“Get me whiskey, babe.”

“I’ll have one too,” she added.

“Thought you were getting clean, Ma?” Gunner gave her an irritated look.

“From the powder,” she said quietly.

“Well, you're not drinking on my watch either, so if you want to be here, you’re clean for real.”

I got up and poured Gunner a small tumbler of Jameson for him, grabbed myself a beer, then returned to my spot on his lap where he needed me.

Gunner took a large swig from the tumbler and said, “Go on.”

“Alright, where was I? So, I avoided Hades. My mom got sick and Grandpa moved us. I always wondered what happened to my little girl, but I was a kid myself, you know? Then, I met your dad and we started a life here. He was a good dad to you. Everything seemed good and then one day your dad and I were out, and we ran into Hades. Your dad did his best to get me away from him as quickly as he could, but I wanted to know about my daughter, so I ended up going to their clubhouse sometimes. Then, your dad had the accident, and Hades started coming around more. He kept hanging the promise of my girl over my head, and so we spent more and more time together. Then, he told me about her accident and I lost it. I guess that’s when I started to use with him. It was all about getting high, and well, you know the rest. One day, I overheard Hades talking about you, and how Enrico wanted you dead, and I knew I needed to clean myself up. I couldn’t be with a man who’d let that happen, but I knew I was useless using. I’d been doing a pretty good job of getting sober. I told him I was leaving, and he beat the shit out of me. I got away from him, called you. And here we are.”

“There is so much fucking there, I don't even know where to start, so how about you tell me about this accident.”

I was so frustrated with his mom’s account of things.

“He told me there was an accident, and she didn't make it. I never even got to meet her.”

“Fuck,” Gunner hissed out. “What’d you hear Hades say about Enrico?”

“Not much, just that Enrico Santos was after you, and he’d be on the look out, and would report back.”

I flashed Gunner a look. That was our first real confirmation that Enrico was alive. My stomach turned at that news. Gunners hand squeezed my waist. “I’m not letting anything happen to you again, Babe.”

I was shaken. I heard his promise that I’d be safe, but something about all of this felt off.

Chapter Twenty-Nine Gunner

I didn't trust my mom. Something about the entire thing felt off. It might have been the slight tremble in her hand, when she watched me sip my whiskey, or the way she licked her lips at the drink. She wasn’t a sober woman, no matter what she said. I also failed to feel like she was truly sorry. It felt disjointed. I told my brothers this, and we were on high alert.

I wasn't letting on to her that I didn't trust her. I let her sit with Gun. He spent a few minutes asking her about her life, and once he saw that she wasn't that interested in him, he quickly went about his business of hanging out with the guys.

Charlie stayed by my side until much later when she yawned, and I told her to get some rest and that I’d be in soon.

She grabbed Gun, “Want you with me, baby,” she told him and he didn't argue. He gave his momma what she needed without any questions.

I knew hearing Enrico’s name shook her. I had the guys take shifts watching my mom sleep in the other bedroom. The longer the day went on, the more she seemed to be getting antsy. I figured it was more withdraw than anything. She said it was the pain that was making her irritable and she needed sleep. That might’ve been true, but my gut said it was more than that.

After she went to bed, I found my woman and son curled up. I paused and watched how Charlie clung to him and I wondered if that’s what it was like before I found them. I changed into sweats, laid on my side and threw my arm over both of them, holding them in their sleep. Her body relaxed. She didn't need to hold on anymore. I was there, and I vowed that I’d always be there.

***

My phone vibrating on the nightstand woke me. It was dark and the red glowing numbers on the alarm clock flashed one-thirty-six. I didn't recognize the number, but I wondered who the fuck could be calling at this hour.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Uh, uh, Mr. Gunner?” a young guy’s voice wobbled on the other end.

“Who’s this?”

“It’s me. Joshua.” I had no idea who the fuck Joshua was.

“You told me to call if I saw any other bikers with cuts on heading your way.” The light bulb went off in my head, the geeky kid from the gas station.

“Good job, kid. How many?”

“Maybe ten, but there was also a bunch of Black SUV's with them. I was taking a piss. Almost missed them. I did good, right?”

“Yeah, kid. Real fucking good. You catch their colors?”

“You mean, were they white or black?”

“No, I mean, you catch what their patch said?” He didn't answer me. I was getting frustrated. “Did their vest tell you the name of their motorcycle club?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Something about Hell or Hades. I don't know. It was pretty quick.”

“Were they heading East or West?”

“East, for sure.”

“Good job, kid.” I hung up and gently shook Charlie’s shoulder. “Babe.”

She sat up abruptly, looked at Gun to make sure he was safe, and then to me. Sliding out of bed, I quickly put a shirt and boots on. She followed my lead and I watched her eyes move as I grabbed my gun, checked my clip, and left the room. She followed a second later.

“What’s going on?”

“What’s going on is Mom, tipped ‘em off to where we are. I don't know how or when, but I know it was her.”

“Oh, God. He’s coming for me.”

“No, babe. We’re ending this shit. That’s what’s happening. Go to the cabins. Wake ‘em up.” Charlie headed towards the door when I handed her my gun, “Take this.” I knew we had time, but I wasn't taking any chances. Besides, I had more guns, and I didn’t want her to witness me waking up my mom, because fuck that bitch.

Reggie who was on the couch already began stirring as Charlie quickly moved out of the cabin. “Got company coming. ETA maybe thirty minutes; maybe more, maybe less.”