Page 28 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

Things are crazy at the moment. Penny’s ex-boyfriend doing, or having her house graffitied and vandalised is unsettling, to say the least. I’ve brought Penny and Arabella to work with me, after Heather agreed as long as the ladies were happy about it.

Happy about it? Gee, they tried to take Arabella from Ruger, but he has her in the harness tucked to his chest and he’s not letting anyone take her.

I’m a little tired from yesterday’s cardio exercises.

I didn’t expect that when I went in the morning.

I honestly thought we were doing more knife and cleaver throwing.

My legs still feel like my muscles don’t belong to me, and my lower back is twinging when I bend to pick anything up from the floor.

Penny is making bread, and honestly it smells divine. I can’t wait to try it with lots of butter while it’s still warm. I’ve been warned to leave it alone, but I’m going to ask Penny to teach me how to make bread because it would be a handy thing to know.

I’ve done all the laundry that I could find in the ladies’ bedrooms. They keep their laundry baskets near the door now, so it’s easy for me to grab. When I return it, nice and clean, I lay it on their beds neatly so they can pop it away before getting into bed.

Colton has been to see me and updated on our living arrangements, and it appears he has his house purchase completed.

We will all live in his house until at least this mess with Penny’s ex is over with.

Ruger is going to be with us too, so I think safety-wise I feel we are covered.

I’m not stupid when it comes to defending myself or using a weapon.

That’s one thing my father did right; teaching me to shoot and getting me to make it legal with a carry permit.

Stepping into the garden to sweep around the back door, I stop and frown because I’m sure nobody has mentioned the gnome being sold, moved or whatever!

But it’s gone, leaving a bare area in the corner of the garden where it had stood proudly.

Shaking my head in confusion, I decide to ask when I’ve finished sweeping.

Washing my hands at the kitchen sink, I turn to Tina, who is laughing with Penny. “Tina, where is the gnome? Did you sell it?”

Tina stares at me a moment before rushing to the door, and opening it she curses under her breath before turning back to the kitchen and bellowing. I mean bellowing at the top of her lungs. “SOME FUCKER STOLE OUR GNOME!!”

Now you would not in a million years expect that to come out of Tina’s mouth.

She is small, sweet, and very kind. She reminds me of an old-fashioned lady in an English country garden, holding a teacup with her pinky in the air.

But, what I’m looking at, at this moment in time is what you would consider trailer trash.

She is using curse words I don’t think I’ve ever heard before.

All under her breath mind you, but she’s enough to make a sailor blush.

My mind gallops as I recall a conversation about the gnome and an interested party to that conversation. Chaos he was called at the clubhouse. I wonder?

Hearing Penny talking to Ruger, I step closer.

Penny looks at me and smiles, continuing to speak.

“I told the cop that my ex threatened me and my daughter. That he was going to kidnap my daughter, and that I was afraid he would succeed, so I was leaving town. I asked him to log it on to the police system so there was at least some record about what was happening. He agreed, and he, in fact said he’d monitor Darren without being obvious about it. ”

Ruger nods, kisses the top of Arabella’s head and then speaks. “I’ll go speak with this cop. Do you know his name?”

Before I hear Penny’s reply, a chaotic shout has me turning, and I watch as my four ladies storm back into the house from the garden. I’m sure this is about that darn gnome. Personally, I was pleased to see it had gone.

“Who did this?” “Who would do this?” “We need to find out who took our gnome!” The shouts of annoyance turn into amusement, just as though someone threw a light switch. “They can’t hide it.” “We are going to find it and mess with them, too.”

“STOP!” I shout. “We can report the gnome stolen to the Sheriff. Now, stop with the complaining and planning. I want to talk to you about Penny’s dilemma.”

“What dilemma? What’s wrong, Penny?” Sandy asks.

Carol turns to look at me with a huge frown. “You can’t stop us from doing what we need to do. My Michael told me if someone shits on your breakfast, you shit right back on theirs.”

The planning and complaining starts again but mingled in with that they are throwing questions at Penny. Ruger grips my shoulder, gives me a look that tells me to stay calm, and I give him a tiny nod as I take the seat next to him.

“You know it will all sort itself out, don’t you?” Ruger says, keeping his voice low.

“I suppose so. But you don’t know these four, and honestly, they are likely to do something silly. ”

Smirking, Ruger continues. “We have three ladies and Meat at the clubhouse and I’m not sure they could do worse than them, but we have Heather too, who with Wings causes mayhem at times.

You’ve met the women of the club and can you tell me you don’t think some of them could cause chaos wherever they go? ”

I watch Penny interact with my ladies, and she’s glowing.

She has the brightest of smiles, one I’ve not seen previously.

She keeps glancing at Arabella, but she has no need because that girl is tucked into Ruger’s chest and she’s snoring softly.

Fed and watered, cleaned, and sleeping is what Joan stated as she’d handed Arabella back to a hovering Ruger, after she’d helped him with those baby chores.

Looking at Ruger, I’m thinking he’ll make one heck of a good father one day. He’s taken to Arabella and treats her like his own. Knowing he won't let anyone harm her makes me confident I made the correct choice by giving Colton and the MC a chance.

****

Later in the evening, after collecting some clothing for the next few days, we have all settled at Colton’s newly purchased home. I’m staggered by how much furniture the last owners left. Beds, sofas, dressers, kitchen table and chairs, and even the TV.

“Why did they leave so much furniture?” Penny asks, which has me smiling because it must be a woman’s curiosity thing.

Colton shrugs. “The realtor said they couldn’t take it all, and they didn’t want to mess with selling it.

So, they left it for me to either keep or remove.

