Page 37 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

“Nyx, where are you, Buttercup?”

I can’t help the grin because Colton calling me Buttercup is so endearing. I love it when he calls me that. “Here!” I shout back at him.

“Buttercup, I have something for you.” Colton is holding a jacket or vest, as I call them much to his disgust.

“What is it?”

Smiling broadly, Colton holds up the leather vest and on the back it has printed in large letters above and below the MC logo, ‘Property of Colton’.

“This is your patch, showing everyone in the world you are mine, and I am yours.” Colton says it with such reverence that I know this means a lot to him.

“Oh, my,” it’s all I manage to say before Colton places the patch on my back. I kiss him in thanks and to show him I care and respect what he is giving me.

“You wear it wherever you go. It is your security that no one will mess with you, or they’ll answer to me.” Kissing my nose, then my forehead, he says, “Okay, Buttercup, I’ve got to get going. I’ll catch up with you later.”

I’m watching Colton leave and he’s whistling, and has a damn swagger going on. Wow. He is more than happy with giving me this property patch, and I’ll be honest, I’m thrilled to wear it.

I hate Monday mornings, but today is not going to be as bad as some because the ladies are having a baking day. They told me they are going to bake up a storm so Penny will have plenty of choices from the freezer when she is living alone again.

Ruger is following Penny as he carries Arabella to an SUV. It must be his, but I’m unsure why he’s still on duty watching over Penny when Darren and his disgusting mother are now dead! Mind you, that kiss Penny gave him was hot and I’m sure it’s going to start something between them.

Lunch time comes around and the kitchen is covered in pies, tarts, cookies and even cakes, which Sandy is now slicing into portions and Joan is vacuum sealing them.

They are on a roll, like a factory line, and I can see they are all enjoying every moment.

Tina and Carol are chomping on cookies and getting told off by Joan for stealing Penny’s baking.

I get a text message from Penny, and I can’t help but smile at how well her life is turning around.

Penny: I’m going to look at this job I’ve been offered

Nyx: OK. Good luck

Penny: Ruger is coming too and he’ll watch Arabella so don’t worry about her

Nyx: OK. Will you be back at the house later?

Penny: I will, but I’m moving back to my house tomorrow

Nyx: Oh! I’ll be sorry to see you go

Penny: I need to get some normality back, for Arabella too

Nyx: Yeah, I suppose so. I’ll see you later. Give Arabella a kiss for me !

Penny: Will do. CUL8R

It took me a minute to work out what CUL8R was…See you later…yeah, that’s cute.

Sighing as I’m going to be sad to see Penny leave. She’s more of a sister to me now that we’ve been living in the same house. I’m happy my father has made no more effort to contact me. I can put him behind me, and I know my mother would be okay with me doing that.

Later that evening we eat, discuss our day and it’s nice to see Penny so animated. She has ideas she wants to implement at the business, and is having a meeting to discuss her ideas with Lincoln, Arrow and Bones tomorrow.

“It’s a good job, Penny.” Colton looks at Penny and has a sincere look on his face. “It’s a job that will give you satisfaction I’m sure.”

“Yes, I agree, Colton. Having a free hand to get the place running as it should. Which, of course, is with the minimum of administrative work. I’m looking at a database that holds each client's details, clearly, cleanly, and is simple for us to know if we have any issues.” Penny links her fingers and leans forward on the table.

“If you have everything on the system that records the daily work done it may help too?” I add, but in a questioning manner.

“Yes, but that would be more applicable for any workers that are taken on who are not MC related. I don’t think it matters if they are a brother of the club because it is their business anyway, so they are not going to sabotage their own interests.

” Penny has her mind tuned now to the business, and honestly she is a dynamo when she is in this mode .

Ruger who has said little up to this point joins the conversation. “Arrow told me they are having some structural work done in the basement. To make sure that the servers are going to be as safe as possible. They are having shelves, cabinets and a safe installed in the basement, too.”

“That sounds sensible,” I add.

“It is, and we are knocking a couple of the rooms on the top floor into a larger room, so all the monitors and the technical stuff they need will be in one room.” Penny takes a piece of the pizza we had delivered and bites down. I giggle when grease from the cheese runs down her chin.

Colton chuckles, and I gape when Ruger leans forward, takes hold of Penny’s chin and swipes his tongue up the grease, effectively cleaning her face. Penny blushes so red it’s a wonder she doesn’t set fire to herself. I giggle, because oh my, this is interesting.

It’s been three days since Penny said she was returning to her home, and my ladies are jumping with excitement as they had a freezer purchased and delivered to the house.

Yesterday, Star took all the frozen foods for us to the house and filled the freezer.

So, of course, my ladies are jumping on their toes with excitement at the thought of Penny’s shock and joy at seeing what they have done for her.

What none of us expected when we arrived at Penny’s was a second freezer, a larger one in the utility room.

My ladies bristle that someone else did this.

When Penny opens the freezer we all gasp because it is full to the brim with meals, home-cooked meals and meat, all packed in freezer tubs or packets.

Even vegetables of different types, and mixed bags, too.

“Who did this?” Joan asks .

Penny is standing shocked at what she’s seeing. Two freezers, one full of meals and one full of desserts. It’s laughable because she has more food than the ladies have in their freezer and I have in mine.

Ruger chuckles. “Meat did this.”

“Meat?” Tina asks.

“Yeah, Star’s man,” Ruger continues, and he looks amused by it all.

“Well, whoever did it, I am very grateful. It’s really kind of them, and you ladies. I’m amazed and thankful for your help and care. It was thoughtful and amazing of you to do this.” Penny hugs each of the ladies, and it seems to settle them down.

