We all laughed and followed Maureen and Lannie out the door.

The ride to the clubhouse was short. Diamond Creek, Nebraska was a tiny little town not far from the Colorado border. There was one main road surrounded mostly by farmland.

We pulled in behind Lannie and piled out of the car. I held Freyja’s hand. We might have been here just a few months ago, and King might be Sal’s son and my nephew, but we didn’t know these men.

And certainly didn’t trust them.

“Oh shit! The Mob’s back!” Jackass shouted.

Someone turned down the music, and everyone turned to stare at us. Beck, Lannie’s daughter, ran over and hugged Sal. She hadn’t let the animosity between Sal and his brother affect her relationship with her uncle.

That was something Sal and Lannie had in common. Neither had known they were a father until their children were adults. Though Beck had been much more accepting than King had.

“Tell my son!”

“Darcy?” I whispered, looking around for someone I knew wasn’t there.

“Duncan? What is it?” Freyja asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

King walked into the main room and stopped when he saw Sal.

“Hello, Son.”

“What are you doing here?”

Sal sighed heavily. I knew it bothered him that King hadn’t accepted him as his father. But he had to know it would take time.

“Hey, King. We brought Maureen’s daughter out. Thought we would stop by and say hello,” I said.