Page 11

ALEC

My phone vibrates in my pocket, breaking my concentration. I’d been working on an intricate bit on a custom paint job I was doing for a client up north. Muttering under my breath, I take my phone from my pocket to check it, and I’m surprised to see a message from Reaper calling mandatory Church tonight for all members—no excuses.

Deciding I may as well take a break now that my attention is shot and spend some time with Lexi, who’s been keeping Mum company in the office. Going to the sink, I wash my hands and dry them. Stopping by the kitchen, I get a fresh cup of coffee before I walk to the office. Mum and Gunny are talking about the text when I walk in.

“Did you guys get the text as well?” I ask with surprise. The Originals had stopped coming to church when we’d all finished prospecting and become full members. They still did the monthly business meeting, but that was it.

“We did,” Gunny replies, then grumbles when I take Lexi from him. “I never get to hold my granddaughter before you lot pinch her.”

“She’s not your only granddaughter,” I point out.

“No, but she’s the only baby one. The others are getting to the age where they think Grandad is old,” he mutters, looking put out.

“You are old,” I tease him, sitting in the chair next to my mum’s desk and adjust Lexi in my arms. She’s wide awake and gifts me with one of her rare smiles. “Grandad’s old, isn’t he, baby girl?” I coo at her. She gurgles back, making me laugh and look at Gunny. “This granddaughter agrees with your other one. You’re old, old man.” I smirk at him.

“Little shithead,” Gunny laughs. “How’s things going with Bren?”

Mum sits forward in her chair; I know she’s been wanting to ask but didn’t want to interfere.

“She’s a hard one to crack, but I think I’m making progress,” I reply. “She’s not making it easy, that’s for sure.”

“Good,” Mum says.

I gape at her in surprise and have to ask, “Umm, aren’t you meant to be on my side?”

“I’m always on your side, baby,” she assures me, “but this time you deserve what you’re getting. You hurt that girl for years. We could all see it, and we’ve been waiting for the fallout that we all knew was coming.

“Honestly, I’m glad it happened this way because it made her take those rose-tinted glasses off that she used to look at you with. Now you’re both on even footing, and you can make this work if you want to.” Mum tilts her head and looks at me, “Is that what you want? To make things work between the two of you?”

“Yeah, Mum, it’s what I want. It’s what I’ve always wanted, but I let my past get in the way of our future, same as Bren did. I’m hoping we can work our way past it.”

“Don’t give up,” Gunny stands up, clasping my shoulder and walking towards Mum. He pulls her out of her chair and sits with her in his lap. I was so used to seeing them like this it didn’t faze me anymore. “I didn’t. It’s worth the pain. I promise.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I reply, thankful that no matter what, he’s always had my back, even when I was being a complete tosser. Changing the subject, I ask, “Do you know what’s going on that we’ve got mandatory Church tonight for all of us?”

“No clue,” Gunny replies. “Reaper only calls Church like that if something big is happening. I think the last time was when you all got patched in.”

“Do you think he’s bringing in more prospects?” I wonder. Gunny shakes his head, “No, we’ll keep the MC family only for as long as we can. And with the number of kids we have coming up, I doubt we’ll recruit again for a long time. We did initially because we needed the numbers, and then you lot brought on the Temples; I think it will be up to the next Pres to decide if he wants to recruit again.”

“Makes sense,” I agree. And it did. Our businesses were all run by MC members except for Bren’s Spa and Beauty, and even that may as well be, as Lana was married to an O’Shea, and our lives had been intertwined with them for a long time, including being partners in a few nightclubs with them.

Looking at the clock on the wall above the door to check the time, I get up, kissing Lexi’s head, and lay her down in the pop-up cot we have for her. She’s still awake, so I wind the mobile up so that she can watch something, smiling as she kicks her legs and arms.

‘Fuck, she’s cute,’ I think, forcing myself to turn away and back to my parents. Who’d have thought I’d ever be one of those parents totally enamoured with my child?

“I’m going to work for another hour or so. Are you both good to stay, or do you need to get going?”

“We’ll be here,” Mum assures me. “I have to get payroll done. I’ll let you know if we have to leave early. If we do, then I’ll take Lexi home with me.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

Walking out of the office, I go back to what I’d been doing when the text came through and lose myself in my art for the next hour until my alarm goes off, reminding me that I had to pack up.

