INDIGO

Bear, Tack, and Sync entertain me between tests. Mostly, we talk about our kids since we assume the cops are monitoring us. Sync shares a few stories about when the twins were young.

When he hesitates halfway through a story and frowns at me, I mutter, “I know you were with her. I was around back then.”

“Yeah, doing your ‘Jessie’s Girl’ routine.”

“Is this real tension?” Bear asks. “Will I need to smack Sync around to get him in line?”

I shake my head and tell Bear, “Save your energy for your kids.”

He gets my real meaning. Whatever happens next between the Brennan family and the club will likely be bloody. No reason to wear ourselves out beforehand.

Changing the topic, I mumble through swollen lips, “Siohban’s OB wants to schedule a C-section for three weeks from now. It wouldn’t be safe for her to give birth like Carys did.”

The men read between the lines again. I need this shit with the cops to be handled to ensure my son can be born safely. Carys got lucky when she labored on the farm while we were locked down with mercenaries crawling around the woods. Siobhan’s body might not be able to handle a natural birth.

Zoot’s heavy boots again alert me to his impending arrival. I’m dressed and waiting for my discharge papers when my president turns the corner and enters this end of the emergency room. Noble follows after him. I’m surprised to see Caveman bringing up the rear.

“We didn’t ask him to be here,” Zoot announces as soon as my gaze hits Caveman. “He’s got an issue with clinging to people. Fucking sad.”

Caveman smirks until he gets a good look at me. Cracking his neck, I see the exact moment when he decides he’s going to kill someone. Up until this point, he was likely thinking like a club president and plotting smart moves to win a war. Now, he’s a man looking to spill blood.

Zoot studies me and exhales hard. “You’re locked down at the farm for the next week. The press is already swarming the hospital. We’re planning to release a photo of your injured face just before we leave. Let them lap up the drama while we get you to Aunt Fred. ”

“What about us?” Bear asks.

“You and Tack ought to ride home together. I can’t see the Brennan family fucking with Suzanne Knutsen after she just did that goofy rich lady interview with the governor for the local paper,” Zoot says, and I sense he’s mostly talking to spying Brennan family cronies. “Bear, you need to watch your back. If the cops are coming for us, they’re willing to battle the Kovak family and their allies. I’d suggest you get home and stay there for now.”

Noble nods. “The cops fucked up today. They look weak, and that’ll bring out their enemies. Someone’s already blown up the precinct chief’s house out on Sheridan Lake. Anyone who’s been wanting to take a shot at the cops will do it now, so the blame can fall on the club.”

I admire how easily Noble lies about the chief’s house explosion, as if anyone besides our president would have done such a thing. Years ago, Zoot left bombs all over the fucking city. At least a few of the cops from today likely have something waiting to go boom under their homes.

Wanting to get out of the hospital, I ask, “How soon can I see Siobhan?”

“Are you sure you’re altogether unbroken, boyo?” Caveman asks.

Zoot flashes the man a frown. “He’s fine. Stop being a drama llama cunt fucker.”

Caveman strokes his beard and murmurs, “I think you just implied I like to fuck dramatic women. That’s not quite the insult you think, chief.”

Zoot opens his mouth to bitch. Noble shakes his head, acting as the voice of reason. The last thing we need is for Zoot and Caveman to wrestle in the ER.

“I’ll get everything in order,” Zoot says before stomping out of the room.

Caveman grips my chin and looks over my face. “You get that eye from a baton or something else?”

“Tommy Brennan shoved my face into the cruiser’s door frame.”

“Well, let’s hope no one kills him before he answers for his crimes. ”

Bear chuckles at that comment before remembering we’re supposed to be well-behaved. Shrugging, he mumbles, “I just find cops getting arrested to be funny.”

Noble doesn’t say much of anything until we’re outside and he joins me in the SUV. As a prospect drives us away from the hospital, my VP sighs.

“Zoot is proud of you,” he says, and I nearly roll my eyes. “Taking a beating like that isn’t easy. He would have lost his temper and fought back, but you kept your cool.”

“Getting my ass kicked isn’t really applause-worthy.”

Noble’s dark eyes flash with rage. “If you had fought back, they likely would have killed you. That’s probably what they wanted to happen. They’d kill you in front of witnesses, make it look justified, and rub that shit in our faces. But you held strong, even if you could have broken Tommy Brennan’s soft body in half. That took more balls than I have.”

