I looked down at my government name on the front, and the logo for the law firm in the top corner. Animal slid the paper out of the envelope and held it up for me to read. Van had taken to holding onto me like a monkey, and wouldn’t let go.
The top line had my stomach plummeting.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
In the event of my death, I, Octavia Therese Charman, being of sound mind, will my son Evan Bainbridge, to Dane Hart…
Fuck.
I held Van tighter, realising what she was doing. She had been preparing to sacrifice herself to save me, the club and Van.
Hell fucking no.
Mannix took the paperwork, looking from it to me, and back at it, before he slunk into his chair again. He knew it as well as I did.
“Trojan,” Reaper said, quietly. “Track movements on the Ironborne, on Hardy Bainbridge and whoever the fuck else needs to be tracked. Find out everything we need. Mannix, start talking. What do we need to know?”
I looked at Lani who was sobbing, unable to look me in my eyes. She was doing what she thought was right. I couldn’t faulther for that. I’d done the same thing for most of her life. Tavi never should have asked this of her.
“Prez, I’ll be back.”
He nodded and waved me off, before I slung an arm around Lani’s neck and led her out of Chapel. Van was still clutched to me like he’d superglued himself to me. It was both warming, and startling. I’d never seen him like this, and it pulled at my chest in a way I didn’t expect.
I should have checked on her, not been so up in my head over Tavi leaving. I was a fucking fool.
Once we were outside, Lani started to cry, uncontrollably. Van was starting to sob into my neck as well.
Fuck.
Pulling Lani into my chest, I hugged the both of them as tightly as I could, kissing the top of Lani’s head. “I’m not mad, Lani. You did the right thing by Tavi, and I love you for that. She should have come to me, not you.”
“She was scared,” Lani said into my chest. “I should have told you, I knew she was scared, that’s why she told me to take Van…but I thought she would be back. I didn’t think…”
“It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong, Lani. I need you to take Van and go see your Mum, take Animal back with you, yeah?”
Lani nodded, and pulled away, wiping at her eyes. I tried to move Van off me but he clung tighter, his sobs getting louder in my ears.
“Van, come on, mate. Go with Lani.”
“No!” he screamed, his cries getting louder and louder as he clutched onto me like I was his life support. It was terror, fear, and missing his mum all rolled into one. It was too much for his four-year-old mind to comprehend.
“I think you need to keep him, Dad. He feels safe with you.”
I nodded, holding Van a little tighter, rubbing his back to soothe him so he would relax. “Yeah, go on with Animal, yeah?”
She nodded, and collected Animal from the steps as I tried to calm Van down in my arms. It was tearing my heart apart hearing him scream bloody murder like he was.
Van was slowly dozing in and out, his little snores in my neck told me so. I was glad I could soothe him, but this may present a problem when I needed to go and get Tavi off that fucker. Reaper came outside, sitting down beside me.
“You should have told me.”
“I know,” I answered.
“I don’t want secrets between me and my VP,” he continued. “Secrets and lies are where we break down.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“But, I also understand the need to protect those we love. This club is your family, Mav. We will do what we can, at all times. If you came to us sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.”