“See ya, brother,” he bellows. “Seems my woman needs reminding I’m not the one who whines when edged.”
Shaking my head, I watch him tote her toward their room. I’d witnessed Cherry pine after him for the longest time. At one point, I thought we were going to lose her, that she’d leave the club because she couldn’t stand not being with Odin. Thankfully, the VP woke up and noticed he was about to lose her completely if he didn’t put his claim on her. They’ve been engrossed with each other since, and I couldn’t be happier for the pair.
Viking and Zeus each take a seat beside me. “Brothers,” I nod in greeting, and they return it.
“Shit’s going down in the RBMC chapter. They’ve got some pissed-off folks on the hunt for who took the product they were helping move. Ripper’s still in the clear.”
I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding as he spoke. “That’s good news. It’s the outcome you guys wanted, right?”
“Hmm,” he affirms with a grunt.
“This going to be a thing, stealing loads?”
He shrugs. “It may be if the transports through our territory continue. Only one way to teach an old dog new tricks is repetition.”
“Truth, fuck ‘em,” Zeus mutters.
Viking continues, “If it does, we’ll change it up and send different brothers each time. I’m not looking at risking our members for a favor or anything. I don’t care how much money it brings in from the mafia, without a vote, it won’t stick around.”
“Gonna bring it to the table?” I ask, and he nods. I don’t like it, but it’s better than the shit being distributed locally.
“Do I have your vote if it comes down to it?” he asks.
“If it helps the brothers and keeps that shit away from being sold here, then, yes. I don’t need the money or the time that comes with that risk, though,” I add, not willing to go to prison if we get popped moving drugs to the mob. I do too much other questionable shit to risk it, even more so with drugs I don’t use. I’d be on a private plane out of the country before you could blink. I’d offer the brothers a ride as well—no man left behind if it comes down to it.
“Noted.” He nods, and I bump his fist. I respect him a great deal, and he’s been the best president a bunch of outlaws could ask for. He juggles shit to make sure we’re all on board and get what we need out of the club. It’s probably why we’d all go to war for him if he were to ask.
His ol’ lady, Princess, comes sailing through the entrance with a large platter full of subs in her arms. “I got a call there’s a bunch of hangry ol’ men here?” she teases while making a plain tank top and shorts look sinful on her shapely frame. The woman was cold when I first met her, but she’s thawed her ice over the years. It’s also not a hardship she’s absolutely stunning with a big heart to boot.
Viking grumbles his way to Princess, taking the food from her with a grateful kiss. He sets it on the bar beside us, and we all dig in, echoing our praise for his woman. With her presence, all talk of business comes to an end, and soon the other brothers find their way to the food. The bar grows loud, music gets turned up, and beers are handed out.
Before I know it, the day has sunk away to night, and I’ve passed out in my room.
Another day of club life and brotherhood at my back.
The shrill ring of my cell wakes me out of a deep sleep, thanks to the moonshine I had last night. Rolling over with a groan, I run my hand over my face, itching at the scruff covering my cheeks. I’m getting too old for the partying shit. I’m good to kick back with some beers, but when they pull out the hard liquor, I definitely feel it the next morning. It’s difficult to say no, though, when a bunch of young bikers goad me about keeping up since I’m older than everyone else in the club.
Cherry’s closest to my age and probably one reason why we’ve always been good friends. She’s still young in my eyes, though. I’m supposed to be the mature one, yet I had half those kids puking their guts up trying to drink me under the table. They’re not so much kids, I suppose. They’re the same age as my daughter. Speaking of, my phone rings again, and I nearly drop it.
Kadence’s name and goofy picture light up my screen. “Yeah,” I practically growl into the phone as I swipe the green accept button.
“Hey! Did I wake you?”
I can hear crying in the background, reminding me that I’m not just a father anymore, I’m also a papa. “That my grandbaby crying?”
She huffs. “Yep, being stubborn, throwing food and a fit at the same time.”
I chuckle, a smile tipping my lips as I recall Kadence doing the same at that age. “You should’ve flown back to Alabama. That trip is too long for you to drive.” I’ve lectured her about this several times already. “You on the road now? Concentrate on driving, hun. I don’t want you distracted.”
“Tyler’s driving, Dad. I’m not distracted,” she says, then speaks to everyone in the vehicle with her while I wait.
“Sure, not distracted,” I mutter once she’s back on the line.
“Well, you know what I mean. I’m not driving right now. Anyway, I thought you were leaving this morning to get on the road early.”
“Things didn’t quite work out like that. I’ll get myself together, make a stop, then be on my way.”
“I wish you’d fly, and you wonder where I’ve gotten my stubborn streak from.”
“Flew too many times with all the games I played. You know as much. I’d rather take my time with the scenic route now.”
“I know, just be careful. I worry about you riding alone on those long drives.”
“Been doing it for years, sweetheart. I’ll be fine.”
“All right, Dad. We’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“I love you, kid. Be safe.”
“We will. Bye.”
“Later.” I press the end button, watching her picture until it fades away to my phone’s background.
I can’t believe she’s grown up. It feels like I blinked, and she was her own woman, off to college to fall in love with a hot shot football player. Go figure. She was adamant about not dating an athlete after all the time away and traveling we went through with me playing pro ball. She met Tyler ‘Freight Train’ Owens in college on a chance encounter, and he stole her heart. He’s a good guy. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t be anywhere near my Kadence, I’d make sure of it. She loves him, and he treats her like she’s the most important person in the world, which is all I can really ask for. Kadence’s happiness was always my ultimate goal in life. She’s a daddy’s girl, and I’d never have it any other way.
I’ve raised Kadence by myself for most of her life. Don’t get me wrong, I had plenty of help when she was a little girl. I hired a live-in nanny because of how much I practiced and traveled. The old saying you hear time and again about it taking a village to raise a child isn’t a lie. It literally takes all walks of people to raise a kid right—parents, relatives, friends, in-home help, as well as teachers and coaches.
Her mom wasn’t around because she couldn’t remain faithful. My daughter thinks that her mother just took off one day when she was little and left us behind, but that wasn’t entirely the entire truth behind what all happened. I never shared everything that went down because Kadence was hurt enough growing up without her mom in the picture. I couldn’t stomach the thought of possibly adding any more pain to the load she carried with the full truth of the matter.