Page 15

King

“You’re up early.”

“I thought you and your old man were going to disappear for a few days,” I tell Dani as I pour a travel mug with coffee.

“Dragon’s here. He came back to help with the cookout. I got last night. Dragon gets today. Apparently, that dims my charms a tad,” she murmurs, sipping her own coffee. Her smirk tells me she’s full of shit.

“Wouldn’t have nothing to do with you catching up with Nicole,” I respond, letting her know that I’m aware of her game.

She grins at me, taking her free hand and holding out her thumb and index finger at an angle with just a little distance between them. “Maybe a wee bit,” she laughs.

I rub the back of my neck as I figure out how to approach this shit.

I know Dani and Crusher from visiting with Dragon.

They’re good people and I thought that before I knew they were trying to create their own children’s home by adopting every child they came across.

I feel semi-comfortable talking to her. Just listening to what Gabby has said about Dani makes me think she may understand her more than the rest.

“You look just like your dad when you do that,” she laughs.

“Do what?”

“Rub your neck like that. Dragon always did it when he was agitated or worried. If I had a dollar for every time he did it when he looked at me, I’d be rich,” she practically giggles. “And to be clear, it was always when he looked like he wanted to choke the life out of me.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” I answer, surprised because Dragon seems to really respect her.

“I needed it back then, to be honest. I had locked things up in my mind and refused to let them out. They festered and caused a shit storm that never should have happened. I’m not sure I would have ever found my way out if it wasn’t for my man.

Sometimes, it takes a strong man with a pure heart to show a woman that the world isn’t full of shit.

Especially if that shit keeps getting shoveled at her. ”

She stares directly into my eyes as she speaks.

I’ve never felt the urge to really do it before, but I almost dodge her probing glare.

Dani is a beautiful woman. Shoulder-length black hair, a few age lines around her lips and eyes to show a lot of smiling and even more laughter.

Slim figure, and a demeanor that you know she’s full of sass and fire.

When she focuses all that energy on you, it can be intimidating.

I know the real reason, however, is that she’s trying to deliver a message to me.

First Dragon, now Dani . I don’t need fuel for the thoughts already swarming my brain.

Gabby has too much healing to do, and hell, I do too.

Shelby left huge holes inside of me—not to mention finding out everything I have about my mother.

“What are you two doing huddling up by the coffee pot?” Nicole asks as she comes in.

“Well, I think King is getting up the courage to ask me something, but I’m not sure what,” Dani jokes, laughing at my frown.

“Then break apart and let me at the coffee. That way, he can include me, too,” Nicole mutters.

“Where’s Dragon?” I ask.

“He and Crusher are shooting the shit while pretending to work on his truck. Something about the brakes, I think. That’s why he’s been borrowing vehicles or a bike.

He’s not happy. All I hear is bitching about how next time we’re bringing the trailer, and how he’ll have his damn bike in it.

I told him we could just ride it down here, but he said Gabby needed the baby stuff.

Which, I mean, she did, but it could have waited until next month.

He just doesn’t want to admit that he knows riding for long drives gets to my hip.

He doesn’t like bringing up my old injuries.

So, our motto is to let sleeping dogs lie and I give Dragon his play when he finds a million reasons for us not to ride his bike. ”

I nod. I know her old injury was caused by her almost dying when one of Dragon’s enemies got ahold of her and Dani. I don’t know the specifics because I had only heard it from T’s point of view. Since he wasn’t there, I figure it’s not the full picture. Still, I understand enough to get the idea.

“So, what’s on your mind?” Dani asks.

I let out a sigh. “Gabby moved into her rental last night,” I begin.

“Yeah, I know. It’s not a great place, but it’s almost right in town.

The neighborhood is safe and as creepy as Mick Janessy is, he’s fair to his renters.

He also knows if he tries to jack Gabby up on rent or what-the-hell-ever, the Savage crew will rain hellfire down on him.

That's not something he wants and knows it. So, we figured it was safe. Crusher even made him knock a couple hundred off the rent amount he gave to Gabby, and the club is covering it. She doesn’t know and you don’t say shit, or you will see why Crusher calls me Hellcat. ”

“Point made,” I laugh. “Although I want to be the one to pay the rent. I’ll leave a check with Crusher.”

