Chapter 15

Tav

W e all trickle into the common room, finding seats or places to lean. Chewy sits on Rhodie's knee, leaning her head close to listen as he whispers to her. Ana is standing leaning against Gus, his large hand on her belly. Debs is on the couch with her head resting on Pops' shoulder, and Pixie is on my lap. It's a nice feeling watching my family grow into an even bigger, rowdier family. I glance at Jules across the room, leaning on the bar, and I cannot wait to see who tames him. He deserves happiness and all the love in the world, even if he doesn't think so.

"We haven't met yet. I'm Roman Bartashev. Head of the Bartashev Bratva."

"And my best friend!" Ana pipes up with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes, and Ana's bestie," Roman says, rolling his eyes as he offers a hand to Pixie.

She squints up at him for a beat before holding her hand out. "Blanche."

"Oh, I know who you are. I was in the warehouse the day you dispatched your cousin. I admired your work,"

"Oh, thank you. I think?" She gives me a look, her eyes huge as if to ask, "What the fuck?" I try not to chuckle. She'll soon learn that in this lifestyle we may mix with mafia and men who could take you out as soon as look at you, but we all do it for a good reason. Well, most of the time.

The door opens and Jimmy leads in three big ass versions, and one taller curvier version of my Ol Lady. Pixie rushes toward them and they all hug, talking a mile a minute.

"Holy shit the genes are strong in that family," Rider mumbles, watching with wide eyes.

"Is that how families are meant to behave when they see each other?" Chewy asks, her head tilted to the side.

"Sometimes, baby. Depends on how close you are. I hugged Marx when I got home from deployment," Rhodie mumbles, dropping a kiss on Chewy's head. She frowns a moment before nodding. Probably storing that chestnut away for a later date. Jules catches my eye and gives me a little smirk. We all know that's how she'll greet us next time one of us has a trip away.

"Oh, um DRMC, these are my siblings. From oldest to youngest, Vic," she points to the widest of them all. Her brothers are around the same height as me and my brothers, but hers are heavier set. "Dom, and Chris. And this is our little sister Lovely and her baby, Bee," Lovely looks like she's ready to shit her pants at any moment now. She's curled into herself, her arms wrapped around her baby tightly. Her eyes dart up to look around the room, widening a little when she sees how many of us there are.

"It's OK, sweetheart, you and your baby will be safe here," Marx says softly, stepping closer to the group, but softening his stance so as not to scare her.

Her dark eyes, so much like Pixie's stare at Marx, darting over his face before a shy smile plays on her lips. She turns her eyes from Marx to the rest of the room. Taking a deep breath, then letting it out, her head comes up and her shoulders square.

"T-thank you very much for having us. Bee and I are very grateful for your kindness." Her head drops as she looks down at the bundle in her arms, and she smiles down at her baby. "We're gonna be safe little Bee," she whispers before kissing her baby on the head.

Dom wraps his arm around Lovely, and she leans into him, looking around the room.

"Thanks so much for helping us out, man," Vic says. "It was touch and go for a minute there,"

Marx stares at Lovely a beat longer before shaking himself. "Blanche is family. By extension, so are you. Besides, we all have a common enemy," Vic nods in agreement. "Mama Debs has food for you and rooms made up. While you eat, we'll hash out a plan."

The Landrys move toward the table and Pixie starts madly waving me over. "You summoned me my love," I murmur before kissing her on the neck.

"Yes. Boys, this is Tav. My Ol Man," she beams up at me and my heart stutters over her claiming me as I claimed her.

Vic stands to his full height, straightening out his shoulders, so he's looking wide as fuck. Chris stands shoulder to shoulder with him, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Dom flanks Vic's other side, a scowl on his face. I should be intimidated, but I'm not. I mean, I may not be as big, but I also grew up with brothers, so I know all about fighting dirty. I'm not worried about these guys because I have Gus standing on my left and Jules on my right, both staring down the Landrys along with me.

"Are we doing one of those dick measuring contests?" Chewy says, standing right in front of me, head tipped back, staring at Vic.

Vic's eyes flick down and widen, surprised at Chewy. "And who are you, sweetheart?" he asks.

"Your worst nightmare," Chewy answers in her monotone voice. If that didn't shock him enough, then the large black silicone dick she's waving around in the air like a blunt instrument does.

"Wait, is that a dildo?" Chris asks, uncrossing his arms and looking at Chewy like she's nuts.

"Yup and there's plenty more where that came from," she says, punctuating that by poking Chris in the chest with it.

