Charlie: Northern Grizzlies (Book 4)

by M. Merin

  Looking between them, I know she won’t release me; I flip the old man off and pick her up, carrying her out to the guest house once again.

  This time to leave my family completely behind.

  Chapter 31

  Charlie

  Jake was never tightly bound to his family, but I know that the idea of complete separation doesn’t sit well with him either.

  The night of the blow-up with his grandfather we checked into the hotel where my grandparents were staying. The next morning, before he and Connal woke up I called my grandmother and arranged to meet her alone.

  I told her everything.

  She knew about my father’s death during a ski run, but I told her how I survived the crash that killed my mother. Then, I told her about my grandfather’s death and foster care. I went on about meeting Connal and Jake and how the three of us were together; about our vows to each other. That Jake’s grandfather was disgusted by the thought of our relationship.

  I knew that this information was complete overload.

  It is for me some days. I asked her to kiss her husband for me and call, when or if they decided to be in my life; knowing how I am choosing to live it.

  “Charlie,” Mona grasps my arm as I turn to leave. “I lost my only child; out of pride, stubbornness, and concern about appearances. I want to be sure you aren’t being taken advantage of, but know that as long as they are good to you and you are happy; that is all I care about.

  “I will talk to your grandfather, although, I think he may suspect something after yesterday,” Mona continues. “But his choice will be his own. After knowing you exist, I simply cannot walk away from you. Please, don’t leave here thinking this door has closed. I will come out to visit you, even if I’m by myself.”

  “Thank you,” I reply, trying not to cry as I move forward to hug her. Mona’s arms instantly close around me and I hear and feel her sob. We draw our heads apart to smile at each other, we’re both crying but she is rubbing my back; trying to soothe me.

  Parting in time to get back to the room before we need to leave for the airport, I realize I only held one thing back from her. I didn’t tell her my period was four days late.

  *

  Another two days go by before I walk into a pharmacy, still a weird mix of nerves. Heading down the aisles, I finally come upon the pregnancy tests.

  Heading up to the counter, I immediately see the clerk’s eyes go from the boxes to my ring finger to my cut. I narrow my eyes at her, not interested in her judgment.

  Crossing to a coffee shop, I order a tea to go and quickly dart into their bathroom. I pee on two of the tests and head back out to the car, mission accomplished.

  I drive straight home before I look at the tests. They both confirm the news I was certain of so I text my men to come home.

  The next hour finds me pacing the living room before I finally call Riley.

  “Hello, stranger!” Her bubbly voice greets me. “I’m just leaving campus, what’s up?”

  “I texted the guys like an hour ago but haven’t heard from them, I was just wondering…”

  “Something may have come up, let me call Gunner and I’ll call you back,” Riley suggests.

  “They’re in Church,” She says when I pick up her call a few minutes later. “Gunner didn’t pick up so I called Betsy; she says it’s been a couple hours. I’m about an hour away, do you need anything?”

  “No, I’m good. Just never had radio silence from them before and got worried.” I let her know. “How are the wedding plans coming? Still in two weeks?”

  “Yes, bridesmaid-of-mine. No cold feet, still going to wear a simple dress…”

  “Because Gunner will tear it off of you at his first chance?” I laugh, interrupting her.

  “I can’t even pretend that’s not true, Charlie,” She giggles along with me. “There will be about 40 people at Grams; she’s serving cake and cocktails there then we go to the party at the clubhouse afterward. Everyone seems to think I’ll morph into a bridezilla at some point, but I’m marrying Gunner. That’s all I want.”

  “Please, you’re so easy-going you make me feel like I’m high-strung!” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. Then both of our phones buzz.

  “Ahh, meeting’s over! Talk later?” Gunner must be calling her since Connal is calling me.

  Connal

  “Everything alright, Baby Girl?” I ask as Jake and I head out to our bikes. I can barely hear her over the roar of everyone’s bikes starting up but I assure her we’re heading home now.

  Throwing a thumbs-up to Jake, I’m soon following him out of the compound. I can tell by Jake’s posture that he’s as pissed off as I am.

