CHAPTER 17

REAPER

Leaving my room quietly, my woman asleep in my bed, I felt like the king of the world.

Opening the lad's door, I wake them up and head downstairs for coffee.

I find the others already in the kitchen, ready to head out.

I get the expected ribbing from them as I enter, knowing they don't mean anything by it.

Rogue sent a grin my way when he saw the smile on my face, "Yeah, someone had a good night."

I couldn't help but grin back at them. Knowing that I had found the woman meant for me was a great feeling.

Onyx groaned in disgust, throwing a tea towel at my face, "Fuck's sake get that goofy grin off your face."

"We're just taking the piss, Reaper. We're happy for you. She's a fantastic woman. Who would have thought you'd be loved up and a proud dad of two boys and two girls a month ago?"

"That's the way to do it," Rogue said, nodding seriously. "No potty training, sleepless nights, or throwing up. Yeah, I reckon it's the way forward."

We laugh at him.

I shook my head, taking a drink of my coffee before answering.

"Life is good, brother. I hope mum has good news on the kid front, and we don't get hassled about keeping them. They're good kids. They just need a chance. Now, we'd be sitting pretty if we can just get rid of the ACES."

"Talking about the ACES and what we need to do. Are you open to more members in the MC?" Dragon asked.

I thought about it. We would need more men if we were to take out the organisation.

"Depends on who it is. I don't just want anyone. They have to have something to offer. Could you bring it to the table this afternoon? I want to discuss securing this place before we start anything heavy with the ACES. Draco is heading next door with Mum after training this morning. If we get the farm, we'll need to discuss securing it. It's a bigger property, so securing it won't be as easy."

I got nods from all of them. Then, hearing footsteps on the stairs, we finish our coffee.

"Who's driving the lads?"

Draco answered, "I'll take them."

We all headed outside, started our bikes, and followed Draco onto the main road. Mentally I began making lists of all that we needed to do.

The most important item was securing our home, followed by getting the barn ready to be used as a clubhouse and getting the meeting room done so that we didn't have to keep kicking everyone out of the dining room.

The bakery light was on as we drove past, and an older woman I didn't recognise was serving at the hatch. Considering the early hour, a small queue formed, waiting to be served.

Parking in front of the gym, we waited while Alec unlocked it.

Training went as expected. Things between Ben and Alec seemed to have settled down. I was happy to see Alec and Sam helping him. They would soon understand the importance of having brothers at their back.

After training, I left Dragon and Rogue to chat with Lee about buying the gym.

Draco left to pick up mum. Onyx and I headed to the hospital to check on dad. We kept hoping that he would wake soon. It was nearly three weeks, and I wondered if he would ever wake up.

Leaving the hospital a couple of hours later, we stopped at the café to grab an early lunch.

Full of fantastic food, Onyx and I headed back home for the afternoon meeting. Hopefully, Draco, Dragon, and Rogue would have news on the gym and farm.

We were all sitting around the dining table waiting on Draco so we could get this meeting started. He'd sent me a message to say he was dropping mum back in town and would be a little late getting back.

He came stomping into the dining room with a look of frustration on his face. Pulling out his chair, he sat down heavily.

"You, okay?" I ask him.

"Fuckin' hell, brother! Why are women so frustrating? How can someone so small be such a pain in the arse?"

There were snickers from around the room before Dog said, "I guess you met little Molly?"

"I not just met her, I met her bullet point questions on what we were going to do with the land, what it meant for her grandad, how we better not think that we would have anything to do with her business. Next time someone else can go."

"Did you at least secure the property?" I asked in amusement. Draco was usually unflappable. I was looking forward to meeting the woman that had managed to throw him.

"Yes, we got the farm but only because of her granddad. Anyway, it's with your mum and the lawyers now."

"Good," I replied.

Turning to the rest of them, "Right, now that Draco is back, let's talk security and new members. New members first," I nodded at Rogue to go ahead.

"I've had a couple of guys from our old units contact me wanting to join. Three we know, Hawk, Navy, and Bull. As you know, Bull is a Medic, and with things escalating, likely someone we'll need.

"The others that Hawk mentioned weren't in our units, so none of us knows them. These are my thoughts. The three we know join as full members, and the other four come in as prospects for six months.

"Just because they are ex-military doesn't mean they are a good fit. We all know that some are still arseholes. I have made them aware of the situation so they know what they are getting into. One good thing is that one of the guys that will have to prospect, William Adams, is good at computers. He's ex-intelligence. They are aware that the woman will be part of the MC meetings and don't care."

"Sounds good," I agreed. "Votes on what Rogue has just offered?"

There were ayes from around the table. Dragon, as our treasurer, made a note.

"Looks like we have new members coming in. Get Hawk to send you the prospects' information so we can check into it," I told Rogue. "When are you expecting them?"

"They're just waiting to get the okay from us, and they can all be here by the end of next week."

"Okay, let's make sure the cottages are ready so they can move right in."

Seeing that Dragon had noted that down I moved on to the next thing, security around the house.

"Onyx, have you got a list of what is needed security-wise for around the house?"

He nodded and passed a printed list around.

First on the list was getting the electric gates working again, then the cameras, and finally, the electric fencing one metre in from the main wall.

"That's the front and the sides. What about the back?"

"That's going to be more difficult because of the forest. But we can set traps as none of the family ever go in there. We need to think about fencing it all in once we have more cash flow," Onyx replied.

"Do a cost work up and bring it to the next meeting, andwe'll see if we can't swing something. Take into account next door. We'll have to secure that perimeter too," I reminded him.

"Anything further?" I asked.

"Yeah, Lee Masters has agreed to sell the MC the gym. Lawyers have been notified, and papers are being drawn up as we speak. It should be ours soon," Dragon announced.

"That's great. I assume you and Rogue are still happy to run it?"

They both replied in the affirmative.

"Right, if that's all, we're done. First thing Monday, start getting the security setup. We can't hit the ACES while we're vulnerable. Back here Monday afternoon for a catch-up on where we stand."

With that, we all stood and headed out of the dining room. Finding all the women and kids in the kitchen, I looked at the clock, surprised to find it was after five. Knowing we'd be in the way, I dropped a kiss on my woman's head and ruffled the girl's hair as I walked past. I asked, "How long until supper?"

Noni looks at the clock on the wall before answering, "About another hour, we'll call you."

"Okay, where are the lads?"

"Outside playing football," Bella answered.

Grabbing the keys for the cottages from the board that held all our keys, we got our boots on.

"We'll be over at the cottages. We have more recruits coming in next week," I told them.

"Ooh, fresh meat," Noni grinned, wiggling her eyebrows lustily. Then winced when there was a muffled giggle from Bella. Luckily Ellie was oblivious.

"Sorry, I keep forgetting about little ears," Noni apologised.

Shaking my head, my eyes met Abby's, which were sparkling with amusement.

Meeting the rest of the men outside, we headed to the cottages to do inventory and see if there was anything that needed replacing or re-doing.

The cottages are pretty simple, with two bedrooms, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a lounge, no dining area. My grandfather had updated them and re-roofed them in the 60s then my dad added bathrooms in the 80s.

They had beds, but the mattresses would be replaced. And white goods for the kitchens, including fridges, as none of them had any.

We made lists that I knew the women would go over. We had just left the last cottage when we heard Avy shouting that supper was ready.