She peeked around the corner and into the window of a room that held two kids. There was a little boy, who looked to be around two or three years old, and a baby crawling around, who was maybe nine months of age.
She chuckled as she took a moment to observe them unnoticed. “Here you take dis. It half my cookie.” She watched as the baby reached up, took it, and cooed at the boy with long dark hair and amber colored eyes.
She jumped when he turned and spoke, “Who is you?”
“Who are you?” Daisy corrected him and smiled.
“Who are you,” he tried again.
“Your mom sent me to get you,” spilled out of her mouth before she had time to process what she was saying.
He cocked his head at her, studying her in disbelief. “I not got no mommy.”
Once again, an answer came forth with no cerebration, “Do you want a mommy?”
She breathed a sigh of relief when the boy came to the window and spoke, “Yep, if you take my fwend.”
“She’s not your sissy?”
“Nope, told ya alweady. She’s my fwend.”
To Daisy’s shock, the kid went and grabbed the baby’s blanket and teddy, handing both to Daisy. “Got to take dis or she cwy.”
“Okay, can you hand her to me?”
“Yep,” he said, proudly flexing a muscle. “I stwong.”
Daisy could feel her heart beating out of her chest as she tried to hurry without showing her anxiety. She didn’t want to freak the boy out and ruin her chances of getting all of them to safety.
“Here, you take her,” he said, picking up the little girl, who was now giggling at him.
Daisy grabbed her and then watched in amazement as the abandoned child climbed through the window and followed her, a complete stranger, away from the house.
Preacher
Though Preacher breathed a sigh of relief when Gunner said he saw Daisy cutting through the woods, he still couldn’t slow down his heart rate.
“There they are, right there. I knew she’d come through. That old lady of yours might be a chick, but that little ole gal has balls of steel.”
Preacher eyed the two men still lying down in the brush and acting cool as cucumbers.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see anybody in my life,” he said as he tossed the kids in the car and put Daisy in the front seat.
“You boys are going to have to stay here until nightfall now.”
Gunner looked up and smiled. “Hadn’t planned on going anywhere, bro. This is nothing compared to Marine Corp boot camp.”
“We’re out of here,” Preacher said through the car window as he backed up.
“I don’t like them not being in car seats,” Daisy mumbled.
“Last thing those kids have got to worry about is a fucking car seat.” When he turned to get the little girl to lie in the boy’s lap, he saw she was already there and was curled up, asleep. It struck a chord in his heart when he noticed two things: the baby looked like Daisy, and the boy looked much older than his years as he stroked the baby’s hair in an attempt to comfort her.
“That’s fucked up, man,” he whispered to Daisy.
“What?” she whispered back, turning around to see what had caught his attention.
“He looks so grown.”
“It’s what kids do when they have fucked-up parents. They’re just like us in the club; they take care of each other.”
For some reason, when his old lady said that, it socked him in the gut, the same as if she’d done it with her fist. Daisy was making him feel a lot of emotions that, up until this point in his life, had been foreign to him.
Chapter Thirty Seven
Daisy
Daisy listened to Raven’s voice in the background as she allowed herself to be mesmerized by the kids she was presently bathing in the bathtub. She poured water over the boy’s hair and lathered shampoo into it.
“I wonder whose kids these are, Daisy?”
“He says he doesn’t have a mother.”
The little boy looked up at her with questioning eyes, and she answered the look, instinctively knowing what he was thinking. “I believe you. Can you tell me your name?”
“My name is Stone.”
“No, I mean your real name.”
“Don’t know. All I know is Stone.”
“We’re going to have to get Grace on this, Daisy,” Raven concluded as she looked at the boy’s face. “Talon’s old lady is a lawyer. She might be able to help us find out who they are.”
“What’s you name?”
“What’s your name?” Daisy corrected, smiling.
The little dark haired boy with long hair and honey colored eyes breathed deeply as if exasperated and tried again, “What’s your name?”
“My name’s Daisy, and this is my friend, Raven.”
“Hi Waben,” he grinned, revealing a mouthful of perfect teeth.
“How old are you sweetie?” Raven asked.
“I tink I twee.”
“Yeah, we need a lawyer. This kid doesn’t know who he is,” Raven hissed.
“I know who I am. I’m Stone.”
Daisy chuckled. “Yes you are, young man. You’re as hardheaded as flint.”
“What is flint, Daisy?”
“You are too cute for words, Stone. It’s a rock you use to sharpen knives.”
“I like knives.”
The girl’s chuckled as Daisy answered, “Well you’ll fit right in around here.”
“Do I get to stay?”
“If Raven and I have anything to say about it, neither one of you are leaving.”
Chapter Thirty Eight
Preacher
Preacher eyed Nitro as he walked over to join them in the woods. The boys had come up with a plan to make the rival gang, who had been buying meth from Hell’s Demons, look like the culprit responsible for the upcoming explosion. Nitro had even gone so far as to mark the canisters that held the explosives with the rival gang’s symbol.
