“Mommy!” Beth might as well have been in the room with them, the volume of her bellow was so loud. “Mommy come see what I drawed!”
Shell rolled her eyes as she stood. “We’re at this stage where she draws no less than fifteen pictures a day. Soon I’ll be able to wallpaper the whole house.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t love it,” Copper said.
Shell gave him a mock scowl that had him laughing. As she walked past Cassie, she leaned down. “You’re the sweetest, Mama V. Always thinking of others.” Then she dropped a kiss on Cassie’s cheek before patting her shoulder.
“Mommy!”
“Better get to it, woman,” Copper said, giving his wife a swat on the butt as she walked by him.
Her shriek turned to giggles then she was moving down the hall. They reminded her so much of the way she and Viper were with each other. Playful and teasing but always with a core of strong love running through their words and actions. Much as she loved every year she’d spent with Viper for its own special reasons, she’d often longed for those younger days when life was full of so much freshness and excitement.
She blinked and gave her head a little shake to keep from falling in a pit of sadness. “So, Copper, do you think it’s safe? For her to work at a business associated with the club right now? Safe to bring in someone from the outside?”
One arm folded across his chest, Copper stroked his chin with the other. “Well, you wouldn’t think so, but the cops are pretty much living up the CDMC’s collective asshole right now. I’ve even heard rumors of a possible FBI investigation.”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.”
More beard rubbing. “Me either. And while I hate the idea of having the Feds close by again, if it keeps the CDMC off our ass it’ll be worth it.”
She nodded. Wasn’t long ago the Handlers landed on the FBI’s radar. While it’d been a cluster of an investigation that nearly ended in bloodshed, their club had gained Stephanie, Maverick’s ol’ lady and an ex-FBI agent. She’d been sent in undercover to take down the club. Unfortunately for them, Stephanie had fallen for Maverick and uncovered a plot by her superiors more sinister than any the MC could drum up.
“Okay, so it sounds like the risk to her would be minimal.”
He nodded, abandoning his beard and tucking the other arm across his chest. “For now. And hopefully for good. But if shit ramps up with the CDMC, we’ll keep her and the kid safe, Cas. I promise you that.”
A thousand-pound weight lifted from her shoulders. “Good, that’s good. Thank you, Copper.”
His expression grew serious. A near-scowl most would find intimidating. Lucky for her, she’d known him since he was an ambitious prospect. He couldn’t scare her with that glower if he tried. “You do know we’ll have to make sure she’s legit, right? That she wasn’t sent by the CDMC. They’re sneaky fuckers who have no problem using anyone within their reach to get what they want.”
Cassie frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Means I’ll probably have Gumby’s brother from Arizona, Acer’s his name, do some behind the scenes investigating on her. Know you feel some protective urges toward this girl, but club has to come first, Cas.”
“Fair enough.” Last thing she’d ever want would be to put her family in jeopardy. If Makenna turned out to be an ally of the Chrome Disciples, Cassie would never be able to forgive herself. As it was, that club had proven to be shrewd and conniving on more than one occasion.
“Cas?” Copper asked, an uncommon note of compassion in his voice.
She met his gaze which mirrored his tone.
“How are you? And no bullshit. How are you?”
She allowed her gaze to drift to an enlarged black and white photo of her and Viper hanging on the wall. Another of her favorite memories. This one from the day she first told Viper her feelings for him. It happened to also be the day Sarge met Shell’s mother and the day that set him on the path to becoming the future president of the club.
“I’m…” She blew out a breath and swept her long hair over one shoulder. “I’m hurting, Copper.” Tapping a hand over her heart she shrugged. “Here.”
He swallowed, his thick throat moving up and down with the force of the movement. If she hadn’t known the man as well as she did, she’d swear those were tears pooling in his eyes. “Me too, Cas.”
She stretched her arm out until she could rest her hand on his shoulder. Words failed her, but Copper didn’t seem to mind. By now, she’d learned the futility of platitudes and clichés. Time would be the only balm for their wounds and not nearly enough had passed to reach that illusive acceptance stage.