Sawyer
I added Bess to the top of my list of priorities. The brick that crashed through her window was a clear message to me.
They had watched. They knew who I had called to care for Alexis. The thought put my nerves on edge.
The hot night I had spent with Bess had turned into morning and she was wary of me at daybreak. I also suspected she was wary of her own passion. She was bruised, and so was I, from our night together. Maybe I had been too rough? I was the one blushing when I saw the raw skin on her neck.
She caught me looking.
“You’re full of my marks too. I’m not sorry and I don’t want you to be.” She was direct and it surprised me.
“I may not be sure about what the hell’s going on Sawyer, but that,” she indicated to a point on the wall I’d never forget, “Us? It was incredible.”
“Agreed, beautiful. You’re going to want to wear a turtle neck today.” A tiny smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
Though our lives were different on the outside, I knew what it was like to put responsibility before happiness.
She had been doing that as a single mother. I’d been doing it as Sawyer President of the M.C., Boss of the Grand City Gym, and General of Great Wolves Security.
I had a job to do and I did it. In reality, no woman was that interesting to me to sway my focus from the M.C. and from the fighters.
There was always another fire to put out, literally. That changed the moment Bess Geary let me in.
Bess insisted she drive to get Henry and I insisted I follow on my bike.
We headed out early so she could get Henry squared away from school before she went to work. I had not seen Cassidy and Craddock’s new digs so I was glad to tag along.
“You aren’t seriously going to follow me up there are you?”
I didn’t answer and just pulled her close. She was stiff in the daylight. Afraid of our closeness. But I wore her down.
It took about three seconds. That might be my one of my favorite things about her, she has a naughty side, and I could find it and light it up. I hoped to hell it stayed a secret to everyone else.
Cassidy was just as much a friend to me as she was Bess. She was how Bess and I first met and she was like a niece. I wound up with a few of those favorite nieces in my line of work. The right woman could bring the M.C. and the MMA tough guys to their knees.
Many times those women looked to me as an ally. It made me smile to think of myself helping my guys on the road to happy ever after. I walked up to Cassidy and Craddock’s house and wondered if I would get my own with Bess.
That was not something I could predict. I could predict that she was not going to be left in jeopardy because of the club or her job.
Cassidy and Craddock had sold his mom's house and were living in a damn fine neighborhood in Grand City. It was blocks and blocks of old mansions that had gone downhill and now were in the process of going back up again. The old Victorians were being renovated left and right. The mayor’s mansion was in their neighborhood and around the corner but a block away, there could be an abandoned crack house. It was a mash-up neighborhood that didn’t quite know what where it was going. That was the appeal to many hipsters, flipsters, and, in the case Craddock Flynn, rising stars.
It was interesting as hell to look at the homes as I motored by on my bike.
Craddock Flynn, some said, was headed on the career path of The Rock. He would get his MMA toughness credibility in the ring and at the same time, action hero roles were lining up left and right for him.
All the guys at the gym thought they were the next Craddock Flynn but not all of them looked like him. They were all tough as nails no doubt, but Flynn, he had something extra, and Hollywood noticed.
Flynn had eyes for one woman and it was Cassidy Parker. Marriage was next for them I was sure. But they were in no hurry. They had had many changes to deal with since Flynn had gone from local fighter to national star.
Cassidy answered the door. She hugged Bess and her eyes flew open in surprise to see me.
“Sawyer!” Bess stepped aside and I picked up the 'Lil bit in a hug. She was as little as Craddock was big.
“How are you, kiddo?”
“Glad to see you.” She looked from me to Bess and back with a smirk.
“What is your problem?” Bess put her hands on her hips.
“Nothing. I was just wondering how long it would take you two to get together.”
“Cassidy dear, Sawyer is merely stalking me. We aren’t together.” Bess always had a smart mouth and I loved it.
“Right.” Cassidy was not buying it but I was not one to kiss and brag so I would let Bess say or not say whatever the hell she wanted.
What mattered to me was being with her, not who knew about it. I did shoot Cassidy a wink.
“So how was Henry?”
