She headed back to the car.
“Stay,” Ugly Beast said.
She turned to see all three and the baby were watching her. “It’s fine, really?”
“My wife wants you to stay. She gets what she wants.”
“I’d like you to come and enjoy some tea or coffee. I’ve got beer.”
“I’ll take a coffee,” Ava said. She didn’t want to appear rude. After closing her door, she locked the car and walked up the steps. She followed them into Abriana’s house. Holding her bag, she put her keys inside.
Ugly Beast didn’t linger. He took Bella and left them alone.
“I don’t know what you do to make him disappear,” Abriana said.
“It’s my charming personality. I think you take way too much crap from him.”
“I don’t take any crap and you know it.”
Raven snorted. “Do you remember the time you were this sweet little mafia princess?”
Abriana rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind her.”
“Tell us about how good it is to fuck Smokey,” Raven said.
“Raven!”
“What? Come on, aren’t you curious? Until Miss Baker here turned up, Smokey seemed to be taking a break from any kind of fun. All fun, actually. Sex being the biggest one.”
“How do you hear this?” Abriana asked.
“Club bitches talk, babe. That’s how I get to know as much about the guys as I do. They need to learn to keep their mouths shut. So, do you like Smokey?”
“I like him,” Ava said.
“That’s all? You like him?”
“We’re not exactly, I mean, it’s, I, it’s complicated.”
Raven stared at her for several seconds as Abriana began to put the groceries away. Ava hated being under Raven’s scrutiny and got to her feet, immediately helping to put everything away. She hated sitting down while other people worked, and she really had to do something with her hands.
“At least you like him.”
“Yep, I do.” She offered a smile, but Raven didn’t return it.
“Don’t mind her. She’s being club again.”
“Club?”
“Raven takes her role was being the only female club member seriously.”
“I went through hell to earn my patch.” She tilted her head toward Ava. “You ever been around an MC before?”
“No.” She had helped to put away the groceries. “I’ve heard of MCs, but never been close to one.”
“And you still bought a house near a town with one?” Raven asked. “Are you fucking stupid?”
“Damn it, Raven, enough,” Abriana said.
This had both women looking toward Abriana.
“When did you grow a set of balls?” Raven asked.
“Since she is clearly a nice woman and bakes the most delicious cookies and muffins. If you want to keep her around because you’ve been drooling after her baked goods as much as everyone else in town, stop being a first-class bitch. She doesn’t deserve it.” Abriana shook her head. “She’s really nice when you get to know her.”
“I think I miss your timid approach. Since you gave birth to Bella, you’ve grown a spine.”
Abriana stuck her tongue out. “Have you ever thought that it’s your influence?”
“Please, I’m a saint.”
Ava sat back down in her seat. She didn’t know if she’d rather face off with Ugly Beast more. Raven had a spiteful edge to her tone. She understood it. Smokey was her leader. She was looking out for him.
Abriana and Raven continued to banter with each other. Rather than leave, Ava sat, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and when the time was right, she made her escape.
The club was intense. No doubt about it.
If they were all like Raven, she had no doubt it was going to be difficult to be in Smokey’s world.
She drove home, unloaded her car, and the empty house that greeted her wasn’t a blessing. Seeing Abriana with her baby tonight had stirred up all kinds of feelings. She had tried to forget what it was like to want a child and a big family. Being an only child, her parents had been unable to have more children, even though it was exactly what they wanted. Her mother had been amazing with kids. She wanted a huge family. During the few times she’d seen Smokey around his club, she’d seen a closeness that could only be described as family.
Her lonely house only served to make her realize how little she had.
****
Hanson was stable for now, but Smokey hadn’t been able to talk to him for very long because the drugs they had him on made him very woozy.
He headed back to the clubhouse with Hunter calling ahead to arrange a church meeting. They didn’t have a lot to go on, but the brothers needed to be informed of what he had discovered so far.
Arriving at the clubhouse, he took note of all the bikes and cars in residence. Women in skimpy clothing were hanging outside, smoking cigarettes and joints. He ignored them, heading straight inside and taking his place at the head of the table. As with all the brothers, they handed in their cell phones and weapons at the door. The church was their sacred place, their patch their main link. They were all united as one.