“We got it,” Dani insists.

I look at her and shake my head. “I’m doing it.” She studies me and then slowly her lips spread in a smile. “Don’t start. Dragon’s already wading in. Gabby and I are friends. She needs all of those she can get,” I warn her.

“Speaking of Gabby, I had her coffee yesterday. It’s magically delicious.

She didn’t make this crap. Dani, after all these years, is there some reason you haven’t discovered that coffee is not made to be so strong you can stand a damn spoon up in it upon completion of whatever hell you put it through first? ”

“Bite me. Crusher likes it. Says it makes hair grow on his chest and since I like my man hairy when I’m rubbing all over that fine chest of his, I do my part for the greater good and make his coffee strong.”

“I have a dick and as such, should not be a party to this discussion. It’s going to be hard enough blotting out my memory banks every time I drink Gabby’s coffee and not hear Nicole call it magically delicious,” I point out.

“She’s a freak in love with the leprechaun on the Lucky Charms commercial.”

“I am not. I just love to hear him talk. Besides, King, if you get your hands on Gabby’s coffee, you’ll understand my words.”

“Oh, I think King wants his hands on more than just her coffee, Nic.”

“Dani,” Nicole warns.

“I’m just saying,” she counters, and I shake my head.

“On that note, I was going to see if the club had some old furniture. I got her a blow-up couch last night because there was nothing in the house but a bed. Gabby doesn’t want to invest in shit because she says she’s going to Denver, so until I can talk her out of that crap, I need something she won’t pitch a shit fit about when I show up with it. ”

“You’re going to try to talk her out of it?” Nicole asks, studying me.

“The last thing that woman needs to do is head out to somewhere alone with a newborn and no support,” I grumble. Just the thought of her doing that fucking guts me. I may know why she’s doing it, but they’re shit reasons.

“You’re not wrong,” Nicole and Dani say in unison. Dani looks over at Nicole and grins.

“She may feel her reasons warrant the risk, however,” Nicole wades in, thoughtfully.

“She told me her reasons and they’re shit. The woman is in her head and can’t see what she has around her. Told me last night that the club was only helping her out of pity—that she didn’t really have any friends and didn’t deserve them.”

“The fuck you say. She and I are tight,” Dani murmurs.

“She has to know I care about her,” Nicole adds in, sounding hurt.

“She says you understand her and are helping her navigate shit because of that understanding,” I explain, pointing to Dani.

“As for you,” I add, transferring my attention to Nicole.

“I think she believes you would help your own worst enemy because you have a big heart. She feels guilty for leaning on you, but I get the feeling you are showing her the care her mother either won’t or isn’t capable of right now. ”

“Oh, damn,” Nicole whispers, and I see sadness hit her face and tears gathering that won’t fall but remain just the same. Yeah, Gabby is right. Nicole’s heart is huge.

“Okay, we do have furniture. We salvaged quite a bit from the flood. It’s club furniture, so not the best, but decent.

I also have a really great couch with a matching recliner in my garage in storage.

So, that will help. They’re brand new. I bought them, Crusher hated them.

We went to war and let’s just say he knows how to win wars with me easily.

So, he keeps his ratty ass recliners and worn-out couch, and I got a night of orgasms and a new car. It was a win-win, really.”

“Yeah, I don’t need to be hearing this shit,” I grumble, making the women laugh.

“We can have some of the prospects bring the furniture over. What else can we do?”

“I’m taking her shopping for the other stuff. The furniture would be great. She gave me a spare key last night. I’ll leave it with you so you can get that shit in while we’re out.”

“Oh! We can bring food! Have a housewarming dinner for her.”

“What else does she need?”

“There are no dishes. I’ll get her the basics today, but it will be a fight. She could probably use sheets and blankets. I figure she’ll buy one set today, but I have no idea if I can convince her to buy much. She’s saving her money for this damn trip to Denver.”

“Don’t worry! We’ve got this. I’ll get the boys started on it now,” Dani says, obviously excited. She reaches up and kisses my cheek and takes off—leaving me with Nicole.

“I like Gabby,” she says. “I don’t like how she played my sons. I really dislike the conniving she did trying to trap Dom.”

“Nicole—”