Page 10
Story: Pope’s Penance (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Coral Cay Chapter #1)
Pulling up in front of the electronic gate, I punch in the code and wait for it to slide open.
Is it overkill to have my property gated inside an already secured compound?
Possibly, but I knew this place was going to house my woman and kids one day.
Protecting them is my job, and adding another layer to that never hurts.
The white and black two-story farmhouse sits comfortably between two weeping willow trees.
We pass the outdoor bonfire area before pulling into empty spots in front of the garage.
On one end of the wraparound porch, two wooden swings hang from the rafter, waiting patiently for little bodies to take a seat.
Next to the front door, a couple rocking chairs sit facing the large front yard.
It’s everything Birdie once envisioned for our place, and my pulse races knowing she’s finally going to see it.
I had this house built years ago, but I’ve yet to sleep a single night under the roof. Hell, I’ve barely stepped foot in here unless it was for upkeep. One of the old ladies comes in weekly to dust and do whatever else shit needs to be done to a house not lived in.
The swings dance and the chairs rock with the sudden gust of wind that rushes through, as if the house is welcoming my family home.
I kick down the stand and climb from my bike, hurrying over to the car to get Birdie out. The stubborn little fool is already climbing out, though, and my palm itches with the need to tan her ass for daring to put herself in a position to do more harm to herself.
She pays no attention to me, even though I’m standing in front of her.
Her gaze is fixed on the house behind me.
Her bottom lip trembles and her eyes water as emotion overwhelms her.
When I told her we would be staying at my place, she assumed it would be the place we’d lived in before she left.
Birdie couldn’t have known that place stopped being home when I walked out of it that day seven years ago.
There were too many memories. Her ghost haunted that place.
The one time I tried sleeping there after she left, I laid on the bed for hours.
The fact that my pillowcases absorbed more tears that night than ever before remained a secret.
I started staying at the clubhouse after that.
“This is your house?” Birdie whispers.
Reaching out, I grasp her chin between my fingers and pull her attention to me. “This is our house.”
Her brows show her confusion. My lips curl to one side as I release her face and tangle my fingers with hers.
“We started the build on this two years after you left,” I tell her as I guide her slowly up the steps.
I don’t miss the way her fingers touch everything within reach or the way her eyes soak in the details as we pass. She spins around when I release her to unlock the door, taking in as much of the house as she can.
The alarm blares through the house as I shove open the door. Lovelyn and Legend slap hands over their ears, and because I’m worried about them, I quickly punch in the code.
Lovelyn giggles. “Holy moly, that was loud.”
“We needed to make sure we could hear it at the clubhouse,” I tell her.
Birdie stands just outside the door, fear etched on her face. Her body trembles as she wraps her arms around herself.
“Birdie?” I call quietly, holding out my hand and urging her to take it.
“I can’t do this.” Tears leak from her terrified eyes. “This was a mistake.”
She backs away but stops when she spots our kids already standing behind me in the foyer. Birdie wants to call them to her. The struggle is in her eyes. But I fill the doorway, blocking her view of them so she’ll have to look at me again.
“You’re right. It was a mistake because it changes fucking everything, little mama.”
Without warning, I lift her in my arms and carry her through the door, only setting her on her feet once we’re in the living room.
“The kids have their own rooms. I’ll show them after we get you settled upstairs in the bedroom.
I’m sure you want to take a shower, so I’ll get that ready for you.
While you do that, I’ll make you and the kids some food because I’m sure you’re hungry. ”
“That’s okay. I can just wait until the kids go to sleep.”
“No,” I state bluntly.
Fire sparks in her eyes, and I plead with her silently to give it to me, but she blinks it away.
She looks around for her sister, and I smile when I hear her and Manic arguing on the porch.
Birdie hears them too because she shuffles to the door.
Right as she opens it, Manic shoves his shoulder into Valkyrie’s stomach, lifting so that she’s hanging halfway over his back.
She’s screaming at him, her fists slamming into his back as he marches toward his bike.
I almost call out to warn him when an evil look comes over her face, so I just lean against the door jamb and watch.
