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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TARGET

The sound of my kids laughing fills the kitchen, as I make them some waffles with ice cream after they finished their dinner. They came to me last night because some type of stomach flu had hit their mom’s house.

To say they were happy to leave is an understatement. They both ran to my truck when I arrived at their mom’s house. Emmi looked both concerned and disgusted by what she was leaving behind but Rex could not climb into the truck fast enough.

“You two still feeling okay? No feeling sick or tummy cramps?”

“No, I am good, Dad.”

“Nothing, Daddy,” they reply with glee.

Thank fuck. I am good with anything except vomit. Nope, it turns my stomach.

“Good, you both let me know if that changes, okay?” They nod, going back to eating their waffles.

They tuck in, talking about the time they have spent at the library, taking part in all of the summer program activities.

Truth told me that the woman who organized it even got the local food markets to get involved and they have a small food bank set up so families can take items home with them to make meals for their kids.

Fuck, my woman is a damn good human.

“Dad, did Mom tell you that I learned how to tie different knots?”

“She didn’t, Son.”

“It was so cool— these men came in and they were dressed in Army clothes, and we got to learn three different kinds of knots. They were so cool.”

“I bet. You never know when you might need to know something like that in the future.” I wink at him, making him smile.

“There was a lady there and she was teaching kids how to make bread. I joined in and it was fun,” Emmi adds her story.

“It looks like the summer program is a big hit.”

“Yeah, Madalyn, and Darian are awesome,” Rex gushes.

“I know,” slips out before I can stop it and I know that my curious kids will not miss what I just said.

As if I know them well, my daughter speaks up.

“What do you mean, you know? Do you know them, Daddy?” Emmi asks, eyeing me.

“I do, baby.”

“How?” Rex edges.

I wipe my mouth with a napkin, sighing. I lean back in my chair, thinking over how I can explain to my kids how I know Madalyn and maybe add in that they may be seeing more of her in the future.

Ruth knows something is up, because I have I kept things vague when she has asked me about any women in my life but she is not stupid.

“Madalyn was there on the first day I took you, remember?” They both nod. “I have met Madalyn a few times since that day and I?—”

“Are you dating her, Daddy?” I can hear the hope in her voice that matches the smile on her face.

“Not yet, but I do like her.” I wink. “You good with that?”

My kids never meet the women or the men that I fuck for a good time, but Madalyn is something more, so I will keep them in the loop as much as I can.

“She is super nice, Daddy. I like her,” Emmi states, before diving back into her waffle.

“I am glad, baby, because I like her too.”

“Me three. Darian is one cool chick,” Rex confirms around a mouthful of food.

“Chew before speaking, kid.” He nods to me.

Damn, these kids make me laugh. They are my reason for living, them and the club. I have met a lot of bikers in my time and a lot of them always put the club as their number one priority, but no way in hell anyone will come before my kids, even Madalyn.

She will know from the start that they come before anyone; I am not worried about her reaction because I believe that she knows that family comes first— before anything.

The Rugged Skulls MC is always family first, but the club stands proud of its loyalty to its members.

The guys from Fort Lauderdale are all wifed up, and fucking love it.

It was a shame when Magnum and the rest of the guys stood down but there comes a point in your life when you have to take note of what your body is telling you.

So they handed the reins over, and now Royal is the president of the club with Jack at his side as VP.

From what I have been told, the older guys are fucking loving life, taking their Ol’ Ladies travelling, leaving behind the club they started in the trusty hands of their kids.

The next generation of Rugged Skulls MC has well and truly taken over.

“Will you ever marry again, Daddy? Mom is happy with Andrey, you can have that too and more babies.” Emmi’s questions break through my thoughts.

Smiling at my daughter, I lean in and kiss the top of her head.

“One day, sweetheart. Even the toughest of bikers wants to find love, yeah. I love your mom, but we were just better as friends, plus you got a bonus dad now right?” She giggles.

“Yeah.”

“I can’t wait to date,” Rex adds, and I cock a brow at him. “What?” He sleepily looks down at his now empty plate.

“Rex likes a girl at the library.”

“Shut up, Ems.”

Coughing to hide my laugh, I nudge his foot with mine.

“What’s her name?”

He brings his eyes to meet mine, and keeping his head low, covering his pink cheeks, he shrugs.

“I don’t know. We painted together yesterday, but did not talk much. Her big brother was close by.”

“Hey, you can talk to her next time if she is there, right?”

“I will if her brother is not there.”

“I will help him, Daddy,” Emmi states.

“No, you will let your brother make his move. Do not pressure him into doing something he wouldn’t do, okay?” I give her a stern look, but she just smiles at me and I see mischief swirling in her eyes.

“Of course, Daddy.” she says a little too sweetly.

Shit. Poor fucking Rex. I will need to warn Ruth of the little miss’s antics.

“I mean it, Ems.”

“I know.” She shrugs.

“So back to you, Dad.” Rex chuckles.

“Nah, how about we talk about anything except my dating life.”

“I think that Dad can’t win over Madalyn, Rex. He hasn’t dated anyone for years, so he has forgotten how to do it,” Emmi teases, making her brother laugh behind his hand.

“How the hell do you know so much about dating, anyway? You are ten for fucks sake. No boys or dating should be on your radar yet,” I respond, making them both giggle and fuck me that sound is music to my ears.

“Dad, I am ten, I know about boys but do not worry. I want to be a vet when I am older so boys will have to wait until I have a big time job and can support myself. No way I am relying on a man to support me.”

I stare at my daughter like she has aged twenty fucking years in ten seconds. What the hell?

