Page 41 of Property of Stone (Kings of Anarchy MC: Pennsylvania #1)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Three fucking days.

For three fucking days Taryn gave him the silent treatment.

Not only that, her kid was back to sharing Stone’s bed. Without Stone in it. He was back to sleeping on the goddamn couch.

It could’ve been worse. She could’ve taken Baby Bird and bolted, leaving him scrambling to find someone else to help with Sunny. At least she was keeping her end of the bargain. As much as she probably didn’t want to.

When he returned to his sled that day after dealing with the Twisted Souls, Taryn refused to meet his eyes and Bolt’s ol’ lady gave him a “good luck” look.

Once he swung his leg over his sled and started it, he told her to hang on and waited for her to do so.

She didn’t.

With his patience close to snapping, he finally grabbed her arms and wrapped them around him. “Hang the fuck on.”

Not only was she non-responsive, he detected a slight tremble. Setting his jaw, he took off, but not before wondering if Taryn was now afraid of him after seeing what he and his brothers were capable of.

He knew by not taking her back to The Castle and letting his brothers handle the situation, it was a risk. He also didn’t want to hide who the Kings were.

Her reaction also proved it was for the best that she wasn’t sticking around long-term. She wouldn’t be able to handle their lifestyle.

They weren’t fucking choir boys. Or Boy Scouts. They were goddamn one-percenters. They were not a club trying to go legit. They liked their lifestyle and wanted to keep it that way. They made good scratch, they had each other’s backs, and lived life however the fuck they wanted.

It was as perfect as it could fucking get.

Later that night, when she locked him out of his own damn room, all she said through the bedroom door was that she needed time to process what the Kings did to those other bikers.

He got it. For her, what happened had to be eye-opening.

For the Kings, it was everyday life.

They protected what was theirs. Period. If they didn’t, they risked losing it all.

Guaranteed that was never going to fucking happen. Every last damn King would need to be wiped off the Earth first.

Despite her being bent out of shape over the incident, she had no problem continuing to use their commercial kitchen to record videos, do live streams, and meal prep. She had Shit Stain running all over fucking creation delivering them.

Apparently, the email Taryn had sent out to her client base announcing the new venture had been effective. She had a hard time keeping up with orders since they were rolling in at a rapid rate.

Stone had a feeling that business would end up bringing in more scratch than her being a private chef. Hell, she even found someone to create a website for customers to order and customize meals. Stone took that as a sign she might be sticking in the area, despite her ex soon being on the loose.

With what her side business was already bringing in, Outlaw, their treasurer, was as happy as a pig in shit, even with that “measly” ten percent cut.

It was another easy source of income to help keep the club’s coffers full.

Stone couldn’t forget it also kept their guts full.

Not only for him and his daughter, but all his brothers, too.

That cut of her business was their only legit income source. Not that they were letting Uncle fucking Sam know about that one, either.

Tonight, Stone was done with Wren hogging his side of the bed. He was reclaiming it. If Taryn couldn’t deal with it, then her son could go back to sleeping on the top bunk in Sunny’s room and she could take the damn couch.

But it wasn’t only the bed situation bothering him. It was the fucking silence. He never knew it could cut so damn deep.

Worse, according to the call she got from her attorney, Vic the Dick was to be released in only two days. Once he was, Stone wanted to stick as close as fucking possible to Taryn until that fucker was dealt with.

If she didn’t like the way they dealt with the Twisted Souls, she’d probably hate the way he dealt with her ex even more.

Maybe it would be better if the fucker simply had an “accident.”

A wet nose nudged his hand, but Thor didn’t wait for Stone’s attention. Instead, the dog immediately laid down nearby with a groan and a loud yawn.

If Thor was in the vicinity, that meant so was his owner.

“Dickhead,” Ogre greeted.

“Cocksucker,” Stone greeted back. He pointed at Thor. “Dog acts like he got it fuckin’ rough. Why’s he yawnin’ when he ain’t done shit today ‘cept sleep and take those massive shits?”

“Takin’ a massive shit’s hard fuckin’ work. Also probably tired from pissin’ on your sled tire,” Ogre said with all seriousness.

“Gonna grab your favorite Sturgis shirt to clean it off, then.”

“Ain’t gonna be the first time one of my shirts got pissed on. Also ain’t gonna be the last.”

With a soft snort, Stone shook his head.

Ogre glanced across the cafeteria to the kitchen. “Still ain’t talkin’ to you?”

“Fuck no,” Stone grumbled.

“Normally would say that’s a fuckin’ blessin’ since it’s hard to get some of these bitches to shut the fuck up. But seems like it’s botherin’ you.”