"Sorry, she's mine. Lemme just take her over here with me," Rhodie grunts, picking up my sister and carrying her and her dildo across the room.

Vic, Chris and Dom all share a look before they burst out laughing, "Yeah OK, Blanche fits in perfectly here. Take care of her, yeah?" Dom says, slapping me on the back and shaking his head. He looks over at Chewy and then bursts out laughing again.

"I don't understand anything that just happened," Lovely says, watching with wide eyes.

"Don't worry, we don't either," Tank answers drily.

She smiles up at him and makes her way to the table, taking a seat between her brothers. Pixie loops her arm in mine and rests her head on my shoulder. "That went better than I thought."

"Really? Because I have to admit, I didn't know where Chewy was going with that dildo."

Pixie snorts and then leads me to an empty seat, pushing me down to sit and then placing herself in my lap. The Landrys are all at the table, Mama Debs having placed their plates in front of them. The looks on the Landrys' faces are downright comical, and I get it, the plates are piled high.

"There's plenty more where that came from, and I have dessert too," Mama Debs says, patting Lovely on the shoulder and getting a beaming smile back.

"Listen up! We've got shit to go over tonight," Marx barks out. "First off, as you can see Roman has joined us, and as usual, he comes bearing shitty news." Marx tips his head toward Roman and I'm pretty sure we all brace ourselves. It's never good news if Roman is here.

"I wouldn't say shitty news. Just not favorable." Marx grunts at him while Roman smiles broadly, "As you all know it is my stolen merchandise that is being trafficked with these women. Lexi has had reports of my product being cut with a cheaper product and circulated in parts of Moscow. I do not ship there, which means the buyers for the girls and drugs are as far afield as Europe." He looks around at the dark faces before continuing, "My people got a hit on them. Hammer and his friends are using the Cordoza Cartel to move people and drugs."

"Fuck!" Sniper spits out, running both hands through his hair. That's interesting, the man is usually very calm.

"It's OK brother," Marx says, dropping a hand on Sniper's shoulder. Sniper quietens down, but you can see the tension in his body.

"If it makes you feel better, I am in talks with Diego Cordoza," Roman offers.

"Somehow that makes me feel worse," Marx replies, Roman snorting at his remark.

"I do not agree with the sale of women, and there isn't enough room in the market for both my product and theirs, so one of us has to find alternative employment. I can guarantee it will not be me." Roman nods with a cold look on his face.

"It's creepy how he goes from normal to stabby like that," Pixie whispers in my ear. Her warm breath has me picturing what it'll feel like on my cock.

Grumbling can be heard in the common room, no one happy with the new information the Bratva is bringing.

"It's a genius plan really," Chewy says, stroking her imaginary beard.

"How so?" Savage asks, taking the bait.

"Think about it. Hammer's MC is done since we killed them all. Now he doesn't have the numbers to be on the streets taking the women he needs for his supply. Somehow he crosses paths with Royal and his cult. Royal hits a town, converts people with the promise to save their souls, asking them to move to Louisiana to join his church. These people willingly follow him, giving Royal and Hammer the women and children they need. They then sell them and Roman's stolen drugs to the Cordoza cartel. Did I miss anything?"

Marx nods, running a hand down his beard, nodding, "It's a fucking marriage made in fucked up heaven for Hammer."

"OK, then how the hell does Niko fit into the whole thing?" Pixie asks. "With all the trafficking, it makes no sense that Royal would split his attention between that and trying to get my son. Wire? Chewy?"

"The only thing we could find was your will, Blanche, that you lodged with your lawyer, leaving all your possessions to your children. That and an alternative will that leaves your inheritance to Niko solely," Wire answers.

"I only have one will, the first one you mentioned." Pixie says, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Nope. There was another one lodged by Carterton, Munson and Associates," Chewy states.

"Who the fuck is that?"

"I-I might be able to answer that." All heads snap toward Lovely. She almost reminds me of Remy when she first arrived. Before Remy went all badass. Still sweet, but she won't hesitate to kick a man in the balls.

"We would love to hear what you have to say, Lovely. Any information you have will be super helpful," Remy says, gifting her with a gentle smile that Lovely returns in kind.

"Well, when that policeman found us he said that both me and Bee had to go with him. He said that Blanche told him she'd made a mistake taking us and that I needed to go back to the Keep and hand over my inheritance to Royal. That paying him was going to be the only way to keep him off our backs. I told him to have Blanche call me so I could hear it from her own mouth. That's when he went mad and Pleasant Dupree stepped in and told him to leave."

