Since then, we never really left the clubhouse.
We did take Colin outside so he could play on the playground set some of the brothers erected, saying that with all the kids, they needed something to burn off energy. I was grateful to them for thinking of Colin like that.
When Catarina had Colin dressed for bed, my son turned over and crawled into my lap. My heart melted every time he did that. Leaning my back against the headboard, Colin laid his head on my chest as I gently stroked his back.
“Did you have fun in the bath tonight, son?”
“Uh-huh,” He yawned, curling his little hand under his cheek.
Closing my own eyes, I was about to doze off when I heard Catarina say, “Reggie, watch him while I shower?”
“Sure baby.”
“I won’t be long, I promise.”
“Take your time Cat. I’ve got him.”
“Okay,” she smiled, stilled for a minute, looking at us before she turned and headed back into the bathroom.
I got it. I really did.
I, too, constantly found myself leering longer than I needed to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. To make sure that they were where I left them.
Listening to my son fall asleep, I wasn’t far behind him when a light knock on the door woke me up. “It’s open,” I said as the door opened to show Ghost standing there.
My V.P. smiled as he looked around my room, leaning against the door jam, crossing his arms over his chest.
“God, I remember doing that with Becca. She was so small, and she would fall asleep so fast. Now, it takes five books and bribery to get her to sleep.”
“Now you’re going to have a new baby to do that with,” I smiled, rubbing Colin’s back.
“Yeah,” Ghost smiled from ear to ear. “I can’t wait. Anyway, Reaper needs you in church. As soon as Cat’s out of the shower, come downstairs. We have something that you need to hear.”
Knowing I wasn’t going to get out of this, I simply nodded before Ghost turned and left, shutting the door behind him, just as Catarina stepped out of the bathroom. “Was that Ghost?”
“Yeah. I have to go downstairs for a bit.”
“Okay,” she said, coming over to take Colin from me. I said nothing as she climbed into bed next to me, wrapping herself around Colin. Though I bought our son a bed, I had yet to see him sleep in it.
Kissing them both, I got up and headed downstairs, praying whatever it was didn’t take all damn night.
Walking into church, I took my seat while everyone else filtered in. Reaper was already sitting at the head of the table and was talking on the phone. When the last officer entered, Reaper placed his phone on the table and slammed the Golden Skull gavel on the wooden table bringing the meeting to order.
“Okay, first things first, I am happy to report that Matrix and Sammy will be coming home next week. Phantom will be taking his post in Denver. It’s a secured location, and she can do more for us there than here. So, for those of you who don’t remember, Matrix is bringing Spawn with him. Let me be very clear. There will be no aggravating that fucker. Understood?”
“Oh, come on, Reaper, it's just a cat.”
“It’s the devil's spawn, and it likes to fucking attack me if you fuckers piss it off. I hate that fucking cat. So leave it the fuck alone.”
Several brothers snickered, but we all nodded, remembering Spawn's last time in the clubhouse.
“As most of you know, Phantom’s past has decided to materialize, and it’s going to blowback on the club when it catches up with her. Though she believes she can handle it on her own, that’s not how we do things here. So, I need a volunteer to go with her.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Phantom sneered.
“It’s not a request. Either a brother goes with you, or you don’t go.” Reaper ordered sternly. Phantom said nothing as she lightly nodded.
“Now, as you all know, we have aligned ourselves with the Valentinetti family. Starting at the beginning of the new year, we will be transporting arms for Valentinetti. Ghost, I need you to get with Ravage and come up with a revolving schedule and drop points. I don’t need to remind you all what will happen if the DEA finds out about this, so let’s keep everything low-key and get the job done.”