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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RiffRaff

I’m grinning when I get off the phone with Jilly. Seems we’ve added to our little family today, and while she feels as though she’s on a runaway train with everything that needs to be done before Christmas, I know my sweet daughter-in-law and the ol’ ladies from both chapters are going to help her pull off some Christmas magic for Callum. I have my own to accomplish as well.

The ol’ ladies have also been shopping for Joceline, Wyatt, and Willow since we’re planning to leave in the next day or so. We’ve gotten every single piece of paper that scumbag had in the house, as well as several USB drives we’re taking in case it alludes to any other nefarious dealings he might be involved with. Not that he’s gonna be breathing much longer.

“Fuck, I’m glad this is almost done,” Kodiak mutters. “I feel like I’m coated in a layer of shit thanks to that fucker.”

“Same, brother, same,” I reply.

“A little birdie says they saw you at the jewelry store in town,” Conan says, pointing the neck of his beer bottle at me.

Kodiak snorts. “ You’re more like a big ass birdie, asshole. You saw him through the windows when we were in town.”

Conan snickers while shrugging. “Okay, if you wanna be all technical and shit, it was me. So what? Care to share what you bought?”

I grin before pulling four distinct boxes from inside my cut and setting them on the table. Opening the first one, they see a locket necklace, which I got for Kimber. It has room for her to put two pictures inside. “This is for Kimber,” I tell them as they peer at the necklace. “No clue what pictures she’ll put inside, but that’s her job, not mine.”

I set it on the table then pull out a second one.

“This next one is something Kimber asked me to find,” I say, opening the long rectangular box. Inside are matching bracelets that have ‘BFFs forever’ stamped into them with gemstones surrounding the outside. “Then, I got this for the little boy I’ve yet to meet who is gonna be my son as soon as I can make it happen.”

“Fuck, I like that, brother,” Conan says. “You said the little guy is almost five, right? It should be right up his alley.”

Kodiak takes the leather band that has ‘Future IKMC prospect’ burned into it and grins. “Starting him out right, I see.”

“He’s a little behind the curveball,” I tease, snickering. “I mean, I have Brick ordering a miniature cut with his name on it and ‘Future Prospect’ on the back as well, but it may not get there before Christmas.”

“And what’s in that last box?” Conan muses, a smirk on his face.

Taking a deep breath I open it, only to see them both act like the huge diamond is blinding them. “Fuckers,” I state. “You had to know I was gonna ask her to marry me when I got home. Needed an engagement ring since I have Ryleigh and the other ol’ ladies doing the rest of my shopping with me being here.”

I honestly don’t mind shopping and can’t wait until next year when I can go with Jilly. I suspect she’s gonna be the one who has to hold me back, because for so long, I never thought I’d have a second chance at a family of my own after Brick became a man and started one of his own that I may be going a little bit crazy. Hell, my debit card and credit card are definitely getting a workout since I kinda gave Ryleigh carte blanche. I make a mental note to delete the pictures she’s sent of the things she’s found for my girls and Callum, so Jilly doesn’t see them.

Because as far as I’m concerned, I’m an open book with her, except for anything that’s deemed to be ‘club business’ and we don’t use our phones for that exchange. Sure, we have a group chat with all the brothers but that relates more to advising when we’re having church, and that kind of shit, although Banshee regularly finds memes to share.

He’s so different now since Ryleigh came back to us from the dead, and then finding his ol’ lady. He’s finally the man I know he was always meant to be, and I know if Bonzai and Lorelai were still alive, they’d be as proud of him as I am.

One of the things I hate that I won’t be home for is working in the Christmas shop that the club maintains for the less fortunate. It’s mostly for foster families to supplement the gifts for the kids in their care, but we also opened it up to those in our community who are struggling. Not only do we have toys and clothes, but we prepare boxes with the items needed, including either a turkey or a ham, for them to cook for their families. It’s something I’m beyond proud of being involved with since Brick told Ryleigh she could get it going.

As a club, even when we wore the one percent patch many, many years ago, we still helped the townspeople. We just do more of it now that we’re mostly legit. In fact, unless someone was fucking with the club in some way, we were always available to help our neighbors out, even if some of the time it was through anonymous donations. Not everyone likes that the club is in Roanoke, but we don’t give a fuck. Most of us grew up in the area so they’re our people regardless of the fact that we’re bikers.

Kodiak looks down at his phone then says, “Tomorrow’s the day, RiffRaff. He’s got a meeting just over the state line so that should give you plenty of time to get Joceline and the kids away and probably halfway home at least before he’s aware they’re gone.”

