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SAINT

FIVE WEEKS LATER

T hough Pippa is my old lady, and now proudly wears her property patch – much to the dismay of the bunnies – there’s one thing missing, she’s never yet ridden behind me on my bike. I don’t really count that first night when I tied her on and she was unconscious.

But hopefully, today, all that changes. Doc is coming to take her cast off. And if all is okay with her leg, then I’m taking her for more than one type of ride tonight.

Fuck knows I never wanted an old lady, but fate stepped in and took me unawares. And every day that I spend with her, just shows me how right it is.

Bullseye likes the idea of us building on the property we own, so we’ve already got plans to build a house. In fact, Freak’s planning to do likewise, thinking his son would be safer if they were both living within the confines of the compound.

Pippa’s become such a fixture in the clubhouse that I doubt many of us would easily remember a time when she wasn’t there. She’s organised the bunnies so not only do they spread their legs, but under her supervision and guidance, they cook for us. And Trixie’s proving herself a great bartender, so the prospects have more time to spare.

True to her word, she’s been coaching Ace, with Genie listening in. Freak’s even admitted a soft spot for her, as she’s doing her best to keep his son safe, while not trying to stop what he loves doing. Fuck knows where that kid will go with his life, he’s a fucking genius.

“Hey, Pip, Doc’s here,” Tempest shouts.

She shoots him a glance, half delighted that she’s going to get rid of her cast, and half not looking forward to seeing the man who a few weeks ago tried to molest her. “No one leaves me alone with him, okay?”

As if I would. But it’s not only me. When Doc comes in, followed by Bronwyn carrying his heavy bag – which Short immediately relieves her of – half a dozen brothers follow us up to our room.

With my hand held in hers, she sits on the bed, her cast stretched out in front of her.

“Can’t say how the fuck this has healed,” Doc warns. “You’re the one who refused proper help and X-rays.”

She doesn’t answer him, just grasps my hand tighter.

Taking out some sort of medical shears, he cuts through the plaster. All eyes are on her leg, which looks thin, but straight. He places his hands on her, and I draw in air, silently promising if he moves them one inch higher, then he’s going to feel my fist in his face.

“Feels good,” he pronounces. “Take it easy, don’t push it too hard. Exercise will get the muscle tone back.”

As I lean down to kiss her, I hear Doc’s voice from behind me. “For fuck’s sake, girl, pack the bag right.”

I also don’t miss Short’s sharp inhale, or the way he steps in, saying curtly, “I’ll carry that bag.”

Then we’re alone.

I help her up. Gingerly she puts weight on her leg. It seems to support her. I can’t wait any longer, going to my closet where I’d hidden what I’d purchased for her. A helmet, a leather jacket, and those riding boots I’d persuaded her to order some weeks earlier. Pulling out the extra goodies I show them to her.

“Want to know what it’s like to be a real biker’s ol’ lady?” My eyes crease.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she replies. Then adds, nonchalantly. “Best make the most of it while I can.”

“The fuck?”

“Trixie got me a test. I’m pregnant, Saint.” Her eyes show me she’s wary of my response.

I don’t waste a moment to let her know what I think about that. “Fuck yeah!” I pump my fist in the air.

“You’re happy?”

“You need to ask?” I pull her up into my arms and swing her around. “You’re the best fuckin’ thing I never even knew I wanted.”

Of course, having dropped that bomb on me, riding has to wait, as I celebrate our news in biker style, with my cock in her cunt. It’s a couple of hours later when we emerge from the clubhouse, me casting sideways glances toward her, having to resist the urge to turn around and take her back up to our bed. She looks so fuckin’ sexy in her leathers and wearing my property cut.

“You’re late,” Tempest growls, pushing himself away from his bike and throwing his cigarette butt on the ground. I notice it joins a few others also looking relatively fresh lying there.

“Can you blame me?” I laugh, pushing Pippa in front of me and turning her around. “I had to admire my biker lady.”

“Brother, if I say anything about how hot she looks, you’re going to hit me.”

True that. I take it for granted and laugh.

Hands on her hips, Pippa interrupts, “So are we actually going for a ride? I’ve been waiting for this for hours.”

“ You’ve been waiting?” Tempest snorts. After rolling his eyes, he gestures to my bike. “Get your ass in the saddle, Brother, that woman of yours is impatient.”

After putting on her helmet and making sure it’s adjusted correctly, I pull out the rear foot pegs and instruct her how to get on. The stiffness and weakness in her newly uncovered leg is apparent, but she still manages it with an elegance that belies she’s never ridden before. And when we start our engines and her arms come tight around my waist, for a moment I’m thrown back to a different time, a different journey, and perhaps for the first time ever I’d acted akin to my name of Saint. Thank fuck I’d stopped and found her.

We’ve heard fuck all from the Mojave Devils, so far there’s been no noise about them taking revenge for the disappearance of their brother, but we still haven’t lifted the restriction ensuring no brothers ride alone. Hence Tempest is riding alongside us.

We head out on the highway. I’m on autopilot, enjoying the feel of her arms around me, with my head still full of what she’d told me earlier. She’s going to have our baby. We’re going to be parents. And I instinctively know, she’ll be nothing like my own mother. She’s going to be a great mom, after all, she’s already practising with what, at times, seems a clubhouse of juvenile delinquents, or that’s what I’ve heard her refer to myself and my brothers a time or two.

It’s late autumn, the sun’s out keeping the temperature pleasant. After a while she relaxes the tense grip she’s employed at first, and she’s fast becoming an expert at leaning into the curves.

Tempest and I had planned a short route, not knowing how her leg would stand up to it, so after forty-five minutes, we pull up at a steak restaurant.

Once her helmet is off, I see her face is flushed and glowing and a wide grin stretches her mouth, and I don’t need more of an answer to know she’s enjoyed her first ride.

With my hand on her back, I encourage her toward the entrance.

“Hey, Brother, I’ll meet you inside. Just got to take this call.” Tempest takes his phone out of his cut and snaps, “What d’ya want?”

Leaving him to it, we carry on toward the door.

“Saint!” His voice has both of us stopping and turning. Seeing the look on his face, I rush back to his side.

He holds up a finger for me to keep quiet so he can listen to more of what’s being said in his ear. Then he lowers the phone fractionally and tells me. “We’ve got to get back to the club. Short, Paint, and Winchester have been caught in an ambush. It was the Mojave Devils, and some of them are still out there.”

“Where were they?” I snap. Then swear as he mentions a location not far from where we are. There’s no fucking way I’ll be taking any chances with my, now pregnant, old lady. We’ve got to leave now.

As Tempest completes the call, confirming we’re on our way back. I approach Pippa. “Pippa…”

But she’s already taking her helmet off my handlebars. “I know,” she tells me, “We could be in danger if they get anywhere close.”

But I’ve just got one more question for Tempest and ask as we get on our bikes. “Were any of ours hurt?”

Tempest looks grim as he answers. “Short’s in a bad way. Paint’s down but not out. Winchester got hit in the head by a baseball bat. Prez has got Doc on route to the club.”

Fuck it.

As if both of the same mind, together we twist the throttles taking a good ten minutes off our outward time. The ride now is not for enjoyment, but survival, and a rush to make sure all our brothers are still alive.