Things had gone smoothly as far as wiring the place. The music was so loud, and the meth heads were so busy smoking their pipes, they never noticed the man in the shadows, working towards their demise.
It pissed Preacher off that the dumb asses hadn’t even noticed that the kids were missing. Even if they did notice, he sincerely doubted they would care. He pushed away thoughts of what would have happened to those poor children if Dauntless hadn’t had Gunner and Beecher doing surveillance on the house.
He eyed Nitro taking the Yukon Tracker night vision binoculars away from his eyes. “Your fuckin’ dick is hard?”
Nitro smirked as he answered, “Oh yeah, gonna need one of those sweetbutts to suck me off as soon we get back to the club.”
“You’re right, Nitro. It’s going to take one crazy ass bitch to be your old lady.”
“Yep, now take your detonators.” He handed one to Preacher while Gunner and Beecher reached out for theirs. That left one for Nitro. Preacher listened as Nitro filled them in on how to do things. It was his area of expertise, and he had it down to a science. The club was lucky to have him.
“It’s all pretty simple, boys. We pull out of here and once we get on the road, we push this little button, and they go boom. We’ll be far enough away to not get hurt, but we’ll damn sure see the fireworks.” The boys fired up their bikes, made their way out onto the road, and when Nitro signaled, they pushed down in sync. Sure enough, the night sky lit up, and the job was done.
Preacher couldn’t help but think how rescuing the kids had been more stressful than killing a houseful of meth heads. He was free, he had his woman, he had his brothers, and he had exacted revenge against his enemies. Life was good.
Chapter Thirty Nine
Daisy
Daisy felt a wave of relief wash over her when she heard the sound of bikes and the hoots and hollers of the club members welcoming the boys back. Even though she knew everything would be okay, she never felt right until her man was back by her side.
>
She made her way up to his bike, holding the baby girl she had nicknamed Petra. The little girl was so dependent on the boy, Daisy thought it was fitting to give her the same name he had, but in a different language.
A tear rolled down her cheek as Preacher brushed the hair from her face and spoke, “It’s over, babe. You never have to worry about him again. You’re home with your family.”
She bit her bottom lip as she nodded her head, too overcome with emotion to respond. “Get your bike parked, and I’ll grab you a beer.”
“Got prospects for that. Want you right here with me, babe.”
When they arrived at the brick wall where they always sat during courtyard parties, her heart skipped a beat when he reached out and stroked his hand over the baby’s cheek.
“Get me two beers, prospect.” Ricky hastened at the sound of Preacher’s voice.
“Kid’s working out good as a prospect,” Daisy noted.
“Yeah, he is. Speaking of kids…” he took a moment to reach out and take the baby from her arms. “What are we going to do about these two?”
“You guys are going to have to call Grace, Talon’s old lady, in on it. It’s going to break Stone’s heart to lose her.”
The little boy ran up and eyed Preacher seriously, speaking as he pointed at him, “You don’t dwop her.”
Preacher laughed so hard he spewed beer. Thankfully, he turned to the side and avoided spitting on the baby. “She’s mine,” the little boy continued.
“Spoken like a true biker, son. You have my word that I’ll take care of her.”
“You better, ‘cause dat man ober der, da big one,” he pointed his finger at Tiny, “he said if any of you boys gib me a pwoblem, to tell him and he’s the pwesident.”
Daisy watched Preacher who, by now, was in tears he was laughing so hard.
“What’s goin’ on, little man,” Tiny growled, making his way up to the little boy with honey colored eyes.
Stone strained his neck to look up at the mammoth of a man, who draped his arm over the boy’s shoulders. “I told him he better take care of Petwa ‘cause she’s mine.”
Tiny burst out laughing and reached down to pick the boy up. “Spoken like a true Dauntless MC brother.”
“Yeah, he looks and acts like you, Tiny,” Preacher chuckled.
Preacher watched as Tiny’s countenance changed. “That’s good because Raven and I want to keep him. We’re calling Grace in on it tomorrow.” He cocked a brow and eyed Daisy. “It’d be a damn shame to see these kids separated. Don’t know why y’all can’t take her. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and all—she looks just like you.”
Preacher spoke up, “Ain’t got no problem with that, it being a new beginning and all. Problem is… we don’t know nothin’ about these kids or where they come from. I don’t want her heart broken,” he nodded towards Daisy.
“Well, I’m going to tell you this, brother. Anybody who leaves their kids in a house where they’re cooking meth shouldn’t have kids. If Raven and I have anything to say about it, and I can assure you we do, neither one of these kids is going anywhere. If this little guy thinks his friend is his to take care of, who are you and I to say any different?”
Preacher listened, not saying a word. He, of all people, knew that when the President of Dauntless MC made up his mind that the club was doing something, it was going to get done, and God help anybody who got in the way.
He lifted his beer in the air, saluting Tiny, “Looks like you and I are going to be daddies.”
