Page 3

Chewy

“ O K, so once we get there I need you to keep an eye on everything from Truck Norris, got it?”

Moss side eyes me from the passenger seat. “Why do you call this Truck Norris when it’s a van?”

“It’s an homage to a badass. And there were no good van puns,” I reply, keeping my eyes on the road and my hands at ten and two.

“What about Jackie Van?”

I roll my eyes. “That’s terrible. There’s no imagination in that at all.”

“Riiiight.”

We travel in silence for a while and I’m starting to have a bit of a funny tummy. Not the poops or anything, more a little clenchy. I have a feeling it’s because I’ve left Rhodie to do this on my own. I probably should have said something, but then he’d be all up in my business and this is something I need to do on my own. Besides, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I asked him to come with me.

When the Manwitch called with Candice Rogers’ location and where to find Rhodie’s daughter I had to drop everything to get on the road. Rhodie would have tried to talk me out of it, but people need closure. Especially Vi. I like her, and this is something I can do to help her get over the trauma. Or something.

Pulling over to the curb, I idle outside the address I was given. It looks exactly like the type of place I expected. Hard architectural lines, stark white, surrounded by concrete and strategically placed cacti. Boring.

“So I sit here on surveillance duty?” Moss asks, turning to peer into the back of Truck Norris.

I clamber between the two front seats into the back space, flicking on the three laptops and the screens connected to them as I make my way to the back.

“Yup. I’ve already hacked her cameras. See?” I point to six mini screens that have visuals of both the outside and inside of Candice’s house.

Moss lets out a low whistle. “Has anyone ever told you you’re like, scary good at this stuff?”

I take in the impressed look on his face before letting out a sigh, “All the time, buddy.”

I collect up my bag and throw it over my shoulder, before climbing back over the front seat, ready to leave. I pause for a moment, staring at the steering wheel, going over my plan in my head. Once I’m satisfied that I’ve got all my bases covered I nod to myself, open the door and slide out.

“Wait! How will I know you’re OK?” Moss asks, reaching to stop the door from slamming.

“Right hand side of the central laptop, there’s an earpiece. Put it in, don’t breathe through your mouth, and I’ll be back soon.” I slam the door before he can ask anything else. He’s kinda chatty.

Making my way to the front door where I’ve already disabled the security system, I let myself in. I almost take my shoes off out of habit and then remember that socks aren’t very threatening. Taking in my surroundings I choose the best place to sit and wait. Moss’ breathing crackles over my ear piece.

“I’m gonna need you to breathe quieter.”

Sounds of rummaging fill my ear before it quietens. “Better?”

“Much.”

There’s silence, and I can feel that he’s going to break it any moment now. “Are you sure about this, Chewy?”

“Of course I am. I’ve run through every scenario.”

“Including the one where Rhodie may not be happy that you’ve run off to find a kid without him?”

Ugh. Why do neurotypical people have to be so good at pointing out that kind of stuff? Yes, I have thought about how upset Rhodie will be, but it will only be for a short period of time. “I have thought about it, but we’ll be back in a few hours. Rhodie trusts me.”

Moss makes a weird humming noise. “Look, I’m not saying he doesn’t trust you, but from what I’ve seen of the DRMC they don’t look like the type of guys who love it when their women go off on missions alone.”

“It was only that one time that I went off to save those trafficked women. Oh, and then the time I purposely got kidnapped and came home with a sweet ride. This would make it the third time and then I’m sure it’ll be out of my system,” I inform Moss. Judging by the chuckling coming through the line, I doubt he believes me.

“If you say so,” he replies.

I spin, surveying the seating options. Letting out a sigh I drag a chair into the middle of the room. Far away from anything hard that she may want to bludgeon me with, not that it’s likely. I plop down, and think through my plan. Once I have Candice the interrogation will begin. I move my right foot a smidge until I can feel my interrogation go bag with my secret weapon on the floor beside me. I can’t question her in the Rev Room just yet. I need answers immediately, then she will be taken back home to be dealt with.

My fingers tap against my thigh, as I stare at the door, my leg jiggling as I wait. My senses are being raped by florals, the smell giving me a headache as I sit in this shitty, hard chair. Why do fancy people have such uncomfortable furniture? Jules used to have uncomfortable furniture too, but now he has Violet and Juno to love so he had to get comfortable stuff. Stuff for families to sit on, closely, maybe even hugging or letting their legs touch or something.

I’ll add that to my list of things I need. I have a comfy couch, it’s very soft, but it’s light colored and that’s not family friendly. I type “dark colored soft couch” in my notes app and then turn my phone off.

“Need anything?” Moss’s voice calls over the comms after a while.

