“I could eat. You guys need anything?”
East stares at his family. “Got everything I need right here.”
“All right, brother. You change your mind give me a ring. Same goes for you, little momma.” I kiss the top of both her and the baby’s heads. “See you soon.”
“Bye, Daddy.” I freeze hearing her call me dad. It’s the first time I’ve heard the word leave her lips. Been a long time since I’ve heard the word in reference to myself. Not since Rochelle.
“I’ll be back in the morning,” Alexa tells her.
“Love you, Mom.”
I pull Alexa into me and we leave the hospital. When she wraps those arms around me from the back of my bike, I know this is how it’s supposed to be. Took me a long motherfuckin’ time to reach this point. My woman riding bitch not giving a God damn who sees. Shit feels damn good. I tap her thigh before pulling out the lot. “Where you wanna eat at? Don’t give me that I don’t know bullshit.”
“I could go for some pizza, but let’s make it delivery.”
“We can call it in from the clubhouse.” I roar off before she can argue. Never had a woman in my bed at The Devil’s Playground other than her. Not even Ruthie. Alexa can be pissy, but that’s where we’re spending the night. Not taking her to the house I shared with Ruthie and sure as shit don’t want to sleep in her bed either. Damn thing is hard and uncomfortable.
The party is still going out back of the clubhouse. I take Alexa in through the front and tell the prospect behind the bar to order her a pizza. Grudge is sitting at the end of the bar nursing a beer. “Gimme’ a minute,” I tell my woman, leaving her at the opposite end where I can keep an eye on her. “When’d you get back?”
“An hour ago. Lost track of her in the Smoky Mountains and turned back. Think her destination is Florida.”
“Why you think that?”
“Her mom had family in Daytona. That’s where I’d go if I were her.”
“Follow up on it. I want to know where she is at all times.”
“If she makes a move I’ll know. Got alerts set up on her credit cards.”
“Good looking out, brother.”
“Anything for you, Prez.” I give him a slap on the back. “Heard Wylla Mae went into labor.”
“Yeah. Mila Rochelle Reed. My granddaughter.” I pull my phone out and show him a few pictures. “Look how perfect.”
“That’s real sweet her naming the kid after Rochelle.”
“Yeah. Let me know the minute you know what direction that cunt is headed.”
“Will do.”
I move back down the way to Alexa. I’m mad as hell that fucker dropped off his mark without calling it in with me first. I told him under no circumstances was he to pull off his detail. Not gonna make a big deal out of it tonight, but something’s funny with him. Can’t place my finger on it but he’s giving me a weird motherfuckin’ vibe.
“You get the food called in?”
“Yup. Should be here in about twenty minutes.”
“Prospect, bring my food up when it gets here and a few more cold ones. Let’s head on up, babe.” I lead Alexa upstairs to my presidential suite. Busted out the wall of the neighboring room to make mine larger. Spent plenty nights here avoiding Ruthie. Drinking away thoughts of Alexa.
I open the door and show her inside. “It’s a lot bigger than I remember.” She walks the length of the room and stops at the window overlooking the back of the compound. She kicks her shoes off, and I wrap my arms around her. Looking over her shoulder I stare down to the party below. Tiki torches light up the space. Viking is in the fighting pit going up against Sandman. Viking is undefeated. Sandman is crazy to get in the pit with him.
“I like this.”
“Hmm,” she murmurs.
“Having you here.”
“I like being here.” Alexa twists to face me. “Grandpa,” she mocks.