Chapter 4 #2
My throat tightens. It’s an emotional reunion, and I hope it’s the woman he’s been searching for over the years. Most of us know about his Angel. He’s always said she’s the love of his life and from the looks of the way she’s clinging to him, I’d say he’s the love of hers.
“Jesus,” Spook mutters, watching them. There are three other women with her. I recognise them from the pictures in the file.
“Well fuck,” I mutter. “Let's meet the neighbours.”
Spook laughs. “Ah shit, Pres. You aren’t serious. Well fuck is right.”
Ignoring him, I get off my bike and walk with Roman to the group on the sidewalk.
I shake Siera’s hand when she introduces herself, and nod at her daughters. There’s no missing they’re related because they all three look alike, other than the difference in their colouring.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when Axle handed his bike keys to the one daughter.
We wait until Axle leaves in their SUV.
My biggest surprise, I think, was Roman’s protectiveness towards the girls. I wasn’t an idiot; I'd seen his interest in their mother. I hope he knows what he’s doing.
“Roman,” Lala calls from the door of the diner where she’d been watching everything. She hands him a box filled with food. “There’s enough for you and all your brothers. Should travel well enough in your saddle bags.”
“Lala, let me pay for them. That’s a lot of food.” I don’t think I’d ever heard Roman talk to anyone the way he talked to her. She waves her hand and wipes at her eyes.
“It’s a celebration. One of my boys is settled … and the other,” she hesitates and pats his cheek, “I hope he doesn’t fuck it up. I’m closing early and going home to celebrate.”
She runs her eyes over my brothers before stopping on me. “You and your boys are welcome here anytime.”
Tipping my chin at her, I have to bite back a grin when Roman kisses her cheek. It’s so unlike him. He whispers something to her, and I see him stuff notes in her pocket while she’s not paying attention.
I’m not the only one that’s noticed. Tru and Janis are watching him, heads tilted to the side. They share a glance.
“Do you think Roman realises what he’s taking on if he gets involved with their mother?” Spook asks.
“Who the fuck knows brother, he’s a wild card.”
Turning back to the girls, I motion them to Axle’s bike. Tru gets on and starts her. I can see right away that she knows what she’s doing.
“Good?” I ask.
“All good, Pres.” She grins at me before putting her helmet on. I shake my head.
Janis gets on behind her.
“You ride in the middle,” I remind her. She gives me a thumbs-up. Turning to the brothers, I shout. “Precious cargo joining us. They’ll ride in the middle.”
The brothers nod and start their bikes. Roman gives Lala back the empty box; all our saddle bags are full of food.
I’ll make sure that I add her to the businesses that need checking on regularly, as I could see that Axle and Roman would be busy for the next while.
It wasn’t a hardship to travel an hour for good food, and from the smell of it, her food was going to be delicious.
Straddling my bike I start her up, lift my arm over my head and circle my hand as I pull away. Spook to one side of me and BB, our Road Captain, to the other. The rest of the brothers fall into their assigned roles with Tru and Janis in the middle.
After the first mile, I know that neither Axle nor Tru had been lying; she knew how to ride. I speed up, and we ride home. It may have been an impromptu ride, but there’s nothing like being out with your brothers.
I need to speak to BB. We need to do more rides like this. My worries fall away as each mile passes, and before long we’re pulling into our clubhouse grounds.
I motioned to Tru to follow me as brothers fell away, riding to the clubhouse while we took the road to the houses. As expected, Roman follows us but as he lives next door to Axle, I’m not surprised.
We get to Axle’s house and find Siera on the steps waiting. There’s no sign of Axle and Angel.
She stands up as we ride up, smiling at her girls who park the bike in front of Axle's garage.
They park and get off. Both are smiling wide as they approach us. “God, I needed that,” Tru admits, handing me her helmet. “I haven’t had a chance to ride in months.”
“Are they good?” I tilt my chin towards the house.
Siera shrugs and swipes at her eyes. “I don’t know.
I hope so. Maybe now she can heal but there’s a lot of history he doesn’t know, and I’m not sure if it will break them or not.
We’ll see. She is one of the strongest women I know.
She’s been through so much and came out still standing. Angel’s been my rock.”
There’s not much I can say about that. Roman is suspiciously silent. I look over at him, but he’s staring at the house.
“She’ll be okay,” he says suddenly, “whatever she has to tell him won’t break them.
I’ve never seen someone love another like he loves her.
Twenty-eight years, and he never stopped looking.
” He turns back to us, and I’m surprised to see a sheen over his eyes.
Clearing his throat, he holds out the bags that Lala gave him at the diner. “Dinner for you from Lala.”
“Oh,” Siera looks surprised, but takes the bags. “I’ll tell her thanks next time I’m over there. We’d best get home, here’s my number.” She hands me a piece of paper. “Call me if she needs picking up.”
Tucking the paper into my pocket, I smirk as Roman’s eyes track my fingers. Eyeing the paper with her number on it.
“Come on girls, let’s go.” Siera calls out, moving to her ride.
Janis stops by Roman and looks up at him. “Don’t make me regret this,” she warns, slapping a piece of paper to his chest. He looks at in stunned silence, then lifts dark eyes to hers.
“You won’t,” he promises.
She gives him a nod and climbs into the SUV.
They wave at us as they drive away.
“Holy shit,” Roman hisses as we watch their vehicle disappear down the road. “Bolt out of the fucking blue.”
Chuckling, I turn my head towards him. Clapping his shoulder, I shake him. “Going to have to grow up, brother.”
“Yeah,” he sighs, his gaze on his best friend’s door. “About time I reckon.”
“I’d say,” I laugh. “Have to give up the whores too.”
He shrugs, “Not a problem. I rarely use them anymore. But yeah, that could cause issues.”
“Want my advice?” I ask.
“Yeah Pres, hit me with it.”
“Be straight with her. Don’t keep anything back.
She’s not the type to lie to or omit stuff from.
She’s been through something. I know what, but that’s for her to tell you.
I will say though, she’s been on her own since her mid-twenties and brought those girls up by herself with the help of her family.
If she gives you a chance, you’ll be a lucky man.
That woman has loyalty written all over her, but only if you treat her right. ”
He’s silent, and for the first time since I’ve known him there’s not a hint of mischief on his face.
Roman’s a good brother, always willing to get stuck in and help with whatever is needed.
Between him and Rusty the Casino is run like a smooth machine, but he likes to have a good time when he’s got downtime. I never thought he’d ever settle down.
“You’re right, Pres. Let’s get Axle and his lady through the next weeks, then I’ll concentrate on Siera. About time I grew up, and if it goes with Axle like I think it will then I really do need to grow up.”
“Happens to all of us brother,” I reply, giving him a smirk. I walk back to my bike and get on for the short ride to my house on the far side of the residences I’d allowed the brothers to build. I laugh when he gives me the finger before pushing his bike next door to his place.
Changes are coming, and I hope they’re good for the club and don’t cause problems.