Chapter 26
26
Anchor
“I think we need to let her go,” Acid says as he looks at his notes before him. “She’s late half the time, flirts with every fucking customer going, before trying to stick them with a higher check so she can take the extra she charged. And last night,” he shudders, “I walked into my office to find her on my desk, shoving a fucking breadstick into her cunt, begging me to fuck her.”
I bite my knuckles to stop my laughter from escaping at the disgusted look Acid has on his face.
Steal chuckles. “Then fire her brother.”
He winces. “She’s Target's new woman.”
“Fuck…” I mutter, knowing the brother is smitten with his new girl; I just had no idea it was Coleen. I sigh. “Still fire her, and show him the footage. She’s a patch chaser, through and through, so make sure you warn him she could claim to be pregnant, and that a very hormonal Perrie will be after her.”
Acid nods with a sullen look, not wanting to upset Target.
He’s a brother who was a nomad after he lost his wife to The Killers a few years back. He’s finally found someone he sees a future with, only for her to be using him for a cushy life.
“Alright, next on the agenda,” Steal says, looking down. “Western? He’s the last of his rounds of prospects after Harry got his cut last week.”
He looks around the room, and I’m the first one to say, “Aye, put a patch on him,” because the fucker has earned it tenfold. One by one, each brother around the table says “aye,” and Steal grins, banging the gavel.
“I’ll order his cut and next month we’ll patch him in. Now, the club run next week….” He looks around the table again before looking at Piston.
“Rebels can’t meet again; their traitor is still at large, so we’ll be going all the way to Texas. Snake said he’ll put a couple of us up, but the rest need to stay in a motel. It’ll be a five-day round trip, so we need brothers who won’t mind being gone that long,” Piston says as he looks down at the paperwork before him. “The van will be full of guns and ammo, the biggest shipment we’ve done.”
Before anyone could volunteer, I put my hand up and stated, “I’m going, but I’ll stay at a motel for the two nights.”
Steal glares my way and snaps, “I thought you were trying to save your fucking marriage.”
Shotgun chimes in, “Yeah, brother, you’ve barely left her side for two days since you took her back to your room. Leaving for five days will allow her to change her mind, brother.”
I shake my head, trying to hide my smile at their love for my wife. Now, she hasn’t come back to the clubhouse since the morning I woke her up with my face between her legs, but I have been with her the whole two days, her and our son, and when she’s at work, something she’s still refusing to quit, I’m with her, sitting at the bar while my dad stays with Micha.
I’ve ensured she realizes I’m not going anywhere, and the fact she still has the new rings on her finger is a good fucking sign.
She’s still struggling to let go of the past, but she’s trying, and that is all I can ask for because, let’s face it, I’m not letting her go.
“Brother, they’re right,” Cannon adds, “I’ve seen her wedding ring around your neck; leaving for five days will cement in her mind to leave you.”
I smile at the brothers and say, "My wife is wearing two new rings to cement a new beginning for us, and who said I’ll be leaving her here?”
Their mouth drops open, and I look at Steal, “Uncle Colt needs to attend all three practices while we’re gone and ensure Aunt Cass is at his game. That is the deal Micha made for his mom and me to go away, though it helps he knows that I’m winning his mom back.”
“Heaven’s going with you?” Pitbull confirms, and I nod.
“She is. She’ll be on my bike the whole time.” I sigh and sit forward. “I need to prove to her that she comes first, something I hadn’t done a few weeks back, or ten years ago.”
Steal offer, “By taking her on a club run and showing that you trust her with everything, that we, the club, trust her.”
I nod. “Exactly. Now, I think, before he’s patched in, Western should drive the van, that fucker John next to him to get him used to the ropes.” The brothers chuckle. “I’ll take the back end with my girl, Piston in front as normal, then my dad, Trig, Pitbull, and Shotgun on either side, that way there are brothers who my girl know and trust around her.”
Steal looks around the room and asks, “Any problems with that?” Everyone shakes their heads, making me smile.
I add, “You may want to include Art as well. He’s still a little sour that he never knew about my marriage.”
The brothers all laugh, and Steal bangs the gavel, then asks me, “Who is staying with Micha?”
I smile and admit, “He’ll be staying at home, and my mom, my sister, and Heaven’s mom will take turns staying with him, and only because they started arguing about who gets to have him.”
Steal nods, smiling, before he looks around the room again, looks at Piston, and asks, “Is there any more news?”
He sighs but shakes his head, “Axe is keeping his head down, and Aurora and Hannah are still MIA.”
I grit my teeth.
Axe is Acid and Piston’s blood cousin on their father’s side, their father as in the leader of The Killers, who tried to kill Natalie and went after Perrie.
The fucker is dead, but we had several traitors in the club that were reporting back to him, and most of us council brothers believe the fucker, Axe, has something to do with them, but there’s no proof, and due to club law, we can’t do jack shit until we have what we need.
Hannah was his old lady. He claimed she had trapped him when she announced she was pregnant, but as soon as he gave her his cut, the baby miraculously disappeared, and many believe she aborted it, and so do I, but mainly because she had found out what a cheating fucker he was. He treated her like shit, and she didn’t even want his cut. As for Aurora, she grew up with the club, her father is good friends with Steal and his dad—fuck, she’s an honorary sister to Acid and Piston. But last year she disappeared, nowhere to be seen, at the same time as Hannah, and Axe, who denied it at first, was the last one to see her.
