Chapter Twenty-Nine

Banks

“Why the hell do I have to help?” Nash groaned, covering his mouth and trying not to gag, while we stood in the middle of the Rosewood Dump.

God, this place stank something horrible.

“Because you saw me with the damn binder and didn’t stop me.”

“How is that my fault?”

“It’s not, but misery loves company.”

Moaning, Nash looked around at all the mountains of trash the town dumped and sighed. “We’re never going to find it.”

“I know, but if we don’t try, your mother will never forgive me. So, start digging.”

By the time the sun set, I knew my ass was toast.

Leaning against my truck, I handed Nash a handful of wet wipes, and sighed, “Well, I tried. She can’t be mad at that.”

“You know, you could have asked Kai what was in the binder. He helped Nana create it.”

Turning to look at my son, I shouted, “Well, why in the hell didn’t you say that before we went swimming in shit!”

“Didn’t ask.”

“That information was key, Nash. Next time lead with that shit,” I yelled, throwing open the driver’s side door. “Get in. We need to find your brother.”

With the windows rolled all the way down, I was headed back up the mountain when Nash asked, “Dad?”

“Yeah.”

“You nervous about meeting your brother?”

Taking a deep breath, I concentrated on the road.

That was a damn good question.

With everything going on lately, I hadn’t really thought about him.

I mean, in less than thirty-six hours, I would be standing in front of my big brother. A man I knew nothing about, other than he was part of the Russian Bratva.

I grew up believing I was an only child.

No one ever told me I had a sibling out in the world.

One minute, it was just me, and now, I had blood kin.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to think.

I had Laurel, the boys, LeeAnn, and my club family. That was more than enough for me, but to know that somewhere out in this vast world I had an actual, honest-to-God brother.

Well, I still couldn’t wrap my head around that.

“You know what I think?”

“What?” I said, looking at my son.

“I think everything’s going to be great. I’m Kai’s big brother and I love him. He annoys me sometimes, but that’s what little brothers are supposed to do. You having a big brother means you get to annoy him and like me, he will let you, because it’s our job to protect you.”

“I can take care of myself, Nash. I don’t need a big brother to do that for me.”

“You sure about that, ‘cause weren’t we just knee deep in piles of shit, looking for a stupid binder that you threw away?”

“That’s different.”

Nash chuckled. “No, it’s not. If you had a big brother around, he would have stopped you. I know I would have stopped Kai.”

“But you let me throw it away?” I snarked.

Nash grinned. “You’re not my brother. I don’t have to protect you.”

Glaring at my son, I said, “You’re right, but who’s gonna protect you when I get your ass home?”

“Nana.” My son beamed.

And damn if that woman didn’t.

The second I pulled into the compound, Nash jumped from my truck, hightailing it inside, shouting for LeeAnn, who glared at me the second I walked into the clubhouse.

She didn’t have to say anything.

Her face said it all.

Shaking my head, I marched my unhappy, smelly ass upstairs and jumped into the shower. After damn near scrubbing my skin raw, I got out and put on some clean clothes.

Leaving my room, I saw Cameron, Benny and Kai walking out of his room. Not thinking, I snagged the brat.

“We need to talk.”

“Why?”

“I need your help.”

Cameron beamed up at me, crossing his arms over his chest. “And why should I help you?”

“Because you now have Kai for your stupid club.”

“It’s not a stupid club! It’s the Manly Club.”

“Then how come you haven’t invited me to join?”

“Because first you have to be a man. Besides, I don’t like you!”

“Carnage, I carted your ass around all summer long. Did everything you asked for and wanted, and I didn’t complain once.”

“You complained every damn day.”

“I took you to see the Golden Skulls.”

“Only because you wanted information I had.”

“I saved your ass from that girl in the comic book store.”

The brat narrowed his eyes. “So what?”

“You owe me one.” I growled.

“Fine. Tit for tat, Knuckle Dragger. You want my help, then you have to give me something.”

Groaning, I sneered. “What do you want?”

“Why has King been pissy lately? I know something big is going on, but no one is saying shit.”

“Probably because my dad’s big brother is coming to visit. He’s in the Russian Mob,” Kai quickly informed.

“Who the hell told you that?” I asked.

Kai smiled up at me. “Nash. That’s what brothers are for.”

I was going to beat my son’s ass when I got him away from LeeAnn. Didn’t that shit know when to keep his fucking mouth closed?

Especially with Carnage roaming free!

Cameron gasped. “Holy Cow! The real Russian Mob?”

“Yeah, and they want to talk to my dad.” Kai nodded.

“Why?”

“Because his big brother is one of the henchmen.”

“No way!” Carnage looked at me with something akin to respect.

“Yeah, Nash thinks they are going to make my dad join them,” Kai muttered, turning to look at me. “Seriously, Dad. I think it’s cool you have a brother in the Russian Mob, but I don’t wanna move. I like it here. I just got patched into the Manly Club.”

“Don’t you worry, Kai.” Carnage glared at me. “Ain’t no one taking one of my boys away without a fight. Banks may not be worth much, but you’re mine and I don’t share. Come on, boys, we need to plan.”

With that Carnage, Benny and Kai walked off.

“Hey! What about me?” I shouted after them.

“Look on my bed and be thankful you brought me Kai!”

Sighing, I walked into Cameron’s room and stopped dead in my tracks. There, lying on his bed, was LeeAnn’s wedding binder.

Looking over my shoulder, then back at the binder, I groaned.

