Raging Barons MC – Book Nine – Knuckles
Knuckles: Chapter: 23

-:- JOLENE -:-

Shelly has the first two books on sale in eBook form, with the paperback versions coming within a week. I’m so excited and when I get Knuckles alone tonight, I’ll update him and see about celebrating.

He is a very touchy-feely person, but not in any creepy way. He kisses the top of my head, forehead, or temple whenever he gets the chance. Runs his hand over my hip as he passes, or wraps an arm around my neck, pulling me to him.

I have to admit to myself; I love the way he shows me all the time that he cares for me. Not sure it’s love as yet, but it is easily heading that way.

Picking up my laptop, I open google and quickly go to Amazon and look at my author page, showing the two books in the series. It is such a wonderful feeling to see all those hours of hard work as an actual book with a stunning cover, too.

Tapping on the bedroom door has me quickly walking over to see who it is, and I’m surprised when Mia is grinning like a fool. “Come on, Jo. We are having a little meeting and you’re needed.” Grabbing my arm, Mia drags me behind her while babbling on about a party and time to relax!

In the kitchen, I give a little low wave to Amelia, Bitty, and Sybil. Now, what is she doing here? Eden, Carrie, and Raven are also sitting with a grin on their faces.

Mia pushes me into a seat at the nearest table to us and then stands with her hands on her hips and smirks. “Plan of action, ladies. We are going to have a party on Saturday night at TJs. We need a time out, and I’m going to make sure we get one.”

I’m not sure what is even going on, but Eden, Carrie, and Raven are quickly texting someone on their phones, then look up at Mia and nod.

“Amelia and your ladies will be here with the twins and watching over the compound. Most of the brothers will be with us, but the prospects will be here, apart from Colton, who I would think will be wherever Knuckles and Mav are. The terrible trio is what they are.” Rolling her eyes, which has all of us giggling.

“I’ll get Meat on board as he’s got some moonshine we can keep in the private function room. It’s got a kick to it as I tried a taster yesterday.” Eden laughs. “I can imagine we’re going to have some drunk brothers.”

Bitty speaks, getting everyone’s attention. “We’ll watch the babies, and we’ll make sure everything is good here. Will we have anyone apart from the prospects doing compound duty?”

“With Jo being with us, if that asshole wants to get to her, it’ll be at the club, not here, Bitty. But I’ll speak to Axel, and he’ll make sure you are all covered.” Mia looks from one to the other of us. “We need to go all out and have a great night. It has been way too long since we let our hair down. Axel will not like this, but he’s going to have to suck it up as we’re doing it. Now, what are you going to wear?”

The rest of this meeting is a blur as they talk about clothes, makeup, men, dancing, and back to men again. It’s the first time I’ve felt this type of friendship, and I’ve got to say, I like it. Family at its best, yet none of us are connected by blood.

Before I know it Knuckles is back from the hospital visiting Vincenzo Vitale and we are arriving at the range for my weapons training. I’m looking forward to this and Winter is fast becoming a friend. I trust and like her; she gives me confidence because she believes I can do all the things she’s going to be throwing at me. Like the Sunday training, now that was brutal.

Winter is standing next to me on the range and has a small table set up against the wall. On the table is an assortment of weapons and my eyes round at the sight, because I do not know what they are called or how to use them.

“Four basic rules, Jo,” Winter states, making sure I’m paying attention. “One, treat all guns as if they are loaded. Two, never allow the muzzle to point at anything you’re not willing to shoot. Three, do not put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot your target of choice, and four, be sure what your target is, and if it’s a stationary target, what is behind it.”

Nodding, I’m reciting what Winter has said in my mind to make sure I don’t forget the four rules. But I hope she doesn’t overload me with them, or I’ll never remember. I wish I’d brought a notepad now.

“What are you thinking?”

“I was just debating if I should have brought a notepad to write all your rules down, so I don’t forget them.”

“You’ll be fine, and we’ll go over them each lesson until you know them off by heart.” Winter quickly takes me through what is on the table before having me clean, put together, and take apart various guns. This she keeps me doing until I can do three without her instruction.

“I don’t mind this part.” Grinning at Winter. “It’s easy enough to remember the basics.”

“I believe that you have to respect the weapon before we even think of putting it into your hand as a weapon of destruction. My father had me cleaning his weapons starting as a young child, and it became so normal that every time he came home from a job I would strip each weapon down and check he had done it right.” Smiling to herself at the memory, it’s easy to see she misses her father deeply. “Come on let’s get to reception because they’ll be finished with their lesson too.”

The door opens to the side of the building and male laughter has both of us looking around. Watching Knuckles walk in with his brothers, I can see the bond they all share. Colton, although a prospect, has a brother in Knuckles even if he doesn’t realize that fully as yet.

Walking over to me, Knuckles bends down after putting his arms around my neck and pulling me to him, kissing me on the lips right in front of everyone. I’m getting used to his PDA, but it still brings a light blush to my cheeks.

“Next week, same time Jo.” Winter smiles. “You’ll be good at this soon, and then we’ll be firing it and getting you to be a real gun-toting momma.”

Knuckles chuckles and I can’t help the giggle that escapes at the thought of me being a gun-toting anything because I’m still in the fear of the weapon stage.