“There were waves of a sighting of a girl matching the description of Aurora a few weeks back at the bus station, but the cameras showed fuck all,” Piston admits, and I sigh.
The girl was sweet as anything, and smart as shit.
If Axe did do something to her, he’ll fucking die a slow death, we’ll ensure it.
“Keep looking, brother,” Steal begs before he bangs the gavel stating, “alright, church finished.”
Defeated, and I slap his back, murmuring, “We’ll fucking find her, one way or another.”
He nods, and I stand, heading for the door.
I promised Art one drink before going home, and I messaged my wife, and she was fine with it.
I grab my phone from John, who, for once, doesn’t flinch, and walk over to the bar, patting Art on the back as I take a seat.
“Beer, prospect,” I say loudly, and Paul slides one my way. I quickly take a sip, enjoying the coldness.
“It’s about time you had a drink with me, brother,” Art says, taking a sip as Brandy slides up next to him, running her hand along his thigh.
“I’m only here for one drink, brother,” I remind him, and ignoring Brandy, he grins at me, stating, “You are so fucking whipped,” and I just shrug, not denying it because, yes, I fucking am.
I open my mouth to call him a fucker, but before I can get words out, a bony body slides underneath my arms, trying to climb on my lap, and I growl with anger locking eyes with Ginger.
“Hey baby, I’ve been on cleaning duty for far too long, my pussy needs a good fuck,” She whispers with sultry lust, and I grab her arm, squeezing it tightly, making her eyes widen in shock, but before I can throw her on the floor, she screams in pain as a hand grabs her hair and yanks her hard off my body and onto the floor. I turn to see my wife glaring at a shocked Ginger on the floor.
“What the fuck?” Ginger snaps, trying to get up, but Heaven ignores her, brings her foot back, and boots Ginger in the face, a crack echoing in the now silent room.
“That’s my fucking daughter-in-law,” my mother cheers loudly as Heaven brings her fist up, ready to punch the bitch, but I quickly stop her, grabbing her hand ,making her scowl at me. I just smile and look at her hand and gently move her thumb so it’s not on the inside of her fist, making the brothers chuckle as her mouth parts in shock.
“Now you may hit her, Angel,” I state as I kiss her knuckles and let go of her fist. She blinks until Ginger groans, trying to get up, and she turns back to her, and brings her fist back again and punches the bitch right in the nose, making Ginger scream.
I hear my son cheer, shocking me as I look his way, not realizing he was here, to see him sitting with all the brothers who look to have been fawning over him. I turn to my girl as she curses, “Crap,” and witness her shaking her hand out. I quickly take it to inspect it, my brows furrowed and my heart racing at the thought of her hurt.
They’re a little red. I kiss her knuckles with concern before we lock eyes. The anger in hers softens a little, and it hits me….
“You didn’t take it the wrong way, did you?” I confirm with hope.
She sighs and admits, “I was sitting with your mom, having snuck in without anyone knowing, to surprise you, to show you I’m willing to try, even if this place holds one of the most painful memories for me, only to see her climb underneath your arms, shocking you.” She glares at Ginger. “The bitch can’t seem to take the hint.”
“H-he was mine first!” Ginger snaps. “I fucked him behind the bleachers; I put my mark on him so everyone knew he was mine!”
Heaven rolls her eyes and says, “And? You did the same with nine others, as well as three teachers, and, news flash—” Heaven holds up her wedding rings. “I married him at eighteen, I had his child at nineteen. You were just a loose hole to try and squash his needs, which clearly never worked; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come straight back home to me.”
Pride hits me, and I grip my girl’s hips, pull her between my legs, and cup her cheek.
“This is the first time you’ve claimed me, Angel, since I fucked up,” I whisper with awe.
She shrugs and admits, “I’m trying. My trust still isn’t there, but I’m trying.”
I nod and gently kiss her lips, my son’s, “Finally,” just hitting my ears, making me smile as the brothers laugh.
Steal booms, “Ginger, looks like your time at the club has come to an end. You’ve ignored club rules and gone after a taken brother. Pack your shit and get out,” getting our attention.
Ginger gasps, and I watch as John walks over with a smirk and grips her arm, lifting her off the floor, before dragging her to the door, not giving her a chance to go to her room.
“Please, no, please. This is my home, mine!” she begs and screams, but no one looks her way. And me? Well, I look at my wife to see her brows furrowed, the conflict on her face showing how kind-hearted she really is.
“Come on a run with me,” I demand softly, getting her attention. Her eyes widen, and everyone quiets in shock.
Brother’s wives and old ladies don’t go on club business, yet I am bending the rules so mine can come.
“Travis,” she whispers, and I cup her cheek.
“I want you to see how much I trust you, and the club trusts you. Come with me on the run; Micha will be here with my mom, your mom, and my sister. Steal and Cass will be at every practice and game. Come with me, Angel, and let me show you my world, let me show you how much I trust you. But come with my property patch on your back, where it should have been ten years ago….”
Her eyes race between mine as the club stays quiet, waiting for her answer, while I hold my breath, hoping and fucking praying she agrees.
We need this to move forward, we need this to be together again. Because if she says no, I’ll hand my cut in now without a second thought, even if it means hurting my family. This girl right here—she’s one in a million, and it’s time she realized that she’s my one in a million.