Sarge
I’d found Tempest leaning over a dead body between the gate and the clubhouse, and I’d stopped to see what the fuck was going on. Hearing my woman had been the one to kill the man had been staggering. I’d known she was a fierce little thing, but I hadn’t realized she was capable of taking a life. Considering the man had come to take her away, and then pulled a knife on her, she’d only been defending herself. I was proud that she’d taken the guy out on her own, but I’d worried about her mental state. Even a battle-hardened soldier struggled with killing the enemy. I could only imagine how my little kitten felt about taking out her own father.
The way she’d clung to me, and the confusing explanation of her father not really being her father, had left me reeling a bit. I’d expected to find her hysterical or at least crying. She’d been shaken, for certain, but was handling it far better than I’d have expected. It just proved how strong she was. Of course, that didn’t mean I appreciated Torch throwing out a challenge and getting her to the gate. Which was why I was currently standing across from him at his home office.
I’d been thinking about what I wanted to say, and how to say it. Seeing the smug look on his face threw all those plans right out the window. In that moment, I didn’t give a shit that he was the club Pres. I only cared that he’d put my woman at possible risk, and for what?
“Why the hell would you challenge her to go to the damn gate, knowing her father was there?” I asked.
Torch raised both eyebrows and his posture went from relaxed to stiff in a heartbeat. He pressed his hands to the desk and rose to his feet, staring me down.
“First off, mind your tongue when you speak to me. I may be getting old, but I’m not dead yet, and I still run this fucking club. If I wanted to throw her ass out, I could and would. Flicker spoke on your behalf to claim her, but you haven’t asked in Church and I don’t recall making anything official,” he said. “She’s not wearing a property cut and hasn’t been inked.”
“Well, seeing as how Wire and Lavender married us, either she stays or I go.”
He thumped back down into his chair and sighed. “So I heard. I didn’t give them permission for that shit either, but I can understand why they did it. They told me after the fact. It was amusing to see the look on Katya’s face when she found out, but not so much when I discovered what they’d done. Some days I swear it’s like the President patch on my cut is just a decoration. Did you know your wife suggested I leave the club to my daughter?”
No, she hadn’t told me that, but it didn’t surprise me. A woman like Katya could probably handle that sort of job. Not sure the Pres’s little girl was up to it, though, not even when she was old enough. She was a hellion at times, but she tended to react before thinking things through. Of course, I didn’t believe Katya had meant to kill Voronin so maybe she was just as hot-blooded.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper. At my age, I never thought I’d meet a woman I wanted to keep. Then I saw her stand up to the Prospect and land a punch to his ribs. Hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.” I grinned. “Knew then she was a keeper.”
“She’s a scrappy little thing for sure. She’s worried about the Bratva, isn’t she?”
I nodded. She’d said something about calling Bykov, but I still didn’t understand what she hoped to accomplish. What if the man didn’t want a daughter? Or what if he only wanted to use her the way Voronin had? Something told me she was borrowing trouble by reaching out, but I hoped she proved me wrong. Until then, I knew Torch would have had someone handle Voronin’s body and car.
“Found a tracker on her BMW,” Torch said. “She told Flicker to take the car to a chop shop and use the money to buy her something sensible.”
I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut. Yeah, I gave Flicker shit all the time since he was married to my daughter, but he was still an officer of the club. And Katya had told him what to do? Wonder how that had gone over. Then again, he seemed just as amused by her as I was, so he probably hadn’t thought much of it. She had a lot of fire in her just like my Pepper did, so Flicker was probably used to it by now.
Torch tossed me a set of keys. “There’s a silver Ford Explorer parked at the clubhouse. It’s her new car, registered under the name Kat Reid. I also told Wire to go ahead and work on getting her documentation under that name. It won’t erase Katya Voronin completely, but it’s a step in removing her connection with the Bratva.”
