Separated MC (The Nighthawks MC Book 10)

by Bella Knight

  “Go try it,” said Anna. “Ask Rota and Sigrun. They’ll do it in slow-mo first, to show you.”

  “Come on,” said Sigrun. “It’s fun. What’s your name?”

  “Joru,” said Wraith.

  “What?” said Anna.

  “Your Valkyries name. Joru, is shortened form of the Norse word, joru-faiger, which means ‘warrior.’”

  “Whoa!” said Sigrun. “Great name! Come on, let’s dance.”

  Rota came over and sat down. “She has no idea we’re all here to protect her, does she?” she asked Wraith.

  “Not a clue,” said Wraith.

  “You could do some things,” said Rota. “At least dance with staffs on your good side.”

  “No contact,” said Wraith. “And I may stop to use the staff to stand.”

  “It’s why I suggested it,” said Rota.

  She handed her a staff from the pile leaned against the company vehicle, and took one from herself. Wraith wrapped her hands around it, and used it to stand up. They did the forms, slowly, with frequent rest breaks for Wraith. By the time they were done, Wraith was sore, groaning, and covered with sweat. Rota gave her a towel and a sports drink, and sat with her.

  “You find the sons of bitches who hurt Joru?”

  Wraith swallowed half the sports drink, and wiped her mouth. “The super-awesome Daisy Chain, Lily’s hacker friend, found the woman. Both went dark, doing secret shit, we presume. Both out now. The woman’s going by Corey Zimba. She went by Zim in the military. She was a liar then —and is one now. Lots of her records are redacted. She’s working for a protection outfit, by that I mean mafia, not what Gregory and Bannon do. Some wild-ass freaks, a mix of Dominican salespeople and Serbian enforcers. Seems she’s lied to them about what she can and can’t do, tried to be the shooter her ex-partner was, but that’s not her thing. She’s botched some jobs. We can leave that situation alone; she’s gonna get herself offed. No use taking out an entire gang, unless my people want to get into it. They might; would make the world safer.” Wraith meant government agencies like the DEA and ATF.

  “And the man?” asked Rota.

  “Well, he’s even more redacted than she is. Edwin Mulger Yonck is passing himself off as Eddie Mulger, married, but no kids yet.”

  “Good,” said Rota. “And?”

  “Got a very expensive woman,” said Wraith. “She has money, but burns through it with a butler and first-class plane tickets, diamond watches and furs.”

  “He’s riding her coattails?”

  “Yes, and it gets him flying with her on her private plane. No having to get through security. People die wherever he goes from shots through glass —people in cars, apartments, eating in restaurants.”

  “Contract killer,” said Rota.

  “Yeah,” said Wraith. “Going up against him is gonna suck. Once he gets the faintest hint someone is looking for him, he’ll either slip into the wind, or kill off anyone who can identify his… ‘activities.’”

  “We’re all gonna be wearing body armor for a while until we can take him out,” said Rota.

  “There’s no going backwards. We go forward with this, we go all the way. This guy is one of those that won’t stop. Or he’ll hole up and smack down someone else when he crawls back up.”

  “He hurt Joru,” said Rota. “What happened next? Obviously, some asshole covering it up, that’s gotta be dealt with, too.”

  “Looking into it,” said Wraith. “Seems to be a general, high up. Looking into his entire record. Not so redacted. Not his first time covering up rape and other things he calls ‘issues’ in his documentation…”

  “Wait. He called rape an ‘issue,’ really?” asked Rota.

  “Yeah,” said Wraith. “Burns my ass, too.”

  “That son-of-a-bitch is going down,” said Rota.

  “One at a time,” said Wraith. “We have a contract killer to take down.”

  “Alive or dead?” asked Rota.

  “You think this guy is gonna change, if he ever gets out?”

  “That’s a point,” said Rota.

  “I also don’t think he’ll get taken down easy,” said Wraith. “We get lucky, we clock him in the head, but he won’t let anyone close enough for that.”

  “Also, the elephant in the room,” said Rota. “You’re not up to this. Some of it, yes. A part, a puzzle piece.”

  Wraith barked out a laugh. “Not an elephant in my room, in my house. We’re clear. I’m lookout, here, wearing my bulletproof vest. I know damn well, now —that I’m not bulletproof.”

