Fanning the Biker's Flame - Piper Davenport Page 0,21
stuff is very important,” I joked.
“Yo, Shadow,” Ethan called, setting his pool cue down and walking toward me. I tried not to chuckle at his attempt at a swagger. The boy had accidental game and it was fuckin’ adorable.
“Hey, bud.”
He gave me a fist bump, then crossed his arms. “Do you need more help on the greenhouse?”
My sister set Doc’s daughter, Chloe, on the floor next to her twin brother, and made her way to me.
“Not much I can do right now, but when I start up again, I’ll let you know,” I said.
Ethan nodded and headed back to the pool table, and I wrapped an arm around my sister. I did not like the nasty bruise around her eye. I stuffed the rage down and gave her a squeeze. “How ya doin’?”
“I’m good,” she said. “As you can see, I’m safe. I’m not happy I had to call in a sick day, but I’m here.”
“You tell your boss why you called in sick?”
“As a rule, it’s nobody’s business. But since it’s Melonie and she’s one of my best friends, yes.”
I rolled my eyes and caught sight of Nova running out from the hallway, Shutter following.
“Nova’s here too?” I asked.
“Darlene’s working,” Cat said.
I raised an eyebrow in Shutter’s direction, and he shrugged. Jesus, my brother was a good guy. He put up with a lot more shit from an ex than I would.
“Shadow!” Nova squeaked and came running to me for a hug. I bent, catching her and lifting her up high. She wrapped her legs around my waist.
“Hi, baby. You havin’ fun?”
She bobbed her head. “Uncle Shutter’s taking me for ice cream later.”
“Wow,” I breathed out. “That sounds fun.”
“Can you come with us?”
“I’d love to, sweetheart, but I have to work.” I set her on her feet, and she went to join the other kids by the pool table.
Shutter joined us and grinned. “You look rested.”
“When did you get babysitting duty?” I asked.
“Darlene’s got no one to watch Nova,” he said. “Willow offered to do it, so I’m on pick up and drop off.”
“You’re a better man than me.”
Shutter chuckled.
“You still gonna be able to make the run today?” I asked.
“Yeah, brother. It’s all handled.”
“She’s stuck, NoNo,” Cat piped in. “If Darlene was a bitch, it might be a different story, but you know she’s a sweetheart.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “Not my business.”
Cat patted my chest. “Yet, you have lots of opinions about it.”
I sighed. “Point taken.”
My sister grinned. “I have always appreciated the fact you’re a quick learner.”
Doom walked in and stalled. “What are you doin’ here? I thought you were helpin’ Posey out with her stove.”
“Bigger problem,” I said. “Is Rabbit around?”
“Yeah,” Doom said. “He’s back in the office.”
I nodded and gave my sister another hug before heading down the hall. Our historic barn had been converted into the clubhouse back in the sixties. Doc’s family had owned the land for centuries and rumor had it, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad back in the day. Doc’s maternal uncle had started the club and handed it off to Doc right before he died.
The building now housed a large communal space with a large kitchen, a bunkroom with a bathroom, another two bathrooms, several offices, and a conference room on the first floor. We recently finished the remodel of the third floor. All of the officers’ bedrooms were up there, each with private bathrooms, and a movie room. Our second floor now had nine bedrooms and a bunkroom with bathrooms. Doom and a few of us also tricked out the basement to act as a panic room should we ever need it.
I knocked on the door Rabbit used as his office.
“Come in,” he called.
I pushed in and found Otter sitting in one of the chairs, his woman, Shiloh on his lap.
“Hey, honey,” Shiloh said, standing to hug me. “How are you?”
“Been better,” I admitted, as I sat in one of the chairs across from Rabbit’s desk. “You got the day off?”
Shiloh was a registered nurse and she used to work a shit ton of hours, but ever since they’d had their baby, she’d backed off. Her having more time for Otter settled him and he was a lot more relaxed.
“Yeah,” she said. “A much needed one. Sounds like you might need a break too.”
“Yeah, it’s been a week.”
“Sounds like it,” she murmured, sitting back in Otter’s lap.
“You got somethin’?” I asked Rabbit.
“Yeah,” Rabbit said, handing me a file. “Slumlord is a compliment when it