Page 14 of Navy
“Ugh, I’m guessing we’ve outstayed our welcome,” Abby muttered from across the table to me.
“Comp the old harpy her room and breakfast, then put her on the blacklist, Joe, we don’t need judgmental people staying here,” Bas ordered.
“Yes, sir,” the manager said with a smile and left to do as bid.
“When did you buy this hotel?” I asked in surprise. Not sure why I was surprised. My cousin was one of the best businessmen that I knew.
“We bought the hotel,” Bas smirked at me. That comment had me sitting up and taking notice, “What the hell, I didn’t buy shit,” I frowned at him.
“Sure, you did,” Hope said, taking a dainty sip from her cup of tea, “I got your signature and everything. You really need to read the shit I give you to sign, Alan, and not just trust me.”
Laughter filled the room at her words.
Rubbing a hand down my face, I mutter, “For fuck’s sake.”
Gia let out a muffled giggle. I opened my eyes to look at her, “You think this is funny?”
She shrugged, “It is a little bit, but mostly I love that your family loves you.”
“What else do I own that I don’t know about?” I ask Hope with a frown.
“Umm, let me think,” she taps her nail on lip, eyes to the ceiling. “What else is there, oh, yeah, the gin distillery and restaurant, the stables and the four holiday homes we rent out during the summer months. I think that’s it,” she grins at me.
“What am I going todo with you and Bas?” I groan out with a beleaguered sigh.
“Nothing, cousin, absolutely nothing because without you there is no way Hope and I would be able to give our children the life they have. We’re paying it forward in the only way we know how, by looking out for you and ensuring your grumpy arse has enough cushion for when you’re an old fart and can no longer ride a bike. So, you need to suck it up and just accept the fact that we will continue to add your name to any investments we make. Okay!” Bas said, his eyes and tone serious.
Holding his stare, I know I’m fighting a losing battle. No matter how many times I tell them that I don’t need anything from them, they ignore me and do what they want and send me money every month. Most of which I gave away to charity.
Nodding at Bas that I understand, I still reply, “Okay, Bas, you guys do what you got to do. Besides, I’m married now so you know I might need the extra cash. Oof,” I grunt when Gia’s elbow hits me in the stomach, making me laugh as she glares at me. “I don’t need your money,” she mutters, dark eyes flashing in ire as she struggles to get up from my lap.
Chuckling, I wrap my arms tighter around her so she can’t escape before answering, “I know, sweets, I’m teasing.”
“Hmph,” she grumbles but settles back down. “Just so you know, I have my own money. I don’t need to be kept.”
“You tell him, Gia,” Molly shouts out, throwing her thumbs up to another round of laughter. Looking at my watch, I see that it’s getting late and if we want to get to Somerset before dark we’re going to want to leave soon.
Catching Reaper’s eye, I tap my watch. He immediately gets what I’m about and whistles to get everyone’s attention, “Let’s go people, be in the carpark ready to roll out in thirty minutes.”
Giving him a nod of thanks, I help Gia up and take her back to the room so we can get our belongings and drop the key back off at reception. Twenty minutes later, most of us are back in the parking garage. The cars are loaded with those that drove and the rest of the brothers are riding with some of their Old Ladies.
“Do you want to ride in the car with Hope and Bas or on the bike with me?” I ask Gia.
“With you,” she answers.
“Have you ridden before?”
Gia nods, “Yes, but not in a while and I may not be able to go the whole three and a bit hours, but I’d like to go as far as I can.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “We’ll need to stop and get you better clothes, though. Leggings and my hoodie aren’t good enough for riding the distance we’ll be going.”
“I’ve got my spares in the back of Abby’s car. I forgot to take them out last week,” Julia says, already walking towards Abby’s car.
She comes back with the trousers and jacket, no boots but the trainers Gia’s wearing will do for now.
“Are you sure they’ll fit,” Gia asks, looking worried. Julia smiles in understanding, “They’ll fit just fine, Gia, I promise. Put them on over your leggings, but you may have to lose the hoodie.”
Not long after, Gia’s kitted out and fuck, she looks hot. I make a mental note to get her her own leathers in a colour that she likes. Abby comes towards us with a helmet, holding it out towards Gia, “This should fit, it’s Bren’s but she won’t mind you borrowing it. And here, I found a spare hair band, you’ll need to tie your hair up or you will regret it in when the ride is over.”