Moving On (Dominant Devils Mc Book 1) Page 8
"That's just fine and dandy. We'll wait for you to finish getting your dick wet before we open the present Brookes has left for all of us," Athena said with venom in her voice.
I was taken back by the sound of Athena's voice. She was definitely going to be explaining that one. She sounded like a jealous woman scorned. Maybe there was more to how she felt about Aiden that she wasn't forthcoming with. I filed that away for another day and spoke to Aiden once more. I didn’t need the two of them in a god damn screaming match waking the baby up in the process. That would make for a long ride home.
"The morning is fine Aiden. We'll see you when you get here. Don't be falling in love with the little floozy. Be careful! They're calling for storms tomorrow afternoon dear."
"I'll see you ladies for brunch tomorrow morning. You know how I like my bacon and eggs. See you in the a.m.," he said hanging up. When I was sure the call was ended I looked over at Athena with questioning eyes only to have her shrug her shoulders at me and look away.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. When we pulled up to my little-rented bungalow I sighed inwardly. Even with the club paying for Brookes' final expenses, the life insurance policy for him wasn't enough to even pay a third of the cost for the house we wanted by the falls. We had always joked calling it our "little house by the falls" and it couldn't be further from the truth. The house itself had seven bedrooms, basement apartment and four complete baths. It used to function as a bed and breakfast back when this town was jumping with the mills still going. The parcel of land that came with the house was just over sixty-five acres. Brookes had talked about using the few buildings on the outskirt of the property and making a shooting range. A dream that will never happen it seems.
Shaking away the dreams that would never be, I opened the door of the truck to head to the house and get the little diva to bed. As usual, Athena grabbed the infant seat as I collected the diaper bag. We went into the little house quietly. Athena took Octavia into my room to get her ready for bed.
We had set the spare room up for a nursery, but with Athena and Hart staying behind to help me with the baby I felt, at least, one of them should have their own room. It left Octavia rooming with me until the two of them could find a place here in Great Falls. Athena slept in the spare room and Hart took to the pull out sofa in the living room. With the four of us being cramped in this small two-bedroom cottage you would think I would be stressed, however, it made me feel at ease. I might not have my husband with me but I had two adults who would do anything for me or Octavia at the drop of a hat. Those two have definitely become family and owned a piece of my heart just as everyone else in my family did.
I poured two glasses of sweet tea for Athena and myself. I sat at the little table in the kitchen waiting for Athena to emerge. Without words, she came into the kitchen and sat down taking a sip of her tea before she broke the silence.
"I saw the look in the truck. I want you to know that I have no qualms with Aiden. To be honest it's quite the opposite. At one time I thought I was in love with the man. Sometimes I still do. We never had any type of relationship, though. I pine over a man I've never even fucked before, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have real feelings for him. It just hurts a little when I hear about his escapades with all the different women in his life. I gave up hope that one day he would realize that I was into him. My one sided, feelings don't make it any easy hearing about him being in a strange woman's bed all night".
"Well until you’re ready to tell him how you feel you'll never know what he might have to say. Nor will he quit spilling his sex tales. He’s a guy, it’s what they do. Until he knows it makes you uncomfortable ya can’t be pissed at him," I tried to reason with her before changing the subject.
"Enough about Aiden, what the hell do you think Brookes has left for us in that little metal box over there," I said pointing in the direction of the box sitting on the kitchen counter.
"If I had to guess I would say it was his final gift to us. One of the things you learn from being in the military is being prepared to die. I'm sure even though Brookes was no longer an active member of the military it never left him. Let's not worry too much about it. We will deal with that tomorrow morning with the other guys. Let's get to bed because apparently we have breakfast to make in the morning. I wouldn't be surprised to see Aiden here no later than nine tomorrow morning".
We both got up and headed towards the bedrooms. I think we were both hoping for sleep to take over tonight. Lord knows what we would be getting into come morning.
Aiden
I lay awake next to a stranger I had picked up the night before. After the phone conversation with the girls in Great Falls, I tried to lose myself in the stranger’s loose pussy, loose was being nice about it. Who am I to judge, though, I can't even remember the bitch’s name. As she lay sleeping in the bed of the hotel room, I sprang to life before the sun began to creep up in the sky. I had a shower and got my shit together before six thirty in the morning. I slipped out of the room without so much as an “it’s been fun” speech. I stopped at the front desk letting them know there was someone still asleep in the room but I settled the tab for our two-night stay. If the unnamed woman planned to stay longer it would be on her dime, not mine.
I wasted no time getting out to the hotel parking lot, not wanting the woman I left sleeping to wake up and find me. Call me a coward but I hate dealing with the woman the morning after. Even though I'm clear as hell with them that a one-night stand is all they'll get from me, they always take it to heart and get emotional as I try to leave. I don’t do emotion but, if I ever open my heart up to a woman it would be the knockout blonde who has haunted my dreams for years. I have no intention of acting on said dreams. Athena deserves more than the piece of man I am. How could anyone as driven and perfect as she is want anything to do with a one-legged fuck-up man like me.
