She must have been listening to music and not aware I was still in the house, let alone in the same room. I help her pick up the clothes and head for the laundry room. When I’ve told her I took the day off, we fall into a routine of dividing some chores and clean the house together. And it’s a load of work I underestimate.
I never think about all the chores around the house, and there’s a huge damn list. Before Bee and I got together I lived in a room at the club. Tiny as fuck and easy to clean. All the shit I did in the last few hours doesn’t even scratch the fucking surface and I seriously question how Bee manages it all while taking care of Queenie, doing all the shopping, making dinner, and some other stuff she handles along with it.
It’s late afternoon when we both plunk down on the couch with a cold drink. I place my feet on the table while Bee shoots me a glare.
“Keep the fire inside, Bee. I cleaned the damn table myself and I’m tired as fuck.”
She rolls her eyes and curls her legs underneath her ass as she snuggles close. “Thanks for the help.”
“It’s my home too, about time I put my lazy ass to work around here.”
She shrugs. “Everyone has their own workload.”
I move the arm I have draped over the couch and catch her around the shoulder to pull her close.
“I love you,” I murmur against her hair while I take a deep breath to fill my lungs with her sweet scent.
“Yeah, yeah, I won’t make you clean the house for at least another week,” she jokes.
Laughter slips over my lips and I can’t help but reply, “Thank fuck.” Making her laugh right along with me.
“What time was your mother swinging by with Queenie?” Bee asks at the same time the front door opens and my mother strolls right inside.
I don’t have to comment about using her key, knocking, or ringing the damn doorbell because my mother will always do what she wants, and think what’s best.
“There’s my little girl,” Bee gushes and takes our daughter from my mother’s hands.
Bee is so damn gorgeous. Dressed in leggings, a dirty shirt, and her hair tied in a messy bun while her face shows how tired she is but still she’s the most gorgeous woman in the damn world because she’s the centerpiece of my love.
And when you have a woman who loves you, who is still here when shit gets rocky, it makes me stand taller and fills me with pride. Pride because there’s no other person I could share my life with than this woman right here.
“That look you’re wearing makes me think I have another grandchild sooner rather than later,” my mother says with a huge smirk painting her face.
Bee’s eyes hit mine as they widen a fraction. I’ll never shy away from the truth and I’m not starting now.
“Sooner rather than later,” I fully agree with my mother and watch how Bee’s cheeks heat.
“Why don’t I take Queenie along with me and you two can start right now?” My mother holds out her arms but Bee spins and steps away.
“There’s time enough when she’s sleeping. Thanks for picking her up.”
“Always,” my mother says and blows a kiss toward Queenie before she leaves and closes the door behind her.
“I have to check in with Wyatt at the clubhouse. Want to join me?”
She glances at the clock. “Sure.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “I’ll text Wyatt to make sure all boobs are covered when we stroll inside.”
“Right. We don’t want to make Queenie think we run a milk factory,” she deadpans.
I hide my grin by shaking my head as I step closer and wrap the both of them in my arms. I place a kiss on Queenie’s cheek at the same time Bee’s lips brush the skin of my neck.
“Yeah, let’s go,” I croak and clear my throat, emotions hitting me from all sides.
Bee grabs Queenie’s diaper bag–although we have enough stuff at the clubhouse–swings it over her shoulder and keeps her phone in hand as we head out the door. It’s a quick stroll from our house to the clubhouse. And instead of going through the back we go around the front and right when we reach the corner of the building the sound of bullets cracks through the air.
Bee slams her back into the wall, quickly turning to cage Queenie in between the building and her body. I reach for my gun and point it in the direction where the rain of bullets is coming from while covering Bee’s body.
“It’s coming from the front, come on, do something. Now, dammit. We’re plastered against the side of the building,” Bee hisses into the phone.
My heart is slamming against my rib cage and the sounds of Queenie’s cries is ripping through my damn heart. The bullets stop as fast as it started and this gives me the indication it was a drive by. Wyatt, Vachs, Pax, Ganza, and Baton come rushing around the building.
“What the fuck is going on?” Wyatt whisper hisses.
“No damn clue.” I step away from Bee and Queenie to give them some breathing room. “Baton, get my old lady home and stay with her until I come back.”
I reach out to cup Bee’s face. “You okay?”
She nods and places a kiss on Queenie’s crying face. I do the same before the both of them are escorted back to our house.
“Ganza, Pax, go the other way around and double check everything. Vachs, Wyatt, follow me,” I grunt and stalk to the corner, risking a quick glance around to see if it’s all clear.
There’s no one in sight. I put my gun away and glance at the destruction. Shattered glass and bullet holes in the door along with ricochets in the walls.
“What the actual fuck?” I grumble and rip a hand through my hair in frustration.
“I’m going to check out the security feed,” Ganza says and jogs into the clubhouse.
My father comes rushing toward me, Depay and Broke hot on his heels.
“What the actual fuck?” he snaps and glances at the clubhouse.
“My words exactly.” The gate is still closed, damn lucky they couldn’t come closer.
On further inspection I now notice the electronic gate isn’t opening, the electronics system is blown to shit. Damn, what if this shit started a minute or two later? I could have been walking right here along with my woman and kid when the bullets started to fly. Shoving the heart ripping thought out of my head, I turn the tables and have a sudden thirst for revenge.
I grab my phone and call Bee, she picks up on the first ring. “Queenie is okay, she’s in the playpen shaking her rattle as if nothing happened.”
Thank fuck. “How about you?”
“Nothing a little coffee can’t fix to calm my nerves.” She tries to play it off with a joke but I hear the slight tremble in her voice.
“Ganza is checking the security feed. Can you do the same and also check if you can trace the car with other camera feeds if there are any? We need all eyes and brains on this.”
“On it,” she says and instantly disconnects.
“Any open cases you can connect with this shit?” Depay questions.
I share a look with Wyatt and we both give a little shake.
“I confronted Sven and his partner about files of criminals that were all opened on Woolerton’s computer. I pressed the matter how he had no damn reason to check on any of it. Just like we discussed since the tail I did on both of them resulted in nothing. And they quickly turned from friendly to annoyed and angry. They’re cops but I don’t trust either of them,” Vachs says.