“Great as usual. Bess, I need your opinion on an outfit I am supposed to wear for this thing Craddock wants me to go to. Can you go get Henry Sawyer? He’s in the TV room, that way, with Dylan.”
“Happy to. If I don’t get lost.” The place was huge.
The house was undergoing major renovations it appeared. Scaffolding peeled wallpaper, and boxes were just about everywhere you looked. I had heard it had been the home of some captain of industry in Grand City’s heyday. It looked like it was on the way back to heyday status.
This neighborhood would become the hottest thing going if people started to realize that Craddock Flynn had just moved in. There was a business opportunity there. I put in the back of my mind to think about. Larry would know what to do on that score.
Dylan and Henry were hanging out and amazingly, the TV was off.
“What’s up Sawyer?” Dylan, Craddock’s brother, had the mind of a 10-year-old in a gigantic 30-year-old body. His heart was as big as his hands and he greeted me with a smile.
“Hi, Mr. McCall.” Henry was as polite as ever.
“Uno, eh?”
“Yep. Henry is just learning.”
“Can you help me?” Henry’s little hands were having a hard time with the cards fanned out in them.
“Sure, let’s see what we got here.”
“And don’t hold back. I’m super good at this and need a challenge.” Dylan said.
“Alright Henry, your turn.”
“Yes, he put down red.”
“So...”
“I got nothing.” Henry scanned his cards with dismay.
I pointed to one.
“Oh,” he put down a reverse card.
“Nice,” said Dylan.
“Now this,” I pointed to a draw four.
“Dang,” Dylan picked up the four and put down a green.
“Now do you know what next?” I eyed a card and that was all Henry needed.
“Reverse again and draw two and draw four!!”
All of a sudden, the tables had turned and Dylan had over a dozen cards in his hands. He smiled and gave Henry a little prompt.
“Oh, oh yeah! UNO!” I slapped him on the back and Dylan gave a conspiratorial nod.
“I got nothing. You just kicked my butt, Henry! Your very second game.” Dylan was happy to encourage Henry. It was damned adorable.
“Yeah, I just have to have Sawyer sit here for every hand until I get it.”
“Okay brother, let’s do it. Who’s deal?” I was gathering the cards when the party was busted up.
“It’s time to go to school.” Bess had emerged with Cassidy.
“Darn it, one more game,” Henry asked and I was all for it.
“Get going.” Bess could be scary, single mom scary. Henry moved fast.
“Good job helping him Sawyer,” Dylan said to me.
“Thanks, it’s fun teaching a new game right? Tell your brother not to be a stranger at Great Wolves.”
“Will do.” Cassidy grabbed Henry’s stuff and handed it to Bess.
Bess and Henry headed out to her car and Cassidy tugged my arm to catch me before I followed.
“You’re going to have to be persistent you know?”
“She’s still not sure if she likes me,” I told Cassidy.
“Oh, she likes you. More than likes you. I’ve known her since I was a teenager and I’ve never seen her date much less let anyone meet Henry.”
“Any advice?”
“Oh, look how the tables have turned!” She smiled that mega-what smile. It was so easy to see why Craddock Flynn, who could have his pick of any woman in the world, chose this one who showed up right under his nose at the Great Wolves Gym.
“Yes, oh wise one. What’s the key to keeping Bess Geary happy?”
“Let her be Bess, let her keep giving her all to the kids of this town and to Henry. If you understand that it is part of her bones and help her find a way to enjoy life at the same time. I’d say you’re golden.”
“Sound like the same advice I should be giving Craddock.”
“We’re talking about you here.”
“Sure, thanks for the tip.”
“Oh, and here’s another one, she’s a fan of your leather, likes it a lot.” Cassidy put her tongue in her cheek.
“All women are, it’s my secret weapon.” I waggled my eyebrows and made my exit. It was good to have an ally in the fight for Bess’s heart. I could not imagine a better ally than the fierce little Cassidy Parker.
It reminded me that I had another ally and it was time I gave her a call too. This one would not help me win a heart but it could help me crush The Bratva.