Free Beyond Christmas (Corrupt Chaos MC #1.5) by Bink Cummings Page A

the distraction.
    Our little bundle of love separates and Lachlan grabs us two straw bales off the pile at the back of the barn. “Here,” he says, dropping them by my feet.
    The three of us sit as Whisky takes center stage. My eyes wander the expanse of the barn that’s full of our biker family. Cas is seated with Fawn and her boyfriend a few feet away. I can feel Cas’s eyes on Bridget without having to look. Bonez is seated with Penny and her husband to my right. He’s kissing her neck. I love that man, but he’s a whore. He’s gotta take it down a notch.
    Sniper, their Corrupt Chaos president, takes front and center next to his wife. He raises his hands in the air. “Whisky and I wanna wish you all a Merry fucking Christmas! This has been a tradition of ours for the past eight years to exchange gifts with our brethren … And we’ll get to that in a minute. But first, I wanted to announce that this year we raised the most money ever to donate to our fallen heroes. I wanna give a huge shout out to Cas and Mags for all of the hours they spent restoring that badass Nova to be auctioned off. So, why don’t you two please stand so we can thank you properly.”
    I turn bright red as Lachlan forces me to my feet and Cas flashes me a wink. “Let’s hear it for them and the twenty thousand dollars we were able to donate, thanks to their hard work!” Sniper cheers and the entire barn erupts with him. Hands are clapping, people are hootin’ and hollerin’, and Whisky whistles so loudly it hurts my ears.
    I think I might faint.
    My knees go wobbly and Lachlan must notice when he supports my hips with his big hands. I bite my lip to focus my nervousness elsewhere.
    “All right, that’s enough!” Sniper demands. “I think y’all might give Mags a stroke.” The crowd laughs at his joke, and I drop next to Lachlan with a huff , thinking that Sniper wasn’t too off the mark. My hands are already clammy and my heart’s pounding in my chest. I could almost throw up.
    Lachlan kisses my temple. “Are ye gonna be okay?”
    I lean into him, using him as my support. His arm curls around my back, allowing me to rest my head on the side of his chest. I relish in his comfort and take a deep, calming breath. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Just don’t make me do that again.”
    “Na promises.”
    Fine. Next time I’ll lie and give Cas all the credit. Though, restoring that Nova sure was fun. A lot of long nights were spent on that baby. Turned out pretty damn perfect after we bought it from its original owner and fixed her up. Totally worth the payoff.
    “Now, it’s time for the presents,” Sniper explains, plucking the first present from a box at the bottom of the tree. “For Magaledene.” He holds it up.
    Oh, no, not again. Why am I being put on the spot?
    “I’ll get it,” Bonez offers, and I sigh, my shoulders deflating in relief. He twists out from the middle of his bale partners and retrieves my present from Sniper’s outstretched hand.
    “Isn’t anyone else opening presents, too? Do they do this one by one?” I whisper to Lachlan.
    “Na, but the first present is from Whisky. It’s her most important gift she’ll give tonight. It’s—”
    “It’s usually a present to Sniper or me. This is a huge honor,” Bridget cuts in, tapping my thigh in reassurance as Bonez hands me the colorful gift. I sit up straight and set it on my lap as all eyes fall on me.
    I nod to Bonez in thanks and he returns the sentiment before returning to his seat.
    “Open it,” Bridget whispers. “Then everyone will focus on handing out the presents they brought.”
    Jiminy Christmas, okay. I can do this.
    Peeling away the thick paper slowly, I unwrap the box. Lachlan doesn’t wait for me to ask for help when he unsheathes his dagger and slices through the tape. “There, ye go, my leannan.”
    “Thanks.” I smile shyly, pretending there isn’t a room full of eyes searing holes through me.
    I take a deep breath.
    Opening the