2. Chapter 1
Thunder – Seven Months Later
My phone rings for the fifth time in the space of ten minutes.
I pick up speed as I change lanes and move over towards the shoulder, checking my mirrors as I do before I pull up right next to the barrier.
I press the side button on my phone that is strapped on my handlebars to see what is so important at the constant calling, the ringing in my helmet pissing me off but I smile at the name.
Brit
“Hey, little sister,” I answer without hesitation as I push up my helmet visor.
“Unc, unc?” a sweet little voice whispers, echoing in my helmet. I grin wider as I lean back slightly, trying to stretch out my throbbing knee while rolling my right shoulder.
“Bailey Bell,” I murmur softly, “Was it you continuously calling me?”
“I miss wew, and Lew-Lew misses wew,” she replies, and I swear my heart fucking pulls as guilt fills me.
I wasn’t supposed to be gone for this long. Doc agreed I could ride for five months to get my head straight. The longer I rode, the freer I fucking felt, and I kept putting off going home. Everyone there is playing happy families while I’m struggling with pain because it’s all I can focus on.
I really should have come up with better ways to keep the club together.
Having had several missed calls, I thought it was Doc who was trying to get me to return home like my dad has tried since I left. Nope, instead it’s my sweet little niece who has her mother's sweet nature.
“I miss you both too, sweet girl,” I say as horns blare behind me.
Being away from the kids, it’s hard because I’m always there for them, always helping them.
Especially Bailey Bell and Lewis, my nearly three-year-old nephew along with June, my one-year-old niece, and yeah, I feel guilty.
I feel guilty that I’m away from my sister who is keeping her mama at arm's length, but I just- fuck me- I needed this, still need this.
I can feel myself getting angry and frustrated with the constant pain, and being home won’t help me. Like fuck am I telling my sister or brother-in-law about my pain.
“Come home, Unc,” Bailey whispers, and I wince.
Shit.
“I can’t right now, sweet girl, but I promise to always speak to you until I can,” I say softly, and the sweetheart sniffles, breaking my fucking heart.
“But who take me to daycare?” she mumbles and I sigh.
“Your daddy, sweet girl, or gramps,” I say softly instead of correcting her, “and as soon as I do come home, I promise, I will take you to daycare.”
“Kay,” she whispers before I hear, “Breaking my daughter's heart again, big brother?”
“That’s just mean,” I grumble, “It isn’t like I want to hurt Bails, Brit.”
“Then don’t, come home,” she says matter-of-factly, “Preferably before I force my husband to come and get you.”
I roll my eyes and remind her, “Doc is aware I’m not ready, so he won’t come and find me, little sister.”
“He will if I bring another dog home,” she retorts, and I roll my eyes.
Over the years, fuck, Brit has brought several animals home. Ace has only taken three of them in, meaning Doc is at the end of his tether but he knew who he got with.
My little sister is a vet nurse, and even before finding her passion, she had always gravitated towards animals.
Which meant bringing them home, much to Dad's dismay.
It started off small, you know, the stray cat here, the injured bunny there, but then she began working at the local vet office.
All it took was for the wrong owner to walk in for her helping strays to turn into a felony of animal napping.
Twelve fucking dogs she stole from her office with the help of Trigger's old lady, Ashley, who has also gotten into the stealing game.
Those two give the Untamed a run for their fucking money I tell yah.
“Fuck, I really shouldn’t have helped you regain your memories,” I mutter, and she gasps dramatically, making me snort, before I remind her, “Doc said if you bring home any more animals then he’ll go to your boss personally.”
“Didn’t you hear?” she asks innocently, “Ashley and I bought the office last month, we’re now the proud owners.”
Of fuck me, no.
“Does Doc know?” I demand because surely he wouldn’t agree to that?
“Nope,” she admits, “Trigger helped us get it done after Ashley batted her eyelashes at him and I thought I’d just surprise my husband when the time is right.”
I groan, dropping my head, ignoring the vehicles speeding past me.
We’re all fucking doomed if those two own the vet office. Does it surprise me that Trigger folded instantly? Nope, not one bit.
“That’s it, I’m not coming home at all, I’m going nomad,” I threaten, not wanting to deal with angry pet owners twenty-four seven, and Brit gasps before she retorts, “Then I’ll come find you and knock you out with the bat and drag you home!”
I roll my eyes and remind her, “You tried knocking me out last year, and all you did was give me a concussion,” and she huffs, making my lips twitch, but I soon wince when she states, “Asher, you either bring that idiot home or I’m bringing a dog home tomorrow!”
“No, you are fucking not!” I hear Doc snap before he demands, “Get your fucking ass home, Thunder!” and I laugh, I can’t fucking help it.
“It’s just a dog, Doc,” I goad with a smirk, but it soon drops when he admits, “She brought home a litter of fucking puppies yesterday!”
“Fuck off?” I snap, and he grunts, “Yeah, the owner was breeding her dog, trying to make money and was hoping for a rare breed or some shit, but the dogs came out normal, and she wanted them all killed.”
“Ah shit,” I groan, “and I’m guessing Ace doesn’t want animals anymore?”
“The fucker took two because Molly pouted, but that was it, and your dad took one despite your mother's denial, and now I’m stuck with the rest.” He admits, and I ask, “How big was the litter?”
“Fucking twelve,” he grunts, and I wince.
“Just so you know, Doc, you married her, so she’s your responsibility, no takebacks,” I joke, and he growls, not finding it funny, and I laugh.
Sighing, he confirms, “You’re still not ready to come home, are you?” and I swallow hard as I look down.
“No,” I admit, “I uh, I still feel lost…” And I’m still getting pains, but I’m not telling him that. He already suspects my injuries, and he just doesn’t know the extent of them.
