Page 37 of Spook’s Honor

I’m surprised at his change of subject, but I shouldn’t be. Maverick often jumps from subject to subject. I’d learned to go with the flow.

“Yeah,” I smile and settle deeper in the chair. “She’s fucking amazing, Mav.”

“Good brother,” Mav nods. “You deserve some good in your life. Been a long time coming.”

Tilting my head I study my friend, my brother from another mother. There had been a hint of melancholy in his tone. “You do too, Travis.”

He lets out a short, sharp bark of laughter, “Nah, brother I’m good,” he says with a shake of his head. “Women don’t see me, they see the money, or the club. I’ll stick with being the fun uncle to the brood of nephews and nieces you’re going to give me.”

I hate that for him. He’s not wrong though. I’d seen it happen. The way women threw themselves at him, hoping to be the one he picks. Shallow and callous. The lot of them. Maverick wasn’t the type to want that.

His parents had been in love with each other, and I knew he wouldn’t settle for less. I hoped that one day he’d find it. Because whoever he ended up with, would be fucking lucky to have him by her side. There was nobody more loyal than Maverick.

Deciding to change the subject, “What’s going on with the new gym?”

Maverick takes the change of subject with a relieved smile. Launching into what the hold-up is with us acquiring it.

***

Two days later, I’m regretting agreeing to go to the fucking meeting with the Grave Prowlers, as I strap Mason and Reed into Honor’s SUV.

“It will be fine, honey,” Honor soothes me running her hand up and down my back. I snap the last buckle closed and turn so I can get a good look at my woman. She’s exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes highlight how little sleep she’s had.

Hell, we’re both exhausted and running on fumes. The boys have been running a fever for twenty-four hours. We’d get it under control, then it would rise again. None of the over-the-counter children’s medication was working. We’d been alternating giving them meds and cool baths. Their temperatures would lower but then come back within an hour. And Honor was getting worried.

“I can have someone else go with Maverick, baby. I don’t want you going by yourself.”

“Hey,” she smiles up at me, and runs a hand over my cheek. “I’ll be fine. We’ve not heard a peep from Mulally and I won’t be alone. I’ll have one of the prospects as well as Ash with me and Tru and Janis are on their way. They’ll keep me company.”

My gut is telling me this is a bad idea. I’m not sure if it’s worry about the boys or if it’s something else.

“Fuck,” I growl, pressing my forehead to Honor’s. Closing my eyes, trying to make the right decision. They were safe while they were at the clubhouse, travelling an hour away to the closest emergency room wasn’t ideal.

We needed a clinic in Stonepoint. Why hadn’t we thought of this before?

“I hate this,” I grumble.

Honor laughs softly. “I know, but that’s because you’re overprotective. I promise we’ll be fine. You go do your thing and trust me to look after our family.”

“I do, baby. I hate not being with you though. I wish I hadn’t sent my other unit out now.”

Honor laughs, her amusement comes through loud and clear when she says, “I don’t think sending a mercenary team to the emergency room because our toddlers have fevers, is what they signed up for.” She raises on her toes and presses her lips to mine before sinking back down, as Tru and Janis pull up over the road in the golf carts they’d bought to travel between the two properties. They walk over, back packs slung over their shoulders, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed.

They both slow down, when they see the way I’m holding Honor until they come to a stop. Their eyes dart between us.

“What’s going on?” Tru asks.

Honor turns her head resting her cheek on my chest. “Spook’s worried about us leaving the grounds.”

Janis nods. “I can understand why, but we’ve got protection going with us, right?”

I nod. “I’m sending Muppet and Ash with you.”

“Then we’ll be good. Ash is your enforcer and Muppet, despite his name, isn’t one,” Tru reassures him. “Nobody’s heard a peep from Mulally. And you haven’t found any connection that he’s from the same Irish faction that was after Aunt Angel. You go do what you’ve got to do, and we’ll keep Honor and the boys company. We’ve got snacks, cards, and drinks, so we’re set if we have to stay overnight. It’s all good.”

She’s not telling me anything that I don’t know, but still, I can’t shake the feeling of foreboding.

Reed whimpers, “Mama,” and Honor tenses in my arms.