Page 12 of Cuckoo (Devil’s Murder MC #7)

“ I think it’s time I brought you to the Roost.”

“Your clubhouse?”

“Yeah.” Rain slid his leather vest on, pocketing his phone, keys, and wallet. “I want to show you off, angel.”

“To who?”

“Everyone.” He shrugged. “Not kidding. The whole fucking world needs to know I’ve claimed you, and you’re mine.”

“Is that what the last couple of days have been about?” We barely left my bed.

I was a bit sore but in the best way possible.

Did I have any regrets? None. Not with Rain, my protector.

And none with my Cuckoo, the overprotective, possessive biker.

He was two sides of the same coin, and I loved him. Truly.

Had the intimacy between us proven it? Yes. But we loved one another as kids, forming a strong connection, and it was a natural progression to fall in love as adults.

I couldn’t imagine life without him. It would be so boring.

He sat beside me on the bed where I’d been watching him dress. “Yeah, I claimed you, Katrina, but the last few days have been about proving how I feel about you.”

“I know. Me too.”

His fingers caressed the side of my face, dipping as his thumb brushed across my bottom lip. “This mouth. I want to feel you wrap those sexy as fuck lips around my cock later.”

“Only if you promise to fuck me hard afterward.”

He blinked. A grin slowly widened his lips. “Fuck, baby. When you talk dirty, all the blood rushes from my head to my dick. All I can think about is ripping your clothes off, spreading those sweet thighs, and giving you all nine inches of my cock.”

“You’ve corrupted me,” I joked.

“Oh, I know, and it’s fucking intoxicating.”

“You certainly came inside me a lot last night.” I tilted my head, staring into those stormy gray eyes I adored. They held such warmth, desire, and conviction. I wondered if that would change when I brought up the subject of children. “You’re going to get me pregnant.”

“Oh, I hope so.” His eyes flashed silver. “The thought makes me hard.”

“You want kids?”

“I do.”

“But after all we went through, do you think we’ll be good parents?” It made me sort of nervous.

“Yeah, I think we’ll be fucking amazing parents because we’ll love our kids, and we’ll protect them. The way we should have been protected.”

“I suppose you’re right. The thought of them out there wanting any kids we have is terrifying, Rain.” I had to blink back the sudden tears that surfaced. “I’d kill to keep our children safe. I’d hurt anyone who came after them.”

The force of that emotion was crazy, considering we were talking about hypothetical, not yet conceived children. I’d never been a violent person, but I knew I would become one if Rain or my babies were threatened.

“Angel, I think you’d be fucking fierce. I don’t doubt it.” He kissed me, letting it linger before his forehead rested against mine. “I’ll rip apart anyone who threatens us and order the crows to feast on their flesh.”

Gruesome, but effective.

“You’ve always had crows follow you around. They used to sit on the branches of nearby trees and watch over you.” A distant memory, trying to push through my mind, sent a shudder through me. “They cawed and smacked into the glass in our bedroom. I remember that night.”

His breathing accelerated. “Baby, let it go.”

“If we don’t ever confront these nightmares, they’ll continue controlling us.”

“Fuck.” He leaned back. “The pain.” He doubled over like he’d been punched in the gut. “Fuck, Katrina.”

“They bent you over and hurt you. I had to close my eyes and slap my palms over my ears. But inside, Rain,” my voice faltered, “inside my head, I screamed.”

“I did, too.”

I threw my arms around him, holding him close because I knew the toll and havoc it caused on his soul. The horrible, shattering agony that stripped away our childhood. We’d been robbed of so much. “I love you, Rain. Give me the sorrow. Let me take it away.”

A sob shook loose from his chest before he clutched me against him, burying his head in my neck as I felt his tears. What happened to us, it never should have been possible. It left a jagged hole in our hearts that we’d had to live with our entire lives.

“I love you, Rain. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Something settled inside me. As he dared to expose his vulnerability, I realized we could help one another heal. Maybe that was what we had been destined to do. The reason he reentered my life at this time. We needed each other.

Together, we could face the past and finally overcome it.

“I love you,” I repeated for a third time, letting all the conviction I felt power my voice and add determination to the words. “We’ll get through this.”

