Malicious: A Nomad Biker Novel (Raiders of Valhalla MC Book 1), Elizabeth Knox [best book series to read TXT] 📗

“Yes, and you’re the one who makes sugar cookies and lets people decorate, or lets little girls put makeup on their face, not giving a damn about how it looks.” Fern cackles, like she wouldn’t do it for a kid, but I know she would. She tries to act like a tough lady, but deep down, she’s a softie.

“That’s a great idea. Let’s go in the kitchen and bake some sugar cookies. By the time Astrid’s up, we can have her decorate them with us. Plus, I know her and there’s nothing she likes more than crunchy sweet things.”

Fern laughs and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you’re willingly giving a child a sugar rush.”

“To keep a smile on her face, I’ll do just about anything.”

Chapter Four

Fenrir

Hours pass and Astrid wakes up from her nap full of energy. She’s yet to be told, and I’ve gotta feeling telling her ain’t gonna be easy. She’s my little fairy princess and I’ve always wanted to protect her from anything that would cause her to feel any sort of pain. She’s different from her brothers and I know Emil and Oskar see it as well, even with her being so young.

I’d spoken with the boys about what happened earlier and though they didn’t take it all too well, they’re tough and will get through this with me guiding them.

I wish the woman named Charm and her fuckin’ friend would leave already, but at the same time I’m grateful for the fact she’s here. Emil and Oskar seem comfortable with her and it makes me wonder how well she knows them, or knew Amanda.

Shit. My chest tightens at the thought of Amanda. Being in this house without her is surreal. The last time I’d seen her in person had been far too long ago, and guilt seeps in for not being here for her.

Amanda had been one of those women who could go with the flow and keep her head on her shoulders. Unlike this woman who seems to be eccentric as all get out. She has crystals hanging around her neck and the brightest red hair. It makes me think she’s a damn tomato.

My phone pings in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts before I could go down that path. I don’t have anything against the woman’s beauty. Something about her speaks to me which causes me to want to push her the fuck away. She’s Amanda’s neighbor and therefore is now mine since I’ll be living here with my kids.

Astrid hops into my lap as I unlock my phone and she giggles when she notices my background on my phone. It’s a picture of Emil, Oskar, and her sitting on my bike. Amanda thought it was adorable the three of them wanted to take that picture. She’d even taken one with me in it with them.

Opening the message, I notice it’s from my Prez, Runes. On the road. Be there for the funeral for you to ride with us for the service.

Thank fuck. I’ll need my bike. As cool as this one is that the Inferno’s Clutch MC let me use, it’s not my bike and I wanna have mine. I’m sure if I ask her to, Charm will let the kids ride with her to the cemetery while I’m on my bike. That is, if she’s going to the service.

Shit.

Tomorrow I need to remember to call the funeral director and get this shit started. Amanda and I talked about this type of stuff when my pops passed. We spoke of it one time and never brought it up again. Amanda didn’t want to have a whole big shindig. Neither of us did. I’d told her to burn me and let it be what it was gonna be. Vikings had a tradition of funeral pyres where they cremated the body of the dead. She’d decided to agree with me, saying that’s what she’d wanted; however, she’d wanted somewhere for the kids to visit as some people like to do. Over my entire life, I never understood this concept, but I get it.

So I’ve gotta make sure the funeral director knows she’s to be cremated and her ashes will be buried in the plots meant for my family.

I quickly shoot him another message letting him know I’d see them when they got in.

“Daddy,” Astrid says, gaining my attention as I put my phone back in my pocket.

“Yeah, princess,” I murmured, lifting my gaze to look at her.

“Where’s Mommy?” she asks, which only causes my heart to hurt for her.

Clearing my throat, I look from her to my boys then to where Charm and her friend stand in silence. “Why don’t we get through the rest of the day, get you ready for bed, and then I’ll tell you,” I suggest, still unsure of what to say about it all.

“But I wanna know where Mommy is.” Astrid pouts.

Charm steps forward to offer her assistance. I don’t know why but I appreciate it all the same.

I step outside and pull out one of the joints I keep in a case ready to go. Lighting it up, I sit on the back porch steps and lower my head while I smoke the weed to calm my nerves.

After giving myself a bit of time outside and finishing the joint, I head back inside. I check on the boys as they’ve gone to their room for the night, then head to tuck my little girl in. I’m right outside her door when I have to hold back my anger at what I’m hearing. Astrid’s in tears while Charm tells her about her mom.

Fuck. Fuck. Motherfuckin’ fuck.

She had no right to fuckin’ tell my daughter what the hell happened. Not when I’d been coming up here to do just that myself.

I open the door and look at my daughter, then Charm. “Can I speak to you for a moment?” I snap.

Nodding, Charm