“Fucking great. Now I owe that little shit one.”

“All twelve cabins have been cleaned, stocked and are ready for our guests. You can thank Sugar and Beth for that. I’ve checked all the security cameras. Everything is ready,” Pyro stated, looking at King who simply nodded.

“When are the Golden Skulls arriving?” Gunner asked.

“Around the same time. I’ve asked Reaper to keep the brothers to a minimum. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Any word from Scribe?” Frank asked.

“No. Not yet.” King sighed, leaning back in his chair. “He will check in when he has something.”

“What about Cameron?” Enigma asked.

“What about him?”

“Come on, King,” Enigma muttered. “This is Carnage we’re talking about. The longer we keep that kid in the dark, the more trouble he will cause. We need to tell him, so he knows to behave himself.”

“Have you told Benjamin?”

“Fuck no!” Enigma scoffed. “Don’t want my son anywhere near this shit.”

“And that’s why I’m not telling Cameron,” King stated. “So, everyone keep your damn mouths shut around him.”

Yeah, I kept my mouth shut alright.

There was no way in fucking hell I was gonna tell King the little shit already knew.

Then again, I didn’t spill the beans.

Nash did when he told Kai, who happily told his ringleader.

Now, I wasn’t proud of the fact I was willing to throw my son under the bus, but the shit deserved it for laughing when I fell face first into a pile of garbage at the dump.

Paybacks were a bitch in my book.

“Alright, everyone. Rest up ‘cause tomorrow is going to be interesting.”

With that King ended church.

Walking out into the main gathering room, I groaned when I heard Laurel and her mother arguing again. I would have thought LeeAnn would be over the moon now that she had her wedding binder back.

Apparently not.

Walking over to the bar, I leaned over and snagged me a bottle of beer. Popping off the cap, I downed half of it when I heard LeeAnn say.

“Laurel Shay, help me. I can’t do this without you.”

“Mom,” my woman sighed. “I’m tired. I’ve got the store, the kids, Nikoli, the visitors. It’s all too much for me. I need a break. Get Lilly or Leigha to help you.”

“They don’t have your panache, darling. I need your help.”

Groaning, I slammed my beer on the bar and shouted, “Enough!”

“What?” both women jumped and looked at me.

“LeeAnn, I love you. Think the world of you, but this has gone on long enough. This is your umpteenth wedding. You already know what to do. You don’t need Laurel’s help. So figure it out yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I will not let you badger my wife into helping you anymore. She told you she was tired. Look at her.”

“I don’t look that bad. Do I, Mom?” my woman whispered.

“You’re beautiful, baby,” LeeAnn sweetly said, then turned her eyes to mine. “You, however, need to learn some manners, Nikoli Dubrovsky. How dare you talk to me that way?”

“Laurel is my wife,” I countered, standing my ground when I saw Nash and the boys slowly walking down the stairs. The women and my brothers emerged from whatever room they were in.

Fine. She wanted an audience. I was going to give her one.

In for a penny and all that jazz.

“Laurel is my wife, LeeAnn. My responsibility. I love her. It’s my job to protect her. She’s got enough to deal with already and doesn’t need you piling on more.”

“She is my daughter.”

“Husband trumps mother.”

“Uh, Dad…” I vaguely heard Nash.

LeeAnn took a step toward me. “Are you telling me I don’t matter?”

“Uh, Nikoli. I wouldn’t…” Laurel gasped.

“YES!” I shouted. “I matter. Our kids matter. You are just a relative.”

No one moved.

No one dared breathe.

“Well,” LeeAnn snipped, straightening her back. “I guess that settles everything, doesn’t it? Mrs. Dubrovsky, I’m sorry if I overstepped in your marriage to this… this… Neanderthal. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Mom,” Laurel groaned. “He didn’t mean it.”

Huffing, LeeAnn marched her ass over to where Laurel was sitting, grabbed her precious fucking wedding binder, and sauntered out of the clubhouse, slamming the door behind her.

“You can’t be that stupid!” Bailey shouted, marching over to me, punching me in the stomach. “You never get between a mother and daughter. Even I know that!”

Gasping for air, I watched as Bailey ran after LeeAnn.

“Jesus, Dad,” Nash spoke up. “You really pissed off Nana. Way more than I ever could.”

“Dude,” Enigma groaned. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I was protecting my wife!” I yelled. “I love LeeAnn. I really do, but she’s always making Laurel do shit she doesn’t want to.”

“No, she’s not, Banks,” Sugar said. “If Laurel didn’t want to help her mother, all she had to do was say so and LeeAnn would have backed off.”

“Laurel’s been saying that for days, but LeeAnn wasn’t listening.”

“Jesus, you really are dumb.” Carnage sighed, shaking his head. “That’s how they talk, dude. They snark at each other. Sissy and my mom were the same way. Always digging at each other. They didn’t mean anything by it. It’s how they communicated.”

“Cam’s right, Banks,” King added. “Cassie and our mom were the same way.”

Gunner and Pyro silently nodded.

Turning to my woman, I asked, “Are they telling me the truth?”

Laurel looked over at me and nodded. “Yes. I get you were only trying to help, but, Nikoli, what you said to my mother, really hurt her. You need to apologize, and fast.”

“And before my woman goes on a rampage,” King warned. “She’s taken to LeeAnn. Thinks of her like a mother. Fix it, fast.”

“Well, shit,” I groaned.

I was only trying to help.