Redemption (Rogue Nation MC #1)

27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mako

If there was ever a time in my life that I was possessive and protective of another person, this was it. There was no way I was going to let my mate out of my sight for even a moment, as long as his family was around. “Time for us to go find out how the vote went. I need coffee too.” Theo just giggled. Goddess, I love that sound.

“OK, alpha.” Theo said, as he grinned and wiggled his butt in my direction. I growled at him. Again.

As we made it to the bottom of the stairs into the main room of the club, Theo giggled. “Sup baby?” I slipped my arm around his waist, and he leaned into me.

“Nothing. But I’m gonna let you make the announcement. I’ll hide behind you. I think Owen might rush me as soon as you say it. It’ll be funny to watch him dodge you to get to me.” His shoulders started shaking.

“I think you might be right, baby. This is gonna be fun.” I stood tall as I stepped in front of my mate. I exaggerated a cough to get the attention of the room. Once all eyes were on me, I spoke. “Listen up, you heathens. As your KING…” Bear was the first one to laugh out loud. “I declare that there shall be no more public sexy times. I don’t want my son looking at anyone’s cock and balls in this clubhouse.” Bear was bent over laughing and suddenly stopped. Everyone else’s laughter stopped at the same time.

“Your… SON? You son of a bitch, you done gone and made me an uncle!” Bear rushed over to hug me. I held him at arms length, staring at Owen. “Congrats brother.” He leaned over and kissed Theo, who was grinning, on the cheek. “You too, sweetie.” I heard Theo eek out a small ‘Thanks’, but our eyes were on Owen, who never even looked up from his drink on his table.

“Something’s wrong Eddie.” The concern in Theo’s voice was palpable.

“Yeah, something’s not right.” Both Bear and I walked over to the small table where Owen sat alone, nursing a glass of something pink. Theo followed closely, clinging to the back of my cut.

The three of us sat at the table. Theo placed his hand over Owen’s. “Owen, did you hear? We’re having a baby. You’re gonna be an uncle.” His voice was gentle, and his fingers squeezed Owen’s hand over and over as he spoke.

“Yeah, I heard. Congratulations, guys. I’m thrilled for you.” He stood to rise from the table and bear grabbed his arm.

“Baby boy?” Bear pulled him towards his lap and Owen tried to pull away and escape. Bear reached up and gripped his chin, forcing him to look at us. Theo gasp at the same time Bear and I growled. Owen’s eyes were rimmed deep red, and his cheeks were soaked. It was obvious he was crying.

“I gots… go. I gots to go.” He was regressing. Here, in front of everyone. This wasn’t good. None but a few of us, knew this side of Owen. That’s how he wanted it. He pulled harder against Bear and broke free, darting for the front door. Theo was up like a shot after him. The rest of the troops were headed to the door to follow.

“Stop! Leave them be.” Bear spoke with all his authority, and they froze in place. “We’ll go, you stay here. We’ll take care of him.” Bear and I headed out the door.

Once we were outside and found Theo and Owen sitting in the grass under the tree to the side of the building, we sat down on the concrete parking block. “We’ll watch from here. They need to be alone to help one another. Owen needs Theo, and T needs him just as much.” I rested my hand on Bear’s shoulder. For all his macho bravado, I knew Bear loved Owen like a little brother and would go to the ends of the earth to protect him. From snippets of their conversations, Bear knew more about Owen than any of us did, so him being upset was harder. “Anything I need to know Nate?”

“Not my story to tell, Eddie. Even to you, but he needs to tell someone. It’s like a poison eating away at him, gotta get it outta his system man. I’m hoping he tells Theo. Then maybe he’ll heal. Them boys got more in common than anyone will ever know.” He just shook his head, reaching down to play with a few blades of grass that forced their way through the gravel. “Vote went how it shoulda, how we knew it would. If you’re interested.”

“Yeah, I figured. I knew we were gonna go after the whole family. Just not the extent of the justice. We intended to make the announcement and head to the office to go over everything. Guess the Baby Boy over there changed everyone’s plans.” I felt an ache in my chest. Whatever Owen was saying to Theo was hurting my mate. Not directly, but Theo’s tender heart was breaking FOR Owen, not by him.

“Yeah, we’re gonna let the law handle The Hoggs, but the brother…” Yeah, the brother. He was mine. “He crossed a line man. Unanimous, his days are numbered and we’re gonna find his friends.”

“Good to know my family has my back on this.” I just nodded my head as I stared at the ground. It was never a light decision to take another life, no matter the circumstances.

“Yeah, Boss. Bout that. I was voted to be the one to tell you. It’s not your back we got, Brother.” He tipped his head towards Theo. “It’s his. He’s family now. He’s the Prez’s ole man and we ride for him as hard as we ride for you. Feel me? Besides that, you both gotta stay outta this one. You got too much on the line this time. You got a son on the way. Be there for your boy.”

Neither of us spoke again for a while. No way I was gonna let my VP hear my voice crack again and he damn sure wasn’t gonna see me cry. Even if he was my best fuckin friend. We sat quietly on the sidelines and watched my mate comfort our baby boy under that tree for a long time.

The sun was low on the horizon the first time we heard Owen laugh. It was a welcome sound that brought a smile to my face. Bear looked up, startled, and went to stand up. I grabbed his arm. “Give it a minute.” We watched Theo lean over and hug Owen. The two of them held on to one another for dear life and were both laughing by the time they let go. I let Nate’s arm go, “Go on brother, check on the boys.” He didn’t need to be told twice. I even had to laugh at the way he stumbled at top speed over to the tree. It looked like his ass cheeks fell asleep on the damn concrete, just like mine.

Bear plopped on the grass next to Owen as Theo got up and headed my way. “Hello mate.” He greeted me with a kiss and put his arms around my waist.

With a playful growl, I kissed his neck over his mate scar, and I felt his body shiver. “Hmm, hello to you, mate.” I licked his neck with the tip of my tongue, and he let out a little moan. “Everything OK with Owen?”

“Yeah, he just needed someone to talk to. He’s my best friend. He was there for me. I’ll be there for him.” I had to listen carefully. It was hard to distinguish words with him nuzzling into the crook of my neck.

“Anything I need to know?” I pulled away to look him in the eyes.

“Not right now. He’ll come to you soon and tell you everything. I told him he needed to. He knows he does, but it’s hard for him. Bear already knows everything, and it doesn’t affect the club, so he can do it in his own time. He really is happy for us, but it’s hard for him to be excited about it, but I think he’ll get there. We just gotta help and support him.” I wrapped my arms around my mate from behind as we watched Owen climb into Bear’s lap and Bear slowly rock him like a baby. “He trusts that big guy more than anyone. He’s the one who can help him the most.”

“I’m not sure about that, baby. Bear doesn’t feel that way towards him. He loves him like a baby brother. I don’t want to see Owen get hurt.” I kissed the top of Theo’s head.

Pulling away and walking back to the clubhouse, Theo turned to me. “That’s what I’m talking about. Brotherly love. That’s what he needs more than anything. He just needs to learn to ask for it from the rest of you.” With a sly smile, he opened the door and walked through. I just stared at the closed door for a few minutes before my feet could move.