Sawyer (Great Wolves Motorcycle Club, #5) (18 page)

“You love it there. You’ve worked your ass off to get where you are. The kids need you. I could go on.”

“I’ve done what I can there. I made a difference, to some kids at least. But there’s a tougher battle out there now. And I want to go where I think they need me even more.”

“Where’s that?”

“I’m going to take a meeting with the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. I’m going to work wherever they need me. However they need me.”

“You’re an amazing woman Bess Geary.” I leaned in and kissed her. She moved forward and I sank back into the couch. She nuzzled her head just under my neck.

“So are you going to make it official?”

“Are you sure?”

“You’ve tried to dump me for my own safety or because I’m a smart mouth or because I have more baggage than your average M.C
.
hanger on but I’m right here.”

“Well, I want you up here.” I slid her up and we were lip to lip. I kissed her. And noticed her robe had slipped from her shoulder. Lucky, lucky Sawyer. I nudged it along and kissed her shoulder.

“Sawyer McCall.”

“Bess McCall.”

“What?”

“I insist.”

“Sawyer I didn’t mean that. I...I...”

“What? Bess Geary McCall? That better?”

“I didn’t mean to force you into marrying me. I just wanted it biker official. Like officially your old lady. Something like that? I know you’re not the marrying kind of guy. I promise.”

“I am if it’s you.” I stopped her next round of protest with my lips.

“Sawyer, I just wanted you to buy me like a sidecar or something.” I rolled her onto her back and slid the robe completely open. Her nipples were pebbled and asking me to put them in my mouth. But Bess had not stopped protesting.

“Are you saying no? Second thoughts about being Mrs. Sawyer McCall?”

“No, I am not. I want to be your old lady or the first lady of the MC or Mrs. M. all of it.”

“Good, now be quiet while I kiss your gorgeous tits.”

“Such rough language Prez.”

She was willing to ride sidecar no matter the consequence. It wasn’t going to be an easy ride. Being the Prez of an MC never was. I had learned Bess didn’t want easy, she wanted hard, crazy, messy even, just as long as it was real. And that I could promise.

Bess

“How am I going to do this without you?” Cassidy and I hugged as I carried a box of stuff out of my office.

“I’m not leaving town, just this office, you know I’m a text away for anything you need.”

“I know, still.”

“How’s DeAndra?”

“Better I think. Some days she’s better. Others...” Cassidy trailed off.

“That’s the way of all of this.”

“Right, well expect a million texts. Good luck, the mediation is this afternoon right?”

“Yes, I thought I’d pack all my stress into one day. After that, I’m going to the accountant.”

“No!”

“Kidding, root canal.”

“Stop. Good luck and call me after the mediation, no matter what.”

Chris and I had a date with the judge over changing the custody. He wanted too much. I was prepared for a fight.

I didn’t want Henry to go through this but I also didn’t want to lose even a second. We were at an impasse.

I packed the car with my office stuff and made a short trip around the corner to the courthouse.

Sawyer and I were engaged now. The ring was still new on my finger. He didn’t think it was a good idea to be at the hearing but I did. I was proud of him and Chris could go to hell.

Sawyer would protect Henry and me with his life and I was done letting Chris threaten me. I wanted the court or Chris or anyone who cared to know that I was going to marry Sawyer McCall.

I sat at one table with my lawyer and Chris and Candice sat at another.

I turned around and saw Sawyer in the row behind me.

I almost didn’t recognize him. He’d pulled back his hair and was wearing a business suit. My jaw dropped. He looked sexy as hell and entirely different, dangerous in leather, and devastating in a suit. Lucky Bess. He winked at me and I turned back around.

The judge came in and we stood.

“Be seated,” the judge looked at Chris.

“Mr. Geary you’re asking for a significant change in the arrangement and you’ve argued that your ex-wife works long hours and has a criminal for a boyfriend?”

“He’s in a biker gang, your honor! I am an upstanding member of one of the oldest families in Grand City. My wife is home full time. Henry would be much happier if he was with us the majority of the time. Not to mention safer.”

“Okay, that’s enough. I can read the file.”

“Ms. Geary, what about your work hours.”

