Page 27 of Georgie (Sons of Hell MC #10)

Josie

Twenty minutes later, I stormed into the family penthouse when I heard my dad chuckle. “Is he alive?”

“Barely,” I huffed, looking around the room, frowning. “Where are the kids?”

“Still with George’s grandmother. She heard what her boneheaded grandson did and thought it best to keep them until the dust settled.

She didn’t want them to see their future father emasculated.

Rome called. Gator and the others arrived last night.

They have opted to stay in the apartment above the Irish Rose Tavern. ”

“Of course they have. It’s a damn bar,” I grumbled, taking a seat on the couch, leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

I needed five minutes.

Just five minutes to gather my thoughts and try to relax.

“Josie, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something but with everything going on lately, nailing your feet to the ground hasn’t been easy,” my dad said moments later in a strange voice that had the hairs on my neck standing up.

Opening one eye, I looked at the man. “About what?”

“The lodge.”

Both eyes open now, I sat up. “What about it?”

“After the wedding, I’m signing it over to you. I don’t want it anymore.”

“What do you mean, you don’t want it? Dad, you built this place from the ground up. It’s all you’ve cared about since Mom died.”

My dad nodded. “You’re right and this place got me through some hard times, but in two days, I’m marrying LeeAnn, and I have a chance at my happily ever after.

I want to spend what time I have left with her, not arguing with vendors, suppliers, staff or guests.

I want to relax and see the world with LeeAnn. ”

I couldn’t believe it.

He was leaving me. After everything I’d done, he was just going to hand it over and walk off into the sunset?

“Baby girl, look,” my dad continued. “You run this place better than I’ve ever done.

You put down roots here. Made friends and have fallen in love with your best friend.

No. Let me finish.” My dad held up his hand when I tried to interrupt.

“When your mother and I conceived this place, it was meant to be a home. Not some five-story monstrosity that caters to the rich and famous. We wanted a home where we could raise our kids and one day watch our grandchildren run around happily. You were born here, Josie, and I should have raised you here, not sent you away to some boarding school abroad. For that, I am truly sorry. Grief makes people do crazy things they normally wouldn’t do.

When your mom died, I lost a part of myself.

A part I thought I’d never get back again.

I was young and grieving the loss of my wife.

I had no business raising a little girl, so I took the easy way out and sent you away and turned your mother’s house into this.

But now I have a second chance and so do you.

Freddie was never good enough for you, and I’m sorry you had to learn that the hard way, but you have a second chance with George.

That man will walk through fire for you, Josephine.

He loves you like I love LeeAnn, and I want you to have what your mother and I wanted for you all along. A home.”

“This isn’t a home, Dad. It’s a damn ski resort.”

“No, Josie.” My dad shook his head. “This is still a home. Just a very big home. What I meant by that was I’m giving you Rosewood.”

“Huh?”

“I’m giving you the town, the people, the lodge, the place that should have been your home in the first place. If I had done right by you, you would have grown up with half the people here, had friends, made your own roots. I failed you in that.”

“You didn’t fail me, Dad,” I whispered.

“Yes, I did. This town and the people that live in it are family. They will bend over backwards for you when times get rough. When you need them, they will be there. George has roots here, Josie. He’s got his clinic, the hospital, the Sons of Hell, his grandmother, brother, sister, and now he has you.

His best friend. That’s a solid foundation to build upon, Josie, and I can’t wait to see what you build. ”

Sniffing, I knew what he was trying to say.

“So, after the wedding, the lodge will be yours, baby girl. Consider it an early wedding gift.”

“This place won’t be the same without you, Dad.”

“Oh please.” My dad grinned, getting to his feet. “This place will be just fine, and so will you. Now, I need to find my betrothed. Apparently, there’s a crisis with the flower arrangements.”

As my dad walked to the elevator, he turned and added, “Oh, and, Josie?”

Looking over at him, he smiled. “Your mother would be proud of the woman you’ve become. I know I am.”

Gulping, I said nothing as my dad disappeared into the elevator.

Sometime later, I stood and looked at the dining room table, as I made sure I didn’t forget anything. I planned everything down to the littlest detail. I wanted tonight to be perfect.

“Mom!”

Smiling, I headed for the living room as Jasmine rushed over, hugging my waist while her brother Jasper grinned up at me, George slowly following them. “Hey, Mom, guess what?”

“What?”

“Mrs. Steiner said I can call her granny!”

“She did?”