  “You going to go back in, undercover?”

  Wraith sighed, and enjoyed watching the women move in the desert sunlight, sweat dripping, laughing in the light. “I’m not going back,” she said. “Not because I’m damaged goods, or because I’m afraid of getting run over, or shot, or whatever. I just… life is short. I get Saber wanting to go under, to take out the bad guys. Hell, we’re doing some of it now. I loved it. But now, now… I’ve turned a corner. Can’t go back around the corner.”

  “Current plan?” asked Rota.

  “Drifting hasn’t been working for me.” Wraith laughed. “I’ve been wrapping up old work, not doing nothing, but it’s… old, you know? Still going to testify in some cases. But, I’m out.” She looked over at Sigrun, and smiled. “You know what? Bannon and Gregory are so busy that they both need clones. Their assistants need assistants. I think… I think I could run things. Run it, silent running. Get things running behind the scenes so they can do all the work they do, and then they can help people out, even more. Get it done, get the clients in and out. Not taking away from what Gregory and Bannon do, just take all the bullshit off their plates so they can get the job done.”

  “That’s the… that’s the best damn idea I’ve ever heard,” said Rota. “You bother to tell Gregory or Bannon?”

  “Just figured I’d do it. Get it done, and see if they notice.” She laughed. “And offer me a huge-ass salary.”

  Rota laughed. “Here’s to the big-ass salary!” They clinked plastic bottles, and chugged the rest of their drinks.

  Homecoming

  The daddies got the pixies, and Henry and David took them horseback riding. They loved it. Chayton and Nantan rode another trail that crisscrossed. They met back at the Big House for tacos and sodas, then a movie marathon with popcorn. The daddies pretended to be Disney princesses, making the girls laugh and groan over having such lame men around. Robert took Damia upstairs when things got loud —to paint by numbers, with a noise-canceling headset on. He brought the men up, one by one, to see her beatific smile. Henry and David stood in the doorway the longest, and snapped pictures for Ivy and Callie. They had dinner, or breakfast for dinner, in the form of chocolate chip or strawberry pancakes. The smaller ones pooped out, and they turned to superhero flicks. They all imitated their favorite superheroes, and kept up a lively dialogue as to which superhero was the best.

  That morning, Ace helped Lily with Rose and Colin, kissed his wife, and vanished to go work the bar with Cougar. Ivy arrived with Aiden and Kiya, and installed them in high chairs.

  “Quick, I want to talk jealously about Katya before she shows up,” said Lily. “Love the woman, she had our baby for us, but she makes being the mother of twins, plus mother of Elena, look so fu—freaking easy.”

  “Agreed,” said Ivy.

  “I mean, I’ve got Jake, the most loving wonder pug ever, and Maude, Eater of Shoes, best Yorkshire terrier in the world. Plus Ace, who adores us, and a small army of Wolfpack helping me, and delivering the food, and I still don’t sleep. She actually sleeps?”

  “How did you get Maude to stop eating shoes?” asked Ivy.

  “Doggy training, and she hates the smell of vanilla. A touch on the shoes, and no biting.”

  “Wow,” said Ivy. “And, I sleep. Callie and I just keep trading off until we drop.” She stared down at her water glass. “I am still getting used to Damia going to live over the barn, and Hu going to live with her mom
. Hu’s over all the time, and I see Damia every day. Getting really good at currying horses, too. And mucking out stalls. And filling feed bags. But, even with two babies and one, very-talkative Grace, the house still feels so quiet and still, sometimes —without them in the house. They filled it up.”

  “And, how’s Grace doing with Hu withdrawing from the Nighthawks school?” The server showed up, and they both ordered iced teas.

  “She was really angry, sad, and upset,” said Ivy. “Kind of kicked her in the teeth that her behavior has consequences. Not stickers, not losing TV time, but real consequences. Losing friendships, or sisters. Driving people away from you who matter. Now, she is thriving at school without constantly competing with Hu for attention, and to be the ‘best.’ She’s started learning 3D printing. She’s more relaxed, smiles more. She actually pays attention to her Pomodoro timer, and gets a lot more work done. She asks more questions. Callie says the other kids like her more, and play with her more. Hu invites her over all the time to her house, giving us the same breaks we had before, bless Bao and Nico.”

