"Willow, is Abel coming with us to protect us if the bad men come?" Kalli asks, kicking her feet and fiddling with her seatbelt. Willow's grip tightens on the steering wheel as the bike roars out in front of them.
"Yes, baby." She says, trying to keep her voice calm. "Cause the club protects you. Always."
"I love my uncles." Kalli says happily.
"My daddy is your uncle." Autumn says seriously and they fall into a conversation about family.
"I'm happy you think that." Neva says quietly and Willow smiles at the little girl, sliding her sunglasses down her face. When they arrive at the park, she sprays sunscreen on the kids then sets them loose. They sprint away from her, bellowing at the top of their lungs.
"Incredible." Abel says, shaking her head as Willow spreads a blanket out and sits down, plucking Abrielle out of her car seat and placing toys around her. The little girl eagerly grabs a stuffed motorcycle.
"What, the volume they can reach?" She asks, as Neva chases a screaming Autumn towards the slide.
"At least you know you'll never lose them." He decides, flinching as Raimundo rockets past, war whooping.
"Never worried about that a day in my life." She promises and Abel looks at her thoughtfully. She smiles slightly, reaching into the diaper bag and producing her book.
"Not Harry Potter?" He asks, reading the cover. "I figured you would, after last night."
"Please, I read all seven books when I was younger. I try to reread them at least once a year." She informs him and he stares at her.
"Why are you reading The Compass of Pleasure?" He asks her and she smiles at the book.
"It explains a lot of things about why we like what we like, like drugs, alcohol, and sex. Interesting read when you live around this crowd." She tells him and he raises an eyebrow, gesturing for her to toss it to him. She does so and flops down by Abrielle, grinning at her.
"It's actually pretty interesting." He comments awhile later and Willow looks at him in surprise.
"Are you actually reading it?" She asks in disbelief.
"Yes?" He says in confusion. Willow looks at him, Abrielle's toy dangling, forgotten, in her hand.
"I didn't think you'd be able to." She says flatly and he frowns.
"What does that mean?" He asks, affronted.
"Just that... The topic... You're not... I just..." She stutters, flustered and Abel throws the book back.
"I said Tommy got the brains but not all of them. My mom is pretty smart for a sober drug addict." He comments, getting up and grabbing Raimundo, asking him if he's ready for a super underdog.
"Men, baby girl." Willow says, kissing Abrielle's head. "Stay away from them. It's not worth it."
"Willow, do you have snacks?" Autumn asks, collapsing on the blanket dramatically and grabbing Abrielle's toys.
"Give that back." Willow says, tossing a fruit snack to her and then to an incoming Neva. Autumn tears hers open enthusiastically.
"Aren't those things loaded with sugar?" Abel asks, carrying Kalli around his neck as Raimundo trails after them.
"No." Willow says, frowning at him and catching Kalli as she slides down. "I'm pretty sure I would've figured it out since we only buy them in bulk." He shrugs, cuddling Abrielle.
YOU ARE READING
First Son, Cursed Son
Fanfiction“You need to know that if you walk out of this clubhouse with a prospect kutte on your back, you won’t last six months. Boys never do.” She warns him. “Who said I’m a boy, not a man?” He asks, with a charming smile. “I do. You’re all the same. Lit...