“Yeah.” My little boy nodded his head. “Said you were gonna marry George, and he was gonna be our dad.”

“She did, did she?” I quirked an eye at the man, cautiously sulking in the background. “Is that so?”

“Does that mean I have to be nice to Cameron now?” My daughter huffed. “Because he’s a big fat meanie with cooties!”

“I think he’s cool!” Jasper smiled.

“We will talk about that later. You two, go wash up. Dinner is almost ready,” I ordered as they both ran off, leaving me alone with George.

“Thank you for bringing them home.”

“You’re welcome.”

“George, I want to apologize—”

I never got the words out because, in the next instant, he grabbed my face and kissed me as if his life depended on it.

George deepened the kiss, a slow, steady rhythm that mirrored the beating of my heart.

His arms encircled me and drew me closer, and I felt a familiar warmth spread through me, chasing away any lingering shadows of doubt.

This wasn’t just any kiss; it was his promise, his quiet affirmation of all the good things to come.

A symbol of a brighter future we were building, brick by hopeful brick.

His lips moved against mine, a tender dance of affection, and I lost myself in the feeling when I vaguely heard the elevator ding.

“Oh! Are we interrupting something?” Lidi asked.

Breaking the kiss, George growled. “Yes. Go away.”

“Can’t do that. I’m hungry.” Frank, George’s brother, smiled as he placed two infant carriers on the floor while his wife, Dr. Claudia James-Steiner, stood beside him, holding Charlie on her hip.

Smirking, I wrapped my arm around George’s waist. “Dinner will be ready soon, Frank. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable until the others arrive?”

The elevator dinged again and when the doors opened, we all clearly heard, “I’m telling you, Granny, Bailey said it was funny as hell. She had him by the balls and wouldn’t let go!”

George groaned, rolling his eyes as he walked over to the bar and poured himself a double.

“Oh, there you are, my dear.” George’s grandmother smiled, walking over to kiss me on the cheek as Fiona walked over to George. “How are you? Any lingering side effects?”

“I was the one maimed, Granny,” George grumbled, downing his drink.

“And rightly so,” the older woman snapped, turning to look at her grandson. “I should take a switch to your hide, young man. Leaving poor defenseless Josephine locked behind bars.”

“Not defenseless,” George muttered, then grimaced as he not so politely adjusted himself. “Woman’s got a mean grip.”

Frank chuckled as the elevator dinged again. My dad and LeeAnn, along with Laurel, Banks and their sons, and a man I’d never met, walked in talking a mile a minute.

“Hey, Josie,” Laurel greeted, walking over to me, dragging the poor man behind her. “Hope you don’t mind one more. This is Alek, Nikoli’s older brother.” Laurel smiled proudly as she patted his chest. “He’s staying a spell to catch up with his brother.”

The handsome man smiled, extending his hand.

“I hope I’m not too much of an inconvenience,” he said with a Russian accent.

Waving the thought away, I smiled. “Oh please. Welcome to my home, and please make yourself comfortable.”

“Come look at this, Uncle Alek!” Kai shouted across the room as the man grinned and walked away.

Linking her arm in mine, Laurel whispered as Jasper and Jasmine walked back into the room, making a beeline for Kai. “It’s a long story, but the short version is Alek and Nik were separated years ago because of some bloody war in Russia. They only reconnected a few weeks ago.”

I was about to ask more when the elevator dinged again, only this time it was my cousins, Romeo and Gator, who had Cameron flung over his shoulder, limply.

“Josie!” Romeo shouted, halting all conversations as I ran over to them.

“What the hell happened to Cameron?” I asked as Frank, George, and Lidi rushed over to check on the young boy, who was now giggling uncontrollably.

“You gotta help us, Josie, before King finds out. It wasn’t our fault. We were just teaching him how to play quarters. We didn’t know. We swear!” Romeo quickly said as George reached for a pulse as Lidi gasped, wrinkling her nose, taking a step back.

“We din’ know where else to take him,” Gator muttered, looking at a frighteningly angry Frank, who stood ramrod straight with his arms crossed over his chest.

“It was an accident. We thought it was Sprite,” Romeo added.

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “You thought what was a Sprite?”

Cameron’s head popped up, his eyes glazed and bloodshot as he shouted to the room. “WHAZ’ UP, party bitches!”

“Juju’s moonshine,” my cousins both whispered.

LeeAnn gasped.

My dad whistled.

Frank growled.

“Oh. My. God!” I screeched. “He’s drunk?!”