  The server brought rosemary bread and dipping oil. Ivy cracked black pepper on the oil, and dug in. “How is Nico handling being an instant dad?” asked Ivy, in between bites.

  “He’s fantastic,” said Lily. “He’s teaching them to cook Italian, and is the perfect gentleman around them.”

  Ivy sighed. “If I weren’t married to Callie…”

  Callie swung in, sat down. “Hey!” she said. “You planning an affair?”

  Ivy laughed, and kissed her. “No, love. I was explaining how Nico is with the girls.”

  “And the babies!” said Callie, handing Aiden more Cheerios. “He keeps coming over and stealing them. He covers them with sunscreen, takes them out in the yard, and plays with them in the shade. He rolls a ball to them.”

  “Ba,” said Aiden. All three women stared at him, and Callie teared up. “Mabba ba,” he said.

  Callie sighed. “Not the first word. Good, because I wanted it to be Mama or Mom.”

  Lily laid back her head and pretended to snore. “Methinks someone needs a Daddy Day,” said Ivy.

  “Had one last week,” said Lily. “Slept all damn day. Wanted a massage, foot rub, nails done, but never got there.”

  Callie laughed. “I’ve done the same thing.”

  Katya showed up, the babies with cute koala backpacks on. The ladies helped strap them into high chairs. The babies each had snacks, diced soft fruit, and tiny cheese crackers. Luka stared at everyone, and Ivan had eyes only for his food.

  “She definitely slept,” said Callie. “How are you sleeping?”

  Katya waved her hand. “Gregory takes boys. He is excellent father. Am pregnant again, so he is very attentive. And, the Wolfpack are there many times. Clean house, feed me soup. They took my recipes for perogies, and gave me borscht.”

  “Beet soup is not my thing,” said Callie.

  “Very good in winter,” said Katya. “And good when pregnant.”

  “Are the parents really excited?” asked Ivy.

  “One or the other come to the doctor visits,” said Katya. “See baby, hear heartbeat. Go home crying. Very happy.”

  Bella and Inola came with Ryder. Bella looked good, but tired. Ryder loved staring at the other babies, and kept up a steady stream of speech that made the other babies talk as well.

  “Chatty bunch,” said Bella.

  “Almost had a first word, but false alarm,” said Ivy. “Callie almost cried.”

  “I cry at dog commercials,” said Callie. “Pass the bread. Hungry woman here.” The server came back, and they all ordered soup and salad. “Love the mushroom soup here,” said Callie.

  “Half blue corn, half clam chowder,” said Inola.

  Bella put her hand over her mouth. “No c-word,” said Bella. “The blue corn tortilla soup rocks, but no bivalves, please.”

  “How is pregnancy going?” asked Katya.

  “Fine,” said Bella.

  “Liar,” said Inola. “She has morning sickness all day long.”

  “Gee, thanks for telling everyone,” said Bella.

  “And she’s cranky, too,” said Inola.

  Bella stared lasers at Inola. “You are so loving and supportive… not.”

  Inola grinned. “I am. I get up at oh-god-thirty, spend the morning with our lovely. You get up later.”

  “Like us!” said Callie. “Ivy and I love being on swing in the summer. Things cool off at night.”

  “Yeah, but you’re on the same schedule. We’re not,” complained Bella.

  “You want to work part-time?” asked Ivy. “I already have you off, closing.”

  “Nope,” said Bella. “Love swing shift, and horses need someone up in the damn morning. But, now Robert and Damia do the morning chores. You can sleep in, love.” She snagged some bread and inhaled it in two bites.

  “Hard to sleep in when you’ve been up at dawn since you were six,” said Inola. “I get your point, but I’m a morning person.”

  “Fight! Fight! Fight!” said Ivy and Callie. Bella threw a paper straw cover at them. They all laughed.

  “We’re not fighting, we’re discussing,” said Bella, primly. “It is what it is. Two women, different schedules.”

  Katya said, “My husband is very busy. But, I know it is good for us. I will go back to school online.”

  “Whoa,” said Callie. “I’m not going back for a while,” she said. “Will survive getting my master’s, but it’s freaking difficult doing that with twenty-seven kids.”