"What inheritance? You didn't give it to him did you?" Pixie asks, frowning at her sister.

"I can't. It's not mine to give,"

"That doesn't make any sense," Chewy asks, staring at Lovely, head tilted. "Also, what does that have to do with Niko?"

"My mother was Celine Surette." Lovely says softly.

"Hold up, she's related to my mom?" Pixie asks Lovely, staring into the face that looks so much like my Ol Lady.

"My mom went to Eden's Keep looking for her big sister. She found Mercy Landry instead."

"I remember her! She married him just before we were kicked out," Pixie's brother says. I think this one is Dom. His brow is furrowed, as if he's trying to remember more about her.

"Wait, how come I don't remember her?" Pixie asks her brothers.

"You always steered clear of Mercy's wives. You spent your time with Loyal and her mom," Chris answers, Pixie nodding in agreement.

"She was wife number 12." Lovely carries on. "She died two years ago. Mercy had caught a nasty cold, and I was caring for him when the lawyer came to read her last will and testament. If your mom's will is the same as mine, it would stipulate that her husband would inherit an annual stipend for every year they were married. The rest of her belongings would be split between their children equally."

"We were so young when mom died. I don't think I even knew she had a will let alone what was in it," Dom frowns.

"It's not unusual for Eden's Keep to keep things secret, either," Pixie adds bitterly.

"Let me see if I can get access to Adeline and Celine Surette's last will and testaments," Chewy says under her breath. She types away on her laptop, Wire and Remy doing the same as if it's a race to see who can hit the jackpot first.

"Ooooohhhhh," Remy breathes out, obviously the winner.

"Care to share with the class?" Marx asks drily.

"Your moms were cunning. Their lawyers have the wills and inheritances tied up so tight that in the event of your deaths, your money bypasses your spouses and goes to your children. Although that doesn't really make sense, given that you have three other children and Royal only wants one," Remy says, looking to Pixie for an answer.

"Does the will stipulate biological children?" Pixie asks.

She reads her screen before looking up at Pixie, nodding.

My woman blows out a breath before looking at everyone in the room with a hard look on her face. "Sage, Cove and Elio are not my biological children, but they're mine all the same."

I hold her tight to me, watching the respect for my woman grow on my brother's faces.

"So if Royal wants your money, he needs Niko to access it." Marx says, putting all the pieces together.

"Yup,"

Blanche

"Wait, if that's the case, and it's all about my sisters' money, because he's married to both of them, and Royal needs the kids to access it, why the hell would he sell Bee?" Chris asks, leaning over to rub his finger along our niece's chubby cheek.

"Son of a bitch," I whisper when it hits me, "That motherfucker! It's the men in Eden's Keep who register the births," I spit out.

"That asshole!" Chewy joins in, obviously following my train of thought. "If he doesn't register Bee's birth, then she never existed. Meaning he can sell her and there will be no paper trail at all."

Lovely nods sadly, "Then he'll just make me birth another child to inherit my money."

"And it'll all go into his little business investment with Hammer," Marx finishes.

"After he gets rid of me and Lovely, of course," I seethe. I cannot wait to end this man. Tav must feel my rage bubbling up because he holds me just that little bit tighter, the pressure making me feel safe, allowing my body to soften slightly.

Since Remy's revelation, Chewy and Wire have been tapping away at their keyboards frantically. I have no idea what they're doing, but it must be important because neither of them has looked up for a while.

"Bingo," Chewy whispers under her breath.

"Do you see it too, Chewy?" Wire asks, both of them with eyes on their laptops, before turning their wide eyes to me and Lovely.

"What is it?" Lovely asks, shrinking back into her chair.

"Well, I can see why Royal really wants Niko." Wire's eyes flick towards me and I feel like I'm going to storm across the room and beat the information out of Wire at any moment.

"If something were to happen to you, Niko, and in turn Royal would be $15 million richer,"

I think I just heard a record scratch. No, I'm certain I heard a record scratch.

"Come again?" I ask, my voice sounding tinny and distant in my own ears.

"Your inheritance is worth $15m. Way to go, Tav!" Chewy says, a wide grin on her face, her eyes still on her screen.

"Yours too, Lovely," Wire adds.

I stare at my sister who has gone deathly pale and looks like she's going to keel over at any moment.

"Lovely! Name 5 colors you can see!" I bark at her.

I watch as she takes a deep breath, then looks around the room.