Star appears and grins. “You’re welcome.”

Penny laughs and hugs Star who looks uncomfortable at the move, and the pat she gives Penny on the back has me laughing. Ruger also shakes his head and laughs at the look on Star’s face.

It doesn’t take long to get Penny and Arabella settled at the house. I know she is going to buy the place but I think she could find somewhere better than this, and I’m going to speak to her about it when I find the right opportunity.

-:- Colton -:-

Axel calls a meeting and surprises me when Lincoln, Bones, Arrow, and I are the ones called to this meeting in his office. “Take a seat.”

We four settle in a seat, and I side-eye Buzz, Drag and BS who are standing around the room. Something’s going on here is what I’m thinking, and hope we’ve not done something wrong!

“As you know, when my boys are grown I want them to have solid brothers behind them, and therefore I’m having you all stand in positions which you’ll learn from my officers.” Axel takes a breath.

Lincoln leans forward and asks something that has been rambling around my mind.

“Pres, have you considered that the boys are young, and by the time they get to become a president that they’ll have chosen who they want to stand at their side.

We’ll be twenty years older than we are now, middle-aged assholes probably.

I reckon you’d be better off to leave it to the boys to select who they want or you could find they resent the fact you chose. ”

Bones adds, “We are honored you have considered us, but I agree with Lincoln. In one of your boys' shoes, I would be pissed if my father had chosen who was to stand by me.”

“I agree, and you have brothers getting their Ol’ Ladies and will have kids.

Some will be boys, and they’ll more than likely grow up to hold positions in the club.

Those are the brothers that should choose which of your sons they will have as president.

” Arrow leans back in his seat, showing he’s said his piece.

“What about you, Colton? What do you think?” Axel asks.

“I have thought about this, but will always be happy to do what you ask of me. You are my president. I follow where you lead. I intend to have kids, and hope for a few.” Everyone in the room chuckles at that, and Drag murmurs, “Wonder if Nyx knows?” Which, of course, has us all smirking.

I continue, “I would be happy for my sons to choose which of the two chapters they would like to be a part of. As they grow up, they will favor one of your sons or the other, even if only slightly, and that is the one they will gravitate to follow. I think let nature take its course. ”

“What about your position as an enforcer, Colton? That would be no longer needed,” Drag drops into the conversation.

“No matter. I can join the security business, or stay as I am. I don’t know, but whatever the future holds it will be with the club, and that’s all that matters to me.” I am being as honest as I can be. “Being an enforcer is a great officer position. But we don’t need more than Buzz and Wings.”

“We can use you at the security business, Colton. You’d be a good one for us to train up as a lead man on any team we have to create to watch over businesses, or private residences,” Bones states.

“Okay, let me think about it. You have brought up good points, which I have considered, but not as fully as maybe I should have. I’ll get back to you about this.” Axel leans back in his seat, showing as far as he’s concerned the meeting is over.

As I head out of the office, I stop in the doorway and turn back to look at Axel.

“You know, Pres. I’m building a life with Nyx.

I have purchased my house, and the future looks good.

Do I want to eventually pull up stakes and leave it all behind?

” I don’t say more. I walk out of the office, closing the door quietly behind me.

The next few weeks are very busy. Nyx is still working at the ladies’ house.

She has a routine set up with them now, which includes taking them to the range once a week for weapon practice.

They were all already weapon-friendly, well that was Nyx’s term for it.

She felt that a weekly outing to keep them mentally fit, and be able to defend themselves if needed was a great idea.

Of course, Star thought it was great, and Winter took the role of trainer.

They also do yoga once a week, along with other activities that Nyx introduces.

Plus, we all look after Arabella, who is thriving on all the attention she gets .

I’m now working at the security company, helping with the alterations that were needed. Penny is very organized in how she works, which sees her getting things done quickly and efficiently. She’s going to be a tremendous influence on the business, and she’ll keep everyone in line I’m sure.

I’m positive there is something going on with Penny and Ruger, but as yet nothing that is too obvious. Since Penny is now back at her own house we don’t see what is happening between them, but Ruger seems to have his ‘Punkin’, as he calls Arabella, a lot when he is having time out.

Lincoln held a meeting regarding the security building, and we voted to keep the kitchen area, and if needed hire someone to make meals twice a day.

We allocated rooms for the bouncers to use as an office and a separate bunk room.

Knuckles is going to head that along with Garth, and they will hire new doormen to help at TJs and Club Whisky.

Silver and Beer were more than happy to hand over that responsibility.

Walking across the reception area of the business, I watch as Penny struggles to pull a long reception type desk into place. “Hang on, Penny,” I state as I rush over and give the desk a push.

“That is great, Colton. Right there is perfect, thank you.” I look where she is indicating it should go, and I give it another push.

“Are you having this so when someone comes in they have to walk over to the reception area?”

“Yes, I’ll have some chairs placed over there,” pointing to show me where she’s thinking of placing them. “I’m thinking of asking Hammer to build a reception counter and a gate type thing at the end so nobody can get behind. It would be more secure. ”

“Hm, like a bank where the teller is, but without the glass you mean?”

“Yes, exactly. It would be far more secure, and we are a security company, after all.” Penny grins like that statement is going to get her exactly what she wants. I frown when I notice she has a tiny pencil behind her ear…now where did she get that? As it looks like one of the pencils I gave BS.

“Okay, I’m going up to work with Bones. He has me lined up to help in the main office.” I leave Penny mumbling to herself and head upstairs, where I’m helping Bones place monitors on the wall. It’s going to be a busy day.