Viper

by Atlas, Lilly

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  PRESENT DAY - TENNESSEE

  “Mama V, this baby isn’t even born yet and you’re spoiling her already,” Shell said as she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her rounding belly.

  “Seriously.” Copper pushed his plate a few inches away. “At least you have an excuse for that third helping you didn’t think we noticed.” The look he shot his wife as he spoke had Cassie’s heart both melting and stinging. Viper had looked at her in much the same way.

  For over three decades.

  “Hey,” Shell said, placing a hand on Cassie’s where it rested on the table. “You okay.”

  With a shake of her head, Cassie smiled as best she could through the pain. Something she’d become an expert at in recent days. “I’m fine, sweetie. Did I hear you refer to that baby as a her?”

  Copper grunted which caused Shell to giggle as she shrugged. “I don’t know.” Her hands were on her belly, rubbing circles over the small mound. “Just a feeling.”

  “Two girls. Kill me now.” Copper’s gruff tone complaint fooled no one.

  “Oh, please,” Cassie said as she rose and reached for Copper’s plate. “You’d love it and you know it. Papa Bear protecting all his little baby girl bears.”

  “Hey.” Copper swatted her hands away. “Sit your ass down.”

  His mock scowl reminded her so much of Viper’s it was as though her husband spoke through the man. Viper had been Copper’s sponsor when he prospected and the two had an unbreakable bond. If anyone beside her was suffering from the loss, it was Copper.

  “You cooked despite my better judgment. No way in hell are you cleaning up. Shell?”

  “Hey!” both she and Shell shouted.

  Copper held his hands up with a smirk as Cassie lowered back to her chair. “Kidding, kidding. I’ll get it in a bit.” With a boisterous laugh, he dodged a flying napkin Shell tossed his way.

  “Mommy!” Beth said, sounding utterly scandalized. “You throwed something at Daddy. He’s gonna put you in time out.” She dropped her voice and leaned toward her mother. “He might even give you a spanking like last time.”

  Before Shell had a chance to react beyond turning beet red, Beth turned to Cassie. “The other day Daddy had to give Mommy a spanking for being naughty,” she said. Her little five year-old-face held so much sincerity; Cassie used her napkin to hide her grin.

  Shell’s eyes were so wide they were in danger of falling from her face as she shot a death glare to her husband who unfortunately sat with his lips pressed together and shoulders shaking in a pitiful attempt to stem his hilarity.

  Cassie pressed her napkin to her lips to keep from showing her amusement as well. Poor Shell looked like she wanted to sink through the floor—while strangling her husband.

  “Um, Bethy,” she said. “You remember what we told you about some of the things Daddy says?”

  “He’s mouth sounds worse than his ass,” Beth said, as serious as she’d ever been.

  Cassie snorted then slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. “I’m sorry,” she said between gasps of laughter.

  Copper also laughed way louder than his wife probably appreciated, while Shell dropped her head to the table. “I give up,” she said with a groan. “I should just embrace the fact I’m raising a foul-mouthed five-year-old hellion.”

  Lord, how she loved this family. The relationship Shell had with her mother was complicated at best, and Sarge, her father, had been killed almost fifteen years ago. Copper on the other hand had no living family. At least none he spoke of. Not now that his brother had been killed the previous year.

  They were her surrogate children through and through. And as such, she loved them with her whole heart. Blood meant very little when it came to family, something she’d learned all those years ago when she fled Washington with the love of her life.

  Through Cassie and Copper’s laughter as well as Shell’s humiliation, Beth continued to shovel in the food until she’d downed every last bite. “That was yummy,” she said, mouth stuffed.

  Cassie ruffled the little girl’s hair. “I’m glad you like it. I’ll give mommy some to take home for you.”

  The response was a thumbs up and a saucy grin.

  Copper cleared his throat. “Cas, there was actually something we wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Hey, Bethy,” said Shell as she pushed her daughter’s chair from the table. “The grown-ups need to talk for a bit. Why don’t you go color in that new Frozen book Mama V bought you?”