Valkyrie scoots farther over his shoulder until her face is in line with his ass.
She strikes quickly, her teeth clamping down and digging in.
Manic’s body goes rigid as he stops, then he shoves her off him, and she tumbles to the ground with a laugh.
Then she’s up and running toward the car.
Except I see the thrill of the chase cross Manic’s face before he sprints after her.
Birdie whimpers as she watches Valkyrie and Manic. I curl my arm around her and pull her to me. Manic leans down to whisper something to Kyrie, and I watch as her body sags against the car before she nods.
“Look, little mama, he’s not hurting her. He’d never physically hurt her.”
“You said she could stay here.”
“I lied.”
Birdie doesn’t reply, but she doesn’t need to. I can feel the way she shuts down.
Valkyrie aims angry eyes at me, her face promising retribution as Manic drags her to his bike.
I chuckle and blow her a kiss.
Birdie pulls out of my arms to head back into the house with the twins. With a sigh, I shut and lock the door before following her.
The twins are sitting on the couch as Birdie shuffles to them. She tries to hide her pain with each step, but her right cheek twitches every time one of her feet lands. I’ve already pushed her enough today, so instead of carrying her again, I follow her closely.
“Do you all want to see your rooms?” I ask.
Lovelyn jumps off the couch and runs to me, sliding her tiny hand into mine.
Once I confirmed I was her father, she’d put all her trust in me.
I’m so fucking humbled that I choke a bit when my throat tightens.
One slip of a girl is about to make me bend a fucking knee.
Her brother, however, is another story. Legend doesn’t follow as quickly or as excitedly as his sister.
I’m just happy he’s chosen to come at all.
“You coming, Ma?”
Birdie smiles softly at Legend’s question, wincing when it pulls her bruised and puffy lips. “I’m coming.”
My hand settles in the middle of Birdie’s back to help hold her steady as she traverses the stairs.
It takes twice the time to make it to the top since she has to move so carefully.
Once we land on the last stair, Birdie’s chest jerks with her harsh breathing, and the pallor of her face is as bright as freshly fallen snow.
Fucking stubborn ass woman.
A growl rumbles from my chest as I step closer to her back and wrap an arm around her. As much as I’m sure she doesn’t want to, she leans back against me.
“I got you, little mama,” I whisper.
“Thank you,” she croaks.
“Legend, last door on the right is your room. Lovelyn is right across the hall. Need you to take the lead, little warrior.”
My boy’s back straightens as his gaze bounces between the end of the hall and his mama. Indecision wears on his face. The balance between the young man who needs to protect his mama and the little boy who is excited for something new is suddenly unsteady.
“Go, son. I got her.”
“I got Legend, sir,” Lovely says, releasing my hand to go to her brother.
The way the three of them are constantly protecting each other tightens my throat. It’s clear their deep bond stems from a time of darkness where mutual dependence was their only option. The thought sends cold, dark rage coursing through my veins.
Birdie places her hand over top of my trembling arm. Her touch cools the anger pulsing beneath my skin. It’s so reminiscent of the past that a growl of possession threatens to break free.
“I can’t believe you had this house built and room completed for the kids.”
“You all were going to end up back here someday, no matter what.”
“You should’ve come for us sooner,” she whispers, her small gasp telling me she didn’t mean to say it.
What’s been said casts a shadow between us. The words slice through me, cutting deep enough that the black blood running through my veins pours out.
“And you should’ve told me about my fucking kids,” I bark.
My harsh words hit their mark as I release her. She’s steady enough on her own now that I don’t need to be her support.
Stepping around her, I enter Legend’s room in time to see the wonder in his eyes as he takes in everything.
Smokey gray walls accented by one cream-colored showcase a black walnut twin bed.
A gray quilt and black sheets cover the mattress.
The interior designer had free rein after I told her the color scheme I wanted, and it turned out better than I’d expected.
There are a few personal touches I added myself, like the motorcycle-shaped throw pillow on his bed and the beanbag in front of his TV.
Blitz and Ducky contributed the mural of the bike breaking through the cream-colored wall beside his bed.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10 (Reading here)
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49