“Better check my weather app to see what conditions I might be facing. Gonna go get gassed up as well, fill the cooler up and bring the ice back to put in the freezer until the morning,” I reply.

“While y’all are on the road, Kodiak and I will stick around for the clean-up,” Conan clarifies. “I’m sure with everything we’ve uncovered, he’s deemed a threat to the club and needs to be taken out.”

“I’m waiting on that confirmation from Dragon and Brick,” Kodiak advises. “But if he’s left unsupervised, there’s no telling what kind of damage he’ll do. I think the best bet is to eliminate him before he can start spreading his bullshit.”

“For what he did to a club sister, he’s definitely earned a death sentence,” I growl out. “We protect what’s ours, always.”

“Damn straight!” Conan cheers. I suspect Kodiak’s about to clock him in the head if he doesn’t calm down based on the growl emanating from his mouth and his squinty eyes.

“Alright, I’m out to get this shit done. Gonna throw my dirty clothes in the wash as well. Need me to pick anything up while I’m out and about?” I ask.

“Nah, we’re good, brother,” Kodiak replies.

Standing, I gather my empty bottles, give the two brothers a chin lift then head to my room to start packing up my shit. Before leaving, I toss my laundry in the washing machine and get it started, then walk out the door. Since the weather has turned a bit, we already have my bike tied down in the trailer, plus it’s loaded with things Joceline packed up on the sly to take back to Roanoke for her and the kids.

As I head to the store to grab drinks and snacks, I’m grateful that Cuda found out from Joceline what she and her kids enjoy so I can pick those up as well. Since it’s a long trip, Kodiak already picked up two tablets so each of the kids have their own, then he downloaded several kid-friendly apps that are age appropriate and got them headphones, so Joceline and I don’t have to listen to the warring sounds, while Conan found the kids travel pillows and blankets. It’s my hope that we’ll get most of the way home or at least, if we have to drive at night, they’ll sleep. I’m grateful that I’ve got Sirius XM so that Joceline and I can find music we both like to listen to.

I honestly don’t know how talkative she’ll be; she’s been through hell and back, but if she needs a listening ear, I’ll do so. Anything to help ease her mind a bit until she’s back with her family and safe.

“Call Jilly,” I command through my hands-free button. When the call connects, I say, “Hey, sweetheart, guess who’s heading home tomorrow?”

I hear her gasp before she replies, “I’m taking it you are? I sure hope so, you’ll be home for Christmas!”

“Yeah, babe. Not sure what time I’ll be hitting town, but I have to make a stop first, then I’ll come and pick you and the kids up so we can head to the clubhouse. We usually do family Christmas once we’ve eaten dinner, so even if we end up getting there a little late, we won’t miss everything.”

“We’ll wait to open our presents until you get home then,” she replies.

“No, Jilly, that little boy needs to know Santa found him and he doesn’t need to wait until later that night. He’s had a lot of upheaval in his little life so let’s start off like we intend to continue,” I instruct.

“Yeah, that makes sense. Well, how about you and I wait until we’re back home?” she asks.

“I can get behind that one,” I tease. “Especially if there are any sexy teddies involved.”

She giggles then says, “Maybe there are and maybe there aren’t.”

“I sure miss the fuck out of you, babe,” I tell her. “So fucking much it hurts.”

“Same,” she whispers. “But you’ll be home in a few days. Oh! Guess what? Ryleigh asked me and Kimber to help out at the club’s community store the next two days since there are so many who needed help this year. I wish you could be here, though.”

“You’ll really enjoy it, I think, plus it might help Kimber realize just how blessed she is when she sees how so many people struggle just to put food on the table, much less gifts under a Christmas tree.”

“I agree. Katie’s coming with us as well,” she replies.

“Jilly, I’m running some errands to get ready to leave, so I’ll talk to you tonight, okay?” I ask.

“Okay, handsome. I love you. Please be safe and I’ll talk to you tonight.”

“Love you too, sweetheart. Later.”

I pull into the parking lot of the department store which looks like a warzone with all the last-minute shoppers. Right now, I’m grateful as fuck that Ryleigh and the rest of the ol’ ladies took care of my shopping since I was gone because I would go bonkers if I had to do it myself even though I usually enjoy buying shit for other people.

By the time I’m done and standing in line, I’m even more grateful that I only had non-gift items to purchase. When I hear the woman in front of me let out a little cry, I tune in to the conversation only to hear that she doesn’t have enough to make her purchase. Seeing that she’s got gifts for a little one on the conveyor belt I say, “Here, let me get those for her,” while handing my card to the clerk.

The woman turns to me and says, “You don’t have to do that, sir.” The desolate sound of her voice is what convinces me that, yeah, I do have to do this.