Page 28 of Property of Stone (Kings of Anarchy MC: Pennsylvania #1)

Chapter Seventeen

“I have another idea…”

Muffling his groan at that announcement, he steered the Honda in the direction of the elementary school. He was damn sure their kids were getting impatient. “Never finished the first one.”

“Oh. I was going to ask if I can put any of them to work since they’re circling like?—”

“A pack of starving wild dogs? Yeah, long as they don’t got somethin’ to do for the club.

The club always comes first. Them stuffin’ their traps don’t.

Any of ‘em get’ handsy or if one of the prospects or sweet butts don’t listen when you tell them to do somethin’, lemme or Ogre know. We’ll handle it.”

“I hope we can avoid that.”

She wasn’t the only one. Stone thought everyone understood what he told them the other day. He had been pretty fucking clear about what Taryn was and what she wasn’t.

When she didn’t move on to the next subject immediately, he glanced over at her again but she was now staring out of the passenger-side window. “What other shit’s on your mind?”

He might regret asking, since he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know what was on any woman’s mind. Women were goddamn confusing and he wasn’t sure if he’d ever understand them.

“While filming today, it came to me that—if it’s acceptable with your club, of course—I could use the kitchen to make premade meals.

The Castle has enough cooler space for me to store or freeze them until they’re delivered.

A lot of people too busy to cook, or who simply want portion control, like to buy premade meals a week at a time.

I never had a prep or storage area big enough to offer that service before. ”

And now she did. The woman was definitely hustling to make ends meet. Add that to the list of ways she impressed him. “How they gonna get these meals?”

“I guess I’ll have to deliver them since I’m sure you don’t want them picking them up at the clubhouse.”

“Fuck no. We don’t need people wanderin’ around our grounds or seein’ shit they don’t need to see.” And that could be a shitload of different things.

No one needed to know how the Kings made their scratch.

Or what went on at the former school grounds.

And they sure as fuck didn’t need to know a hell of a busy chop shop was hidden beyond the tree line.

They’d even gone as far as putting camouflage netting over whatever they could so it wouldn’t be as noticeable from the air.

Having some random discover one of their illegal sources of scratch—especially the most profitable one—could draw unnecessary heat.

Enough that it could burn the damn club to the ground.

All because Taryn wanted to sell a goddamn frozen pasta dish to a lazy fuck who couldn’t cook their own shit. Or didn’t want to order takeout .

Her, “That’s what I figured,” brought him back to the conversation.

He had to admit, her idea was a solid one. There was only one problem. “You ain’t deliverin’ them. We’ll get a prospect to deliver them for you.” The fuck if she was delivering shit to some random fuck’s house. Especially with her ex about to be on the loose.

Her mouth dropped open. “So, my customers will get beef Bolognese with a side of badass biker?”

An amused smile curled his lips. “You think bikers are badass?”

“Well, aren’t you?”

“Fuck yeah we are. Will make sure they don’t wear their cuts while bein’ your delivery boys.”

“It’s not only wearing a cut that’s a problem. What if the customer asks questions?”

“Answers are free.”

She sighed. “They’ll be the face of my business, Stone.”

“Will tell ‘em to plaster on a fuckin’ smile and be as sweet as that chocolate pie you made the other day for the kids, too.” He managed to hoover three pieces himself.

“And will they?”

“They want patched in? They’re gonna kiss your fuckin’ ass. You can teach ‘em how you want ‘em to be with customers.”

This new venture could actually be another benefit to their MC. Especially if it made decent scratch.

“But, just so you know, club’s gonna take a cut for this delivery service.”

“What?”

Did she really think she’d get free labor and put all the scratch in her own pocket?

They were the Kings, not some fucking pussy-ass jokers.

“Long as you’re cookin’ in the kitchen, the members get to eat what you make, so no one’s gonna mind takin’ scratch from the club coffers to cover what’s needed.

But tyin’ up a prospect with shit other than club business is gonna cost. Tellin’ you now, it’s the only way it’s gonna happen. ”

“How much will this service cost me?”

“Will have a sit-down with the other officers and figure it out.”

“Well, whatever it is, I’ll have to work that cost into the price of the meals, so let’s not get crazy with it, yeah ?” She had deepened her voice for the added “yeah.”

He pressed his lips together to smother his amusement. The woman had a bit of an attitude today. He might have to knock the bottom out of her along with that attitude later. Once the kids were asleep. “Yeah, got it. But it ain’t all my decision. Gotta vote on this kinda shit.”

“Like a democracy. How soon can you find that out so I can come up with a business plan?”

“Gotta ask Ransom to schedule a meetin’. So, don’t know. Soon.” He’d shoot the prez a text after they picked up the kids.

“Do you think it’s a good idea?”

He glanced over at her, not bothering to hide his surprise. “You care what I think?”

She jerked up a shoulder in a half-assed shrug. “Sure. Why not?”

Damn . She trusted his opinion.

He sliced his eyes back to the road and didn’t smother his grin this time. “Think it’s a great fuckin’ idea. Puts more scratch in your pocket and more in the club coffers. Sounds like a win-fuckin’-win to me.”

If it kept her ass at The Castle instead of going to those damn personal chef bookings where he couldn’t keep an eye on her, even better. Once Vic the Dick was dealt with, she could go back to doing all the shit she was doing before.

Or she could keep finding alternate ways to line her pockets. He wouldn’t give a fuck either way, as long as she was safe.

“I appreciate you helping me pivot my business.”

“Got a deal, remember? I keep you and Baby Bird safe, you take care of me and my mini-monster.” For Stone, that “taking care of” part needed more sex, though.

