Chapter 5

5

Sniper – One Month Later

I check my watch for the fifth time as Doc goes over the finances for the club.

"Money is good, real good. The club's funds are increasing nicely; each brother has been given a five percent raise. Things keep going the way they are, then we'll be able to move Sniper's garage on club property, and build something bigger for him by the end of the year."

I snap my head up in shock. I watch Doc look over the paperwork in front of him as what he said hits me— Fuck, I never agreed to it….

Snake grins, oblivious to my dilemma. "I like the sound of that, having my woman and blood brother closer during the day and not halfway across town…."

Shit, shit, shit….

Doc nods. "We'll just have to see what dumbass there would like to do with the building he's currently in, because he did buy it himself; the club just invested in the equipment."

That's why I profit more than the club; it's my business. I wanted to do it independently and not rely on the club, but my dad and brother wanted to invest somehow and didn't give me a choice. I was willing to start from scratch.

I wanted to make my parents proud.

Snake nods. "That's something we can discuss nearer the time, and we'll figure out the funds and the profits then."

I chew the inside of my lip. I'm grateful they want to do this. I just…fuck…I can't have my garage on club property.

Besides, I worked my fucking ass off to get to where I am today.

I clear my throat, getting everyone's attention in church, and rasp, "I was thinking about not closing my garage…." The room tenses and Snake furrows his brows. I continue, "If you want to continue a garage here and Sarah wants to run it, that's perfectly fine; I won't hold any grudges, but I won't be working there. I like my garage and being my own boss."

Smokey chimes in, "You'll still be your own boss, Sniper. Your earnings won't go down. The garage will still be yours…."

Crap, they think it's about money.

I give him a smile. "It's not about the money. I, uh, don't like change is all; you all know this."

I feel my big brother's eyes burning into the side of my skull, but I ignore him and give everyone another tight smile, hoping they get the message to continue with church, but my big brother has other ideas.

He bangs his gavel. "Church is dismissed. Sniper stay behind."

I groan at the tension in his voice, leaning back in my chair, really wishing my father was in church today. A couple of brothers snort at my dramatics while Breaker pats my shoulder as he strides by, like a physical "good luck."

I'm going to fucking need it.

As soon as the door to church closes, I look at Snake.

He's leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, a brow raised. He states, "You've not touched one clubwhore in a month."

Okay, that's not where I thought this would go, but it doesn't surprise me that he picked up on that.

He continues, "This isn't about not liking change. It's about being close to a woman…." He tilts his head. "Has my baby brother finally fallen?"

Ah fuck. I sigh. "Hunter…."

He insists, "No. If you've found someone, then great, and if you're not ready to talk about it, then fine, I understand, but for fuck's sake, don't let your dick override your future and the continuous growth of your business, a business you have worked your ass off for."

I snort. "Brother, if my dick was overriding my future, then I wouldn't have started dating a single mom." His eyes widen, and I shrug. "I don't want anyone to know right now, not Momma, not dad, nor the brothers. It's new, and she's fucking skittish. We're just trying to get to know each other without others around."

He nods, and asks, "So why keep the old garage?" He leans forward, leaning his arms on the oak table, his fingers linked over the carved devil. "You've brought in a fuck load of customers, brother, way before Sarah started working there. Even she knows moving the garage here won't change the ownership, she respects that and never even questions her position, knowing the garage is your baby. You're the owner; the club is an investor only. None of that is changing, so why in the fuck do you want to keep your old garage when you and this single mom are just getting to know each other? Surely she can come here…."

I swallow and admit, "The woman I'm seeing doesn't know I'm in an MC." He sits back in shock, and I put my hands up in defense. "I didn't lie to her, I just omitted the truth. I just…." I run a hand through my hair in frustration. "The women in this town only want us brothers for the patch. Fuck's sake, Hunter, women upon women come forward claiming to be pregnant and shit, I just wanted to make sure she wants me for me, and the garage…fuck, Hunter, it's my business. I built it with blood and fucking tears; I don't know how to part from it."

Snake nods. "I can understand that, brother." He chews his bottom lip, and then adds, "How about we hold off for a few months? I'll inform the brothers that you want a bit more time to build the business, and when you're ready, we'll sell your garage and use the funds for the new one, so you don't feel like the club has taken over your business."

I think for a moment, not at all shocked he figured out my problems, before nodding, knowing he'll keep to his word. "I can get on board with that."

He smiles and claps his hands, rubbing them together. "Alright, that's settled, then. I'll let you go." I raise a brow at him, and he smirks. "Brother, I saw you checking your watch at least seven times."

I snort and stand, stating, "Actually, it was five, thank you very fucking much."

Snake grins. "I can't wait to meet the woman who has you tangled up like this."

Giving him the middle finger, I leave the room, and grab my phone from the prospect standing at the door, my brother's laughter following me.

Shaking my head, I go to the front door, already running late, and the fact I can't ride my bike fucking sucks, and not because we have Autumn, either, but because it's going to take me longer to get to her.

Sighing, I walk over to my truck just as my phone pings, and I wince. I know who it is. I grab it to check, expecting her to be upset, but reading her words, anger hits.

Ten minutes later, I park near the gate to the playground.

"Fucking woman," I mutter under my breath.

I was late picking her up, so she decided to fucking walk!

I swear I'm going to spank her ass one of these days.

I smile when I see Autumn giggling as my girl, the woman who has fucking entranced me out of nowhere, pushes her on the swing.

My eyes take in Aurora's long, denim skirt, and sweater. Her hair is up in her usual messy bun, and her smile is bright for her daughter.

Fuck, she's stunning, and doesn't even realize it.

Sighing, I walk through the gate and head her way, my eyes on her and Autumn. When I get close, I state, "You know I fixed your car for you to drive, Firecracker."

