“To shower,” I giggle. “I have to get ready to meet Brooke. I can't be late. Now put me down, you crazy man.”
“Fine, but tonight, you're mine.”
“I am yours, every night and every day.” Always and forever.
I was late meeting Brooke thanks to Jack and him fucking me hard against the shower wall. He had me coming twice again for him before he'd let me shower and get ready. I know I said no, but, come on! I can't resist that man, no matter how I might try.
Jack and I have always had a healthy sex life. We've always been hot for each other, always found it hard to keep our hands off of each other. Even though I'd told him we didn't have time for round two, he managed to convince me easily enough. Just like he always could.
Brooke didn't mind that I was late, she laughed and hugged me, smirked like she had a feeling she knew why I was late. I just laughed, which basically confirmed without words that she was right.
Brooke has been in such a good mood, and it's so nice to see her smiling so much. I think she's hiding a secret of her own, but I won't mention it. Not today at least.
We spent a couple of hours shopping for my dress for her wedding. Mother of the groom cannot wear jeans. It doesn't matter if they're getting married at the clubhouse, I want to look the part for my son. I still can't believe my eldest son is grown up enough to be a father and to be getting married. I am so proud of the man Hawk has become. He brings me so much pride every day, and I've never been more proud of him than I am for the man he became when Brooke came into his life. I see how much he loves her each time he looks at her, and I see how proud he is to be Gabe's father.
I had hoped I could persuade Hawk and Brooke to get married in a church. Isn't that what all mothers want? I will never get to see my daughter walk down the aisle, so I would have liked to see Brooke do that. However, neither of them could be persuaded.
I'm not the kind of mother to push her wants and opinions on her children or the people they love. I would never do that. My mother didn't raise me that way. What my son and his beautiful girl want, they will get, and as Brooke has no family but her sister attending, she doesn't want a church wedding.
I have made sure, with the help of my MC sister's, that Brooke and Hawk will have the best wedding the MC has ever seen. We've seen some amazing weddings over the years, so we had our work cut out for us. Nothing is too much for my son, though, and it never will be.
Brooke and I had lunch at the diner in town, and we talked about anything and everything. Brooke will soon be my daughter-in-law, but she's also a friend. I love her to death, and I'm happy that she came home to Hawk, he was lost without her. I believe they've found what Jack and I have, and that is very special indeed.
“It's going to be weird,”
“What is?” I ask while adjusting my grandson in my arms as we walk down Main Street. He's getting heavy. He's a chunky little man, already five months old. Man, the time flies!
I parked a little away from the diner because there is never any parking spaces outside Kotts Diner and Grill, we're walking to where I parked so I can give Brooke a ride home. She got a taxi here, and I won't allow her to take one home. If I knew she'd be grabbing one to get here, I would have picked her up. I thought she would have driven her car, but she has a flat tire that she didn't notice until this morning. That damn car has been more trouble than it's worth.
God, my back is starting to hurt again. It feels like my muscles are all locking and tearing at the same time. I can feel my mouth filling with water like I'm about to be sick. I push it back and take a deep breath. I don't want Brooke to notice anything, she'll tell Jack, and he'll worry about me all over again. I don't know what's going on with me, but I think it's time I got a full check-up at the hospital.
Brooke sighs and tells me, “That I have no father to give me away.” I look at her walking by the side of me. She's not looking at me; she's staring straight ahead. I don't know how she's feeling right now because my father gave me away at my wedding. He was proud to, and I wouldn't have gotten married without him there. I love Jack more than anything in this world, but my father means everything to me. It wouldn't have been the same without him. “I know we're getting married at the clubhouse, and it's not really necessary for anyone to walk me down the aisle, but I guess I'm just like every other girl in the world who has dreamed about her wedding day since childhood.”
“I'm sorry, sweetheart, I can't imagine how that feels.”
“It's okay,” She shrugs. “I'll get over it. I'm getting married to the man I love,” She smiles dreamily, exhaling a happy breath. It makes me smile. “Nothing could be more perfect than that.”
That's all any woman really needs. To make it to the end of the aisle to find the man she loves waiting for her.
We walk toward my car, and I'm happily humming while kissing Gabriel's head. I wasn't expecting to be a grandmother at this age, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Besides, I might not be biologically little Mark's grandmother, but Stryker allows that little boy to call me Grandma, and I love that he does.
“Hello, Brooke.” I turn as does Brooke to see who it is that's addressing her.
Oh shit, her father!
The Snakes are at this moment in a meeting discussing what to do about this monster. All these weeks he's stayed away, and just when Brooke is finally happy, he turns up and ruins everything! Nothing good will come of this. Nothing at all.
“What are you doing here?” I hear the lump Brooke swallows hard, she's scared. I know why.
“I have every right to be here. I'm here to take you home.”
Oh, fuck no!
I grab Brooke's arm and pull her behind me. “She's not going anywhere with you.”
“You don't get to speak to me! I don't converse with apes!” Racist bastard! It's my turn to swallow hard when he draws a handgun from his belt and points it right at me. I pull Gabriel closer to my chest. “Brooke, co
me with me now, and I'll let the ape go.”
“Don't move, Brooke. Take Gabriel and run.”
“I can't leave you here; he'll kill you.” She's frightened, and I hate that. It's my job to protect her and Gabriel, and I will to the best of my ability.
“Please do as I say. Take your son and run, Brooke.”
“Don't move, Brooke!” The fat sack of shit yells. She looks at me then at him. She isn't taking Gabriel, even when I push him at her. “Be a good girl and come with me. You know I'll kill her if you don't.”
“Brooke, don't do this,” I beg, tears in my eyes.
She leans down and kisses her sons head, then she kisses my cheek and whispers in my ear, “You have to protect him. Please. Take him to Hawk, tell him what happened...” She's cut off when I scream. The son of a bitch fired his gun into the air! Gabriel is crying in my arms, Brooke is visibly shaking, and I'm terrified myself.
“You have ten-seconds, Brooke. If you don't come with me now, I'll kill her and the baby ape.” He would too, kill Gabriel, I can see it in his eyes.
“You racist son of a bitch!” I scream at him, his gun is pointed right at me, and if I didn't have Gabriel in my arms, I'd rush the fat sack of shit!
“Now, Brooke!”
“I have to go.” She tells me.
“Please don't.”
“I have to. I love you, Taylor. Thank you for everything. Take care of Dante and Gabe for me.” I'm sobbing in frustration as she walks over to her father. He grabs her arm and leads her away from me, and I'm scared this will be the last time I ever see her again.
I can't linger here. I need to let Hawk know what's happened. I don't condone murder in any form, but I'm also not an idiot, I know what will happen to Hank Webster when the club finds out he took Brooke. The truth is, I hope they kill him. That man is the worst kind of monster. I just hope Brooke can keep herself alive long enough for the club to rescue her. She's one of us, and they will do anything to save her. We protect our own. Always.