“I’ve recently resigned from my position as a director of a department. I agree that my work was grueling. I will always work but my new situation will be more flexible so Chris has nothing to worry about.”

“I see here, this is a statement from your new employer. Good work they’re doing.”

My lawyer had sent over the letter offering me a position with the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. I would be setting up a satellite office in Grand City. It was a smaller job than I had but one that I couldn’t wait to start.

“So you’ve addressed the work complaint. No how about this criminal he says you’re going to marry.”

“Yes, Sawyer McCall. And he’s not a criminal.”

“Sawyer?” And the judge dropped his reading glasses to look up and behind me.

“Almost didn’t recognize you in the suit!”

“Judge Terry.”

“That changes things a bit. Sawyer McCall is a business owner, not a criminal Mr. Geary. In fact, let’s see here. A background check reveals that McCall has a few speeding tickets, but nothing more serious than that.”

“Your honor we’ve also added some character references if you’d like to peruse any of those.”

“Yes, let’s see, Detective Murray says McCall was instrumental in helping him locate a runaway. Oh, here’s one from our movie star Craddock Flynn, McCall helped him advance his career when he was starting out. Good friend to have,” Judge Terry laughed at his own joke.

“And then here’s a familiar name, Sawyer McCall, and his Great Wolves Security Firm have been the single biggest factor in helping the Five Points Shopping District establish a safe environment where our small locally owned businesses can grow. Signed Otto Terry, Owner of Otto’s Jewelry Store.”

The judge put down the file and closed it.

“Mr. Geary, Otto Terry is my brother. It is clear to me your concern over Sawyer McCall’s influence on your son is unfounded. “Mr. Geary, you’ve failed to provide clear and convincing evidence that a change in Henry’s already established custodial environment would be in his best interests.”

“Sawyer McCall in a suit. Glad, I came to work today.” The judge chuckled as he walked out of the courtroom.

“I’m done?” I asked my lawyer.

“Yep, you won. And it will be exceedingly hard for Chris to try this again after failing and wasting the court’s time.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, congratulations. If I see even one biker...” Chris was snarling at me under his breath.

“Chris,” Candice, out of the blue, spoke up. Chris shut up at her command.

“Bess. I hope we can put this behind us. Henry is a beautiful soul and I am honored to have a small role in his life.”

You could have knocked me over with a feather. Candice was the unlikely voice of reason in what had been a tug of war over my son.

“Thank you, Candice. That means more than I can express.”

“Let’s go, Chris.”

Chris gave me one more look and followed his wife. I felt infinitely better about Henry going to them on weekends now that I saw Candice could be that amazing.

“What do you know about?” Sawyer put my hand in his and kissed me on the cheek.

“I guess it shows Chris has good taste in second wives.”

“Pretty great taste in first wives too.” Sawyer pulled me closer.

“Where did you get this suit?”

“Great Wolves Security provides services for a tailor in Five Points. Now about those references, did you do that?”

“You bet your ass I did. There are actually a dozen letters in there vouching for you.”

“Hell, maybe I should run for mayor?”

“No, I like the suit, don’t get me wrong. But the leather, that does something to me on another level.”

“What level?” Sawyer wiggled his eyebrow and at me.

“A lower level.” Sawyer grabbed what could only be described as a handful of my ass cheek. I looked around, luckily no one was left in the room.

“Let’s go home and you can show me.”

––––––––

S
awyer

The Wolf Den
’s grand re-opening was also Bess and my wedding. We’d created an outdoor patio, we’d fixed the damage that the Russians had caused and it was ready to roll.

There were four of us standing in front of Judge Terry as we said our vows.

“Do you take this woman to be your wife?”

“I do,” I answered.

“Do you take this man to be your husband?”

“I do,” Bess answered.

“Do you take these three to be your family?”

“I do,” Alexis answered.

We’d combined an adoption ceremony with our wedding and I went from Sawyer McCall, 40-year old bachelor biker to 40-year old family man.

I kissed her as chastely. The kids were there after all.

Then Bess hugged Alexis and Henry. Bess couldn’t imagine her life anymore without Alexis and I couldn’t imagine mine without all three of them. It was official.