“Well, okay, you’re welcome, then,” I say, and Noble grins.

Outside, half of the Hills Chapter rides close to the SUV, seeming overly protective of me. I hope Siobhan is getting babied twice as much as I am.

“Tommy fucked up,” Noble says as he stares out at the dusky evening. “Those videos look bad for the cops. But we’re about to make it look worse.”

As we sit at a red light, a cop car comes nearly to a stop in the opposite lane. The assholes are blocking traffic just to make a show of power. Caveman, Zoot, and the rest of the guys rev their engines. The street gets really fucking loud, and I’m glad I can’t hear well out of my right ear.

“Is Siobhan in danger?” I ask Noble. “Those fuckers chased after her.”

Noble glances at me, revealing a rage he usually keeps in check. “They crossed a line by trying to arrest her. No offense, kid, but you’re a club member and fair game. Going after Siobhan means we can start messing with their women. Can’t imagine that’ll go over well with the rank and file in the Brennan organization. Even scum like them don’t want us messing with their moms and wives.”

As our group gets the green light, I ask, “Is that the plan?”

“It would be, but you were so damn calm today. And they picked you of all the guys. That was extra stupid on Alec Brennan’s part. ”

“And I’m special because of Siobhan?” I ask, not following along as the pain medicine makes my brain fuzzy.

“No because of Hunter. Our people in the media have begun pushing the idea that you were targeted as revenge for what happened on the road last year. There’ll be an insinuation that the cops might have been in on the plan to grab Hunter.”

Noble frowns at how more police cars tail us now. “Nothing blatant,” he continues. “Our people will plant the seeds by also raising questions about the cops' slow as fuck response when the Kovak family’s convoy was attacked. If the wealthy in this city think the cops aren’t working for their benefit, they’ll demand reform. The first thing the mayor will do is target every precinct chief. The chief of police might be asked to step down. Yeah, the Brennan family just fucked all their cop allies. There’s no telling how that’ll shake out for the club.”

The medicine might be wearing off because I feel worse both physically and mentally. I picture Siobhan in the SUV, wanting to help me yet needing to flee.

“I know this stuff matters. I want the club to be safe. But I’m mostly worried about Siobhan. She’s really close to having the baby. If these cops squeeze us, she might not be able to go to the hospital.”

Noble grins at me. “I like how you two fit. Sync’s a good guy, but he treated my niece like shit. For years, I worried they’d get back together and I’d have to kick his ass. You can’t know how relieved I am to see her with you.”

His words make me feel worse. I want to be the guy who makes Siobhan’s life better. Instead, I feel like I couldn’t protect her today.

“Other plays are going down in the city,” Noble continues. “The precinct chief’s vacation house isn’t the only place about to go boom. But no matter what happens, Siobhan will get what she needs when the baby’s ready. I’ve killed people for smaller reasons than to protect the family.”

Sighing, I lean my head back. “Do you ever wish you had a kid, even if you couldn’t find a woman like Xana?”

Noble frowns at how I bring up his dead girlfriend. “No. Some people don’t need that kind of family. The wife-and-kids thing just isn’t meant for them. I never wanted to be married, but Xana changed that. When she was gone, I returned to feeling like I used to. Men like Zoot and me are wired differently than guys like Elvis and you. I always knew my brother would get married and have kids and do the family man gig. It just fit him. And it fits you. That’s why you need to focus on Siobhan and the kids. Make them happy and heal up.”

“I’m nervous about lowering my guard. The cops acted fucking crazy today. They’re usually sneakier. I can’t just take a vacation day while you guys ride around town with targets on your backs.”

“Indigo, men like Zoot and Caveman dream of burning down the world. Let them have their fun while you spend your time being sweet to my niece.”

“What about you?”

“I get to play Mister Reasonable while shit goes boom around town and people ask if Zoot’s lost his mind. Add an unleashed Caveman to the mix, and I’m about to have my ass kissed by Banta City’s power players.”

Noble chuckles at the thought while I lose my edginess. We’re now in the more rural basin outside Banta City. I can breathe easier out in the country.

Pulling down the road toward the main farmhouse, I wear a dumb grin on my face. From the moment the cops entered the restroom, I’ve wanted to get back to Siobhan’s side. Now I can finally wrap her in my arms.

When Siobhan hurries outside, I notice the slight limp she gets when she’s been too active during the day. I gesture for her to wait on the porch and let me come to her. Siobhan refuses to obey and meets me halfway down the steps.