  The little girl didn’t need to be told twice. “Okay!” she said as she hopped up from the table and practically bounced down the hall.

  Cassie’s gut twisted and the moment Beth disappeared from view, she turned to Copper. “Is everything all right?” Then she swiveled her gaze to Shell. “Everything okay with the baby? With you?”

  “Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Everything is totally fine,” Copper said as he reached out and settled his giant hand over hers. Cassie flipped her palm and allowed him to curl that mitt around her much smaller hand.

  It wasn’t easy to make the breath she blew out seem like normal breathing rather than a huge expression of relief, and she was pretty sure she failed miserably. “So what’s up then?”

  “We want you to come live with us!” Shell blurted then winced in her husband’s direction. “Shi—uh, shoot, I wasn’t supposed to just lay it out like that. I’ll shut up now.”

  Rolling his eyes at his wife, Copper took over. “We’re about to have our second kid. I’m dealing with worsening club shit all the time, and Shell’s been talking about going back to school to finish her degree after the baby’s born.”

  Cassie whipped her gaze in Shell’s direction. “Really? That’s wonderful.” Oh, what a marvelous idea. Nothing against working at Toni’s Diner, but Shell had once dreamed of a different path. Becoming a single mother at a young age had her putting her own goals on hold. Good to see Copper so supportive of his woman’s career aspirations.

  Cheeks pink once again, Shell shrugged. “I’d like to teach,” she said in an almost sheepish voice. “Little kids. Preschool, maybe kindergarten. I don’t know, maybe it’s a stupid idea.”

  “Babe—”

  “It’s not stupid at all, Shell. I think it would be the perfect career for you. I’ve always thought that. I remember how much you wanted to be a teacher when you were younger.”

  “I got that from you. You were always so patient with me and the other kids you watched. It made me want to work with children.”

  “Oh, Shell, that makes me so happy.” Fond memories warmed her heart. “You know you used to set up all your stuffed animals and ‘teach’ them.” Cassie chuckled. “You were such a bossy little thing.”

  “Explains where Beth gets it.”

  “Hey!” Another napkin sailed in Copper’s direction. “You, shut it! Anyway, it’s going to be a huge challenge with two little kids and a husband who runs an MC.”

  “Which brings us to our offer,” Copper added. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. As he spoke, he stroked the close-cropped hair of his beard. “Before you got sick, you watched Beth so much already, she practically lived over here. And you’ve already mentioned keeping her again that you are feeling stronger and finished with treatment. Move in with us. Help with the kids.”

  Wow. Cassie blinked. Move in with them? Of all the things Copper could have said right then, she would not have guessed that.

  “I…wow…I don’t know.” Unexpected as it was, the offer tempted her. Aside from the pain of actually losing Viper, she’d been mostly struggling with the idea of living in this big ol’ house all alone. Sure, she had plenty of friends and loved ones in her life, but at the end of each day, she now went to sleep as the only one under the roof. After having lived with another for decades, she’d grown uncomfortable being alone for long periods of time. But still, pity, charity and duty weren’t offerings she’d tolerate or accept from Copper
and Shell. And to leave the home she shared with Viper felt like severing the last link to him. Just the thought of it had her chest constricting with a now familiar heaviness.

  Cassie met his gaze, encouraged by the sincerity she saw there.

  “Cassie, we love you. You are one of the most important people in our lives,” he said pointing between himself and Shell who nodded with a hopeful smile. “We want this. We want you there for Sunday breakfasts and family dinners. We want you to be a daily part of our children’s lives. The back of our house has that mother-in-law suite we haven’t even put furniture in. A second master bedroom, small living area, second master bath, and even a small eat in kitchen area. It’s perfect for you to have some privacy though you’d have complete full rein of the entire house.”

  With a sigh, Cassie gave Copper what probably came off as a pitiful attempt at a smile. The offer was wonderful and maybe had Viper’s death not been so recent, the grief so fresh, she’d have jumped on it. Now, she just couldn’t imagine not being surrounded by his presence each and every day. “I’m not sure.”