He didn’t say anything for several minutes; he just held me in an almost brutal embrace before finally lifting his head. God, that stormy sea in his eyes sent pains shooting through my chest. No one should ever suffer that horribly.

Cuckoo released a deep breath. “I love you so fucking much, Katrina. Thank you.” His mouth brushed over my lips. “I’m so fucking lucky.”

“I think we both are, my biker boyfriend,” I teased.

“Your biker mate. Your forever,” he corrected.

“I can live with that.”

CUCKOO SHUT OFF HIS engine and stood, reaching for me as I lifted the helmet from my head.

“The Roost is special to me, to all of us.” Crows cawed overhead, and I watched them land on trees, the roof, and nearby structures as he interlaced our fingers.

“It’s our clubhouse and our home. Come on. I want to introduce you to everyone.”

I really needed to ask him about all these crows later.

Cuckoo led me inside the Roost, and we entered the bar, which greeted you as you stepped inside.

I supposed it was built that way for functionality since the biker brothers probably needed a drink before they went to their rooms or church.

Cuckoo mentioned how they often hung out and played pool or darts in the common room. It seemed like the hub of the Roost.

It was crowded as we entered. People stopped what they were doing to stare at us, and all conversations ceased.

Cuckoo slid an arm around my shoulders and grinned. “This is Katrina, my mate.”

A couple of heartbeats passed in silence before a figurative bomb went off. The room erupted in cheers as men raised glasses in celebration. Quite a few walked toward us, slapping Cuckoo on the back. Some shook his hand. Others grinned and joked, giving him a hard time.

He took it all in stride.

I laughed when he got pulled away. It didn’t take long to be surrounded, smiling at the women who approached me.

“I’m Bella, Crow’s ol’ lady.” A gorgeous brunette with long legs pointed to a blonder, shorter version of herself. “This is my sister, Bree.”

“I’m Raven’s ol’ lady,” she informed me.

“You’ll get used to this,” another blonde announced. “I’m Callie, Hawk’s ol’ lady.”

“And I’m Crow’s sister, Gail.” I had seen a photo of Crow and some of the guys on Cuckoo’s phone. “Mated and ol’ lady to Talon.” She had dark raven hair like her brother.

“Don’t forget me!” A redhead wearing long braids that cascaded over her slim shoulders approached, nearly tackling me with a hug. “I’m Rebel, Heron’s ol’ lady.”

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Katrina.”

“Oh, he’s waited so long for you,” Bella gushed.

“You’re gorgeous!” Bree added.

“Uh, thanks.” I could feel my cheeks growing warm.

Callie looped her arm around mine. “Come have a drink. We want to hear all about how you tamed Cuckoo.”

I snorted. “He sort of did all the taming and stalking,” I revealed.

Several giggles followed.

“I believe it,” Rebel laughed.

“He’s not wearing a costume today,” Gail observed. “You must have distracted him.”

I bit my lip to keep from diving into a subject I felt too shy to discuss. I’d never had a lot of female friends. None that were close. It was strange to be surrounded by all these women. A bit intimidating, if I was honest, but I didn’t dislike it.

“We’re a lot, I know,” Bree observed, leading me to a seat. “But you should know we’re all so excited for Cuckoo.”

I could understand. “I’m happy to be here and meet everyone.” I felt eyes on me and lifted my head, immediately locking onto Cuckoo’s intense gray stare. I nodded, smiled, and watched his shoulders relax.

“He’s so in love with you,” Callie remarked dreamily. “I remember when Hawk used to watch me like that.”

“He still does,” Rebel pointed out.

“I know.” Callie giggled. “It’s so intense.”

“I hope we’ll see you around often. Come over whenever you like,” Bella encouraged. “We’re here nearly as much as the men.”

“If not more,” Gail added.

“I’d like that.” And I meant it.

I heard someone clear his throat and turned to my left, finding an older man sitting on a candy apple red scooter, holding a cane, and smiling as he jolted to a stop. He might have jarred the table as he bumped it.

“I’m Lucky Lou.”

I held out my hand, and he shook it. “Katrina. Nice to meet you, Lucky Lou.”

He shook my hand and then patted it with his other one, holding me in place. “You’re an old soul. Familiar, too. What’s your last name?”

“I was adopted. Don’t remember much about my birth parents, but they did have the last name Rossi.”