Stone wasn’t stupid enough to confirm or deny that fact. To Ogre or any of his brothers. He quickly changed the subject. “Got a favor.”

Ogre grunted.

“Keep an eye on her when I ain’t here, will ya?”

His brother cocked an eyebrow. “Ain’t a babysitter. ‘Specially for a piece of ass that I ain’t gettin’ a piece of.” He grunted. “But then, right now you ain’t either.”

“Ain’t askin’ you to babysit, but when you and Thor are in here beggin’ for scraps, just keep a fuckin’ eye on her.”

“Right. Lookin’ more and more like she ain’t just your kid’s babysitter. ‘Specially when you brought her on the run Sunday.”

“Made a deal. Just keepin’ my end of it.”

“Her cookin’s damn good, but bet that sweet as fuck pie is way fuckin’ better. No wonder you’re pissed about her freezin’ you out.”

Stone sighed. He wasn’t pissed. He was more annoyed.

“Also noticed since she moved in with you a few weeks ago you been sleepin’ at home every damn night.”

“‘Cause I got my nut nugget full time now. Only reason.”

“Thought her takin’ care of your baby girl was why you made that deal with her.” He jerked his chin toward the kitchen. “Also, should know I ain’t the only one noticin’ your lack of bustin’ a nut with the sweet butts.”

“Nobody should give a fuck where I’m stickin’ my dick. Anyway, how the fuck am I supposed to protect her and the kids if I ain’t at the house?” Why the fuck did he feel the need to defend his actions? He shouldn’t.

“Didn’t think her ol’ man was out yet.”

“Ex,” Stone corrected. “He ain’t. Two more days.”

If he had a connection inside at the prison where fucker was taking his concrete block staycation, he’d make sure the fucker never walked free again. He’d be ending his bid by leaving with a toe tag, not his personal belongings.

“Then what?”

“Then I’m gonna deal with him.”

Ogre pursed his lips as his gaze flicked back and forth between Stone and the kitchen. “She know you’re gonna eighty-six him?”

To the Kings, eighty-six meant to take someone eight miles out and bury them six feet under.

When he heard Taryn use it one day he almost broke his fucking neck doing a damn double-take.

Wondering if she had some deep, dark secrets, he asked why she used that term.

She explained it was common in the culinary industry when an item was removed from the menu due to running out of the ingredients to make it.

On one hand, he was relieved. On the other, also kind of disappointed she wasn’t some badass Ninja chef.

“No,” he answered the club enforcer.

“How d’you think she’s gonna react to you dealin’ with her boy’s daddy when it bothered the fuck outta her with how we dealt with those Twisted motherfuckers?”

Of course, that would be a fucking issue unless… “She don’t gotta know it was me.”

Ogre lifted an eyebrow at him. “Want me to handle it?”

“Appreciate the offer, brother, but fuck no. This ain’t a club issue, it’s personal.”

“I gotta remind you you’re out on probation?”

“Who ain’t?”

Ogre grunted again. “Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth. Think her ex is so whacked he’s gonna come lookin’ for her?”

“She’s got his kid, so gonna assume so, yeah. Also expect him to be pissed about her movin’ outta the house and puttin’ it up for sale.”

“What d’ya know about him?”

“Not much. Only got to know him up close and personal the day that motherfucker got handsy with her.”

“And you got handsy with him.”

“Couldn’t let him continue to beat the fuck outta her like that. Worse, in front of their goddamn kid.”

“Betcha that left a mark on him.”

“Sure did leave a mark on that fucker. Why I spent that long thirteen months on an unplanned vacation.”

“Meant the kid. ”

“Him, too. She admitted she hadta get him help ‘cause of it.” Stone tapped his temple.

“Damn,” Ogre murmured, stroking his short beard.

“Wanna get him dealt with before he tries to snag Baby Bird or fuck up Taryn again.” Just thinking about that shit made his fingers curl into fists.

If that happened, Stone would lose his fucking shit. Worse than that day in the parking lot. Taryn had been a stranger then, she was far from that now.

So yeah, dealing with Vic the Dick was now personal.

“Since when the fuck you become some kinda white fuckin’ knight?”

“Since the second I saw that motherfucker poundin’ Taryn into the ground with the kid watchin’ it all and cryin’ so damn hard he was gettin’ sick.

As much as I hate that cunt Sheena, I’d never do that shit to her.

Especially in front of Sunny. She might be a shitty fuckin’ parent, but she’s still my girl’s mother.

” He had to remind himself of that all the time.

Because if it was up to him, he’d help Sheena disappear, too.

And he wasn’t talking about a temporary stay in prison.