Page 33 of Wild Side (Vicious Reapers MC #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MAVERICK

As I stand in front of the burned building, I should probably feel some kind of way about it. This has been like a second home my entire life. This has been part of our club since before I was even born, and now it’s gone.

I’m not sure if I’m even allowed to mourn it, technically, since we’re the ones who burned our own home down.

Can you mourn something you fucked up? I feel like you can, like mourning isn’t only for something that’s taken from you, but you can also mourn something you walked away from. And that’s how this feels.

“Crazy shit, right?” Piggy asks beside me.

I tear my gaze away from the charred scene in front of me and turn my head. “It sure is.”

I don’t elaborate. We’ve already had the conversation during church the other day. Plus, talking about anything like that publicly is not something anyone in the club should do.

Although it seems as if we’re alone, I’m also not fucking stupid. Anyone could be nearby and hear something they shouldn’t.

“So, it’s done,” Piggy mutters.

“Done?” I look at him.

He dips his chin in a single nod. “The surveillance supply company. It’s done.”

“Officially now,” I murmur. “There’s nothing to liquidate now. It’s all gone. Best we can do is use this moment to start over.”

I really liked the idea of renting the building out to a business for some added income. But maybe something else can be done. It’s not like it was in the middle of downtown, or even a commercial area. It was literally by itself on the side of the road.

I feel my phone buzz, and I frown as I take it out of my pocket. Zadie is at the clubhouse and asleep, catching up from the late night. The girls went out to The Copper Pot for dinner and to hang out. Then she came to the clubhouse, and we stayed awake far later than we should have.

It was a great goddamn night.

But as I look down at my phone, my brows snap together in confusion

It’s Lightning.

Placing the call on speaker, I say my road name as my greeting. “There’s someone here at the front gate who wants to talk to you, but I’m not letting the prick inside,” Lightning states.

“Who the fuck is it?” I snap at the same time Piggy moves closer to me.

“No clue. Says you’ll know exactly who he is, which is why I didn’t let him in. Fucker is acting shady.”

I think about telling Lightning to just let him pass. How much damage can he do at the clubhouse? There are at least ten brothers walking around, including my actual twin brother. Who will, without a doubt, take care of shit, then ask names later.

But then I remember that Zadie is asleep in bed. In my bed. She’s been through enough. I’m not going to let some weirdo just waltz in there and give him a free pass to be a said weirdo. Instead, I smirk, thinking about where he could meet me.

I could meet him here, in front of this burned building, or in front of Ivy’s burned office. The fact that shit keeps burning down around us has got to mean something. Granted, one of them was our own doing, but still.

“Have him meet me at Ivy’s temporary office.”

Since his law firm burned down, Ivy and his partner rented an old three-bedroom house that is tucked away in the hills, at the end of a dead-end dirt road. It was cheap and available. Now it seems like a well-secluded spot to deal with whoever this fuck is.

I can’t even imagine who I know who would want to see me. Ending the call, I look over at Piggy, who seems to be as confused as I am.

“You know who that could be?”

“Got no goddamn clue. I was hoping all this shit was done.”

“This shit?” Piggy asks.

My lips twitch into a smirk. “Whatever this shit is coming my way. I thought we were due for a break. This business is done, along with all the stuff that went into it. The betrayal that came our way like a goddamn freight train. We’re transitioning our business, so I thought we were going to have a little break where we could enjoy some peace. ”

Piggy’s eyes widen, then he clears his throat. “Well, let’s figure it out together. I got your back.”

Since he’s not working today, he’s not in uniform. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. It might be nice to have a little intimidation in my back pocket. Since the uniform isn’t going to happen today, I guess we’ll just have to be intimidating in our cuts.

A new notification buzzes in my hand, and I look down to see that it’s an incoming text from Lightning.

LIGHTNING: HE’S HEADED THAT WAY. BLACK SEDAN.

Black sedan. Okay, like every other fucking car in the world. Rolling my eyes to the sky, I look at Piggy, who is straddling his bike already, ready to go. I do the same, jerking my chin toward him, but before I start the engine, I let him know that we’re looking for a black sedan.

He rolls his eyes, too, no doubt thinking the same thoughts I just had about black sedans being every other fucking car on the road. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. We start our engines and roll away from the burned building and head straight for the law office.

Whoever is on their way, we’ll be there first since we’re closer, and I will be ready. More than ready. I don’t know what’s heading my way, but what I do know is that whatever it is, I’m going to handle it right fucking now.

I’m going to protect my peace, the club’s, and Zadie’s peace, too. Whoever this is, I have a feeling he’s not here to join hands and sing songs. Which is reason number one why he’s coming to the law firm and I didn’t just let him walk into the clubhouse, where my woman is safely asleep in my room.