Walking back into the clubhouse, I’m met with Mia and Axel shouting at each other about not going to the club on Saturday evening. This must have been going on for a while because Mia is red in the face, panting hard, and looks like she’s about to take a swing at him.

Axel crosses his arms and looks down at Mia with an eyebrow raised, and I’m not sure if he’s brave or stupid, but the look he’s getting from Mia doesn’t bode well. I look up at Knuckles and he’s frowning at the scene playing out in front of us.

Mia shouts loudly. “LADIES, WE ARE PARTYING HERE ON SATURDAY. MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF YOU IS HERE, IT’S MANDATORY.” Turning on her heels, she storms out and to the playroom.

I look around and see the three older ladies, Eden and Heather, standing with their mouths hanging open. When Amelia squints her eyes at Axel and turns to whisper to Sybil and Bitty, I’m thinking trouble is going to be happening soon.

Heather picks up her cleaning box and walks past Axel with her nose in the air, but the look she gives him says she’s smelling something bad.

Knuckles chuckles, then leans down, kisses my neck and whispers in my ear. “Well, seems our Pres dug himself a hole, so it’s gonna be interesting to see how he gets himself out of this one.”

Bitty, Amelia and Sybil give us a bright smile as they walk past and out of the main clubhouse door. I’m going to have a quick shower, as I smell after cleaning the weapons so many times.

Watching Mia ignore Axel while he’s doing his best to speak to her is pretty amusing, as she looks through him every time. The twins are fed and are being passed around as everyone seems to want to get their hands on them.

Lincoln takes a seat next to me at the table and I give him a smile. “You okay Linc?”

“Yeah, I just wish we could catch this asshole and put this all behind us. It’s something we’ve got to finish before any of us can move on with our lives.”

Knuckles leans across my back and pats Lincoln on the shoulder. “We’ll get him, but if you need to move on, Linc, do it. Jo is safe here, and we’ll all be watching out for her. She’s my ol’ lady and protected by the club. Not a single brother here would watch her be hurt.”

Before Linc can respond Heather storms into the kitchen covered in something white. What the heck is going on?

Heather steps into the pantry and a minute later comes out carrying a bag of something. I can’t see what it is from where I’m sitting, but Knuckles chuckles, which has me looking at him questioningly.

Looking where Knuckles points to the door leading to the common room, I watch as Heather drags a chair over to one side. Steps up and opens the bag, lifting it and waiting.

Hearing whistling, I look at the door and see Wings walking towards the door. Oh no, my eyes flick to Heather and she has what can only be described as a shit-eating grin on her face.

Unaware of what is about to happen, Wings saunters into the kitchen and as he clears the door, the bag empties over the top of his head. Heather jumps down from the chair and does a great rendition of a cackling witch as she passed Wings and walks out of the back door. Wings is standing with flour piled on top of his head and shoulders where it’s landed and he’s blowing it out of his mouth and patting it out of his eyes.

Stitch walks in behind Wings a moment later and shakes his head before asking. “What the fuck did you do now?”

The room busts into laughter and even Wings is laughing about getting baby powder all over Heather. Well, until we all hear Mia shouting, “Who stole the baby powder?” Wings quickly rushes out the back door with a trail of flour after him.

Meat walks into the kitchen and glares at the mess before storming out the back door with Billy and Amelia in hot pursuit. This place is a madhouse, I’m sure, but when I look around the kitchen everyone is laughing and enjoyed watching the drama.

The next few days I’m writing all day, staying in our room where Knuckles has placed a small writing desk and office chair to give me comfort. I love this series I’m writing, and I bury my head in the laptop. The room is quiet and all that can be heard is the gentle tapping of the laptop keys.

Nearly jumping out of my seat, I turn when the door flies open and Bitty rushes in, plopping down on the end of the bed, holding her hand on her chest because she’s trying to get her breath back.

“Are you alright?” I ask, worried something is wrong.

“Oh..no…” Fanning her face with her hand. “I’ve got news.”

I wait for her to get herself together because no way is she going to be able to tell me what’s going on until she recovers her breath.

“First, I have to tell you, Amelia, Sybil and I have been to the local bookstore and got you an author signing day. We didn’t have to twist her arm either, because she was happy to help out a new author get her books seen.”

“Oh, my goodness, wow, that’s really great, Bitty, thank you so much.” I’m shocked as all heck but delighted a bookshop was interested in my stories being seen. “I’ll have to speak to Shelly about getting me some paperbacks for the shop and for me to sign if anyone wants a signed copy.”

Bitty laughs. “You will because we’ve arranged for Reuse to take us out of town, and to some bookshops in the neighboring towns. This is great fun Jo. We’ll make sure people see your books.”

“Oh my, I’ll definitely have to speak to Shelly.”

“Give me her number and we’ll speak to her. That way, you can carry on writing and not be bothered with this type of thing. Amelia is going to pack in her job at the garage because she said she has them all trained well now, and she’s going to look for a new office manager for them. She’s ready to move on and do new things now.”

I give the contact details to Bitty, and she kisses my cheek before rushing out the door once more. Taking my seat, I stare out the door and into the hallway because it’s like living in a whirlwind living here at the clubhouse.

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