I own nothing you recognize. All original characters and storylines are my own.

Bound

"Here's where we keep the ammo. The key code is 091458; the shotgun is behind the picture of the deer." Juice showed Koz as the other man followed him around the house he'd be protecting while the guys were in Ireland and beyond.

"Got it. Is there anything you need me to fix or get the prospects to work on?" Koz asked as he watched his brother nervously run his hand over his face. Ever since Milla'd been shot he was nervous and jumpy. It didn't take a genius to know why.

"Just have them keep up with the yard work, maybe have Phil update the security system once a week. He knows how to do it." He took a breath before he guided Koz back to the living room and had him sit down. "What I need you to do is more important than that shit, more important than anything else."

"I'll take care of Mills. You can always count on that." Koz said honestly but Juice still took a deep breath.

"I know that man, I do. I just need you to take care of her and...If anything happens to me I want you to take responsibility for her." Koz looked freaked for a second but Juice held out his hands. "I don't mean make her your Old Lady. I mean...just be her Koz. Make sure she eats, takes care of the baby. Don't let her die with me, man. She'll need someone and I want you to be that someone."

"I'll do whatever it takes to help Milla. You know I love that kid." He put out his hand and Juice shook it before he pulled him into a hug. "You have my word man; Milla's under my protection and will be until you're back with us."

"That's all I wanted, brother. Now let's go to the basement so I can show you the guest room. That's where you'll be." Koz nodded and stood up. He watched the shorter man ahead of him and shook his head. The poor guy was going through hell but at least he could count on him. Koz had never let Milla down and he wouldn't start now.

Later that night Juice sat at Milla's bedside while she slept in a drug induced slumber. They'd had to go back in and take care of some of the damage in her arm and she was still sedated. He ran his hand through her hair and simply stared at her. She was his Old Lady and everything he did was to make her life better. That's how he knew no one would be able to take care of her like Koz. The thought of not being there brought a lump to his throat but he swallowed it down and leaned down to kiss her hair. As he rested his head on hers his eyes moved to the bump that stuck out so prominently through the sheet. There was Espy, his little girl. He felt another pang but brushed it aside. He knew he wouldn't be there to see her born but he also knew that Koz would be, Koz would make sure his little girl was safe and her Mama happy. With a sigh he moved his chair closer to the bed and held his wife's hand, he knew he'd have to get to the clubhouse soon but for now he was going to stay. He had to spend as much time as he could with her before it was time to leave.

One month later...

Koz carried his laundry to the laundry room as Neeta had requested. He would've gladly done his own or foisted it off on the prospects but the caretaker had been insistent. She may have stressed to him that she wasn't a housekeeper, but that didn't mean that she'd let the house fall into disrepair on her watch. He passed Chantal sitting at the kitchen table in her cutoffs and long sleeved t-shirt. She'd moved in over the weekend and was already at home in the house. He couldn't say he was unhappy about it and even Juice considered it an inevitability. He chuckled to himself before he went through the door, Juice may have considered it inevitable but he wasn't happy about it, he also wasn't going to kick her out. He shook his head and continued to the laundry room. Once inside he separated his clothes to make it easier for Neeta. As he unfolded a pair of jeans a letter fell out and he picked it up, smiling as he read it. It was instructions for "securing the perimeter" before bed. He had the codes and the order to check them, which lights to shut off and which window curtains to draw. He even had a diagram of where to put his gun. With a chuckle Koz read the last of the letter before he put it in his pocket. The kid's heart was in the right place but his mind was AWOL and that was ok. There was no one else in the world good enough for his kiddo.

Once he was done he brought the laundry basked back downstairs and went to Milla's room where she was reading to her stomach. The sight made him smile and he was happy he'd made his promise. He was about to go when she looked up from the book.

"Hey Koz, you bring up your laundry?" She asked as she gave him a genuine smile, one of the few she'd managed to muster in the last month and he felt proud to be the recipient.

"Yeah, I just wanted to check up on ya. I have to head to the clubhouse soon and I wanted to make sure you were alright." He leaned against the door jamb and her smile turned crooked.

"I'm good, not great but better. Things don't seem so hopeless now." She put down the book and nodded her head, having a conversation with herself that he couldn't hear. "We have you and that makes all the difference in the world."

With that remark Koz smiled broadly at her before he stood and left the room. There was nothing left to say so he continued through the house and out the front. When he got to his bike he was still smiling as he put on his helmet. His kiddo was right, she and her little girl had him and they always would.


Author's Note: Happy New Year! I wanted to put this up since I seem to be on fire and I hope you're all still reading. I hope that I'm not boring you, since the last chapter didn't get reviews I'm a tad worried. I have so many of these little stories in my head and I really hope you like them because I doubt I can stop. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see and I'll see if the muse gets nudged. Have a safe and happy New Year and thanks in advance to those of you who read and review.