Page 27 of Wild Night (Vicious Reapers MC #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

IVY

“When will we meet her, son?” my father asks.

As I sit down to dinner with them, I can’t help but wonder when Posey will be back. Shocker called me two days ago and said she was good to come home. That she wanted to come home. I’m not sure how I feel about it now that it’s all said and done.

No, that’s a lie. I know exactly how I fucking feel about it, and I’m pissed off at myself.

I feel like a gigantic pile of shit for not going after her.

I should have. I was too fucking busy thinking with my head on that one.

I should have followed my instinct and my dick and gone after her—protected her.

“As soon as she’s moved back here.”

My mother’s eyes widen. She doesn’t say anything, as is her way. She’s lived as part of the club life for so long that she knows when to speak and when to keep her lips pressed tightly together. I’m sure she’ll give my dad an earful later.

“You’ll both like her,” I say, giving them all I can offer.

My father clears his throat, his gaze focused on mine, his fork suspended in the air. I go out to dinner with them once a month at my mother’s favorite restaurant, which is not in Thunder Rock but instead in Greensboro.

It’s a grille but considered fine dining. She likes to sit outside in what I call the greenhouse because it’s got plants and shit everywhere, and the roof is all glass. She fucking loves this shit, so I bring them here to spend a little time with them and make her happy.

“I’m sure we will,” my mother murmurs. I almost burst out laughing because I can tell that it almost pains her to say that.

“How did you meet? What does she do?” my father asks.

My father is not a snob. Neither of my parents is.

My father was part of the Vicious Reapers for years.

He has the same tattoos beneath his sports coat that I do.

He’s partied at the same parties. Drank the same beers.

Probably fucked some of the clubwhores back in the day, too.

I don’t know those details, and I’ve never asked.

But all of that aside, my father was an attorney. My mother had been a paralegal. They want me to marry someone who fits in well with them, with our entire family, personal and motorcycle.

So I can sense their hesitation at the fact that I’ve mentioned this woman whom I’m going to make my old lady, when they’ve never heard a single thing about her until today. All they know is that she’s from California and moving here.

“She’s Bishop’s wife’s aunt,” I begin to explain.

My mom’s brows rise. They were invited to the wedding but chose not to attend. That part of their lives is over, and while they know they can come to the clubhouse any time they want, they have decided to lie low since my father’s retirement.

And by lie low, I mean they travel all over the world—a lot. They are enjoying every second of not having any major responsibilities after having worked their asses off for decades.

“So she’s family,” my father states.

“She’s family.”

“Her career?” my mother asks.

I could lie to them. I could say a dozen different things, but I know that honesty is the best policy. Always.

“She was working for a winery heading their wine club management. I think she was in charge of their social media, too, but I’m not quite sure about that.”

“So, will she continue to do that here?”

My mother.

She loves to ask questions and wants every single detail down to the gnat’s ass. It’s something I know about her, so I don’t typically bring things up unless I do actually know everything about what is going to happen or, preferably, tell her something after it’s already happened.

“I’m not sure,” I say. “I think she needs to gain her bearings for a little while. She can work at the security supply for a bit if she needs to.”

It’s not enough detail to satisfy her questions, and I’m sure she has many more, like a million.

Right now, she won’t say anything else, but I can feel my mother’s judgment about that statement seeping out of her and making its way toward me.

I also don’t mention it because if I do, it will become a fight, and it’s not worth it.

The conversation shifts, mainly because I switch it. I ask them about their latest adventure. They have just returned from cruising Iceland, Greenland, and Canada. I’m only half paying attention to the stories and the pictures.

My mind is too focused on Posey… on thinking about her coming home. I’ve never been someone who pined after a woman. Not even on the one I lost my virginity to did I dream about this much—did I yearn for this much.

There is something inherently intriguing about Posey. The moment I saw her, I knew she was trouble. And, of course, she was in trouble. I thought that was what it was, that I could feel it, but that wasn’t it.