  Inola laughed. “We kind of do. Dog and lots of pretty horses and ponies. And, they’re all dependent on you. I am beyond happy that Damia and Robert are helping out, though. Leaves me a lot more time with our little one.”

  “I think I need to exercise more,” said Callie.

  “Carrying babies around IS exercise,” said Ivy.

  “Lift some weights. If I weren’t worried about Grace deciding she wants to lift, too, I would get them.”

  Lily grinned. “Or just lift the babies and wander everywhere.”

  “I would drop weights on my foot,” said Bella. “Be a bar back or bartender. That’s a lot of exercise, all of it standing up.” She laughed. “Or, be Ivy. She dances, sings, goes behind the bar, delivers drinks, talks with anyone. I’m surprised you’re not a stick.”

  Ivy shook her shoulders, making her breasts jiggle. “No sticks here,” she said.

  All the women laughed, making the babies chortle. Ivy sang a very slow version of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. They all sang the “hello” line.

  “Just work out until you get winded with some YouTube videos. FitnessBlender, Millionaire Hoy. Turn the sound down and blast your music. Get in some butt-jiggling dance moves. I like to salsa.” Ivy held out her arms and jiggled her breasts, making the women double over with laughter.

  The babies chortled, sensing merriment, except Aiden, who cried. Ivy took point, took him to the bathroom with a diaper bag, and brought him back, changed and giggling.

  They ate their food, passed around babies, danced a little, and went back to Katya’s house. Katya put on baby videos, Ivy put on some rock, and they danced with the babies, which wore them out. The rock was turned down low, and naptime ensued.

  Gregory sent over two massage therapists, two manicure artists, and a pedicure specialist with a soak tub. Two Wolfpack came for when the babies woke up, and kept the women in drinks while they cleaned. The babies woke up, one or two at a time, and they all rotated the babies. The video went back on, the babies stared at each other and played with their toys, and everyone got their rotation. They fed the babies, and Ivy ordered a delivery of crab-stuffed ravioli, pesto pizza, and stuffed mushrooms. They ate like pigs, and Katya broke out the wine. Callie and Ivy went giggling into the night.

  Mimi arrived at the Big House just after the dishes were put in the dishwasher, a stick-thin woman with her daughter in her arms. David paid the Uber driver. Henry took the girl, put
her in a high chair, and fed her fruit and Cheerios. April came over, and they talked as David got her some biscuits, chicken, and carrots in brown sugar. The woman ate as if she’d never eaten food before. The little girl was asleep almost as soon as she’d eaten.

  David ran up and brought down some of Ryder’s clothes, because all of her clothes were dirty —and an all-night diaper. He put the clothes in the wash, but threw away some threadbare things. They had almost nothing. He felt no guilt as he raided Ryder’s things; her grandfathers were always buying her clothes and toys. David sang over the girl, and Mimi started shaking.

  Henry knelt in front of her. “What is wrong, little bird? You are safe now.”

  “We got treated like dirt,” said Mimi, through her tears. “Just lost the cashier job. Was home too many days when I couldn’t get my mom to help. She’s a drunk. I caught her hitting Ree, and I remembered April sent me two bus tickets. I hid them from my mom. She went through my stuff for money, stole my diaper money, more than once. I found them, caught a ride, came here. Told the guy when I got to the terminal I needed an Uber, and I’d pay when we got there. The Uber guy didn’t want to take me, but then I said ‘Nighthawks,’ and he said his brother was one, and no problem.” She sobbed on each word, tears falling at the same time the words fell out of her mouth. “April says you have lots of jobs, more than you know what to do with, and that I… could… stay…” She melted into a puddle of tears. April held her, and Henry held them both. Then, he rose on creaking knees, and brought over tissues and wet wipes.

  Gregory stood in the doorway. “She can stay with us if you’re out of room in Casa Wolf. Have someone pick her up in the mornings and take her to work. Katya would love having another girl, and Elena would love a little sister.”

  “You… you don’t have to ask… your wife?” asked Mimi. She blew her nose noisily, and then took a wet wipe to her face.

  “She’d kill me for not offering,” said Gregory. “You see, she was in the same boat. I met her the night her ex-husband decided to throw acid on his little girl’s face. That girl is my Elena.”