Cassidy was Bess’s Maid of Honor and Larry stood up for me. I looked around and was only really missing one face.

Stone wasn’t there. But there was a good reason. I knew we’d see him again. Hopefully soon.

Dusty was there, and a bridesmaid no less. I made a point to catch up with her before we made our honeymoon escape.

“You have a dress on. I’ve never seen that. Looks beautiful.”

“I hate it.”

“I know. But at least, you got your way.” She grabbed my collar.

“New leather!” I had a new jacket, new chaps, it was all very fancy.

“I figured if I didn’t wear new leather on my wedding day it was never going to happen.”

“Have a good time on your honeymoon. I’ll have the girls move all your stuff to the house while you’re gone.”

“Thanks, kiddo.” I hugged Dusty hard. The M.C. owned a handful of houses on a quiet road off our main parking lot. They were arranged in a cul-de-sac and the largest one was empty. Bess and I decided it was a better fit for Alexis and Henry than the apartment I had over
The Wolf Den
and so that would be our new place after our honeymoon.

I watched as Bess and Cassidy hugged it out too. Alexis was going to stay with Cassidy during our honeymoon week.

Henry, who was eating a piece of cake that was bigger than his head, would be with his dad. Though Chris was not invited to the wedding, Candice was, and she graciously attended. Candice and Bess had formed an alliance and the winner most certainly would be Henry.

I reached out a hand and Bess walked the short distance to me. We entwined our fingers.

“Hey, what about the bouquet?” Bess had opted for a really informal wedding. She wore a pale yellow sundress and her hair loose. My buttoned up civil servant was looking more like a flower child today. I loved it.

“Okay, if you’re single get ready,” I yelled to the tight not-so-little group of wedding guests. Men and women, bikers and fighters, social workers and jewelry store owners, lined up.

Bess gave her bouquet of tulips a good toss and a roar of hooting and hollering arose from the clamor of people.

We turned to look and saw why.

Victor had caught the bouquet.

“He’s a foot taller than everyone else! Total bullshit.” Dusty said as the gang congratulated Victor. He looked good in his newly acquired leather vest with Great Wolves patch. Getting shot for the club is the hard way to go from probie to full member but it works.

We said our goodbyes and I had her to myself, sort of, Ryder was our chauffeur. He drove us to the airport in the back of a recently restored convertible. The restoration completed by our latest venture, Great Wolves Body Shop.

“I’m excited!” Bess yelled as we drove away from
The Wolf Den
. The yelling was necessary as the guys decided to provide us with a motorcycle motorcade to the highway. It was touching, intimidating, and loud as hell.

I pulled Bess in tighter next to me. She laid her head down on my shoulder, her hair whipped around her head thanks to open air of the convertible.

“I should have tied it back. I’m going to look like a wild animal by the time we get to the airport.”

“Leave it. Great Wolves like it wild baby.”

Bess

I said I wanted mountains, lakes, hikes and the great outdoors for our honeymoon. It would be the last kid-free vacation we would ever take. The idea of Sawyer at Disneyworld was starting to percolate and it made me giggle. That would be another time.

This time was for us. Yet again Sawyer McCall surprised me. We flew to Montana where his cousin owned a secluded ranch.

Lincoln McCall and his wife Leslie opened their home our first night there and made us dinner.

“So does this mean you’re out of the club?” Lincoln McCall was scary looking. There was no other way to say it. He had a shaved bullet of a head and his body was thick with muscle.

Sawyer had told me he’d been in the military and then a bodyguard. But now, he was a happily married rancher. His wife Leslie was a brunette bombshell. There was something very 1950s about her. She ran the house, the smaller animals, and she ran Lincoln, it was clear.

“No, not out of the club. Just totally legit these days.” I helped Leslie clear the table.

“Leslie, this is such a gorgeous home.”

“Thank you. We’re not done with it. Lincoln is laying every log, Lincoln log - get it?”

She had a little musical giggle.

“I do get it,” she made me smile. I didn’t know her story but I would bet it was interesting.

“It’s taking him longer than he wants because he’s also running the ranch.”

“A lot of work.”