Page 26 of Falcon

Cates turned around and looked at me. “It’s gonna take time. You handled shit wrong. Should have questioned me at the clubhouse.”

“Why should you get different treatment than anyone else, Falcon? Ask yourself that.”

Damn, if Cates didn’t have a point.

For hours, the fire blazed. The sun was high in the sky when Chief Banks stated that we had it under control. The three buildings were mere ruins, but the Bath and Body Shop had been saved, although Jess’s stock was now a waterlogged mess. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.

Wearily, we packed up as a relief crew arrived from another town, and we headed back to the clubhouse. Later today I’d pick up Star and the puppies. Rosie had texted to say she was keeping the father for a couple of days. She’d ordered some special food for Star but had declared her healthy and the pups too.

As much as I wanted to hit the sack and sleep, I first ensured all equipment was back and safely put away. Then I headed to my bunk. What a damn twenty-four hours this had been.

Chapter Six.

Falcon

I grabbed a club SUV to collect Star and the pups. The male, Jaeger, had to stay a little longer. The kids were in an uproar, all demanding puppies. Their mothers were ready to kill me while their fathers simply looked amused. In the end, all I’d done was agree that those with children could have first choice. Calamity sulked, but he owned enough damn pets. Let someone else get a look in!

Harley cornered me for a pup for his two girls, Faye, three, and Georgia, one. I thought Oakley planned to kill me. She’d just learned she was pregnant again, and the last thing she wanted was a puppy.

Savage got one for his children, and again, I swear Grace was plotting a murder. The twins were already demanding; throw in a pup, and Grace would go insane. I felt for her; five kids and a pup were a handful. However, the other old ladies weren’t faring much better.

Klutz took another for their two children, while Silas was approaching three; baby Marina was only a couple of months old. Aurora-Victoria had informed Klutz that he was training it.

When told, Carmelle smiled sweetly at Ghost and stated he was also looking after the puppy. While Shannon and Sadie were now ten and eight respectively, Kaitlyn was nearly three, Asher was one, and their fifth was due in February next year. Yup, Ghost had fucked that one up. I grinned as I imagined the grovelling he’d done the previous night. Ghost had compounded his error by telling their children. Huge mistake, as he found out.

Gauntlet had at least checked with Amberlea, and she’d been more excited than their kids. Faelea had informed the younger ones that it was her puppy, and they were hands-off. Trick, three, and Ramon, two, had taken grave offence, and a fight had broken out in the club. Faelea, aware of her siblings’ penchant for violence, locked them in a closet. We’d found them an hour later.

Penny had been surprisingly calm when Texas announced he was having one. Penny had shrugged and told him she wouldn’t clean up after it. But with Nathan turning sixteen, Greg being fifteen now, Daisy thirteen and Lilah nine soon, Texas had backup. I smirked, the clever asshole he was.

Hunter and Mina had taken one despite having Demonicus and Zdrakias, her beautiful guard dogs. They wanted another for the twins, Darcie and Gracie, two and a half, and Nathaniel, who was a month old. Mina was quite content that Demonicus and Zdrakias would tear the throat out of an intruder, and now desired a pet for the girls.

Ice, like Harley, was on the road a lot, and he liked the idea of Demi having a guard dog around her and the babies. Cain was two, Cash six weeks, and Demi was rather insulted that Ice didn’t think her capable of protecting their family. He’d been another one grovelling like mad last night.

As I drove down the street, I caught a flash of movement near some dumpsters. I went to drive past but froze when I spotted a small figure trying to climb up on one.

Fuck. That was Jayes.

I pulled over and entered the alley, just in time to see Jayes pull something out of the dumpster and begin eating it.

“Jayes! What’s going on?” I demanded, removing the half-eaten sandwich from his hand.

“I’m hungry,” Jayes replied. Horrified, I gazed at him. It had been four days since I’d seen him, and Jayes was a mess.

“Where’re your parents? Never mind,” I said, hearing his stomach growl. “Come on, follow me. I’ll get you some food.”

Jayes followed obediently as I headed for a diner. I opened the door, and he rushed in, sniffing. It wasn’t busy, and I grabbed a booth, trying to figure out what the hell had happened. Jayes was dirty, with mud and dirt on his body and clothing. He had several cuts on his face and hands, and honestly, he smelled. Jayes looked like a street kid.

The waitress came over, shot me a look, and I ordered fries, two burgers, and two milkshakes. Jayes’s eyes widened, but I led him to the bathroom to clean up. I found a small tin of deodorant on the side and sprayed him thoroughly. That would do for now. Returning to our table, I saw our food had arrived, and before I could question Jayes, the kid began devouring his meal.

The speed at which he devoured his burger left me no doubt he was hungry. Once he finished his, he eyed mine, but I refused to overfeed him; that would lead to complications. He sipped his milkshake the whole time I ate. Finally, I couldn’t stand the guilt anymore and shoved my fries over to him, and Jayes polished them off.

“Where are your parents?” I asked him.

Jayes shrugged. “Daddy left with Uncle Rawson, Uncle Lawson and Jed.”

What the fuck? Lawson, Rawdon, and Dawson? That was some whacked-out shit.

“Where’s Mommy?”