She is trouble for me. Because I fell in love with her the moment I laid eyes on her. I just didn’t know what the fuck it was.

But it was— is —love.

POSEY

“You have my number?” Void asks.

I smile as I take in his expression. He seems worried. It’s sweet. Looking over my shoulder, I am surprised to see a pickup truck pulling up to the curb with a motorcycle in the bed.

Shifting my attention back to Void, I give him another smile, and then, before I can talk myself out of it, I wrap my arms around his shoulders in a hug. Pressing my lips against the side of his ear, I thank him for everything.

“There is nothing to thank me for, but if you need anything, never hesitate.”

“I won’t,” I breathe. “Thank you for everything.”

He gives me a squeeze, and then we step backward. I walk away from the safe house and the comfort of Void. I’m not sure what the future holds for me. Maybe I’ll be back here one day, but I can’t deny that I’m excited for what could possibly come of me going back to North Carolina.

Even if it doesn’t happen that Ivy and I end up together, I’m pregnant. I’m going to be a mom, and that has seriously started to sink in. I never thought I would have a baby. I’m thirty-six years old. Not married… and apparently never been married. This may be my only chance at having a baby.

I’m going to not only accept it, but I’m going to embrace it. And if it means that I do it alone, then that’s what I’ll do—happily. But I need to speak with Ivy in person and talk to him about it. About everything.

Turning toward the truck, I walk, tugging my bag behind me. A man jumps out of the front seat. He’s tall and thin. I don’t recognize him, but he’s wearing the right uniform of worn jeans and a Vicious Reapers MC cut… I was schooled between vest and cut a few days ago.

He jerks his chin toward me, then smirks right before two more bikes appear and pull up behind him. One of them is a three-wheeler that Shocker is riding.

That fits him.

Shocker and the other man climb off their bikes, and then I realize I’m staring at two versions of each other. They’re twins. I don’t remember them from the clubhouse, but again, I don’t remember many of the guys.

“Hey, darlin’ girl,” Shocker says with a groan as he moves toward me.

I don’t think I will ever get tired of the gruff way he calls me darlin’ girl . It’s like a big bear hug. He’s fatherly and comforting. No wonder this is the man who was sent to talk to me. I’m pretty sure he could talk me into going anywhere and doing anything. He feels just that safe.

“This is Maverick and Goose. Mav is your chauffeur for the duration of our trip. Figured you didn’t want to be on the back of a bike for days.”

Maverick reaches for my bag and slides it into the back seat before we all go our separate ways. Shocker and Goose climb onto their bikes, I ascend into the passenger seat of the pickup truck, and Maverick jumps into the driver’s seat.

He starts the engine, then turns to me with a smile. “You ready to get back home to the beginning of your new life?”

Beginning of my new life.

Beginning of my new life.

Placing my hand against my lower belly, I close my eyes and let out a breath— my new life .

I can’t wait.

I can hardly wait.

It’s nerve-racking. It’s scary. And it’s also exciting in a million different ways.

I think I will feel better once I’ve spoken with Ivy and I know how he feels about everything.

Then I can figure out my own game plan. It’s not knowing that has me so nervous.

Well, and not to mention his possible reactions.

The pickup truck pulls away from the curb, and as much as I want to, I fight the urge to turn back and watch Void vanish into the distance.

I could have fallen in love with that man.

I mean, had I not already fallen in love with Ivy.

But Void was the calm in the midst of my storm.

He was kind and observant, but even if he were a prince, I would still love Ivy with my whole heart.

Ivy’s the one I love. It doesn’t matter that I hardly know him, that I once again fell for someone, and it’s probably a bad idea, mainly because I clearly do not know how to pick the right ones.

I may not know much else about what is going to happen, about how he will react, or about my future, but I do know that I need to go to him.

I must tell him how I feel, and he, without a doubt, deserves to know about this baby sooner rather than later. I just hope it doesn’t all blow up in my face. That it doesn’t leave me completely obliterated.