I stared at the keys in my hand. “What if she doesn’t want to sever the connection? She just found out Voronin wasn’t her father. The guy she thinks is her sperm donor is apparently higher up the ranks. She may want the chance to get to know him, if he isn’t a first-class dick.”
“Then we give her that chance… and invite the bastard here, where we can keep an eye on him. We already set up those guest apartments. We just make sure he’s our only visitor during that time and put one of the Prospects next door to keep an eye on him. Those walls are a bit thin for a reason.” Torch smiled. “I’m sure he’s too smart to let us bug the place, but that doesn’t mean the walls don’t have ears.”
“I’m keeping her,” I said. “If I have to go into Church and make the request, fine, but either way, she’s staying.”
“Do you really think we wouldn’t let you claim her?” he asked. “It’s been a long-ass time since you were ever serious about someone. Since before this club if I remember right. The fact you took one look and knew that girl was yours is all the proof I need that she belongs here. Besides, I rather enjoyed watching her beat that piece of shit to death.”
“You’re a little fucked-up. You know that, right?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Didn’t get to be at the top by being a pussy. I know things have calmed down a lot around here, especially with so many of us raising families, but we’ll never completely walk the straight and narrow. I’ve pulled us back off a lot of bad shit over the last decade, but the fact remains we make a fuck ton off pot and guns, especially after Flicker put in that medicinal marijuana field and procured a license for it a year ago.”
“I just don’t want the ugliness in life to touch her. I know it’s too late, that it’s already had its hands on her, but is it wrong that I want to protect her?”
“Not wrong. Maybe not practical since she seems quite capable of taking care of herself, but it’s certainly not wrong. If you’d fallen for a fellow soldier, would you have expected her to let you coddle her?”
“No,” I said without hesitation.
“Then don’t expect that of your wife. She may not have served our country, but she grew up in an environment that prepared her for a war of sorts. She’s cunning and capable. You should be proud of her.”
I sat in the chair across from him. “I am proud of her. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared shitless when I discovered the dead body was courtesy of my wife. Mostly, I was worried what state I’d find her in. But if that asshole really did have others lurking nearby, they may have seen her kill him. What then?”
“Then we handle it. When they get here -- and the Bratva will come to our gates -- I’ll take care of it. I’ll make sure I have Grimm with me.” Torch leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking. “For now, go spend time with your woman. I’ll call Church when I have more information on Voronin. You make your official request at that time, but that being said, I’m pretty sure Venom already ordered a property cut for your girl. You may get it before Church convenes.”
“So it’s just a formality?” I asked.
“Yep. We threw the rule book out long ago when it comes to our women. No point in enforcing that shit now. I was just busting your balls earlier. Just be warned that Pepper has already told the others about Katya. They’ll be stopping by, most likely within a day or two. Everyone has tried to give the two of you some space to bond a bit more. Heard she was adamant about leaving.”
“Not so much now. I think she’s resigned herself to being stuck here, or maybe she even wants to stay. There’s a longing in her eyes sometimes, and I don’t think it has anything to do with where she came from, but the fact that she wants a home here and is just too afraid to grab on and not let go.”
“Then go prove to her that her fears are unfounded,” Torch said. “And for fuck’s sake, get your kid’s room ready for him! He can’t take over Reed’s space, not unless you revamp the place and make it theirs. Otherwise your son will feel like an interloper and Reed will feel like he’s been replaced.”
“I kind of forgot about that with everything else going on. I mean, I know I have a kid now, but there are times the dots don’t all connect in my head. A little hard to wrap my brain around the fact my son and grandson are nearly the same age. Or that I have a son at all. Lily really fucked things up, didn’t she? And she died because of it. I may not have wanted a family, but if she’d ever told me she was pregnant, then I’d have taken care of my kid.”
“Of course you would have,” Torch said. “And you’d also have never met Katya. Because if Lily hadn’t been found by her family, if Katya hadn’t needed to get Theo somewhere safe, then she would have remained with the Bratva and your paths would have never crossed.”