Even though I didn't let the damn prosthetic leg stop me from anything else, it will always keep me from confessing myself to her. If I had told her prior to the crash that took my leg maybe things would be different. I will always think of myself as a charity case when it comes to her. Brookes and Athena are the two that stuck by me and got me out of my head while I completed rehab. They're the ones, with the help of my dear old dad, that showed me that I could do anything I still wanted to do. They helped me feel whole again even when the army said otherwise.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I opened up the machine between my legs as I hit the interstate making my way towards Great Falls. I had an idea of what was in that box. I was the one who gave Brookes the idea when he happened to walk in on me going through my things once they were sent stateside. I'm sure there would be mementos and letters waiting for everyone who was summoned to the house that morning.
I pulled my bike along the street in front of Carrin's house about two hours after I started my trip. Judging by the lack of vehicles in the small driveway I’m sure they weren't expecting me until a little later but they would just have to deal with it. Here at 8:45 a.m. I knocked on the door quickly before turning the knob to let myself in. I walked through the small living room towards the sound of Papa Roach singing about time running out coming from the kitchen. As I stood in the entryway of the kitchen I saw Carrin and Athena putting on a little show for the baby sitting in one of those damn pink bouncy seat things. I smiled thinking that at least the little girl would grow up appreciating good music even if she was subjected to everything pink.
I cleared my throat loudly to let the unknowing women that I was here. They both quit singing and turned to stare at me embarrassed. "Don't stop on my part ladies. I was enjoying the show. Hell if the nursing thing doesn't pan out Carrin you ought to set your sights on singing for a living. Damn girl, you got a set of pipes on you"!
I turned to Athena saying the first flirtatious thing that came to mind, "Athena you could always rock that tight little body of yours. It's a shame you don't have a desire to dance. I'm sure you'd make a killing strutting that ass o
f yours around".
Apparently that was enough to break the ice cuz both girls began laughing hysterically making their way over, to each give me a hug. Giving them both a hug and a kiss on the forehead I let my next sarcastic remark go.
"Now about my breakfast," I said with a shit eating grin on my face.
"Easy big guy. The little diva eats first then we’ll finish up breakfast for everyone else. Happy and Hart should be here around nine thirty. I figured we could all eat breakfast before firing up Skype so the commander and Rosalie can join us via the internet as we open the mystery box," Carrin explained before returning to the baby to lift her out of her seat to burp her.
Looking around the small kitchen I spotted the coffee pot. I made myself at home with a cup of joe taking a seat at the small table. Not sure how long I sat at the little table sipping on a large cup of black coffee when I heard the front door open without a knock. I turned quickly looking for any signs of danger placing my hand on the butt of my knife I kept strapped to the waistband of my jeans. As I stood up Hart's face came into view. Relaxing a bit, I let go of my knife and moved to bring him in a man hug with a slap on the back. I let go of Hart extending my hand to Whit pulling him in for much of the same.
"Damn Aiden how did you make it here before we did? I must be losing my touch if you made it here before us," Hart stated looking at me for an explanation.
"Yeah, I was on the road early this morning. I don't deal with strange women the morning after. I beat feet as soon as I can. That way there’s no tension the morning after fucking all night," I said with a smile to both the men but quite enough that hopefully the two woman in the kitchen didn't hear.
"That's why I tend to stay to club pussy now a day’s. Those girls know exactly what they're there for and for the most part no feelings attached. When the brother's start to noticed one of the whores grabbing onto feelings they make sure to warn them and if that doesn't work their sent packing," Whit replied.
"The club is looking more and more appealing yet," I said seriously. "I actually was thinking of hanging around a bit to see where I might land with all of it".
Not wanting to get into it with the girls present Whit just nodded in agreement. All three of us moved to the table to have some coffee and bullshit a bit before breakfast was done.
With our stomachs full of the breakfast the girls made we all moved to the living room. On the coffee table sat a laptop, so my father and mother could join us, and a black safety deposit box. "Okay, guys let's get this box opened and see what my boy Brookes has left to say.”
At my words, Carrin fired up the laptop to Skype my parents. Once all said hello to the couple on the screen Carrin moved to the key next to the box. Taking a deep breath, she inserted the key and twisted it until the lid popped open. Upon first glance, it looked like a bunch of envelopes along with and old tattered Orioles cap and a set of dog tags. Carrin began to dig through the stack of envelopes that held DVDs in them.
"There is one of these in here for each of us personally. Then there's this," she said holding up a manila folder which looked to contain several documents. The writing on the back of the folder stated for it to be opened with all of us. I began to feel a sick feeling in my stomach, just what had Brookes put together that all of us need be present for.
Happy
I walked over and took the folder from Carrin's shaky hands. I gave her a look letting her know that I would take it from here. The first thing I saw was a letter in my brother's writing. It was dated only six months prior. I picked the letter up getting an uneasy feeling that my brother knew his death was coming.
"Okay, guys listen up. From the looks of things, he wanted this letter read to us as a group. Can you hear everything, Commander?"
"Yes Whit we hear you loud and clear," he said quieting down again as soon as he let the words out.
I looked down and began to read my brother's final words to all of us.