"I-I see the green of the pool table top, Bee's pink blanket, Vic's blue Henley, the yellow of the kitchen wall and Marx's black leather vest." By the time she's reached Marx's vest her cheeks are pink, and she's looking a lot calmer.

"It's called a cut, sweetheart," Marx gently says, smiling at my sister.

"Oh, a cut," she repeats, smiling back at him, rocking her baby side to side gently.

Remy puts her hand up, indicating that she has something to say. All the men turn to her and Marx gives her a smile to go ahead. "If Royal really wanted Blanche's money and needed Niko to get it for him, why didn't he just take Niko when he was younger?"

"He tried. So many fucking times. We stopped him every time," Vic grumbles.

"By the time Blanche moved here she'd made some high up friends who signed a restraining order," Dom continues.

Marx's eyebrows raise, as if asking me to elaborate. I let out a sigh. "I'm a PI specializing in infidelity. I caught a certain judge's husband, and she owed me a favor." I shrug. The job itself was no big deal. "Having a restraining order against Royal meant he had to stop his harassment or face the authorities. And the one thing that man hates more than me is the authorities. He's the one that brings in all the new Keep members. He needs to look squeaky clean otherwise why the hell would they follow him?"

"OK, so now that we know Royal is an asshole, Hammer is a bastard, the Cartel are involved and we have two women sitting in our common room with money coming out the wazoo, what the hell are we going to do about our little problem?" Pops butts in.

"We need to divide and conquer," Chewy nods her head, happy with her plan.

"Chewy is right. Roman, you're handling the cartel?" Marx barks at the Russian.

" Da, I will take care of that pesky problem."

"You won't fuck us over, will you?"

Roman's hand flies to his chest as if he's absolutely disgusted that Marx would even think such a thing. It's not that hard. I'm not sure this guy is all that trustworthy myself.

"Marx, you know after having my daughter advertised in a fucking skin catalogue that I will do anything to put a stop to women being trafficked." His dark brows slash downward on his pale skin.

Marx squints a little before nodding once. "Very good Roman, glad to be working alongside you again."

Roman face splits into a wide smile, "Of course. I don't have a murder ban, so I'll make sure to kill enough for the both of us." With that, he leaves. Clearly, the rest of this little get together is of no interest to him.

"I really don't like that guy," Savage says under his breath.

"Hey! That's my bestie you're talking about!" Ana growls from Gus's lap.

Marx whistles to get our attention. "Here's what we're going to do,"

* * *

"You OK baby?" Tav asks, crawling into bed behind me. By the time we got all the details hashed out, it was past midnight. Lovely had already turned in, leaving the MC, the Tombs family and my brothers to all plan.

"Yeah, just a lot of shit to sort through, you know?" I roll toward Tav, resting my head on his shoulder and curling my body into his, the warmth of him seeping into me, comforting me.

"Yeah, it's crazy. Who would have thought I'd end up with a sugar mama?" He laughs, my head bouncing as he chuckles.

I tweak his nipple, startling a yelp out of him. "Shut up, you! That amount of money is fucking nuts to me. And I can't believe that asshole not only wanted my kid, but would knock me off to get that money. I'm amazed he never killed me all those years ago, choosing to bide his time instead."

Tav looks thoughtful. "I thought that too. But think about it, since you've been out of the Keep you've had your brothers for protection, and then you had a restraining order. He couldn't risk coming after you. But if he took Niko, you would have signed over everything to get him back."

"You're damn right there," I mumble back, swirling my fingers in his chest hair. "I still can't believe he would take my child or kill me. Or Lovely. How fucking evil do you have to be to do that to someone so, so, lovely? "

"She really does suit her name," Tav muses, making me snort.

"Yup. Probably one of the few that does. I mean, we all know that I'm the exact opposite of patience," Tav laughs as if it's the funniest joke I've ever told.

"Well, I love you just the way you are. But speaking of patience, are you happy with how this is going to go down?"

I nod, my face rubbing in the soft hair on Tav's chest. "As long as I get to kill the men I want, then I don't mind how this goes down. Although I have to admit Chewy's plan is diabolical."

"It's what she does best. Now baby, it's time for sleep. As much as I would like to fuck you into a coma, I'm too damn tired and we have too much shit to do tomorrow."

"You know, I would love to tease you about being old, but I agree."

"Does this make us lame?" Tav asks, his voice gentle and slow.

"Very, very lame,"

"I won't tell anyone if you don't,"

"Deal." I let Tav's warmth soothe me. His breathing evens out and I admire his strong profile.

This man has turned my life upside down and inside out, and I can't thank him more.