I was okay with that because if you look, everything is spotless, so it will give me time to look at each room.

We can then decorate, newly furnish or not. ”

“Where did they go?” I ask.

“They are on a cruise right now, but they put what they wanted to keep in storage. Once they return from their cruise, they are going to Florida to live. Why Florida? I don’t know as I never asked.” Obviously finished speaking, Colton walks outside.

I can see him surveying what he’ll consider his property.

I’m thrilled for him. Even if we don’t make it, I’ll be happy he got what he wanted.

Turning to Penny I pick up bags and follow her to a room she’s chosen for herself and Arabella.

I help her set things up as she wants them, and then head back downstairs where I’m going to see if we have the fixings to make a drink.

Before I can do anything my phone rings, and looking at the caller, I see it’s my father. Yeah, another conversation about my house I’m sure.

“Hello,” I coldly say when I answer. He’ll never see or hear his loving daughter again, I’m sure of that.

“Nyx. You need to be reasonable about the house. I need the proceeds of the sale to buy a home. You’ll always be welcome here.”

Oh, you can bet I butt into his telephone speech.

“Oh, that’s kind of you. You know, inviting me to the home, I would have purchased with the money from the house my mother left me.

Now, listen and listen well…I am selling the house, and then buying one for myself, or I will invest the money.

Whatever I do with the house has nothing to do with you.

The next thing is if, and when you come back to the US, I have a restraining order on you.

So, you come near me, you get arrested. I’m done with you.

You chose your wifey over yo ur dying wife and daughter.

I hope the gold-digging bitch makes you happy. ”

I close the call before he has a chance to reply. But he kept trying. I have to give him that much. I’m done with the whole thing, and I know in my heart he’ll never be the father I had when growing up. I block his number and smile while doing it.

“What’s that smile about?” Penny asks as she walks into the kitchen carrying Arabella.

“That was me putting to bed unfinished business. Now, has Arabella been fed?”

“No, I’m going to do it now. She’s such a good baby, and did you see she was sitting on her own earlier, although a bit wobbly?

I reckon she was trying to crawl too when I put her on the bed.

” Right at that moment, Arabella starts to babble, and it’s as though she’s joining in her mother’s conversation.

“Do you want me to hold her while you sort out what you need?” I hold my arms out to take Arabella who comes to me willingly and with a smile on her cute face.

“I’ve got her a jar of pureed fruit from the store.

I would rather make her fresh food, but I thought with how things were it would be better to keep something on hand.

” Penny sets to warming the pureed fruit a little and I blow raspberries on Arabella’s cheek, which has her giggling.

She’s so damn cute it has me thinking I’d be happy to have one myself.

After Arabella is fed, and she has had her formula, she falls back to sleep. She’s a good sleeper that’s for sure, and I don’t think she hardly ever cries. “I’m going to lay her down now, Nyx.”

“Okay, I’ll ask Colton about us having takeout because we need to do a grocery run if we are staying here,” but before I turn to leave the kitchen Colton and Ruger walk in, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

“Can you both sit, please? I want to update you on what we have found so far on your ex, Penny.” Colton looks at Penny expectantly.

“Give me a minute to put Arabella down in her crib.”

Returning to the kitchen and taking a seat at the table, I look at Penny as she sits next to me. “What’s going on?” I ask.

“Darren is the illegitimate son of Gordon Paisley, who is the Senator that was disgraced around five or six years back. Darren’s mother is Fabiana Bexly, now she is the daughter of Leandra Bexley, who was also a mistress.

She, however, was a mistress to a Mafia made man,” Colton says all this calmly, but he’s watching Penny carefully.

“Shit, shit, shit…” I reassure Penny, who's hyperventilating, by taking her hand and squeezing, reminding her she isn't alone. “How bad is this?” I turn from looking at Penny back to Colton, but keep holding Penny’s hand.

“This Fabiana is under investigation for stealing a chunk of money from an accounting company she worked at…” holding his hand up to quiet us, Colton then continues, “No she was not an accountant, she was a cleaner.”

Penny giggles, then laughs. I look at her and see she is more than a little amused, as she has tears of laughter in her eyes. “Oh, my, that stuck-up bitch was a cleaner! Wow, that is so damn funny. She struts around like her shit doesn’t stink.”

“Well, she also has three counts of assault against her, so she isn’t worried about attacking anyone. If she ever comes at either of you, you do what is needed to stay safe.” Colton looks from one of us to the other, and we both give him a nod of agreement.

Ruger speaks for the first time since we got to the house. “If I see the bitch, I’ll put her in the ground, and make a base over her, maybe place a garage on top of her.”

I look at Colton, then Penny, but we all three laugh at his comment. But if I’m honest, he’s a bit frightening at the moment as he looks serious.

Colton says one word, which I’m not sure I understand, but Ruger does as he gives a wicked grin at whatever this is. “Nell.” That’s all Colton said.

We discuss Penny’s finances, or lack of, and I tell her I’ll speak with my ladies as they are always cooking up way too much, and the freezer is bulging with stuff they’ll never use.

Colton and Ruger both smile, assuring Penny it’s not an issue as Colton has already mentioned it to Meat, and he’ll be making plans for meals.

Penny looks shocked, but a tear runs down her cheek, and we can all see she is overwhelmed by the kindness being given to her. “Well, Penny, you’ll have to watch out because with all this help you could end up fat!” I cheekily state, and Penny smacks my arm playfully as she murmurs, “Fat indeed.”

We all don’t give a shit what size any of us are, but if the training on Sunday is anything to go by, we’ll not be carrying too many extra pounds. I can still feel the soreness in my legs and it’s been days.