Live Free (Lords of Mayhem 3)

She tensed. This man would lay down his life for her. Had protected her more in a handful of months than either of her parents had ever done their entire life. “Don’t you ever talk about him like that!” she growled. The words and the rebellion behind them came from a love-starved place. “He’s been better to me than you ever were, you spiteful bastard.” Her chest heaved and her heart raced. All the words she’d longed to say over the years rested on the tip of her tongue.

Rocky placed his palm on her waist and it grounded her. Not now. “You don’t have the right to judge anyone after you spent the past thirty-something years making not one but two people’s lives a living hell. Mom, call me when you’ve made arrangements.” Rocky pulled her back into his arms, making her feel encircled by protection. When they exited the room, she couldn’t help but think she had just crossed an imaginary finish line into freedom.

* * * * *

He hated situations like this when he didn’t know what the hell to say. His relationship with most of his family with the exception of Nona had been abysmal.

They’d entered the club silently and lay down for a sleepless night full of tossing and turning. He didn’t have the right words and making it worse was not an option. She’d just had a lot of shit dropped on her. He made a mental note to settle up with her father after things died down. Clearly, he’d made her life a living hell over some grudge he held against her mother. Unacceptable. Funny, how people think bikers are savage, but the dirt they do behind closed doors is far worse.

When light filtered through his window he eased out of bed, leaving Evonne to sleep as long as she could. Sometimes the escape you could only accomplish in a dreamless exhausted sleep was the best answer. He dressed and stepped out into the hall, following the delicious scent of breakfast to the kitchen. The worried faces of Evonne’s friends helping to serve the children food told him they’d been informed.

“How is she?” Juliette asked.

“Not good. Some heavy shit went down on top of her brother passing, but it’s her story to tell. She’ll need your support for sure,” Rocky said.

All three women stared at him for a second, and then they nodded in unison.

“You want bacon, eggs and sausage?” Joey asked, gesturing to a paper plate.

“Shit yeah. I’m starving,” Rocky said.

“Yeah, well me too.”

He laughed at her glum expression.

“Well, you’re eating for two.”

“You want to get killed, brother?” Moose asked, lumbering into the room with a small smile on his face.

Rocky laughed, accepting the plate Joey handed to him. “Thanks.” He turned toward Moose. “Where’s the guys?”

“Scattered around, stuffing their faces. Plan on church at noon.”

Rocky nodded. “I figured as much.” His thoughts were drawn back to their new situation.

“Church?” Joey whispered.

Rocky could see the wheels in her mind working.

Joey was scary smart and with her dad being who he was, she had an insight into the life her girlfriends lacked. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Us too, but you know this ain’t old lady business,” Moose said, gently putting her in her place.

“Yeah. I savvy. Just wondering if it was related to what we have going on. I’d like to know if there’s an end coming soon.”

“Naw, Joey, we’re keeping y’all posted on that,” Rocky said, steering them away from a knock-down-drag-out. If Boston was any indication, pregnant woman were damn feisty, and vocal, be it anger or happiness they were expressing.

“Good deal. I think I’m going to make myself a second plate and move somewhere quieter,” Joey said.

“I’ll join you,” Juliette offered.

“Me too.” Hilary stood. Her voice sounded subdued and she looked more uptight than usual. Her face had a pinched look to it. Damn, is Joey still busting her balls over yesterday? Thank God, I’m not a fucking female. He backed out of the room cautiously and headed to the tables where the others were seated.

“Hey, how’s my girl doing this morning?” Casanova asked.

“My girl is still asleep, and I can guess when she wakes up, she’ll feel pretty shitty.”

“No path on her,” Casanova muttered.