Page 36 of Wyatt (The Black Roses MC #5)

“You have every right to do what you want with your body and make the choices that are right for you,” Freya says.

“That’s fucking right,” Lucy agrees.

“I didn’t bother to tell him I was keeping the pregnancy. Honestly, I didn’t think he would care as long as I didn’t try to go after him for money.” I turn to Ozzy. “I swear to you, I had no idea that the Bone Breakers were an enemy of the club.”

“They weren’t when you were hired, sweetheart. They were barely even on our radar,” Ozzy says.

“After you asked everyone to keep an eye out, I was scared to come clean. By that time, Colby and I were already so enmeshed with the club, and I was afraid you would turn your backs on me—on him—if you knew who his father was.”

I look around the room and see varying degrees of pity mixed with anger on the brothers’ faces.

Wyatt’s hand stays on my shoulder as I tell my story.

The constant protector, making sure everyone in this room knows I have his support, just in case they need the reminder. It’s so much more than I deserve.

“That never would have happened,” Barrett says, unusually serious. “You’re family, Maizie. You and your kid.”

“I…I couldn't be sure. But I knew I couldn’t lose my job, and I didn’t want to lose you guys. That’s why I kept my secret. I was scared to death.” I turn my gaze to Elaine. “I’m so sorry I never told you that you have a great-grandson. It was unfair to keep that from you.”

Elaine gives me a soft smile and shakes her head. “You think I didn’t know, dear?”

Uh, what now?

“Did you know dimples are genetic? Nolan has the same one on his cheek as Colby. I also happened to know that Nolan was in Boston that weekend. It was one of the few times he stopped by my house. Of course, it was only to try to get money out of me on his way back to Arizona. He said he ran into you the night before and wanted to know if Mia still talked to you. When you came home pregnant and refused to tell anyone who the father was, I had my suspicions. About two years ago, when I ran into you and Colby was a little older, I put two and two together.”

A lump grows in my throat. “I…I don’t know what to say. How do you not hate me?”

“Because I know my grandson,” she says, shaking her head in disappointment.

Not at me, but at the fact Nolan turned out to be the way he is.

“And I knew you had your reasons for not telling anyone. I wasn’t going to call you out for it before you were ready.

I also wasn’t going to not get to know my great-grandson or not be a part of his life. ”

It all makes sense now. Why Elaine took such a liking to Colby, why she would call me to spend time with my son, invite us over, or go with us to Colby’s T-ball games.

She wanted to be a part of his life even though I hadn’t been honest with her about who his father was.

To her, it didn't matter. He was— is —her blood.

“What did his text message say?” Ozzy asks.

I blow out a breath. “He knows the club had something to do with the missing Bone Breakers.” I see Lucy give Jude a meaningful look.

Guess Nolan was right about that. “He wants me to spy on the club, get proof of what happened to them. He says if I refuse, he’ll get money from his parents for a lawyer to take Colby away from me. ”

“Over my dead body,” Freya says. “You are now my client, and like hell is that man getting anywhere near even a supervised visit with Colby.”

“Nolan always thought his parents were rich. He thought that meant he could have whatever he wanted. Not saying my son and his wife aren’t well off, but I have pockets that run far deeper than theirs. And connections. He won’t get within a hundred feet of your son, Maizie,” Elaine assures me.

Tears prick my eyes. “Thank you. Both of you.”

“Sounds like the Bone Breakers want a war,” Cash says, and Ozzy’s jaw tenses.

“Sounds like,” he replies.

“What are we going to do?” Wyatt asks.

Ozzy thinks on it for a few moments. “Not entirely sure yet. Did Nolan say when he wanted his information by?”

I shake my head. “No. I haven’t received any other messages from him. Not since the one telling me he was going to take my son.”

Ozzy nods. “Okay. For now, we’re going to play it by ear. We’ll see what he says when he reaches out again.”

“I’m so sorry, Ozzy. I brought this to your doorstep,” I say to the MC president.

“No, you didn’t. This has been a long time coming. They obviously didn’t get the message when their brothers went missing—no one fucks with us. We’ll be sending a stronger one this time.”

I look at Mia and Elaine, neither batting an eye at what Ozzy just said.

“There’s nothing we can do right now,” Ozzy starts. “And I’m not letting all this food go to waste. Let’s eat. I’ll sit with this for a bit, and we’ll talk about it at church tomorrow, yeah?”

The rest of the guys nod, but the mood has definitely shifted as everyone gets up and goes outside. Lucy, Charlie, and Mia come up to me and give me a hug. They don’t offer any words of comfort, but I don’t need any. Just by them being here and not screaming at me, I know they support me.

When Elaine walks over, I can’t help but apologize to her again for not saying anything all this time.

“Now you listen to me, dear. I don’t care that you didn’t tell me.

I knew in my heart that boy was family. That you are family.

My grandson made his bed, and I accepted it a long time ago.

All I care about is that you and Colby are safe.

” She leans in to hug me, and when she pulls away, she has a mischievous glint in her eyes, and it strikes me that I often see the same one in my son.

“Besides, now I can really spoil him, and you can’t tell me no.

Great-grandmother’s rights and all that. ”

I laugh and she walks outside, followed by Gramps, leaving Ozzy and Freya as the last in the clubhouse with Wyatt and me.

“No matter what happens, Maizie, Colby is safe with you, and I’ll make sure it stays that way,” Freya says.

“The last thing Nolan’s going to want is a spotlight on why he’s unfit.

I still have contacts in the US attorney’s office here and in Arizona.

A couple phone calls is all it will take for an investigation into the Bone Breakers. If it comes to that.”

“It won’t,” Wyatt replies and Ozzy nods. This isn’t going to be handled by the law.

Freya shrugs. “That works for me, too.”

“You guys staying?” Ozzy asks, and I shake my head.

“I’d like to go get Colby and head home. I’m pretty beat after that.” Pretty beat is an understatement. Feeling like I’ve been run over by a semi-truck is probably a more accurate description.

Ozzy nods and looks at Wyatt. “Go get your kid and take your woman home. Take care of your family, brother.”

“I plan on it,” Wyatt replies.

When Ozzy leaves, Wyatt comes to stand in front of me. “You sure you want to get Colby, or do you want him to spend the night at Trick and Tanya’s? Let you wrap your head around everything.”

“No, I need to hold him,” I say.

“That makes sense. I’ll grab my truck keys, and we’ll head out.” He’s saying what I want to hear, but his voice is still a little off.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to stay with me tonight. I sort of threw a bomb at you and the club.”

“Maizie, I’m in shock. Not gonna lie. I’m a little heartbroken you weren’t honest with me.

That you didn’t trust me enough with your truth.

” I open my mouth to argue and tell him it had nothing to do with how I feel about him, but he holds up a hand.

“No, listen. I’m upset and have some shit to sort through, but I’ll be doing it at your house, with your kid, in your bed tonight.

That is one thing that your revelation hasn't changed. Never will change. Understand?”

I nod, and he holds out his hand.

“Okay, good. Let’s go home.”