However, he wasn’t going to bring that up in an enclosed space.

An escape plan was always needed when bringing up any topic that might piss off a woman.

He wasn’t fucking stupid.

Depending on who was asked.

“’Til I tell you different, this is how it’s gonna go. You drop the kids off at school on the way to The Castle. Do your thing. When I can’t get the kids from school, will get someone else to pick them up and drop them off there. Once you’re done for the day, then you bring them home with you.”

She hmm ’d. “I know I just told you not to boss me around, but I can live with this plan.”

He huffed, “Thank fuck for that. But even if you couldn’t, you ain’t got a choice.”

“I always have a choice.”

“Not when it comes to your safety. Remember, I’m in charge of that.”

Luckily, whatever response she was about to spew evaporated due to him pulling up to the curb outside of the school. Of course, her kid was sitting on the curb, reading a book like a civilized nut nugget, while his was shooting daggers at the Honda with her narrowed eyes.

Most likely at the occupants, too.

As soon as the Honda rolled to a stop, the rear driver-side door was flung open and his girl climbed in with a very audible huff followed by a loud announcement of, “You’re late.” Like her old man couldn’t tell fucking time.

“Better late than never,” he muttered, his eyes locked on Taryn’s ass as she climbed out of the cage to help her kid get in.

“Never would mean I’d go into foster care. Maybe my new family would let me have my phone.”

“Doubt it.”

“Should we test that theory?”

Why did he get served generous helpings of shit from his spawn while Taryn got hugs from hers?

Maybe he needed to trade in his decade-old model for a new one.

“Sure. You wanna go into foster care? Live with some strangers that got a shitload of other nut nuggets? Gonna hafta share a room. Wear hand-me-downs. Will get no fuckin’ allowance and loads of fuckin’ rules.

Gonna learn quickly that poutin’ won’t get you what you want. ”

“I don’t get what I want now.”

He glanced at his mouthy daughter in the rearview mirror as she strapped in without being told, unlike her old man. “Yeah? What shit don’t you got? Ain’t sufferin’ for nothin’.”

“I don’t have my phone.”

“Then get a fuckin’ job and buy one.”

“You get a job!” Sunny snapped back just as Taryn finished getting Wren settled in his booster seat.

Some days he regretted sticking his dick in Sheena more than others. Today was one of those days. “Baby Bird don’t got a phone.”

“Because he’s a baby!”

Stone winced at her high-pitched shriek. Good thing Taryn had her door open as she climbed back in, otherwise his eardrums might have ruptured.

“I’m not a baby!” Wren yelled back.

For fuck’s sake. Who the fuck became a parent willingly and chose to deal with this kind of shit?

He should have gotten neutered the second he was capable of getting a hard-on.

Sunny rolled her brown eyes. “If you’re not a baby, then why did you cry at lunch?”

What the fuck?

Both he and Taryn spun in their seats. “You cried at lunch? Why?”

Wren lowered his eyes, pulled in a big breath and pushed out his bottom lip.

When he didn’t answer his mother right away, Stone repeated the question. He wanted some damn answers. “Why’d you cry at lunch, Baby Bird?”

“A kid took my lunchbox.”

He expected Taryn to get bent out of shape about Wren answering Stone instead of her, but then she shouted, “What?”

“What the fuck?” Stone barked. “Which kid?”

“Dunno his name.” Wren held up a hand over his head. “Big kid. Much bigger than me.”

“Everyone’s bigger than you,” Sunny muttered.

Wren pounded his fist on his thigh. “That’s not true!”

For fuck’s sake, his girl was a pro at pissing people off.

“Did you tell your teacher?” Taryn asked a little more quietly, but Stone could see her anger simmering right beneath the surface.

No doubt she had better control over her temper than he did.

“No. He told me if I snitched, I’d get stitches. ”

With her mouth hanging open, she glanced at Stone. Then with a shake of her head, Taryn asked Sunny, “Is bullying typical at your school?”

Sunny shrugged. “How would I know? Nobody fucks with the Kings.”

A snort shot out of Stone’s nose before he could stop it.

“That’s not funny,” Taryn muttered under her breath.

“Yeah, but true.” Stone once again addressed his daughter, “Sunny, you make it clear to everyone in that school that he’s under the Kings’ protection too, yeah?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Do I have to?”

His eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Did those fuckin’ words come outta my mouth?”

Sunny’s mouth twisted. “Yes.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to stare out of her window, a clear sign she was done with this conversation.

Only Stone was not. “You make it known, Sunny. Then, Baby Bird, if they still fuck with you, you let me know. Gonna handle it.”

A groan could be heard from the passenger seat. “As his mother, I would handle it, not you.”

“Sunny, do what I said. It don’t work, Momma Bird’s gonna handle it.”

Taryn sighed.

“What? Am I wrong, Momma Bird?”

She simply shook her head. He needed to head off any further discussion of this shit when they were alone. No doubt it would go sideways and get heated.

He hoped to get sex from her later, not an argument.

“Here’s the deal…you gotta go into that school ‘cause so me asshole kid needs a reckonin’, then my ass is gonna be right by your side.”

“I said I can handle it.”

“Yeah, you’re gonna handle it and I’m gonna make sure it’s handled. You get your lunchbox back?” The last was directed at the annoyed woman’s son.

“No.”

“You tell that little bastard he don’t give it back, I’m gonna break all his fuckin’ fingers.”

“No! Don’t you dare say that, Wren. You might get kicked out of school and you just got enrolled there. I’ll call the principal in the morning.”

Stone met Wren’s gaze in the rearview mirror, and as soon as the kid gave him a small smile, Stone smothered his own and began heading home.