Page 15 of Judge (Devil’s Rose MC #7)
Judge
“ T he last of the kids Renae and the cartel had been keeping have been returned to their families,” Marx announces, the table erupting with cheers, boots stomping, fists banging the worn wooden table.
It’s been two weeks since we cleared out the scum.
Cartel de Silencio and La Sombre Roja are now no more.
Shit, even if they had some survivors across the border, their numbers have been decimated.
Not to mention a little birdy named Roman may or may not have sent men down there in one last last sweep.
“In the last point of order,” Marx looks toward Pops who gives a simple nod, “we need to make a decision. The compound is a total rebuild. It can be done, but at great expense and time. Pops has very generously offered to have the compound moved here.”
Our shocked gazes all stare at Pops who starts to squirm in his seat. “Don’t get all choked up about it. I have the space, and Dayz and I do our best work in my office here,” he grumbles.
I try to hide my smile. He may act like a grumpy old shit, but he has a heart of gold.
His Love Pres lessons have been enlightening to say the least. I may not have won over the girl, just yet, but I at least feel like we’re building something more akin to a friendship.
Even if I have only seen her in passing this last week.
As soon as the cartel and Renae Sullivan were dealt with Kaia and the kids moved back home, not wanting the diner to be closed any longer than it had to be.
Since reopening she’s been working double time to get back to where she was and Tank and I have been busy as fuck catching up with Devil’s Big Tow work.
I’ve stopped by the diner for afternoon snacks and to see the kids, but I’m hoping to get into a better routine now that shit looks like it’s calming down.
“Because the land is so expansive, and Pops says he doesn’t need it all, it’s been agreed to divvy up the area to build more housing, much like the Tombs cabins already here,” Marx continues.
“Some of us will be adding on to the cabins,” Tav adds.
Marx nods in his direction. “So, all those in favor of relocating the compound to the farm, say aye.”
It’s unanimous as everyone yells their agreement. The compound was home to the DRMC, but the farm is home . I have no other way to explain it.
“Good, we’re all in agreement.”
“What’s the timeline?” Fox asks, healing well with rest and the love of a good man.
“The Landrys have friends, a crew that left the Keep not long after they did. Apparently they can get shit built or renovated fast, so we’ll be bringing them in.”
“Like those Amish barn builders,” Rider pipes up. “I watch that shit all the time on TikTok, fucking impressive.”
Pops stares at him for a beat. “You need to get laid, kid.”
“I can’t,” Rider laments. “No woman is going to want a man with a dent in his ass and a missing nipple. I’m a nipless wonder.
” He throws his hands in the air before hitting us all with a glare.
“I lost a nipple for you fuckers, the least you could do is give me the biggest room in the new clubhouse rebuild.” His glare turns into a smirk until Marx throws his pen at him, bouncing it off his big head.
“We thank you for your service, brother. If there isn’t anything else, Church closed. I got a woman to go see,” he grins.
We jeer and give him shit, but it’s nice to see Pres looking so fucking relaxed and happy. Lovely is good for him, and together they are a force to be reckoned with. I follow behind my brothers as we file out of the dining room, which is doubling up as Church for the meantime.
“Plans?” Tank asks, moving to follow me down the hall.
“Yeah, I gotta call by my parents.”
He rolls his lips between his teeth, stopping on the veranda beside me. “Dude, I know you ain’t dumb enough to not tell your Mom as soon as you found out you had a couple of kids out there.”
He stares at me and I stare back, not breaking eye contact. “Holy shit, you haven’t told them yet, have you?”
“I wanted to tell them in person, to their faces,” even before my lame excuse has finished falling from my lips Tank is shaking his head wide-eyed.
“Your mom is gonna shit, dude. And your dad will just sit there, in his favourite chair, thinking. Not saying a word.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with Rider. You’ve gone all dramatic,” I grumble.
“Dude, have you forgotten who my ol lady is? I don’t need Rider to influence me. I’ve got Mira.” He grins wide, clearly thinking about his woman.
I ignore his gooey eyes and move to walk around him, stopping when he asks what time we’re riding out. “We?” I raise a brow.
“You think I’m going to let my best friend ride all that way, breaking such life changing news to his parents, all alone?” he waves a hand at me with a shit-eating grin. “No way, I’m coming.”
“Count me in too,” Nitro’s voice chimes in from behind me.
“Where are we going?” Rider grins, Tav, Sniper and Dex standing alongside him.
Rolling my eyes I stomp down the front steps. “Let me call Mom.”