“I want them in the boneyard,” she hisses before cupping my face. “Those charred tater tots are nothing.”

I smile at how she’s gotten her cussing back under control after her earlier text messages to Sync.

Siobhan’s lips feel like home. She grips my shirt and yanks me as close as I can get with her belly in the way. My hand slides across her stomach, needing reassurance that my little guy’s okay. We both smile at how hard he kicks me.

“Can we lie down?” I ask, worried about her being on her feet.

Siobhan backs off so Aunt Fred can give me a hug. The twins run outside, calling my name. I kneel so they can hug me. The girls flinch at the sight of my swollen eye. Deirdre begins to cry.

“It’s okay,” I promise. “I just need to rest.”

Deirdre doesn’t buy into my words. She throws her head back and wails. Elvis picks her up before handing her off to Sync .

“We’ve got this,” Elvis says and picks up Kiera. “Just go use the downstairs bedroom to rest.”

Siobhan doesn’t want to leave the twins, but she also needs to cling to me. Inside, we find Glen and Nora with Carys. The kids see my face and lower their gazes as if ashamed.

“Come with us,” I insist and keep moving Siobhan toward the bedroom. “I need to stretch out.”

The kids shuffle behind us and stand at the door while I coax Siobhan to rest on her side. I wiggle my finger at the kids to get them closer as I sit on the edge of the bed. Glen is wearing different clothes, and I recall how freaked out he got over a little piss dribble.

Once he stands in front of me, I tug him into a hug and stroke his head. Years ago, after my mom died and I couldn’t stop screaming, Caveman forced me into a hug. He held onto me while I wailed for nearly thirty minutes. Once I finally quieted down, he sat me next to him on the couch and turned on a baseball game. He kept me alive that day because I was ready to follow my mom to hell just to make the pain stop.

Today isn’t as dire, but Glen feels tiny and scared like I must have to Caveman. I hug the boy as I wave Nora closer. She seems afraid of me.

“The cop shoved my face against the car. I hurt my eye pretty bad. I’m going to rest for a while. You can stay with Siobhan and me in here, or you can go hang out with your family outside.”

Nora looks to her brother for the answer, but Glen keeps his face buried against my shoulder. The kid only cries for a minute or two, but it’s long enough to get a lot of bad feelings out of his system. He finally pulls his face away from my shirt and wipes his eyes.

“I got scared,” he mumbles.

“Me too. But we’re together now. All these people are going to take care of us, so we don’t need to worry.”

Behind me, Siobhan starts to get up to comfort the kids. I turn and pat the mattress.

“I can’t relax unless you do,” I insist, guilting her into reclining again. “That’s what I need. It’s not just the pain. They gave me medicine. I feel dizzy and tired. Can we rest in here?”

As I take Siobhan’s hand, I explain to Glen and Nora, “I don’t know when we’ll be able to go back to the house. Siobhan, the twins, and I will need to stay here. Caveman can take you back to the hills if you’d prefer to stay there rather than at the farm,” I say, and the siblings’ similar faces give me identical pouts. “But I’d rather you stay with us.”

“I want to stay with you,” Glen says, and his sister nods.

“But if you change your mind because it’s quieter at Caveman’s house, that’s okay. I won’t be angry. You’ll still have your room at the house. Nothing changes between us.”

“Where will we sleep?” Nora asks.

“I don’t know,” I reply and recline next to Siobhan who smiles instantly when my gaze meets hers. “I don’t want to be in charge. Let’s have Elvis and Aunt Fred organize everything.”

Siobhan’s parents must be lingering nearby. As soon as I say their names, they appear at the door. I listen as Aunt Fred suggests the twins stay in their normal room with Sync bunking on an inflatable bed.

“We could put another inflatable bed in here for Glen and Nora,” Aunt Fred says, winning little smiles from the kids. “We’ll round up clothes for everyone and set you up in this guest room.”

I exhale deeply, relieved to let someone take charge. Planning anything beyond cuddling with Siobhan feels like a really difficult brain teaser.

As exhaustion drags me down, I hide my face in Siobhan’s hair. Her hands cradle mine. The pain eases under her soft touch.

Aunt Fred and Elvis coax the kids out of the room to help them round up supplies. Soon, food will be delivered, and people will visit. The house won’t be quiet until after ten, just like when I was a kid.

For a few minutes, though, Siobhan and I can simply breathe at the same pace. We find comfort in each other without speaking a single word.