It didn’t take long to close up the garage for the night before Gunny and I were riding our bikes behind Mum, who has Lexi in her car with her. I loved this ride to the Manor; it was peaceful because there wasn’t much out this way. Other than our properties, there was never a lot of traffic.

We’d just driven into the covered parking area and got off our bikes when Bren and Ellie drove in surrounded by Reaper, Navy, Dragon, and Onyx. My heart starts to pound as worry rips through me. I was guessing the reason for the mandatory Church meeting was the reason that Bren’s vehicle was surrounded. Not hesitating, I immediately walk to Bren’s door and forcibly open it. The need to get my eyes on her rides me hard. Bren jumps and looks at me with wide, startled eyes as the door opens.

“What’s going on, Bren?” I demand, my eyes moving over her body, cataloguing, not sure what I’m looking for other than to make sure she isn’t hurt.

“Jesus, Alec,” she stutters shakily, then slaps me in the stomach. “You frightened the life out of me opening my door like that. What the hell?”

“Sorry,” I apologise. “I was worried. First, Reaper called mandatory Church, and then you arrive surrounded by the brotherhood. I thought you were hurt.”

“I’m not hurt,” she assures me. “Something did happen today. Dad will fill you in on it at Church.”

“I see,” I say softly, looking away, a little hurt that she hadn’t called me to fill me in on whatever had happened to her today. But I got it. Noting that Ellie had slipped out of the vehicle while Bren and I had been talking. Mum had Lexi and was disappearing into the house. Reaper nods at me as he and the rest of the brothers walk past us and into the big house, leaving just the two of us in the carport.

“Hey,” Bren’s soft fingers grip my chin, turning my face back towards her. “I didn’t call anyone else either. Just Dad. I didn’t think to call anyone but him, and honestly, I’m not used to you caring.”

Shock ripples through me, followed by sadness that she thought so little of me that she didn’t think I’d care if there was a problem. It was my fault, I understood that, and I was angry with my younger self all over again. Swallowing past the lump of emotion in my throat, I tell her, “I’ve always cared, Bren. Even when I didn’t think I should.

“And now that you’ve given me Lexi,” again I swallow against the emotion clogging my throat at the thought of something happening to Bren.

“How could you think I wouldn’t care about something that has you worried enough to call Reaper? You’re the mother of my daughter, Bren; of course, I’d care.

“Aside from you being Lexi’s mum, you and I have history, and even if you decide that you don’t want me and move on, I’ll still care about you, because before I became an idiot, we were friends. At least I thought we were. I understand that most of what’s happened between us is my fault, but… FUCK, Bren, you’ve got to know that I CARE!”

Bren’s face softens, and she runs her hand over my cheek, “You’re right, Alec, we were friends before everything went to shit. And I know you care. I’ll do better at letting you in. And it’s not all your fault; I’m just as much to blame as you. I kept Lexi from you, and I shouldn’t have. I’ll always feel bad about that. I’m sorry.”

At her apology, the ache that I’d carried in my chest since finding out about Lexi eased. We’d both made mistakes and were paying for them.

Leaning toward her, I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her to me. Burying my face in her neck, I inhale a deep breath, filling my lungs with her scent, and for the first time in forever, something settles in me. Bren hugs me back just as hard. Pulling back slightly, I cup her cheeks, tilting her head back to look at me.

“We’ll do better, okay? We’re a team from now on. It may take time, but we’ll find our way.”

Bren grins up at me, “Haven’t we always? We will. Now, are you going to help me out? I need to feed our girl and get into some comfortable clothes before Church.”

Stepping back, I grip her waist and lift her out, settling her on her feet. Closing the door on her vehicle, we turn towards the house. Reaching down, I grip her hand and can’t help the little tilt of my lips when she squeezes it.

I’ll take the small gestures because somehow, they meant more than if she’d declared she’d forgiven me for being an idiot. Once we enter the house, the connection is lost as she goes into mum mode as soon as she sees Lexi, but this time instead of disappearing straight away like she usually does, she tilts her head at the stairs and asks, “Are you coming?”

Very aware of the silence from everyone in the kitchen as they watch us, I nod only, stopping long enough at the pantry to pick up a pack of water for the fridge upstairs. Bren likes to drink water after she’s fed Lexi, and I’d noticed we were on the last bottle last night.

Talking in the kitchen resumed as soon as I was out the door and following my girls up the stairs.

Like before, I’d take the small wins when they came.