* * *
“Oh boys! It’s so good to see you all!” I roll my eyes as Mom comes rushing out of the house, arms open wide, going from brother to brother giving them all mom-hugs, as if they don’t get enough of them from Mama Debs.
“Don’t judge her, you know she loves when you visit with the MC,” Dad murmurs as he hugs me.
My whole life they have been the benchmark of a happy relationship for me.
They met in high school, got married after college, then had me.
They always wanted more kids but it wasn’t in the cards for them, so I can see how mom would soak up all the attention my brothers give her.
Even if it’s because they’re moochers and just want her cookies.
“Come on in! As soon as Leo called I got the oven on.”
I swear Rider makes a whooping noise as he follows behind her like a dog.
Dex, Sniper, Tav, Nitro and Tank following behind.
They all crowd around the dining table, talking shit with Dad and pigging out on chocolate chip cookies.
Jesus, Mom even has glasses filled with milk waiting on the table for them.
“So, what’s going on?” Mom bumps her hip into mine before wrapping her arm around the base of my back as I stand back and watch the carnage.
“What makes you think something is going on?”
She raises a single brow and gives me a look. “You hardly ever visit, and now here you are, looking…happy.”
“Huh?”
“You look happy. Which means I’m happy. So, do you have something to tell me?” She clasps her hands under her chin, looking just like Annie-Bella when she’s trying to wrangle something out of her mother. Or me. I’ve learned that I have no discipline when it comes to the twins.
“Oh, he definitely has something to tell you,” Rider says around a mouthful of cookie.
I give him the death glare and he grins back, chocolate chips all through his teeth.
He isn’t the only fucker staring either.
Sniper is sitting in the corner quietly, a cookie in one hand, glass of milk in the other.
Dex is ogling with the best of them, all while trying to block Tank from the snickerdoodles.
The only brother minding his own goddamn business is Tav, who has become enamoured with Dad’s train set collection.
Moving my gaze back to Mom’s hopeful one, I let out a sigh, then move her closer to the dining table, gesturing her to take a seat.
“Chuck,” mom hisses. “Leave the trains, Judge -” Mom winks at me, like she often does when she uses my road name, “has something to tell us,” she wriggles in her seat, waving her hand at Dad to hurry up and sit his ass down.
Dad looks torn between Mom’s eagerness to hear what I have to say, and talking to Tav about his collection. I decide to put him out of his misery and drop the bomb.
“Do you remember Kaia?”
“Oh I don’t know.” Mom gives Dad a look, “Do you mean Kaia Kennedy, your bestie from the ages of five through to eighteen? Lived right down the street? Had sleepovers in the fort, worked the summer job with you, was your date for prom? That Kaia?” Mom rolls her eyes.
I frown at her, a look that’ll make most men shit their pants, and yet she sits there giving me sass. She reminds me so much of Annie-Bella. Small but mighty. Head full of light brown curls and body full of equal amounts sweetness and attitude.
“Yeah, OK, so you remember her.”
“Oh, is she back in town?”
“You could say that,” Tank mumbles, watching the show.
“Ah, yeah. She’s in Rose Grove.”
Mom claps, bouncing in her seat, “How wonderful! I always thought it was sad that you two lost touch,” Dex snorts and then covers it with a cough. I’m going to kick his ass. Actually, I might kick all their asses.
I stare at Mom, ignoring the eyes on me. Just say it, Leo. Get it out. “Kaia has twins,” I blurt, then stare wide-eyed at my parents.
“Oh that’s so nice! What kind? Boy/boy? Girl/girl? Oh, a boy and a girl?”
“Yeah Leo, what kind are they?” Rider says, shoving a cookie in his big mouth.
“A boy and a girl. Jackson and Annie-Bella.”
Mom and Dad freeze, confused looks on their faces. “That’s an, ah, interesting choice of names,” Mom says, suspiciously.
“Yeah, ain’t they just?” Sniper mumbles and I can’t believe that even my quiet brother wants to get a dig in.
“Um yeah, so the boy, Jax, Jackson, is named after me, and Annie-Bella is named after her grandmothers.”
The silence is deafening until it’s broken when the cookie Dad is dunking slips into his glass of milk with a plop.
“Her grandmothers?” Mom squeaks, looking equal parts hopeful and terrified.
“Come on man, put them out of their misery so Chuck can show me his stored collection of steam trains,” Tav whines.
“I’m their father. Jackson and Annie-Bella are mine and Kaia’s twins.”
Mom blinks once, then twice before she launches out of her chair, aimed directly for my chest where she bounces off, slapping me and hopping from foot to foot, cackling.