Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Sixteen: Mika Sage

Okay, I'll admit I am anxious to go into this meeting. I know that I don't even need to explain what is going on between Runner and I considering I'm not even trying to hide it at this point so I relax into my seat as people start agreeing to tackling the problem of the fighting rings.

"I want first dibs on the businessman." I declare when the vote finally comes around to me, people don't even question it because Raphe and I have always been close. I had so many of them asking me why we weren't talking for the last few months and that just made me feel even worse about everything that I did. I can see Raphe smirk as he kicks back in his chair and focuses on Sav who is once again wiggling her eyebrows.

"Join the club." She whines as she rests her feet in Reign's lap with a large pout on her face.

"You've been taken off the torture detail, Sav, you're much too fragile." Okay, now Bear has gone too far. He has been enjoying his new freedoms in terms of mocking her, considering any time she gets feisty her husband will talk her out of doing anything that could cause herself or the baby any harm which is sweet but I'm sure she's feeling smothered at this point.

"That's it! Your sex privileges have been revoked! Have fun with your right hand, you cocky prick." She hisses out and I wince, the poor guy should know by now not the irritate the women. I walked into the pink room without invitation once and I'm still feeling the consequences now.

"Anyway, Runner has asked to bring something to the table. Runner?" Bear turns to Raphe and he sits up in his seat as he faces down the President. I can tell he's nervous, I don't know what we'd do if Prez was to refuse us.

"I found a kid in the streets yesterday and I was able to gain his trust and bring him back with me. I don't want to give him up, Romeo searched for him everywhere online but nobody claimed him. I just need permission to use Sav and Romeo to get all the paperwork so that he can stay."

"You willing to take on the responsibility, brother?" Prez raises his eyebrow, I know he's searching Raphe for any doubt. Prez is a smart man and I'm sure he sees Raphe's desperation to keep him. Bear then turns to me with the same look. "I assume you're already in on this since you and Runner are basically glued together, this important to you as well?"

"You guys saved me when I was fifteen, he needs that help from us now. He's a good kid just needs a home and a family."

"Anyone against this. Sav?" He looks around the table and I hold my breath, I doubt anyone would deny us but it still stresses me out relying on other people. Nobody protests and both Raphe and I collapse into our chairs with relief. "Take Sav and Romeo, do everything you need to do to keep the kid. He's club now, family and he ain't going nowhere. I can promise you that, now we'll meet again tomorrow to start discussing the takedown plans for these idiots so try and get the paperwork sorted tonight so it's one less things to think about."

He bangs the gavel and everyone heads out, Saviour pouncing into Raphe's back as we head into my office to make this official. "Ooh, stop here a sec." Saviour shouts to Lex and tells her what's going on which Lex agrees with. We can hear Bear's sigh of disappointment only seconds later, poor bastard's gonna have blue balls for a week. I sit down with Raphe stood behind me and Sav in the seat next to me.

Let's get started.

————

"Sign here and here you two and you'll officially be the legal guardian of one Oliver Sage." I don't know why but Raphe decided that Ollie would take my name because - and I quote - it sounds better than Flores. Same goes for him, the minute we get the chance Raphe can take my name too.

"It really should not be that easy." Raphe admonishes as he caps the pen and stares at the paper I'm front of him.

"It is when you don't do it legally and you don't have to cut through all the red tape. Nobody can take him from you now though so congratulations on becoming parents!" She puts her thumbs up before bouncing out of the room, either in search for food or her husband. Probably food.

"Well Mr Sage, let's go get our son. Shall we?" I grin up at him before racing him to the pink room, shoving each other and tripping each other up before reaching the room and finding Ollie asleep on the couch with Kota resting his head on his back. I read that dogs do that to check if their owner is breathing which I think is very sweet, at least we don't have to worry about little man being unprotected.

He startles awake when he hears the door click behind us and I wince at his awareness. He's jumpy and probably paranoid, I can't imagine what kind of shit he was subjected to on the streets and I never want him to experience that pain again. I will protect him and Raphe with my life.

"You wanna see something little man?" I ask, the papers gripped in my hand as we walk over to sit on either side of him. The dog's head moving into my lap for pets which I happily give with my free hand.

"Sure, what is it?" I had him the papers and his eyes widen as he takes in the title that says we have legal custody of him and what his new name is now that he's with us. "I get to stay, forever?" His eyes are filled with unshed tears and I have a feeling they're gonna fall when we tell him yes.

"We promised you that, chiquito, you are staying with us." (small boy) as expected he starts sobbing and both of us squish him in a group hug as Kota tries to lick up all his tears. Thankfully his cries turns into gurgled laughs as Kota's tongue and whiskers tickle his face and the pain in my chest finally lifts.

This is gonna be great fun to explain to my therapist. One minute I'm a single biker who is depressed with a drug problem, then a biker with a kind-of-boyfriend and now a biker with a boyfriend, a son, a dog and an actual home. I would say it's too fast but him and I have been together for years even if it was on and off, we know each other better than anyone else on the planet and we have no reason to be apart.

To be honest, we never had one. I was just a jealous coward that didn't now how much all of this meant until it was viciously ripped from me and left me basically dead on my feet.

I look up at Raphe, who is gently kissing our son's head and the pain in my heart returns but this time it's a good pain.

An 'I-can't-believe-that-this-is-my-life' kinda pain.