Page 5

BOND

Having Rochelle working side by side with me was like a dream come true. I still couldn’t believe that she was here with me. I knew she had doubts and was sceptical about us keeping her safe, even if she didn’t voice them. She’d been under the gang’s thumb for a long time, and I knew it would be hard for her to see that they weren’t omnipotent and had weaknesses much like everybody else. Theirs would be greed and arrogance. It would be their downfall. It wasn’t the first time we’d been up against men such as them, and I very much doubted it would be the last time.

It didn’t take long for us to finish up. Writing out a message along with my number on it should a customer happen to come by, I stuck it to the glass on the front of the door before we left for a quick tour so that Rochelle could get her bearings, and then we’d be back at the hotel for lunch and Church.

Josie was at the door of her clinic when we walked up, talking to a client. She waved as soon as she saw us, motioning for us to come on. Her client smiled and waved goodbye as we approached.

“You made it,” Josie beams. “Come in and have a look. Although we can’t take long because Skinny has just messaged me to say lunch is ready in twenty minutes, but I wanted you to know where I was if you ever needed anything.”

She wraps her arm around Rochelle’s and tugs her to the back; I could hear them talking a mile a minute. Looking down into the pushchair, I see that Daisy is awake and looking up at me with wide eyes.

“Hey, princess, how about we get you out of there so you can have a proper look around?” I ask her as I unbuckled her, smiling as she kicks and waves her arms as if in agreement.

Picking her up, I tuck her firmly in my arms and follow the sound of voices and laughter. I’m glad that Josie and Roch seem to get on; it would be good for Roch to have friends she can rely on, as I have a feeling she hasn’t had that in her life.

I found them exactly where I thought I would, in the back with the litter of puppies that someone had abandoned outside.

“Wow, they’ve certainly got big,” I tell Josie. “What are you going to do with them?”

“Oh, I’ve already got homes for them all. I think Skinny breathed a sigh of relief when I told him,” Josie chuckles, taking the puppy, that Roch was holding and putting it back with its siblings. “Let’s wash up and I’ll walk back with you.”

Roch beams a smile at me, her face relaxed and happy. It was more than I expected, considering her world had fallen apart yesterday, but I was quickly coming to realise that my woman was made of strong stuff and rolled with the punches. She’d had to with the life she’d lived; I hoped that now that she was mine, I’d be able to give her happy and easy.

It didn’t take the two of them long before they were back, and we were out the door. Josie and Roch were walking ahead of me, pushing the now empty pushchair. I’d found I was reluctant to let go of my little princess, and she seemed quite content in my arms. Roch had found her little hat and plonked that on her head before we’d left. Daisy wasn’t too keen on it but looked cute as fuck under its floppy brim.

Ahead of me, Josie was explaining who everyone was and assuring Roch that she’d like Noni and Julia. For me, I was more than content following along behind, my eyes trained on the sway of Roch’s arse with every step she took. I don’t think she realised quite how sexy I found her, but, fuck me, did I ever.

Cairo and Blaze joined us as we walked past them. Cairo chuckles softly, “Fuck, Bond, are you even watching where you’re going, or are you hypnotised?”

Smirking, I slant my eyes towards him, “Hypnotised, brother, all damn day.”

Blaze barked out a laugh; I guess they hadn’t thought I’d be honest about watching Rochelle with what I’m sure was a hungry look on my face.

Roch tensed and looked over her shoulder at us at Blaze’s laugh, but whatever she saw in my face had her turning around and back to her conversation with Josie.

“Are you going to let one of us hold your baby?” Blaze demands, his eyes on Daisy’s face. I’d never known a man that had baby fever as bad as he did. I think if he had his way, he’d have a half dozen kids.

Looking down at Daisy, I ask her, “What do you think, Dais? Should we let Uncle Blaze carry you for a bit?”

Daisy burbled; I took that to mean she agreed and transferred her over to Blaze, shaking my head slightly as he crooned something to her. My eyes caught Rochelle’s as she again looked over her shoulder. Winking at her to let her know all was good, she smiled and turned back around.

We walked over to the table that was always reserved for us. Bull, Noni, Rogue, Julia, and their kids were already sitting at the table, along with Grace, who was Noni’s babysitter and who would be teaching the children along with Julia once she completed her teaching degree. For now, she was earning money babysitting before she went back to school.

Noni and Bull both stood as we walked up, Bull rolling his eyes when he caught sight of Blaze and Daisy.

“We need to find the man a woman so he can have some sprogs of his own,” Bull mutters with amusement.

“You know that’s not how it works,” Noni tells him, slapping his shoulder. “It happens when it’s meant to happen.”

Smiling, I wrap my arm around Rochelle’s waist, tugging her slightly under my arm as I introduce her, “Bull, Noni, this is Rochelle.”

Noni smiled warmly and stepped up to Rochelle, “Welcome to the Crowthorne Crows, Rochelle,” she tells her, wrapping her arms around her in a warm hug. Rochelle’s shoulders relaxed at the warm welcome. I’d known she was nervous, but I’d also known there was nothing I’d be able to say that would stop her feeling like that. I had faith in the Crow women that they’d make her feel welcome, and I wasn’t wrong in my faith.

Noni let go of Rochelle but kept hold of her hand, turning towards Bull as she introduced him, “This is Bull, he’s my Old Man and the President of this club.” Bull smiles and shakes Rochelle’s hand.

Noni continues, “You’ve already met my brother, Rogue; he’s our Vice President, and Julia is my long-suffering sister-in-law.” Noni laughs, and the rest of us chuckle as Rogue crosses his eyes at his sister, sticking his tongue out. It was a purely childish reaction, but it lightened the atmosphere. Julia stands and welcomes Rochelle just as warmly as Noni and Josie had.

Noni continues with the introductions, “You already know Josie and the guys.” She waves a hand at Cairo, Skinny, and Blaze before introducing the children, “The two older ones are Roman and Rosie—they’re Rogue and Julia’s two. Then you have mine and Bull’s—they are Van, Briana, Alana, and the baby in the pram is Samantha. And lastly, this is Grace, who I miss when she’s back at school. Grace looks after my brood for me,” Noni explains, wrapping an arm around Grace, who smiles shyly at Rochelle and waves.

“And that’s us,” Noni tells her, “You’ll get used to us. Come sit and have some lunch.”

Blaze handed Daisy back to me, and I settled her in the pushchair next to me. As I sat back and waited for the dishes to be passed around the table, it hit me at how content I was feeling; I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt like this. It’s a feeling I like, and as Rochelle absentmindedly settled her hand on my thigh as she chatted, I realised I’d do anything that I had to if it meant keeping this feeling. No matter what, I’d protect what was mine in any way that I had to.