Page 22 of Georgie (Sons of Hell MC #10)

Georgie

After Granny and the kids were safely deposited at her place—a minor miracle considering the sheer volume of sugared-up chaos that spilled from the minivan—it was just me and the Bourbon Kings.

Gator and his surprisingly insightful, if slightly pungent, entourage.

Heading for the lodge, it wasn’t long before the Rosewood Ski Resort glittered in the evening moonlight, a perfect picture of an opulent winter wonderland.

The long, winding driveway, however, seemed to trigger some kind of primal fear in Gator.

“Nope,” the man grumbled, shaking his head, his voice like gravel gargling with bourbon. “Ain’t happenin’.”

“What isn’t?” I asked, already bracing myself for the usual shenanigans that generally applied when it came to the Bourbon Kings.

“We ain’t stayin’ here. Nope. No way.”

“Where else is there? You’re here for a wedding, Gator, not a goddamn camping trip.”

“Don’t care. We ain’t steppin’ one toe in that place.”

“Gator, the wedding is here!” I emphasized, my patience wearing thinner than a cheap pair of ski socks.

“Yeah, and when my m?man walks in, then I will, but not a smidge before her.”

This was new.

Gator, usually a walking, talking embodiment of stubbornness, had a surprising chivalry. Or maybe just a profound fear of his mother.

Yeah. I was going with a fear of his mother.

“Will one of you explain to me what the hell is the problem?” I demanded, already picturing the uncomfortable call I would be making later tonight to King as I tried to explain this nonsense.

“You see, Doc,” Donut huffed heavily, his breath a noxious cloud of stale donuts and something vaguely resembling regret.

I winced.

Seriously, the man needed a toothbrush, a dentist, and possibly a hazmat suit.

“The prez ain’t above his station. He knows what side his bread is buttered on. So he ain’t gonna be happy with the highfalutin digs that Daddy Warbucks dishes out.”

“WHAT?” I practically shrieked, then growled, “And see a damn dentist! Your breath is awful! Someone with a fucking brain cell explain!”

Thore groaned and finally stepped up. “You see, Doc, the prez—that’s our boss, right?

But his m?man rules the roost. She’s got this whole thing about appearances.

She thinks if Gator shows up at some fancy-pants resort, her sisters will think Gator’s trying to be something he ain’t.

Gator loves his m?man and is happy being a good ol’ boy, not a fancy-pants ski bunny. ”

Donut nodded vigorously, spraying sugary doom in the process.

I... I had no fucking words.

I didn’t even know how to respond to that.

“Yeah, and M?man agrees. She’s all about keeping it real, you know? No airs, no graces, just good ol’ fashioned bourbon and... well, more bourbon.”

I stared at them, speechless for a blessed moment.

“What my brothers are so eloquently trying to enunciate is that they will feel out of place staying at the lodge. Maybe there is some place more homey and less opulent. More befitting their station, if you catch my drift?” Worm, the only fucking brother in the Bourbon Kings with a functioning brain, muttered as he slowly shook his head.

Then a wicked grin spread across my face.

“So,” I said, a plan forming. “They need to feel at home.”

“Yep.” They all nodded.

Grinning, I clearly said, “I know the perfect place.”

Not even twenty minutes later, I unlocked a back door and stepped to the side, letting the Bourbon Kings through first. Following them up the stairs, the brothers stretched their arms and smiled, finding themselves a cozy spot to sit and chill. Looking around the bunch, my gaze focused on Gator.

“Will this do?”

“Merci beaucoup.” The President of the Bourbon Kings grinned, stretching out on a well-worn, used sofa.

“Scribe keeps the fridge stocked, so there is plenty of food, and all the alcohol you can drink is downstairs. Help yourselves,” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

This would teach King to shackle me with Carnage again.

I hoped these fuckers drank the Irish Rose Tavern dry!

Leaving Gator with the keys to the tavern, I headed back down the stairs, happy with myself and not giving a fig if King blew a fuse.

Heading for my vehicle, I spotted Devlyn and glanced behind me to make damn sure Gator and the others were perfectly hidden out of sight, ensconced in their new hidey hole until the wedding.

While I was all for annoying the hell out of King, I flat out refused to disrupt Cameron’s or Granny’s plan. Cameron scared the crap out of me and, well... Granny had a mean streak when the mood suited her.

“Hey, Devlyn,” I greeted. “Why are you out walking alone this late at night?”

“Trying to clear my head.”

“You want to talk about it?”

She huffed. “Unless you know a surefire way to get rid of an annoying swamp rat, then no.”

Smirking, I asked, “Gator bothering you again?”

Sighing, she muttered, “No. Not really. Athena showed up at the lodge today and said something that bothered me.”

“Never pegged you for the witchy woo shit.”

“Generally, I ignore whatever she says, but this is Athena I’m talking about. Even I can’t discount her. It’s freaky how right she is all the time.”

“And what did Athena say that bothered you?”

“She said he’s coming for me.”

Blinking, I glanced back for good measure.

There was no fucking way! How in the hell?

Nope. Never mind. I wasn’t going there.

It was just a coincidence.

That’s all.

Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Devlyn, have you talked to him? I mean really talked to him?”

“Not since the last time I saw him.”

“So he doesn’t know.”

She shook her head.

“Have you told anyone?”

“No.”

Sighing, I advised, “You can’t shoulder this by yourself, Devlyn. He’s going to find out, eventually, and better from you than someone else.”

“I know.” She groaned, looking away. “How could I be so stupid? I’m always so careful.”

“Accidents happen all the time, Dev. And sometimes, those accidents are the best accidents in the world. You may hate the man, but I know for a fact that he still thinks about you. Maybe give the man a chance to make things right.”

“I think he’s already done enough,” she clipped, then looked back at me and frowned. “Why are you out this late? I thought you were off galivanting with Cameron and the kids?”

Rolling my eyes, I groaned. “And that is a story for another day. I’m heading to the lodge to see Josephine. I need to speak with her about something. Can I give you a ride home?”

Devlyn nodded, and I walked her to my vehicle.