“Yes. I’ll need some coffee grounds to sniff once I get out of here.”

“Ooookay,” Moss mumbles and I smile to myself.

After rescuing Vi I’ve seen the sergeant in a different light. Hence why I’ve brought him with me instead of Rhodie. Rhodie will be all Hulk smashy and I need subtlety. Well, someone more subtle than Rhodie.

I tilt my head when the jingling of keys breaks through the silent house and I know it’s almost showtime. The door opens and a spicy scent cuts through the sickly florals and now all the scents are mingling and making my throat feel thick. I close my eyes and take two breaths, in and out, through my mouth, to refocus.

The light flicks on and I open my eyes to stare at the person I’ve been hunting for two months now.

“Hello, Candice. I hear you have my Ol Man’s daughter.”

Rhodie

“So, are you gonna like, sit down and act like a normal person or just pace?” Rider asks, from his position stretched out on the couch.

It’s been three hours since the last known sighting of Chewy and I’m antsy as fuck. I tried taking a nap but I could smell her on my pillow and that just twisted my guts up in even tighter knots.

“You know, there was a time when I thought you and every man in here would spend the remainder of your lives working, drinking and fucking. Then you went and fell in love and everyone started falling like dominoes. How does it feel to be pussy whipped?” Rider, the asshole smirks, Fox and Nitro joining in.

I send a glare his way, and ignore the fucker. He loves Chewy just as much as I do.

“What are you so wound up for, anyway, brother?” Sniper asks, leaning forward in his chair, a serious look on his face.

Sniper is one of the more reserved brothers. He and Judge probably had some of the shittiest jobs when we were deployed, and I know that the DRMC is a haven for them. Who the fuck knows where they’d be, mentally and physically without the MC?

I stop pacing, settling my gaze on Sniper. “I always worry about her, she’s the other half of me. But this whole Candice thing has me wound tighter than usual. Not to mention what the Manwitch said.” I let out a long breath.

“Ah, there it is. The crux of the problem.” Nat says, planting her ass in Savage’s lap. “Are you worried that she’s going after Candice? Or that she could very well come back with a kid?”

My head drops, chin to chest and I let out a sigh. “Can it be both?” I ask, raising my head with a grimace.

“Candice isn’t a problem. We all know what Chewy is capable of,” Dex answers and what began as me pacing in the common room has turned into an intervention. Or group counseling or some shit.

“Which means Rhodie is afraid of Chewy bringing home a baby,” Mira sings.

Chewy’s brothers who are sitting quietly at one of the tables all share a look. A suspicious fucking look. So I point it out.

“It was nothing,” Tav placates. “Just that we’re on your side.”

“My side?” I frown, trying to figure out what the fuck he’s talking about.

“Yeah, you know, not wanting Dayz to come home with a kid. Can you imagine it? I mean it was bad enough with Jules,” Tav jokes, earning himself a scowl from Jules.

“Why don’t you want Chewy to come home with a kid?” I turn on him, growling.

He shrugs. “Well, you know how she is. I mean, a gator mom, sure, but a kid? What’s Chewy going to do when she gets locked into work? Who’s going to look after it when she’s in the Rev Room? What about Chomper? I mean, shit, is she really cut out for that?”

My fists clench at my sides and I have to hold myself back from not only bashing a brother, but also Chewy’s brother. “Chewy has so much fucking love in her, you don’t even know! Once she puts her mind to shit she can do anything. If she wants us to have this kid then she will be the best goddamn mother you will ever fucking see, so don’t talk shit about my woman, your sister. All you three fuckers, above everyone here should know what Tuesday is capable of.”

Gus, Tav and Jules share identical fucking shit-faced grins. When it finally dawns on me that I walked into that one I scrub my hand down my face before rolling my shoulders, letting go of any tension I had been feeling.

“Well, now that you’ve come to terms with your feelings, sit your ass down and behave like a normal person. Shit kid, you’re giving me a fucking headache,” Pops grumbles, pulling Mama Debs into his lap.

“You know, there is something we can actually be doing to help you kill the time,” Mira offers, from her spot on Tank’s lap. Seeing all the women sitting on their men makes me miss mine even more. Maybe Rider is right, I’m utterly pussy whipped. I dig deep to see if I care about that, then came to the realization that nope. I don’t care one little bit.

Scrubbing my hand over my face, I think whether I want to ask for Mira’s idea or not. The way her and Blanche are grinning at each other is not a good sign, but I guess I’d rather put up with whatever crazy crap they come up with than sit here with my finger up my ass waiting.

“Fine. Tell me what you have in mind.”

The next thing I know all the Ol Ladies and Lovely are organizing a car pool, babysitters and a list of some shit or other.

Fuck.