He had a point. I didn’t much like it, but he was right. Everything happened for a reason, and I knew that, but I hated missing out on so much of my son’s life. Maybe Katya would want to help with the kids’ room. We could make it Theo’s and Reed’s space. Put a bunk bed in there so they could have sleepovers. She knew my son better than I did, so I’d see what she thought about it.
“Go home, Sarge.” Torch gave me a pointed look.
“Fine. I’m going.” I hefted myself out of the chair and walked out. One of Isabella’s favorite people, Saint, was coming up the walkway as I left so I tossed him the keys to the SUV. “When you go past the clubhouse on your way home, would you see that a Prospect brings the silver Explorer to my place?”
“You got it.” He gave me a wave and went inside, most likely to visit with Isabella and the kids. I didn’t see his daughter in tow, but that didn’t mean much. The girl was attached to her stepmother from morning to night most days.
Getting on my Harley, I started the engine and revved it twice before backing down the driveway and heading for my house. It still amazed me sometimes how much our compound had grown over the years. Before Ridley showed up looking for Bull, we’d all been a bunch of bachelors, partying and living life to the fullest. Then Ridley hooked up with Venom, got pregnant, and one after another I watched my brothers take that same fall. At first, I’d been glad it wasn’t me, but as time passed, I started to wonder if I’d ever find a woman to spend my life with. And now I had Katya. Or Kat as her new identification would say. I wasn’t sure how she’d handle that.
Reed and Theo were out front playing in Flicker’s yard when I pulled up. My grandson charged toward me with Theo following at a much slower pace. It made my chest ache that my own son wasn’t that happy to see me, but I knew I was still a complete stranger to him. Other than handing him off to Flicker and introducing him to Pepper, I hadn’t had time to get to know him better. I’d have to change that soon. Torch was right, though. The kid needed a room, or a space he could share with Reed where they could feel like it was theirs.
I got off the bike and swung Reed up into my arms, giving him a hug and kissing his cheek. “How’s Grandpa’s boy?”
“Good. We’re playing trucks.”
I smiled and looked from him to Theo. “I see that. Looks more like you’re playing dirt dauber. You’re both filthy.”
Theo came closer and hesitantly wrapped his arm around my leg. I set Reed down and picked up my son. We stared at one another for a moment, then I hugged him tight to my chest. “I’m glad you’re here, Theo. I only wish I’d known about you sooner. If your mom had ever told me about you, I’d have had you here with me every day.”
He rested his head against me and put his arms around my neck. I had to make things right with him. If that meant giving him a kickass room, then that’s where I’d start. But I also needed to explain why he wasn’t living in my house yet. I didn’t want him to feel left out, or like I didn’t want him. Telling him was one thing, but I needed to show him that he was wanted.
“Hey, boyo,” I said. “You’re going to stay with Pepper and Flicker for another day or two while I get your room ready. Okay? I thought since you and Reed seem to get along so well, you might want me to make it a place where you could both hang out and play. Maybe put a bunk bed in there?”
Theo looked down at Reed. “Trucks?”
Reed nodded.
“I take it that means you both want trucks in the room. On the blankets too?” I asked.
Both boys grinned, which was answer enough. I hugged Theo once more and set him down. He ran off with Reed to play and I went in to tell Katya about her new name. I really hoped she took it well. Just in case, maybe I should make sure there weren’t any bats, or other such objects nearby. The woman certainly knew how to do some damage, and I couldn’t have been prouder of her. Scared shitless, but proud. I could have lost her, but I’d been assured she’d had backup if things had gone south. Didn’t mean I liked her being put in that position to begin with.
“Kitten, where are you?” I called out as the front door shut behind me.
“Kitchen.”
I followed her voice and found her standing on the counter, a chair pushed up to it that she’d probably used to get up there, pulling stuff off the top shelf of a cabinet. By the looks of things, she’d already done that to all the others. In fact, all the cabinet doors were open and none of them had a single item inside still, but every flat surface was covered from counters to the table and even the stove.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Reorganizing.” She looked at me over her shoulder. “You don’t mind, do you? I just thought if I was going to live here now, I’d make it feel more like… mine.”
