Page 6

King

“You’re awful quiet,” Dragon murmurs as he plops down beside me.

His gaze doesn’t even come to me. He’s staring at his old lady, Nicole, who is in a lawn chair beside Gabby and Dani.

They’re going through a shitload of bags that Nicole has brought.

It’s full of baby shit, and I know Gabby is overwhelmed because her eyes are overly bright as she hugs Nicole with each new find from the bags in front of her.

The look on her face is happy, but there’s a tenseness in her I don’t like.

I’m not sure anyone else can see it. They don’t act like they’re aware of it, but I am, and the more I see it, the more concerned I am.

“Thinking,” I mutter, shooting a glance up at the man I mostly hated until recently.

“About what?” Dragon asks, taking a drink of his coffee.

“Just thinking,” I insist stubbornly.

“To think it has to be about something, so unload it.”

“Why would I do that?” I mutter, turning my gaze back to the women.

“Because I asked.”

“You’re full of shit,” I grumble.

“I’ve been telling him that for years,” Crusher laughs, coming over to join us.

“Fuck you, old man,” Dragon tells him. Crusher just laughs.

“Where’s Diesel?” I ask, changing the damn subject and praying we don’t go back to it.

“He and Rory snuck away an hour ago. They don’t often get the house alone.”

“Told you dumbasses to put your foot down after five kids. Did any of you listen? Fuck, no.” Dragon snorts.

“Dani and I never had that problem. If I wanted to nail my old lady, I’d tell the kids I wanted to play hide and seek. Then they would go outside and hide. I’d find them after a quicky or if it took longer they lost interest and were torturing Devil and Torrent.”

“Where are they?” I ask, semi-interested. I’m not sure this is where I’m going to end up, but I would like to meet all the members if I do.

“Devil?” he asks, and I nod. “He and his woman left this afternoon. They’re going on vacation with Gunner and his woman. They’ll be back in a week or so,” Crusher explains.

“Where are they going?” Dragon asks.

“Bike riding through the Dakotas. Sturgis is coming up soon. They may even stay for that,” Crusher explains.

“You will be short on men while they’re gone,” I point out, my mouth moving before my damn brain catches up.

“You volunteering?” Crusher asks, looking at me. In fact, I feel all their eyes on me. Yet I don’t look away from Gabby.

“Maybe,” I mutter, rubbing my jaw.

“What’s on your mind, King?” Dragon asks.

“Gabby’s not thinking clearly,” I tell him.

“It’s not your job to sort her out. She made choices?—”

“Some choices she didn’t make,” I tell him, cutting him off.

He keeps staring at me. I see something move through him and it’s clear when his face changes he gets my meaning. “Fuck,” he mutters.

“She doesn’t know anyone in Denver. The last thing that girl needs to do is move cross-country with a baby and zero support.”

“Dani’s tried to talk to her. It hasn’t helped. She’s had similar experiences, although I guess, not quite the same.”

“You know the truth?” Dragon asks, speaking cryptically. He doesn’t want to come right out and say Gabby’s pregnancy is from the rape—probably because just the thought of it seems completely wrong and a horrid thought. She shouldn’t be going through this. No woman should.

“Dani told me. It brought up some long-buried memories she had. She needed to talk.”

Dragon nodded. “Nic just said Gabby didn’t mention the father. I guessed the truth, but the girl doesn’t look but maybe four months pregnant, if that.”

“So, what’s your plan, King? Are you sticking around to try to convince her to not go to Denver?” Crusher asks.

“I’m going to try,” I mumble.

“What happens if she doesn’t agree, pulls up stakes, and heads out anyway?” Dragon questions.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. I watch closer as Gabby stands up. She sways a little on her feet. To cover it up, she leans on the chair that she was sitting in, while pretending to look over the baby items that are in different piles in front of her.

“Son—”

“I need to go help her before she falls on her face,” I mutter, and leave Dragon and Crusher behind. My gaze centered on Gabby. That damn woman is so exhausted she’s about to pass out.

I don’t know whether to help her or strangle her.