Her head whips my way, and her gorgeous, intense green eyes sparkle when they see me, making my heart pound and my body tremble.

It's only been a fucking month, and she's wormed her way into my heart.

She grins. "I didn't see the point of driving here when I knew you were meeting us. Besides, it's not my fault you were forty minutes late. I have a two-year-old who got bored waiting. Honestly, maybe you should be grateful I'm not screaming and shouting at you for being late, I mean that's what most women do when they are upset, right?"

I smirk and mutter, "There's my Firecracker," making her giggle, the sound hitting my chest.

Fuck, I'm falling, and I'm falling fast, and yes, I'm fucking scared. Me, the big, bad biker is fucking scared of falling.

She smiles. "It's okay, Theo, I promise. Autumn liked the little walk, and I knew you'd meet us and give us a lift back."

I hum and walk over to her, wrapping my arm around her waist, my lips touching her neck.

I want to say I was a gentleman who only pecked her cheek on our first date, but I wasn't. I kissed her hard and fucking fast, making sure she understood our date didn't end as friends; it ended with us starting a relationship.

The date was fucking amazing. I took her and Autumn to the seaside, then for some food. I ensured she had a good time, kept touching her hand and back, and rubbed her hair between my fingers, all while I carried the perfect little girl—not once getting food on my face.

I made them my family, and she didn't have a chance in hell of retreating.

Aurora stops the swing when Autumn notices me, squealing in delight, making me chuckle. I lift her out of the bucket seat, holding her close. Her little hands go to my cheeks, squeezing them, and I grin.

"You want some ice cream, Princess?" I ask Autumn, feeling Aurora's eyes on me.

Autumn nods vehemently, making us chuckle, and I hold her on my right hip, and turn to my girl, wrapping my left arm around her waist. She comes to me willingly, leaning against me as we walk over to the ice cream stand on the other side of the playground.

I blow raspberries on Autumn's cheeks, making her giggle as we wait in line. When we're next, I give the serving girl a polite smile, ignoring the way her eyes eat me up, and hating that, even without my fucking cut, I get attention.

"A small scoop of chocolate chip and two large cones of mint chocolate chip, please," I say as I get some cash out of my jeans before Aurora can grab her purse.

It's not her first time trying to pay, and I know it won't be the last. My girl is strong-willed.

The server gives Autumn hers, and she grins wide as I put the cash down and take the cone she's handing to me after giving Aurora hers.

I thank her and turn, Aurora following. I can feel my girl's eyes burning into my back, and I chuckle, "You're not paying when you're with me, Firecracker. Get used to it."

She growls, making me grin as I place Autumn on the grass, who happily chomps her ice cream. I sit next to her before I pull Aurora down next to me.

She comes willingly and leans against my body, watching her daughter.

I chuckle when Autumn holds the cone out to me to share. I lean forward and take a bite, making her giggle, and Aurora states, "At least she didn't throw it this time."

I grin at her. "Yeah, but if she hadn't that first time, I wouldn't have met you both."

Her cheeks redden with a blush, and I chuckle, my body wanting to move closer to her than I already am.

Leaning forward, I kiss her cheek, feeling her smile. In this moment, while sitting on the grass eating ice cream with a two-year-old, I know this woman is my future, and I know her daughter is mine, and I know I need to tell her who I am before we go any further. I need to explain my reasoning for not telling her, hoping she doesn't hate me for it.

Clearing my throat, I lick my cone, and subtly ask, "Have you heard of the Devil's MC?"

Okay that was subtle but, honestly, I don't know how else to bring it up.

She stills, and I look at her with a furrowed brow. Clearing her throat, she rasps, "I have heard of them. I know they look after the town, but I, uh, um…. Why?"

She's confused but not as perplexed as I am at her reaction.

"They are a big part of the town, and I, uh…." The crease between her brows deepens and I swallow hard. Fuck, I'm failing here. My words trail off, seeing her reaction to my words. She's looking at me with fear, and I don't fucking like it. Clearing my throat, I ask, "You don't like MCs?"

She gives me a timid smile as she grabs a wipe, and starts to clean up Autumn, whose eyes are following a butterfly. Aurora says, "I'm sure the men in the MC are nice, but I just, personally, don't like them or any brother for that matter. I, uh, um, I don't want anything to do with MCs, and I uh, the thought of being with a brother makes me want to run a mile…." She looks at me with concern and asks, "Are you a brother? I mean, you have the tattoos, and I know you mentioned a Harley…."

Her words trail off, and instantly, I know I can't tell her the truth. The look in her eyes tells me she'll fucking run, ending this, her words basically confirming it.

Fuck's sake….

Giving her what I hope is a smile, I omit the truth and say, "I have a couple of friends who are part of the brotherhood. Is that going to be a problem?"

She looks at Autumn, who's crawling my way, making me smile. I lift her onto my lap as Aurora whispers, "I don't want them anywhere near me or my daughter. I…."

Her words trail off again, and I look at her to see the fear and anger. Concern and worry hit me.

What the fuck happened to my girl?

Tilting my head, I cajole, "I won't force you to do something you don't want to. I want you and Autumn, Firecracker, that's it."

I want to push her to tell me; in the past month, her past has been just that, she doesn't mention it or Autumn's father.

I think I just need to give her some time, and hopefully, she'll open up to me; if not, I'll have a conversation with Tech, our club's computer genius.

She smiles, her eyes tearing up. I lean forward, taking her lips with mine, as Autumn places her head on my shoulder.

Aurora hums, and I smile against her lips, gently caressing hers.

I will tell her about who I really am. First, though, I need to get her to fall madly in love with me, so she won't leave.

I need to tie her to me in every way possible.

I won't lose her or Autumn. I just can't.