CHAPTER 9

NAVY

‘Jesus, I couldn’t believe my sweet Gia was a virgin.’ How the hell had someone as hot as her made it to the age she had without someone sweeping her up? It made me even happier that I’d saved her from that oily fucker with the beer gut last night. The thought of him with his hands on her made me feel murderous. I wanted to find the fucker and pound him into the ground for even thinking he had a chance with her.

I kept expecting for Gia to let me know she’d had enough of riding, but she stayed with me for the entire ride back. It was late afternoon when we turned down the road that would take us to Bancroft House. I loved this part of the drive - the long, winding road under the avenue of large oak trees. There were glimpses of green fields and stone walls as we drove down it towards the big house. The house that I’d called home for years. A house that held good memories even if I’d been an angry little shit when I’d been deposited here with a grandmother that I’d hardly known. Not that our not knowing each other was any fault of hers. That fault rested solely on the shoulders of my parents.

My mother had been her daughter, but we’d not seen much of my grandmother because my parents were happier digging in the dirt, moving from one archaeological dig to the next, dragging me along with them than spending time with family.

So much so that they tended to forget about me when they were deep in their work, and I’d been half feral by the time I got deposited here with my elderly grandmother. My parents had been killed when they’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time on one of their digs. A dig that most of the other archaeologists had already left due to unrest in the area. My parents were the only ones that had decided to stay. One of their team had insisted that I go with them to the nearest town until the unrest died down. It was the last time I’d seen them. They’d each hugged me, told me to be good and then walked away, discussing where next to dig. I’d been forgotten as easily as that. They’d been killed the next afternoon, and I’d been sent to my next closest living relative, which was my gran.

I think I was just as much a shock to my grandmother as she was to me, but in the end, she’d been the best thing to happen to me. She was one of the few that had loved me unconditionally.

She’d understood from the start that I wouldn’t have been happy running her estate and between the two of us we’d narrowed down who’d be a suitable heir for her. I’d always liked Bas and Hope from when we’d first met. They’d both been in their twenties when they’d taken over and I’d never regretted signing away my rights to inherit. I was happiest being able to do what I wanted when I wanted, with no restrictions placed on me. It was one of the things I loved about being in an MC even if we weren’t a one percent club.

We didn’t mind getting our hands dirty if needed but didn’t go looking for trouble. I loved that my brothers had my back when and if I needed it. Although I wouldn’t discount our MC ladies in that. Most of them were fierce, but they were nicely balanced by the softer ones, such as Julia and Avy. I had a feeling that my Gia was going to be like them and that was okay too because I was fierce enough for the both of us.

A smile lit my face as we drove up to the garage at the back of the house and found an excited Violet and George waiting for us with Aggie. Aggie had been with our family for years and was our cook/housekeeper. She ran our family like a general, ensuring we all did as she said, and our lives ran smoother for it.

Parking my bike, I switched the engine off and helped Gia get off safely before dismounting. Watching in amusement as George and Violet charged at their parents. I knew it wouldn’t be long before they headed for me. At twelve and ten, they were both tall with our family’s dark hair, dimples, and blue eyes. I loved them like they were my own. I hadn’t ever expected to have my own children, and I’d jumped at the chance to be their godfather when asked. I spoilt the little shits rotten, much to their mother’s disgust.

Taking the helmet from Gia when she hands it me, “How are you feeling after that ride, sweets.”

Gia grinned at me, “I’m good. A little stiff but I can’t wait to go for another ride.”

I was just about to reply when I’m hit by what feels like a small tornado as two spindly arms wrap themselves around my waist. “Uncle Alan, you came early,” Violet smiles up at me. Wrapping my arms around my niece, I hug her tightly, lifting her slightly up off the floor, swinging her slightly from side to side.

“Vi, hello, sweetheart, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Uncle Alan. Is this Gia? Her gran came last night.”

“Yes, this is my Gia,” I acknowledge, putting my niece back down and turning her towards Gia. Keeping my arm around her shoulders, I introduce her, “Gia this is my niece and goddaughter Violet.”

