the way we planned, that just meant that we’d have more time to plan something better—something that didn’t put Cecilia in the crossfire.
As I considered the possibility of just taking Cecilia and Olive to some random island in the Caribbean until her pop took care of Warren, a knock on the door startled me.
“Yeah?” I called out, going back to my socks.
“How you doin’?” Poet asked, poking his head in.
“This is bullshit, and I’m about to take Cec and run,” I replied flatly.
Poet chuckled. “Yeah, I had a feelin’ that’s where you were at.” He swung the door open and lifted his hand, shaking a bulletproof vest from side to side. “Your woman, Lu, told me to give this to you.”
“They left?” I asked, taking the vest.
He nodded. “Should be all set up by now, I’d imagine.”
“They better be,” I replied, silently thanking Lu for having the presence of mind to pack a vest and the generosity of giving it to Cec instead of protecting herself.
“We got some of those, you know,” Poet said, jerking his chin toward the vest as I dropped it on the bed.
“Not as good at that one,” I replied, standing to slide my boots back on.
“You’re probably right about that,” he said thoughtfully. “That one’s in better shape, for sure.”
“You’re stayin’ here?” I asked.
“I’ll be here,” he said firmly. “Mack’s already here. Leo’s on his way back. A few others and a couple of older prospects on the gate. We’ll keep an eye on things.”
“Not sure if I’m pissed more people aren’t stayin’ with Olive, or glad they’ll be there to watch Cecilia’s back.”
“Hell,” Poet said, slapping me on the shoulder. “We’ll also have the women here. Your mother-in-law is somethin’ else with a shotgun.”
“Farrah’s not my mother-in-law.”
Poet guffawed. “Soon enough.” He turned and whistled as Cecilia came in the room behind him.
“Put your tongue back in your head, you old goat,” CeeCee teased, slapping his chest with the back of her hand as she passed him.
“I’ll let you two finish up,” Poet said, grinning. “I don’t see you—find me when you get back.”
“Will do,” I said.
As soon as he’d left the room, Cecilia pointed to the vest. “What’s that?”
“This,” I said, lifting it up, “is your newest accessory.”
“Is that a bulletproof vest?” she asked, staring at it like it was going to bite her.
“Just a precaution,” I replied, pulling open the Velcro on the side. I lifted it over her head.
“I thought they were heavier.”
“The older ones are,” I replied, closing the sides snugly around her. As soon as I was satisfied with the fit, I tapped against the front of it with my knuckles. “Okay?”
“It’s bulky,” she said, running her hands down the black fabric.
“You got a hoodie?” She nodded. “Put it on. Should hide it pretty well.”
I grinned as she pulled a familiar gray hoodie from one of the bags. “Did you steal that from my house?” I asked.
“You wouldn’t have even noticed it was gone,” she grumbled. “You have, like fifteen of them.”
“Hey, I like what I like,” I said with a laugh. “Looks good on you.”
“My boobs have disappeared,” she said, looking down at herself. “Goodbye, new boobs.”
I pulled on the neck of her hoodie, trying to peer down the front of it. “Nah, they’re still in there somewhere.”
“We’re all set,” Cam said from the open doorway. The light conversation had done little to relax us, but Cam’s words erased any semblance of calm we’d been faking.
Cecilia turned and knelt down in front of the bags. As I watched, she took out her driver’s license and slipped it inside the neck of her hoodie.
“You’re drivin’ the truck. We already unloaded CeeCee’s car and unhooked the trailer, so you’re all set,” Cam said. I turned to face him. “The rest of us will be on our bikes.”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Cecilia said as she got to her feet. “Where’s Mom?”
“They’re at the bar,” he said. “Pretty sure she was changing Olive’s diaper up there.”
“That better be the last time she lays on that bar for any reason,” I grumbled as we made our way out to the main room.
“What?” Cecilia joked halfheartedly. “You’re worried about her doing body shots?”
“If she’s anything like her mother—” Cam said, letting his words fade away insinuatingly.
“Shut it,” Cec muttered, elbowing him in the side.
The next few minutes passed by faster than I would have liked. I watched as Cecilia held Olive against her chest, the baby’s head resting against her cheek. She closed her