Tiny laughed a hearty laugh and clinked his beer bottle against Preacher’s. “It’s about damn time. I’m getting so old, I was wondering if I was ever going to have a son to pass down this club to.”
Epilogue
Two years later
Daisy stood, looking beautiful in a white dress and biker boots. She wore a crown of daisies that Stone and Petra had picked and lovingly woven together for just this occasion, with Raven’s help of course.
Daisy, Preacher, Tiny, Raven, Stone, and Petra all stood in a semicircle at the center of the club’s courtyard. Standing at the podium, positioned in front of the group, was the lawyer, Grace, and her old man, Talon. Everyone present listened in anticipation for the words they had been waiting to hear for two long years.
Talon started to speak, “This club has always been a family. For many of us, this has been the only true family we have ever known. I don’t think that Stone and Petra were brought here by chance. I believe…” They waited, all feeling the surge of emotion as Talon choked up. “Well, I believe they were brought here by divine intervention. We’ve all been through a lot, trying to get these kids into the fold. I can proudly say that due to my old lady, Grace, and well, some gentle persuasion on the part of Dauntless MC to anyone who was in opposition to these adoptions…”
A shout came from the crowd, interrupting, “Ahh, tell it like it is! We kicked everybody’s ass who got in the way of that little boy and girl bein’ here.”
Talon laughed, “Well, I won’t say we didn’t call in some favors, but I’m damn happy to tell you these kids are officially adopted by the families they were meant to be with all along.”
A shout came from the crowd, “About damn time you made sure there was an heir to the Dauntless MC throne, Prez.”
Tiny laughed in agreement as Talon continued, “I can officially say Stone and Petra are part of Dauntless MC. Now, let’s get this party started.”
That set off hoots and hollers as the crowd separated. The adults all headed for the food and drinks table, and the kids took off to play.
Daisy reached over to hug Grace. “I can’t thank you enough for making sure these kids got to stay with us.”
Grace answered, laughing, “I’m just glad we found out Stone and Petra aren’t biologically related. I swear, I think Stone is in love with that little girl.”
Tiny chuckled, “Oh, he’ll tell you quick that Petra is his.”
Raven reached out to hug Grace as well. “I’m so glad you are part of the Dauntless MC family. I don’t know what we would have done without you. All these legal issues are daunting and those kids need us.”
Grace wiped a tear from her eye. “Those kids couldn’t have better parents.”
“Yep,” Raven agreed, “Tiny finally got a son he can raise to take over the Dauntless MC throne one day, and Daisy and Preacher got their daughter, who if Stone has anything to say about it, will be the first lady.
The group separated, and Daisy and Preacher made their way to the spot on the wall where they always sat. They both looked up to see Ricky walking over towards them. Daisy chuckled, eyeing him in his new kutte. “Well, ya got your patch, but we don’t have a nickname for you yet.”
He smiled a bashful smile. “Ahh, I don’t care ‘bout that. I just wanted to be part of the club.”
“Well, you’re a damn good member. You’ve ended up being my right hand man, and I couldn’t be prouder of ya.” Preacher slapped him on the shoulder.
Daisy laid her head on her old man’s shoulder as she happily took in her surroundings. This was her family, these were her people, and this was just the beginning of her happily ever after…
The End.
*To the reader: This is NOT the typical MC romance. It IS the story of how a man who happens to be in a MC club falls for his lawyer. It IS the story of how a lawyer, an ICE agent, and an MC club are thrown together by unavoidable circumstances and forced to work together for the good of all involved. If you are a diehard MC fan, looking for a diehard MC romance novel, this may NOT be the book for you. This is the introductory book to the Dauntless MC series. Though it is the story of Talon and Grace, it also has 3-4 other stories interwoven within the storyline in order to introduce you to characters you will see in future Dauntless MC books.
If you do not like that many storylines, this may not be the book for you.*
You met Talon in 'Don't Judge a Book' and you asked for his story… this is it.
Talon: She
walked into my world when I least expected it and, like a sucker punch to my gut, she knocked the wind from me. The last thing I need is some do-gooder feeling sorry for me and taking my case. I made the mistake of thinking she was here because she had a good heart. What I didn't know is the woman has heart… period.
She's going to need it because now the president of Dauntless MC is insisting she not only take over my case, but also every legal case any one of the brothers may have, now and in the future. He's not the kind of guy you say ‘no’ to.
Grace: I walked into that jail to help a man I believed needed it. Whether I made a mistake that day or not, is yet to be seen. One thing is for sure; I have been immersed into a world I know nothing about… against my will.
Whether I like it or not, I need this arrogant man who goes against everything I believe in as a strong, professional woman. I'm nobody's old lady, I'm nobody's fool, and I'm for sure nobody's property. What I am is legal representation for the Dauntless MC chapter. My name is Grace. Welcome to my world.
Available on Amazon ‘Hunted’ (Dauntless MC Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Steele/e/B00C9L6YRQ
Perilous (Dauntless MC Book 2) Page 14