  As expected, Maddock was furious to be reprimanded when he had warrants served on our homes without Probable Cause. The uptick in State Police and ATF agents are causing serious issues in supply lines, not only for us but with other MCs.

  Riley’s one of us now, a hundred percent. But the other MC’s – allies even – are nearly calling for Gunner’s head over it. That and we still have to deal with fucking Frank.

  Motherfucker was still in contact with Deb, sending her money and meeting up for a fuck when he could get away. Jasper’s in a hard spot, killing him doesn’t fit the crime but with the shit he knows, we can’t have him running to Maddock if we cut him loose.

  Cut him loose, without his Club ink, of course.

  Pulling up to the house hits me differently each time. I’ve never had a home of my own and even though Jake bought it, he kept his word and put my name on the title next to his and Charlie’s. We want to surround the property with a fence; then build a workshop and add on to the garage. But overall, it really suits us.

  Charlie comes to the door at the sound of the bikes and Jake nearly runs to her. I can understand that, needing her touch after this shitty afternoon.

  Walking up behind her, I start nibbling on her neck. Jake breaks their kiss and she quickly turns to me. A moment later, she’s laughing.

  “Good thing we don’t have any neighbors!” She pulls us back towards the door. “I ordered pizza, had to promise them a big tip to come out this way but I’m starving and didn’t know when you would be home.”

  “I’m gonna grab a beer,” Jake answers. “Either of you want one?”

  “Yeah,” I answer before Charlie turns him down. I turn back, hearing a car. “Hey, here’s the pizza guy now. I got it.”

  Charlie is quiet even after she slows down around her fourth piece.

  “What’s going on, Charlie?” Jake quietly asks. “You know we can’t talk club business? You ain’t mad about that?”

  “No! I get it. It’s just that I have news…” She walks around the island taking each of our hands and places them on her stomach.

  “Did you eat too much?” I ask. Like a fucking idiot.

  It’s the sight of Jake going down on his knees before her, kissing her stomach; and the soft smile she gives me as she waits for me to catch up, that pulls a war cry from my lips.

  “Baby!” I yell so loud, I’m sure Jasper can hear me from his place down the road. I cup her cheeks, pulling her face to mine for a long, slow kiss.

  “Thank you, Charlie,” Jake says, still placing light kisses around her stomach.

  “I took two tests today,” She says, caressing the top of Jake’s head; smiling broadly. “I was so worried when I couldn’t reach you but then Riley reached Betsy and found out about the meeting.”

  “We’ll have to get you to a doctor,” I start; grateful I put her on the Garage’s insurance already.

  “It’s early yet,” She tugs Jake up, so she can hug us both. Group hugs are becoming the norm around here, and slowly, getting to be less awkward. “I know there are some vitamins I can pick up. I thought I might ask Emma about her doctor?”

  “Are you sure? Do you need to quit working? Here, come sit down,” I’m babbling while Jake seems to be taking this in stride.

  “I can still work, you doofus,�
�� She leads us to the giant U shaped couch we bought. “I’m just pregnant, not incapacitated.”

  “Baby, we’re all new to this; let us catch up a minute,” Jake quietly interjects. “We want you to be safe and healthy, that’s all Connal means.”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” Charlie squeezes my hand. “And yes, when I can’t get on the creeper easily, maybe I can work the desk for a while? Learn how to do the inventory and behind the scenes work?”

  “Of course, you’ll always have a place there. Don’t ever doubt that.” I assure her, trying not to laugh at the picture of a rounded belly stopping her from rolling under a car. I make eye contact with Jake and as he knows what I’m thinking, we burst out laughing.

  “What?” She squeals. “I hate it that you two can do that!”

  “We’re happy, Baby Girl,” I assure her. “So fucking happy.”

  “Connal? I was thinking today, I’ve never met your family? I mean, I know meeting Jake’s family turned into a disaster but do they know about me?” She is back to picking at a callous on her hand.

  “Look at me?” I wait for her to look up. “I told my parents I have an amazing woman. One of my brothers, Derek? I told him about our relationship. Everything.”

