“Yes. I was the wedding planner, and I told her at least four times that the dress wasn’t in theme with the rest of the wedding, but she would hear no objections to it at all. It was one of four made, and so far no others have sold, but I think that could be because Paris tells everyone the story of the dress.” Laughing again, Miranda wipes her eyes before taking a tissue out of her purse and dabbing them dry.
Later that evening, I told Mason all that was arranged, and about the dress, which he thought was hilarious and said he would have loved to see it. I’m not even going to mention that videos were taken, or he’d have Keys looking for them.
We sat at the kitchen table while making plans for the house we’d like to be built. Mason had a far more elaborate idea than I had, but he convinced me that a vast kitchen, mud room, utility room, formal dining room, living room, and a basement were all very much basic requirements. I wasn’t convinced that is true,but when he started on five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and other rooms upstairs I threw in the towel and told him to design it and I’d live in it. Barefoot and pregnant I have to tell you crossed my mind.
“Are you listening, Cilla?” Mason asks with a frown.
Quickly thinking how I’ll get out of not listening, I hum. “Hmm, actually I stopped listening when you mentioned bedrooms and kids. You know we are already pregnant and you are adding more kids to the mix. But hey, we’ve not done that much practicing yet.”
“Not much practicing? Well, fuck we can remedy that right now.”
Mason whirls around, picks me up and runs up the stairs while carrying me. Yeah, you heard me, he runs up the stairs. “Um, don’t use all your energy, Mason, you’ll need some soon.”
“Don’t worry about my energy, Cilla. I’ll show you how much energy I’ve got.”
You know what? He shows me for hours and hours how much energy he has, and I have to tell you he has more than I have.
Chapter 35
FINGER
Taking my seat at the table, I listen as Pres starts church. It’s going to be a long one I think, but when we are here, we are doing nothing else. That’s my take on it anyway.
“As you all know, we’ve gotten rid of the drug runners in town. Ears on the street have heard nothing about a replacement supplier or seller. It seems some of the kids are showing signs of using and parents have them in hand.” Pres smirks, and it can only mean he’s seen or heard something about the–in hand–he’s speaking of. “Byron wasn’t working with anyone else that we have found. He is gone, and so is the supply he was providing. Maddog, we took some of his men out. It left a message not tofuck with our town or us. Even if one of his men picks up where Maddog left off, I can’t see them coming here again.”
“Why don’t we pay someone to watch the streets to see if any of Maddog’s men picks up the mantle?” I suggest.
“Good idea,” Cap responds while nodding in agreement. “Do we have a contact in Bayswater Town?”
Ghost taps the table with his knuckles, gaining everyone’s attention. “I know someone, and a few extra dollars would be welcome.”
Pres grunts, “Okay, arrange it, Ghost. Coin, make sure you have the setup for paying the person.”
“Will do, Pres. I’ll organize it with you later, Ghost.” Coin looks over as Ghost gives him a nod.
“Next topic I want to cover is the gas station. You all know what we are considering. It’s a new business venture as well as a new base for the recovery business. Bull needs out of the current property because the landlord is trying to pull a fast one by increasing the rent by a hundred percent.” Pres states the last with gritted teeth, and we all feel that anger for the asshole who we have supported in the past. “Coin can put an offer on the gas station. We can use some of the money Georgie gave, and once it’s into profit, we can return it to the account.”
“Good idea, Pres. It’s a fuckin’ good safety net in case anything comes up, like it has with the tattoo studio and now the gas station,” Phoenix comments, and we all know he’s one of the most logical of us all, so has thought about this thoroughly. “I’m for the gas station thing, Pres. We would have to find someone to run the place, though.”
Brothers are nodding, grunting, and throwing out comments, but we all know there are not enough of us to manage the gas station.
Bull surprises everyone when he speaks. “How about the new crew that are working for Jeremy? They are solid, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, I reckon they are, but we need to get to know them. Find out how reliable they are. They’d have to be full brothers, so it’s a little early to consider them for running a business,” Pres leans forward, resting his elbows on the table.
“What if we bring Robert in as a full brother? It’s nearly his time anyway, and we all know he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’d make sure the place was run right, and he’d be someone we’d not have to worry about doing what’s right,” Demon suggests, followed quickly by Ghost, Judge, and Winger throwing out anAye.
“I agree, and he has my vote. I reckon we can call his road name, Colt, because I’ve seen no one use a Colt revolver like he can,” I suggest, and look around at my brothers who are nodding and grunting agreement.
“Does everyone agree that we should put an offer on the gas station?” Pres throws out easily and is given a unanimous vote ofAye. “Okay, Coin. Put an offer on it, check what they want for it then lower the fuckin’ price because the place has been standing for years.”
“What do you want to do about Robert?” Cap directly asks Pres.
“We wait until we get the gas station, then we decide. Not before that,” Pres responds. “Bull, you remain the boss of the recovery. Truck, you take control of the gas station once we get it. It’ll need you to go through the office because walking through it looked like they left all types of paperwork that we can getinformation from. Keys, you be prepared to give any information to Truck he may need.”
Both replied swiftly, “Yes, Pres.” They have no option, as those are the orders given by the Pres, and they do as they are told, as we all do.
“Finger, is everything set for the wedding?” Pres asks.