"To my dear family,
If you're reading this my time on this earth has come to an end. I hope it is many years later after writing this letter but being I update this once a year I doubt that is the case. I have taken the time to make each one of you a private video telling you goodbye. I hope that this will help you find peace and closure. I want you all to enjoy the life I have since left behind. Please know that I leave this earth with only one regret and that will be my greatest accomplishment I've ever achieved. I found out today that it's a girl. I'm hoping that we named her Octavia as planned. Make sure that she is loved and knows a minimal amount of sadness in this life.
I know that you will be the best mother a kid could ever ask for Carrin. Let Jacoby, Whit, Aiden and Hart be the uncle's and fill in daddies she deserves. They, as well as the club, will make sure you and our princess are taken care of and safe.
Allow Madison, Athena, Hyde, Izzy and Romy to be the aunties that spoil her rotten and be there for her when she feels the need to confide in someone who isn’t you, babe.
Queenie will be the laid back Grammy who lets her get away with anything and everything. Boomer, Doc, Viking, and Ghost will step up to take Rowdy’s place as pop-pop on your side Carrin. Martin and Rosalie will be the fill in grandparents for my side. They will love her as their own. Don't let the commander's rough exterior fool you. That little girl will have him wrapped around her little pinkie in no time.
I hope that all of you will help each other move on. Please do not stand still with life on my part. Help Carrin find love again. Help my little girl grow into the little diva I know the woman of the club expect her to be. Make sure my girls are happy.
In order to do so, you all will need to stay close to Great Falls. Enclosed in this folder is account information on investments I made with the insurance money from my parent’s death. As of today, there is a whopping 823,658.32 in that account. That should be more than enough to purchase the little house by the falls Carrin and I have been looking at for the last year. There should also be close to a hundred and twenty thousand left for the remodeling of the house. I had planned on purchasing the home and land for us in the next year or so, as an anniversary present to my wife but also as a retirement present for Athena and the Commander. It is also to serve as a parting gift to Aiden and Hart as I know you to will be watching over my wife and daughter but also the woman I consider my sister. Finally, it will be for my brother Whit. Hopefully, now that I have made the decision to put permanent roots down in Great Falls he will want to as well. He deserves a loving family.
There is a large house with sixty-five acres of land. There is plenty of room for everyone to live in the house but also plenty of land for everyone to build something to their liking when the time comes. Please be true to one another and look out for each other. I love each and every one of you. Please stick together and make the place by the falls our family homestead.
Love always,
Brookes
I laid the note to the side to look through the rest of the folder. True to his word I found the account statements he was referring to. It looks like the statements were from roughly nine months ago. I’m not real good with this shit but I’m sure the amount has changed. I see that the money was divided into low risk and high-risk accounts. Looks like my brother was good at investing. He was able to turn a 200k insurance money into almost 900k. I guess I'll be taking Carrin to the bank first thing Monday morning to start closing the account before we head over to the realtor's office afterward. Looks like the group would be purchasing a nice little set up in the near future.
I stopped rummaging through the stack of papers waiting for any input from the rest of the group before I spoke again. Everyone sat in shock. "Well, ladies and gents looks like yet again Brookes has the liberty of taking care of us. I’ll take Care Bear to the bank and the realtor's office on Monday. Anyone else is more than welcome to join. I definitely want everyone available to do a walkthrough of the house as soon as we can set it up. We’ll need to take a look at what we’ll need to get
done to the house for us to move in. With no room for Aiden and Hart sleeping on the couch, I’d say we get started with it as soon as we can. Plus, I'm sure we all want Octavia to have a big yard to spend her days in as soon as possible".
"Sounds like a good plan to me Whit. Although I would be okay with whatever you guys decide with the house. I guess it looks like we’ll be moving out with you guys when the time comes for my retirement. Not sure if we'll be staying in the house or maybe look into building something small on the property. You can face time us when you do the walk through," The commander stated through the speakers of the laptop.
"We understand sir. I'll download the cd that was left for you guys and email it to you. I'll also put the original back in the box for safe keeping for the two of you. We'll be in touch unless you can think of anything else beforehand," Athena told the commander and his wife. We all said our goodbyes before shutting down the laptop. Silence soon took over the room again as none of us knew what to say until Aiden couldn’t take it anymore.
"What the fuck man? That's some heavy shit to take in," Aiden spit out to anyone listening.
"Yeah heavy doesn't even cut it, brother," I said to him. "Looks like we all have somethings to dig into. Starting with the video goodbye's he left. I'm going to take mine with me to watch in private. It will probably bring back things we've been working on moving past the last three months. I need to be headed over to the clubhouse anyway to handle a little business. Give me a buzz if ya need anything ladies."
With that being said I placed a kiss on my niece’s head while she slept in her chair and headed out the door with my DVD in hand. I mounted my bike and took off. Needing a few to get my shit in check, I decided on taking the scenic route. Taking the fifteen-minute trip seemed like five. I still wasn't all together as I unmounted my bike and headed to the clubhouse. I saw most of the guys were already awake and sitting at the bar looking more alert than what I expected. It automatically put me on alert. Thinking this early Saturday afternoon meeting would present more than just the upcoming run schedules. Only time would tell.