  “What did he, I mean? Does he think I’m a…”

  “Don’t say what I think you’re going to say, Charlie,” Jake growls at her. “You’re our wife. Our love. You don’t ever say or think of yourself any other way.” Jake’s entire body tenses, like it does every time he thinks of what his grandfather said to Charlie.

  “He laughed actually,” I say. “He came out a few years ago. He’s met Jake, now he can’t wait to meet the woman who demoted him from the ‘black sheep to the gray sheep’ of the family.”

  They laugh. Then we cuddle our woman. In talking, Charlie brings up a point we’d never thought of. She wants our children to have hyphenated names, McKay-Forsythe, and it really touches me.

  Chapter 32

  Flint

  Frank and I have ever been close; so no one’s more shocked than I am when he asks to speak to me.

  “I fucked up, Brother,” He finally says, after we stare at each other a few minutes.

  “Yeah, you did,” I reply, accepting a smoke from him.

  “Ain’t never had a family, not like you did. Arthritis is so bad it hurts to ride anymore. We were fucking kings, Flint!” He slams his hand down on his nightstand, and I can see pain shoot across his face. “You think I don’t know those girls despise me? You know how many fucking blue pills I take to keep them bouncing on my dick? To feel anywhere close to how I did when we were young?”

  “We ain’t young anymore,” I quietly add when he stops talking. “No use looking back now.”

  “And I got shit to show for it,” He laughs derisively. “Figured I’d get someone to play house with, take care of me for a few years. Didn’t mean to hurt the girl, I was fucked up; so bad, I barely felt it when Gunner did this,” He lifts his broken arm.

  I get frustrated listening to his pity party. That’s how I feel about getting older; don’t like wasting it around people I don’t like.

  “We never talked this much before, Frank; what do you want?” I sigh.

  “Deb tried to get in with the Savages after she was sent away; no takers there and she can’t dance with the scars left on her. Said I owed her, and fuck; some of the stuff I had her do for me, well, I guess I did. I know Jasper has my phone, have him check the recordings on it. Last time I saw her, she said I had to keep the money coming or she’d go to the Maddocks. I got the recorder working in time for that.”

  “When the fuck were you going to speak up?” I growl, heading to the door.

  “Wait!” He yells, and I do. “I’m supposed to meet her tomorrow. Meet her with a couple grand, she lets me bang her and she goes away again for a month or so. I’ll tell you were but I need something from you.”

  I look at him and he knows that I’m thinking of just setting Gunner on him.

  “I can hold on long enough that you’ll miss the meeting,” He cuts me off. “I ain’t got much ink, I know the MC gets that back. I got some money saved but I need a partial share of the monthly; won’t ever ask for more and like me or not, you know I won’t fucking rat the Grizzlies out. Deb will.”

  Jasper

  “You knew him from before I was born; what do you think?” I ask looking at Flint.

  “I think he’s on the level and I don’t fucking trust Deb.” He replies. “He knows he’s gotta pay something, I think he’s made his peace with losing his ink and his cut. If you ain’t a hundred percent on this, President; then let’s go vote on it, otherwise, it’ll be you that they point their fingers at if shit goes sideways.”

  “I say we vote, Pres,” Vice speaks up. “It’s not just Frank we’re talking about here; Deb will have to be dealt with.”

  “Everyone here in an hour, times a-wasting,” I order. The door stays open after they leave and Emma enters a moment later. “Hey, Darlin’. Were you teaching today?”

  Standing to pull her into my arms, I just hold on tight to her.

  “Yes, I think Shade and the newest probie will do well,” She answers, placing kisses on my neck. “Is it going to be another late one?”

  “I’m sorry, Emma,” I reach past her to shut the door.

  “Why don’t you lock that, just to be sure?” She winks up at me, moving to sit on my desk.

  “No cheating now, I want to see all of you,” I shake my head at her. She’s sliding her underwear down, thinking to hide her body from my sight.

  “Jasper! I’ve been pregnant for like two years,” She slightly exaggerates, holding an arm across her slightly rounded belly.

  “Please, Darlin’?” I kneel in front of her, lifting the hem of her dress. “I need to start down here, see if I still get you all worked up.”