Gia smiles sweetly, holding out her hand to Vi, “It’s lovely to meet you, Violet. You look very much like your uncle and dad.”

Violet grins, “It’s nice to meet you too. Your gran is super cool.”

“She is,” Gia agrees. “I’m dying to see her. Do you think you can take me to her?”

“Sure,” Vi agrees, grabbing Gia’s hand and starts towing her towards the house.

Knowing she’s in good hands, I walk over to where Bas and George are unloading the vehicle, ruffling my nephew’s hair in passing. “Hey, George, did the paintball stuff arrive?”

“Hi, Uncle Alan,” George grins up at me. “It did. Derek and I put it in the small barn. Thanks for getting it, it’s going to be ace. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the MC. Do they have kids?”

“Yep,” I answer, leaning into the back of the vehicle to pick up my bag and slinging it over my shoulders. “There are a few kids your age and some younger. Why?”

“Well, Derek and I wondered if they’d like to camp instead of staying in the big house?”

“It’s going to be pretty cold dude, it’s mid-October. Why don’t you maybe clean out the loft in the barn and stay in there instead?”

“That might be a better idea,” Derek agrees, walking up to us with a smile. Derek handled the running of the estate alongside Bas. He dealt mostly with the security side than anything else. He was in his early twenties, about my height, with the same dark hair, dimples, and blue eyes that Bas and I have.

“Hey, man,” I greet him, “how’s everything going?”

“It’s all good, Navy, picked them up, no problem, and got them back here.”

“Thanks man, I appreciate it.”

“Bas,” Derek tilts his chin towards our cousin.

“Derek, any issues while we were gone?”

“Nope, it’s all good,” Derek informs him. “Couple of things for tomorrow.”

“Thanks man, appreciate you staying here this weekend.”

Derek snorts a laugh, “You say that every time. It’s not a hardship looking out for you and yours.”

“You know you could always move here,” Bas says, “It’s not like we don’t have room, then you wouldn’t have to travel every day.”

Derek grins, “If I move in, will that stop you bitching?”

Bas shrugs, “Probably not.”

“Holy shit, there’s three of you,” a soft voice says from behind me.

Turning, I see Gia, mouth slightly agape staring at Bas, me, and Derek.

Walking over to her, I gently tap her chin to close her mouth. Her wide eyes meet mine before they drift over Bas and Derek and then back to me.

“There’s more of you?” she questions hesitantly.

Smiling at her confusion, taking her by her hand, I walk her over to where Bas and Derek are still standing at the vehicle to be introduced. George, long since bored, had hightailed into the house while we’d been talking.

“Gia, this is my other cousin Derek. When my grandmother started searching for someone to inherit her estate, she found Derek’s father, who, like me, had no interest in running the estate. Derek was still too young. We’re related but not closely; however, as far as we’re concerned it’s easier to just call us cousins. Derek, like me, has no interest in running the estate, but unlike me, he does his bit and is in charge of the security side. He went and got your grandmother for me last night. I’m as close to them as I am to my MC brothers. You can trust them to be there for you if needed. Derek, meet my Gia.”

Derek grins, holding out his hand for Gia to take, “Ah, the infamous wife of the hour. It’s good to meet you, love.”

“Wow,” Gia mutters softly, looking up at him with wide eyes, “seriously, you guys have some good genes in this family.”

Laughing, I haul her into my side, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

“Come on, sweets, take me to meet your gran. You can stare at his mug over dinner. We’ll eat together.”

Walking towards the house, Gia looks back over her shoulder, then back at me, shaking her head again. I got it. While Bas and I looked alike, it wasn’t as noticeable because he kept himself clean shaven and hair cropped short and stylish, whereas Derek was more like me. He preferred jeans, T-shirts, and boots, kept his hair a little too long, and wore a beard. I wasn’t too worried though because Derek would be more interested in my brothers than he would be in Gia.