“Kitten, you can do whatever the hell you want. We can repaint. Buy new dishes. Just let me know, but I’d much prefer that you not climb on shit to reach things.”
“I can climb a tree taller than your house. I think I’ll be fine getting up on the counters, but thanks for worrying. As for paint…” She looked around. “I think the kitchen is fine, but I wouldn’t mind painting our bedroom a different color. Maybe a nice tranquil green?”
“Anything you want.”
She pulled the last of the items down, then backed down onto the chair, then the floor. She set the items on top of some other stuff nearby since she’d run out of room. As I looked over everything, I realized that I didn’t even remember putting half that shit into the cabinets in the first place. It had either been there for years, or my daughter had been hoarding shit in my house. That last part wouldn’t surprise me at all. She was constantly telling Flicker they needed more room.
“There’s something we need to discuss,” I said. “You know that Wire and Lavender worked their magic with the computer to make us legally -- or ill-legally -- married. I’m afraid that’s not where they stopped.”
She tipped her head to the side, just watching and waiting. At least she wasn’t having a fit over the marriage thing. I’d take that as a good sign. And she didn’t look ready to bludgeon me to death so there was that.
“They decided to change your name. I know the Bratva already knows you’re here, but it would distance you a bit more from your Russian connections. I told Torch you might not appreciate that very much, since it’s your heritage.”
“So what did they call me?” she asked.
“Your new identification will say you’re Kat Reid. I didn’t ask, but I think that means they hacked into the DMV and you’ll be getting a new driver’s license in the mail. Hell, they probably went deeper than that. Who knows what sorts of shit they got into. Sometimes I think it’s all a game for those two.”
She placed her hand over her heart. “In here, I will always be Katya, but I don’t mind everyone calling me Kat. Except you. I rather like the pet name you gave me. Now that I know you don’t find me weak and pathetic.”
I gave a bark of laughter. “Kitten, no one could ever think you’re weak. Trust me. You’ve already made yourself a legend around here. The other ladies can’t wait to meet you, but Torch thought we had a day or two before they descend on us. So I thought you could help me with something today.”
Her gaze dropped to my cock, which started to harden under her appraisal. That wasn’t what I’d had in mind, but she could certainly help with that too. By all rights, I should be worn the hell out from last night. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had sex that many times so close together. Hell, I barely touched the club whores most of the time. Getting laid wasn’t as important now as it had seemed thirty years ago.
Shit. I didn’t know if she knew about the girls at the clubhouse, or what went on up there at night. I knew I needed to tell her before she found out on her own, or before Ridley opened her damn mouth and said something, because that woman loved to stir up trouble, but I wasn’t ready to get into all that just yet. Soon, though. Really soon.
“We can do that too,” I said, drawing her gaze back up to my face. “But I need you to help me set up the room I’ve been using for Reed so that it will be good for both boys. Theo and Reed have both agreed to bunk beds and would like a truck theme.”
She looked around. “Do we have time for me to put this all back?”
I snorted. “Kitten, it’s going to take you hours to wade through all this shit. I’m betting part of it isn’t even mine. Pepper has a tendency to stash things here when I’m not looking. Just leave it for now. We’ll go shopping, then I’ll work on the kids’ room and you can organize all you want.”
She nodded. “All right. Just need to get my shoes and purse.”
“One more thing. Flicker already got a new car for you. Or new-ish. One of the Prospects will be dropping a silver Explorer by shortly. For now, we’ll take the club truck that’s still parked in the driveway. Might need it to haul some big shit.”
She came closer, pausing to push up on her toes and press her lips to mine. Her gaze locked on mine and I wondered what she was searching for. Whatever it was, she seemed satisfied. Smiling, she kissed me once more, then walked out, leaving me to look at the chaos she’d made of the kitchen.
Living with a woman was going to be interesting.