He quickly covered his mouth, realizing his error in cursing during eating.
Aunt Athena stepped forward and put the bowl of eggs between Jason and Brett. Her perfectU-shaped apron with the frilly pattern at the edges flipped up and sure enough, Aunt Athena had a gun.
“Wow,” Zac said. “You never fail to amaze me.”
“Now eat,” she ordered everyone. “I can make seconds and thirds. You need to fill up for your busy day.”
“How do you know we have a busy day?” Brett asked.
“Because if you don’t, then you’re a pussy. And no pussy is going to wear that leather cut,” Aunt Athena said in a bold voice.
Everyone fell silent again.
“Whoa,” Hawk whispered.
“That’s why you don’t mess with the best,” Reese said. He raised his coffee mug to Aunt Athena. “The best ever.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Levi said.
Everyone lifted their mugs.
“Now eat,” Aunt Athena said. “Before I start shooting you all.”
They all laughed as she walked back into the kitchen. She never ate with them. She always picked and made a small plate and ate in the kitchen. So she could watch everyone fill up the large dining room table. She told them it was her favorite thing in the world, other than playing bingo at the fire hall and winning cash off a lady calledMarge, the grumpy old bitch with a broom stuck up her wrinkled ass.
Reese pounded the food as though he would never eat again. One thing about Aunt Athena’s breakfasts was that they were huge. And if you didn’t eat at least four plates, you were ridiculed by her and the guys in the club. You ate until the plates were cleared. Anything left over, Aunt Athena would then take down to the shelter to give to anyone who needed a real meal.
“I’m tapping out,” Hawk said. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stomach. “I need a couch and a toilet.”
“I second that,” Ellis said. “That was good.”
“Hawk, Ellis,” Levi said. “Go do the dishes.”
“Really, Prez?” Hawk asked. “I went to jail last night.”
“You were in a holding cell for a few hours,” Reese said.
“Go clean up,” Levi ordered. “Zac, help clear the table.”
“I got it,” Reese said as he stood up. “If I sit here I’m going to fall asleep.”
“No sleep?” Levi asked.
“Not much,” Reese said.
The entire day into night had been a blur. They had to get their members out of the holding cells, based off bogus charges of resisting arrest. That meant a threatening call from their lawyer, Larry. He was old school, mean, and loved to fight with words. And he loved to charge the MC a fortune for his services. He was the best and he understood the MC life as a former member of the club.
By the time they got back to the clubhouse and got settled, it was a little late. Reese told Levi about the junk in the bag but didn’t give the exact full story yet. Reese wanted to talk to Josie first about the entire story before giving it all to Levi. Because it would lead to the club pursuing their own investigation and that would lead to fights, and maybe even a war. Right on the streets. Right when the badges were breathing down their necks.
As Reese carried a stack of plates to the sink for Hawk to clean up, Aunt Athena grabbed his arm. “You look tired.”
“Rough night.”
“You need sleep. Good sleep. I can have my doctor write you something for sleeping. Pills… something to smoke…”
“I’m good, Auntie,” Reese said. “Thank you.”
“You letting a woman tear you up again?”