Drake stood up, carrying his dirty plate to the sink and washing it then picking up the coffee pot to refill his and Cash’s cups before sitting back down. However, his affable attitude disappeared in a flash.
“Viper told me the club owed me one when the Freedom Riders wanted that land I refused to sell them, and I sold back that family property I had bought off Rachel without a profit when you came asking. Is that what you mean about markers? I think that should be enough so I don’t have to do shit jobs to prove I can take you on.”
He took a sip of coffee before continuing. “I don’t gossip. If I did, everyone in the county would know what that back piece of land on the club’s property is used for. I know how to keep a secret. Always have.”
Drake stood up, staring down at Cash. “Tell Viper I want the initiation today. The land on the right of the factory is mine. When he asked to buy it, I told him no, but that I had no intention of doing anything with it other than using it for hunting. I’ll sign the deed over to him when I’m a Last Rider. That should be enough for Bliss’s markers. If not, I bulldoze it and put up a fucking shopping mall.”
“Viper doesn’t like ultimatums,” Cash warned.
“My woman misses her family, and I aim to see that she gets what she wants for Christmas.”
“I’ll talk to him. If he says yes, who do you want to go up against?”
“You pick.”
“Don’t think I’ll make it easy for you.”
“I didn’t think you would. Just don’t pick Shade.”
“Why? Afraid you won’t win?”
“No, I don’t think either of us would win, but we would both be too busted up to enjoy Christmas.” Drake’s lips quirked into a mocking smile.
“You’re underestimating what kind of beating you’re going to get. They won’t hold back.”
“I don’t need them to.” Drake slid the chair back under the table. “Don’t pick yourself, either. I don’t want Rachel upset, with her carrying.”
Cash’s lips twitched. “You think you would leave me busted up?”
“You know I love a fight just as much as you. I may have calmed down when I had Jace, but I still remember how to throw a punch.”
“I’ll take that into consideration when I pick who you go up against.” Cash rose from the table, going to the sink. “If Viper agrees.”
“He would be stupid not to, and Viper doesn’t strike me as being anyone’s fool.”
“He’s not. I’ll go to the clubhouse and talk to him now.”
Cash waited expectantly for him to leave, but Drake had one more piece of business to take care of before he left.
“Has Rachel told you what you’re having yet?”
“No, she’s keeping it a secret until the baby’s born. Why?”
“You’re having a girl. She thinks you want a boy and will be disappointed.”
“She does? Rachel should know better—”
“She’s from the mountains, and she’s a Porter. They always want boys for firstborns.”
“How do you know all this?”
Drake gave him a wry smile. “I have Porter blood, remember? I need to go.” He started to walk out of the kitchen. “Call me and tell me when and where I need to be. I have a couple of things I need to take care of first. Tell Rachel Merry Christmas for me.” He paused at the doorway and turned back around. “You having Christmas dinner with her brothers tomorrow?”
“I can’t get out of it. If you could figure a way out of it for me, I would give both you and Bliss my votes,” Cash joked.
Drake gave him a saccharine smile that brought a worried frown to Cash’s face.
“I’ll take you up on that offer. I’ll keep them busy tomorrow.”
“How?”
“Leave that up to me. Enjoy your Porter-free Christmas.”
“Damn, this is going to be a good Christmas. I get to watch the brothers fight, and I don’t have to share my turkey. I’m going into town to buy myself a case of beer to celebrate.”
* * *
“Dammit.” Bliss set the hot cookie tray down on the counter, waving her fingers in the air to soothe the stinging pain. When it finally went away, she gingerly touched one of the cookies on the tray. It was burned to a crisp.
Dumping the entire thing into the trash, she took out another cookie tray.
“I am going to do this. I am not going to burn them this time.” She didn’t understand how they had burned.
After she had the dollops of dough on the cookie sheet, she went to the oven and looked at the temperature. It was what the recipe had called for. Next time, she wouldn’t answer her cell phone if anyone called.
Ginny had called to wish her a Merry Christmas, and Bliss grudgingly admitted to herself she might have talked too long. She had asked Ginny to drop off the envelope containing keys to a new car for Marcus’s mother. Bliss hadn’t wanted her to know who the car was from, so Ginny had told her it was from a Secret Santa. Sooner or later, Marcus would outgrow believing in Santa Clause, but it wasn’t going to be this year.