  I dip my tongue into her folds, sliding my thumb up to her clit. “Let me get a taste before I worship those sweet tits when I enter you.”

  Gently massaging her clit, I get her sweet juices flowing and she gradually tugs her dress up. Looking up at her bump, I lay kisses across it and whisper: “Hold on little one, gonna get bouncy.”

  “I can hear you, you know?!” She snorts at my comment.

  “Come on over here,” I pull her to the couch and she slides right down onto my dick. Right where she belongs, her full breasts are at the perfect level for my mouth. The next fifteen minutes are heaven, letting me clear my mind of the shit going on around here; focusing on what’s most important.

  “I have to get home,” Emma finally yawns against my chest. “Bree has work tonight. You know she compared the twins to the Saturday night bar crowd? It was pretty funny. Spit up, crazy behavior, and falling asleep randomly.”

  “I love you and all our babies, spit up and all,” I whisper back, holding her tight. “Drive safe now.”

  She stands to dress as I get some napkins to clean her off, kissing her again before I walk her to her truck.

  Jake

  Leaving the job site, I head back to the clubhouse; answering the call for Church. Walking in, Gunner and Vice are looking pretty grim; I nod to them but cross to Connal, Wrench, and Russian.

  “Vice never had a poker face,” Russian says while sliding me a glass and the bottle of Jack. “This can’t be good and Gunner’ll have to clean it all up.”

  “Patches only,” Jasper calls out from the hallway. I shoot my whiskey and follow everyone back.

  Less than an hour later, I’m following Flint and Gunner up to Frank’s room.

  “Need that meet time and place,” Flint says as he enters.

  “And my deal?” Frank studies each of us.

  “Cut and ink stay here,” Flint pauses. “Forty percent of your current share for five years, Frank. Best I could do.” I blink but don’t move. The vote was for thirty; knowing Flint, he’ll add the rest from his share.

  “That’s bullshit,” Frank growls.

  “Give Gunner
the info. Now,” Flint glares back. “Or that number drops.”

  Connal and Roy intercept us on the way out.

  “I’m coming with,” Roy states. “We leaving tonight?”

  “Now,” Gunner says. “We’re taking Frank’s truck, that’ll have her relaxed when she gets there tomorrow.”

  “Connal, Charlie…” I nod at him, knowing he’ll comfort her and keep her from getting angry that I won’t get to say goodbye.

  “I’ll stop by and talk to Riley,” Flint grips Gunner’s shoulder. “Or do you want her to stay with us tonight?”

  “If you could talk her into it, I’d appreciate it,” Gunner nods.

  Settling into the backseat for the ride to a lodge a couple hours North; Roy immediately changes our plan.

  “I’ll handle her, Gunner,” Roy says firmly.

  “Mine to do,” Gunner replies, though I know his heart isn’t in it.

  “You don’t need Deb’s death on you when you go home to that sweet girl of yours tomorrow,” Roy returns. “I’ve got plenty of marks on my soul, this won’t hurt none. She won’t feel it.”

  “Roy,” Gunner growls.

  “Overruling you, now watch the road,” Roy shrugs. “Gonna Netflix and Chill tomorrow night, don’t want you messing with that.”

  “What the flying fuck do you know about Netflix and Chill?” Gunner bursts out, while I laugh at the image.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but there’s a certain divorcee in town who heard the term from her son.”

  “You chilling regular?” Gunner smirks at him.

  “You interested in knowing how many times a week I can get it up, you little shithead?” Roy throws back.

  “FUCK. Roy, I need to bleach that image out of my mind now.” I groan, Roy’s older than Flint.

  “Ahhh, he speaks,” Roy turns back like he forgot I was here. “How’s that wife of yours doing?”

  “Amazing,” I respond. Gunner nods and I know he understands the feeling.

  “You talk to her?” Roy asks next and I nod in response. “Good, tell her that every day. I was married once. We found out she was pregnant and had Stage 3 cancer all within a month. She wouldn’t terminate the baby to care for herself, thought she could fight it out. She was too weak towards the end; I lost them both the same day.”