My gaze moves to Rex, who is grinning from ear to ear, then I look back to my baby girl. Once she was so fucking small she sat in the palm of my hand, and my voice soothed her. Now she is fucking telling me what her future plans are.

“How the hell do you know about boys and big time jobs?” I inquire, leaning my arms on table, looking her square in the eye.

Rolling her eyes, she smiles. “I watch movies with Mom.”

That’s all she says, before she bites into her fruit.

“You watch movies with Mom, that is it. What the hell kind of movies is your mother letting you watch? I think I need to have a word with her.”

Rolling her eyes again, she points to Rex with her fork.

“You were just proud of him talking to some girl he might want to date. He can date, so why can’t I?”

“He is a boy,” I scoff.

“Daddy, really?”

“Yes, really.” I cross my arms over my chest, mock-glaring at my kid.

Shaking my head I clean up the table, then my phone rings from across the room. Wiping my hands with a clean dish cloth, I pick up my phone, hitting the answer button after seeing Royal’s name there.

“Royal, what can I help you with, brother?”

“We were on a hunt when we got information that they are heading toward you. You wouldn’t happen to have some spare time to go and track this fucker down, would you, brother?”

I look to the kids and sigh. “Fuck, I have the kids; their mother and stepfather are both ill.” I think, biting my lip. “Give me ten, let me see if my neighbor can watch them for me at short notice. How long until the target gets to me?” I am already walking toward the door.

I click my fingers, getting the kids’ attention and mouth ‘Peter’ to them, so they know where I have gone. They nod, and I am out the door, keeping it open so I can watch them.

Hanging up the phone, I knock on Peter’s door. My gaze flicks to the house, but all is good. My fingers flex into a fist as I wait for him to answer. I have always enjoyed helping out with the Rugged Hunters; it gives me an outlet for any pent-up frustration that I am carrying.

The door swings open and I can’t stop the smile from happening as I see Madalyn on the other side.

Dressed in a leopard skin skirt that stops below her knees and a white T-shirt with leopard print lips on the front, her hair is piled up on top of her head, with some parts down and framing her face.

Her black framed glasses sit on her face, and she looks fucking sexy.

“Target, what are you doing here?” I cock a brow at her after she uses my road name.

Like Emmi, she rolls her eyes at me, making me chuckle. Leaning on the door frame, brings me closer to her; she smells like cocoa butter and vanilla.

“Kohen, what are you doing here?”

“That’s better, baby. I came to ask a favor of Peter. Is he around?”

“He is but he is not feeling very well right now,” she tells me.

“Shit.” I look back to the house, thinking about who I can call to come and watch the kids.

“Is there anything I can help with?” A frown sits on her pretty face when she asks.

Fuck, will she watch the kids? They like her, so I don’t think they would give her too much shit.

“I have been called in for club business and I was hoping he would sit with the kids. Their mother is sick, fuck, their whole house is. I was hoping Pete could sit with them until I get back.”

“I can watch them for you. If that works for you?” I watch as her eyes widen as if she did not mean to say that, but fuck me the offer is out there now.

It would give her and the kids time to bond a little, right? I mean, I am planning on bringing Mads into their lives full time, she just needs to be on board with that.

Biting my lip, I inch forward, my boots touching her sneakers. Her breath hitches when my hands settle on her hips, pulling her to me. Her hands rest of my chest, her fingers digging into my shirt.

“I would love for you to sit with them, baby. They think you are pretty fucking great, thanks to spending time with you at the library.” She looks at me with wide eyes for a second, before she licks her lips, drawing a groan from me.

I need to taste her.

Swooping down I bring her mouth to my mine, her faint gasp giving me access to her tongue.

Fucking hell, she tastes like heaven.

If her lips taste this good, I can only imagine and can’t fucking wait to see how the rest of her tastes.

My phone beeps, interrupting our kiss. Madalyn’s fingers go to her lips, her eyes dark with lust focused on me. Something passes between us, making me grin with fucking pride that she feels this thing between us.

Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I see that Maverick has sent me information on the hunt they need my help with.

“I need to leave pretty soon; do you think you can come and watch them now, or are they okay to come over here?” I nod inside of the house.

“Grandpa is sleeping right now. He was vomiting earlier,” she explains.

“There must be a stomach flu going around. That is what is wrong with Ruth, her husband and baby.”

“I will come over to your house. The children already have their things there, plus they will be more comfortable.”

Fuck me, the thought of having her in my house is making my dick twitch. Having her in my bed will be the next step when I get her in there with me alone.

“Good deal, babe. I will go and tell the kids, just come right in, okay? I need to leave ASAP,” I inform her.

“I will be a few minutes.” With a smile, she steps back to the house and I walk back to my place, adjusting my shaft in my pants.

The kids are laughing when I enter, both on their game consoles on the sofa. I fucking love that they get along so well, the horror stories I have heard about twin rivalry is enough to make any parent go gray.

“Okay, I need to go out for a while on club business. Royal called and they need me. Madalyn is going to come and sit with you, as Peter is feeling unwell; looks like he got the same sickness bug Mom and Andrey got.”

“Oh no for Peter, but yay for Madalyn,” Emmi speaks up.

“We will be good, Dad,” Rex adds, not looking up from his game.

I step behind the sofa, leaning down to kiss them both on the head. Pulling back I take a moment to take them in; they are not babies anymore. Shit, where did the time go?

“You know your bedtime routine, but tonight you can have an extra hour. I will tell Mads before I go, okay?” They both nod so I leave them to it and go to collect what I need for this hunt with Royal and the guys, pushing down the thought of my woman in my house.

Right now, I need to be a Rugged Skulls MC member.