  “Just think about it,” Shell said as she placed her hand over Cassie’s. “Don’t give us an answer now. The baby isn’t even due for another four and change months. And it’s not like I’m going to enroll in school the day after they release us from the hospital.” She gave Cassie’s hand a squeeze. “So you have plenty of time. If you decide this is something you’d like to do, you can move in any time. Hell, we’d love to have you tomorrow. But know there is no rush. Like the big man said, we love you like family.” Then she gave a weak huff of laughter. “Actually, we love you more than family.”

  “Thank you,” Cassie whispered around the lump in her throat. “You two mean the world to me. I will think about it. Seriously.”

  “Great.” Shell brightened. “That’s all we ask.” She shifted with a groan. “Ugh, how am I this uncomfortable already? I swear I’m twice as big as I was with Beth at this point.” She glared at Copper. “What kind of monster-sized baby did you put in me?”

  He winked. “Only the biggest and the best, baby.”

  “Mm-hmm. Surrre.” Shell blew her husband a kiss then turned her attention back to Cassie. “So what did you want to talk to us about?”

  “Oh, right. I almost forgot.” Thank God for Shell. She’d have felt wretched if she’d forgotten to ask about a job for Makenna.

  “Are you guys looking for help at the diner?”

  “Yes! Definitely. Toni hasn’t advertised for it yet since we won’t officially open again for a few weeks, but we will be looking for full-time wait staff and a few part-timers as well. Why? Do you have someone in mind?”

  “I might,” Cassie said as she picked up her wine glass.

  “Toni and Jazz will bow at your feet if you save them the work of advertising.”

  “So who is it?” A wrinkle popped up right between Copper’s eyes. Of course the man was confused. He pretty much knew everyone in Cassie’s life and vice versa. Poor guy was probably racking his brain trying to figure out who she was talking about.

  “Well, I ran, literally, into a woman in the market.” With a wince, Cassie shrugged. “I hit her with my cart.”

  Copper chuckled. “Knowing you, she got no less than ten thousand apologies.”

  “And a job offer.” Shell gave her a warm smile of understanding. She’d have done the same.

  After sipping her wine, Cassie replaced the near empty glass on the table only to have Copper top it off almost before she’d released the stem. She’d be trashed by the end of the meal at this rate.

  Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.

  Maybe getting her drunk was Copper’s plan.

  Maybe she’d finally sleep more than three hours at a time before waking up with her heart in her throat after dreaming of Viper.

  Damn nighttime and its haunting ability to bring on endless hours of memories. Even in the grip of slumber.

  “Something like that,” she said with a sheepish grin. “Anyway, she just moved to the area and is responsible for her sister who I’d guess to be around two.” Cassie fingered the base of her wineglass before saying. “They seemed like they could use a break. You know?”

  “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.

  He covered her hands with his and they sat that way for a few quiet moments, lost in thought. After a while, Copper’s brogue broke the silence. “He told me about that day,” he said inclining his head toward the very picture she’d been reminiscing over.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. Said he’d been waiting months for you to finally admit you loved him.”

  “He had,” she said with a laugh. “I made the poor guy wait over a year. Even though I knew I loved him less than two weeks in. But I had my reasons.”

  “I believe the phrase he used was stubborn sadist.” Copper raised an eyebrow.

  Cassie’s head fell back on her shoulders and she laughed out loud. “That sounds just like the man I fell in love with.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  1983 - TENNESSEE

  “The fuck are we doing here, Sarge?” Viper murmured across the booth as he murdered his friend with his eyes.

  The urge to plow his fist through his friend’s face nearly had him lunging across the slightly sticky table. For the tenth time in as many seconds, his gaze shifted to the door of the women’s restroom. If Cassie didn’t emerge in the next thirty seconds, he was going in. “I brought my fucking woman, for fuck’s sake.” He slammed his palm on the table and counted it a victory for his usually well reined in temper. At least he hadn’t connected that hand with Sarge’s smug fucking face. “You fucking told me to bring her. Had I known—”