He blinked. “Rossi?” It left his mouth on a croak.

“Yes. They died seven—”

“—teen years ago. Drunk driver. Accident on the highway.”

“How do you know that?” I asked, shocked.

“Because Katrina, dear, you’re my cousin’s daughter.”

Silence engulfed us.

“I have family ? Alive ?”

Lucky Lou nodded, tears filling his eyes. “You sure do!”

I didn’t know what prompted me to rise to my feet, rush this older man, and tackle him in a hug, but I did it without hesitation. He hugged me back as fiercely, sniffling as the two of us held on.

“You’re all I’ve got. You’ve made this old man happy.”

Aw. “Me too!”

I separated from Lucky Lou, dashing the tears from under my eyes. “How come you didn’t find me?”

Sadness descended on his features. “I thought you were gone. The coroner’s report said you perished with your parents.

” He stared at me intently. “But I’d know you anywhere.

You’re a Rossi. I can see it. Same eyes as your mother, but you’ve got the Rossi good looks.

” He managed to wink. “If I wasn’t all gray, you’d notice. ”

I didn’t care about that and told him so. “I have family.”

“Your uncle Lou is gonna look after you now.”

Cuckoo joined us. “She’s your niece?” He seemed as surprised as I felt.

“My blood. That’s all that matters. The last Rossi.” He straightened in his seat. “She’s got family now, son. I’ll make sure she’s looked after.”

Cuckoo nodded. “She’s got me, Lou.”

“Both of us. But the Rossi name carries weight. We’ve been senators, lawyers, and successful businessmen. A few were outlaws.” He winked at us. “But we’ve got a hell of an empire built that still brings in revenue.”

He held out his hand, and I accepted it. Lowering his voice, he glanced around, and I noticed everyone had dispersed to give the three of us some privacy.

“I’ve never heard of the Rossi empire,” I admitted.

“You should, but that’s alright. What’s important is that you know you’re still listed as heir.”

Heir? I blinked.

“Over thirty million.”

“You’re sitting on thirty mil?” Cuckoo asked, nearly choking on the words.

“Not me, our sweet Katrina.”

I felt my knees buckle, but I never hit the ground. Cuckoo scooped me up and brought me to his chest. I felt dizzy and needed a few minutes to process all this.

“Come on, Lou. Let’s take this somewhere private.”

Lou pointed his cane at one of the family rooms we built last year when Crow decided the club’s children needed a safe space to play, away from the bar where chaos often ruled.

We entered the room, and Cuckoo sat me on a nearby sofa. “Want any water?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“I’ll go grab a few. Lou, could I talk to you for a minute?”

“I’ll follow you out.”

They left me in the room alone as I relaxed against the cushions. My eyes closed, and I thought about what Lou revealed. Who were my parents? What happened?

Since I was only five when they died, I didn’t remember much.

Were my parents politicians? Is that why they were murdered?

Cuckoo said the case was cold, meaning they never found the killer.

With high-level security on the case files, it made sense that millionaires and famous politicians would be considered a security risk.

I heard a noise and opened my eyes, noticing the figure that stood in the corner. I gasped as he stepped forward, dark shadows hovering around his shoulders. One crow perched on the left side and cawed. It wasn’t a loud sound, more diluted like he didn’t exist outside of a dream.

“I won’t harm you. I’m Carrion.”

“Oh. Hi.”

“Cuckoo can’t know that I came in. That’s why I traveled by shadows and the crows.”

Um. Okay?

“It’s not great timing, I know. You’ve just had a shock.”

“Yes,” I agreed, on all aspects.

“But you should know that Lou is telling the truth. Trust him. He’ll help you find out what you need. You and Cuckoo will find closure.”

I didn’t quite know what to say to that. “Thanks.”

“Trust the lanterns.”

Huh?

“When the time comes, trust the lanterns. They’ll bring you peace.”

That sounded ominous.

“Don’t be afraid, Katrina. You’ve been so brave, you and Cuckoo both. You’re going to be alright.”

Before I could reply, he stepped back into the shadows and disappeared.

How strange.

I didn’t know much about Carrion, but he seemed genuine.

But lanterns? I didn’t know how to process that information.

I hoped I wouldn’t have to find out what he meant.