ZADIE

Waking up alone seems to be the way things go here, and after girls’ night out last night, I realize I’m not the only one who opens her eyes to an empty bed most mornings.

Stretching, I roll onto my side and let out a heavy sigh. I’m sore. My muscles and body are achy in the best of ways. I am also happy. Peacefully happy. I cannot believe this is my life.

Last night was one of the best nights of my life, not just because the sex was amazing, but because I was able to get to know some of the women who are part of this life. Nothing was a secret. Nothing was hidden.

They were open and welcoming.

I don’t think I ever knew a single old lady in my father’s club. Everything was a secret, and everyone was a secret, too. Whether it was because of me and who I am or because my father demanded it, I’m not sure. But the only person who was part of my life was someone who wasn’t really my friend.

It feels different here. I’m glad I decided to stay, not just to be with Chase, but for myself, too. For this and what it could be. I am so excited for the future, something I don’t think I’ve ever felt before—excitement.

It’s a foreign sensation.

Sliding out of bed, I gather my things and take a shower. I’m still not excited about having to be here at the clubhouse. It’s not my favorite place, but I’m growing used to it at least. I don’t take a long shower. It’s still not the cleanest place to bathe, but beggars can’t be choosers right now.

Once I’m clean, I pull on some leggings and one of my oversized shirts, thankful for the room. I’m so glad to have all my luggage back now. I’m also wondering when I’m going to need to go shopping for new clothes, because every day, it seems as if I’m running out of room.

Walking into the bedroom, I put my dirty clothes and toiletries in my bag, then wrap my fingers around my phone and head down to the kitchen for some food.

I know there isn’t much left from when Chase and I went grocery shopping, but I also know there should be something to nibble on until he comes back from wherever he’s gone.

I’m not surprised to find the clubhouse virtually empty. It seems to stay that way until around dinnertime, when people start coming in from wherever they spend their days and then begin drinking for the evening.

Moving into the kitchen, I hurry over to the fridge and tug the door open, my gaze moving over the contents. I smile at the sight of a yogurt and just enough fruit to make a decent breakfast.

Grabbing my items, I move to the counter and begin cutting up my fruit when my phone buzzes in my pocket with an incoming text or something.

Nobody ever texts me or calls me, but last night, I added everyone to my phone. I have four new contacts, and there is something exhilarating about that. Chase also added Goose to my contacts when he put his own information in.

Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out my device and look down at the screen. It’s an incoming text from Dakota. Opening the message app, I tilt my head to the side as I read the message.

DAKOTA: I contacted my OB and gave them your info. They’re going to call you!!

Before I can even respond, my phone rings with a local Thunder Rock number. Sliding my thumb across the screen, I hold it to my ear, unsure that this could actually be the doctor’s office.

“Hello, this is Thunder Rock OB-GYN. We received a message that you would like to make an appointment.”

Holy shit, that was fast.

“Um, yes, I would,” I confirm. “I’m pregnant. I haven’t had any prenatal care, but I think I’m a little over three months along.”

“Perfect timing, then,” she quips. “We had a cancellation for an hour from now. Can you make it?”

I gladly accept the time, probably a little too excitedly. She takes my information down, then says she’ll see me soon before she ends the call. Holy shit. I can’t believe I actually have an appointment… today.

Quickly, I open the messaging app to respond to Dakota.

Thank you sssooo much! They already called me and could get me in TODAY! You are a lifesaver!!

DAKOTA: You’re more than welcome! I am so excited to have a new friend, and I know that Nathan is going to love his new playmate!!

I grin as I sink my teeth into my flesh and try to hide my smile. Then I decide there’s no reason to hide my smile, so I release my lip and just smile. After finishing my breakfast, I go in search of Chase, hoping to find him here at the clubhouse.

I send him a text as I continue to look for him, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

I look almost everywhere until I run into the man who looks exactly like him.

But he definitely doesn’t look at me the way Chase does.

Goose crosses his arms over his chest, dipping his chin slightly as he looks down his nose and into my face.

“Have you seen or talked to Chase?” I ask.

His brows rise, his arms drop, and he tilts his head to the side. “He went out with Piggy, why?”

“I have an appointment, and I need to be there in less than an hour.”

Goose looks over his shoulder behind him, as if there is going to be an answer to my issue there. Then he shifts his attention back to me. I watch as he arches a brow and tilts his head slightly.

“I’ll take you. Get ready. Meet you out in the parking lot.”

And then he brushes past me and walks out of the bar. He doesn’t ask me where my appointment is. He just tells me he’s taking me, and that is that. I watch him go, staring at the closed door long after he’s gone, and wonder if this is what it’s like to have someone who cares.

Even in the harshness that is Goose, I know he’s not really sure about me yet, but he’s sure about his brother. It’s beautiful. I hope that one day, he can be sure about me and think of me as a sister.