“Brother, it’s been seven months.” He reminds me softly, “Brit is still struggling without her sparring partner, my kids are missing their uncle, your dad is going insane, so is your mother.”
I hold in my snort at the mother shit because we both know she’s happy to have one less brother around.
She may have raised me, but she didn’t want me, especially knowing my birth mama was a part of the club before she passed away. Especially knowing I was always going to follow in my dad’s footsteps.
Kathleen Childs because yeah, she refused to take Hill as her last name, only puts up with me or that is how it feels.
When I don’t say anything, Doc sighs and admits, “Brit is ten weeks pregnant, brother. We’re having another baby, and you were the only person she wanted with each pregnancy, and that hasn’t changed this time around.”
Fuck.
I clench my jaw and look at the road sign about a meter away…
Go right, it heads straight back to Wincher. I’d be home in three hours, most likely making my sister's day even though I’m not ready. Or go straight, which heads towards Dallas and put me first.
Fuck I’m conflicted. I’ve just spent the past two days with the Huntsmen MC, another club we’re affiliated with in New York.
My plan was to maybe head towards the Devil’s MC, see if Snake could put me up for a few days before I decide my next route, maybe tattoo at their shop, something I’ve done at every club I’ve visited, earning my keep.
Maybe their doctor can take a look at my knee and shoulder. I refused to have Doc and Tank to have a look because they don’t know exactly how bad the pain is, and the last thing I need is my little sister taking over.
When I still don’t say anything, Doc sighs, “I get it, you’ve worked your ass off to keep this club together.
I also know you’re in some kind of pain.
You don’t want me to know about it, but I’ve seen the winces, I’ve heard the groans when you think I’m not watching.
Thunder, you are club, you’ve been our glue so if you need a little longer then fine, but all I ask is that you come home before your new niece or nephew is born and head over to the Untamed until you do decide to come home. ”
“You don’t want me riding from club to club anymore?” I confirm with grit, suddenly pissed off that he’s hit the nail on the head.
“No, I don’t, because you refused to explain exactly how much pain you are in.
Hawk’s dad can look at your injuries while you help the brothers out.
They have a traitor that is stealing from the club and causing raids by the feds.
They need a hand in getting proof because apparently, he’s gotten cozy with Ink's old lady, Sophie. We both know she isn’t good with judgement and is continuously defending him, pushing Ink away without realizing,” Doc states, “So head there, look into the traitor and get your head sorted. I want you home in no later than eight months, otherwise, I’ll sic your sister on you! ”
That said, he rudely hangs up, and I shake my head before pressing the side button on my phone.
I put my visor down, muttering, “Threatening my sister on me is just mean…”
I’m not ready to stop riding, and I groan because I know I can’t dismiss an order like that…
“Fuck’s sake,” I grunt as I start my bike and rev it before checking my mirrors, and as soon as I see an opening, I pull out onto the freeway and speed up, following the signs for Dallas.
Fucking Doc!
***
A prospect I haven’t seen before opens the Untamed’s gates without hesitation upon seeing me ride up.
I give the skinny fucker a salute as I pull up next to Axel’s bike in front of the large metal building just as Axel steps outside, a grin spreading across his face.
His wife, Annalise, practically jumps on the spot with excitement seeing me, and I chuckle as I switch off the engine and remove my gloves, tucking them in my side saddle before I remove my helmet.
“Brother, you are a sight for fucking sore eyes,” Axel says, and I grin as I climb off my bike just as another guy walks out of the clubhouse.
A fucking mohawk in place, his face full of piercing but it isn’t his look that has me raising a brow, nah, it’s the negative fucking aura he has going on and what pisses me off is Sophie, Inks old lady is following him with grin.
Well, safe to say I know who their traitor is, and it is also safe to say Sophie is on thin fucking ice.
She allowed a clubwhore to get between her and her friend Leah a few years ago, basically disregarded her. By the looks of things, she’s yet to learn her lesson.
“Sophie!” Axel snaps, but she just waves a hand at the man and reminds him, “You sponsored him, he isn’t a danger as Jackson claimed. He’s just jealous when he has no reason to be.”
“And if Ink was all over another woman?” Annalise asks, and Sophie glares her way, giving me the perfect opportunity.
I stroll over to them, and while Mohawk stares daggers at his first lady, clearly not giving a shit about his prospect status, I bump into him forcefully, causing him to tumble forward., He grunts before he looks my way instantly and growls, “Fucking watch it!”
I raise a brow and say, “Do all prospects here speak to visiting brothers of affiliating clubs with disrespect, or is it just this jackass?” causing the man to tense.
“Thunder,” Sophie says with happiness and I give the woman a tight smile and say, “You may want to be more cautious with who you hang around, sweetheart,” and she frowns but I ignore her look and go to Axel who is grinning wide as he shakes my hand, his other taking the phone I’ve just nabbed.
A phone I’m guessing has certain lock procedures so Flame couldn’t hack it without plugging in.
“What is it with Sophie not listening to her old man?” I ask quietly, “Even I can feel his bad fucking aura.”
Annie sighs, “I don’t know, I think she just wants to prove a point after everything that happened with Leah, and now Axel can’t kick Jimmy out until he shows Sophie proof that he isn’t innocent.”
“Why not just kill the fucker?” I ask with confusion because seriously, stab him in the neck then claim he ran.
Simple right?
Axel grunts, “She threatened the cops and her marriage,” and my mouth parts.
Okay, not so fucking simple!
Axel nods and confirms, “Ink has been staying at the clubhouse with their kids, refusing to speak to her because obviously threatening cops with an MC is enough to have her old lady cut revoked, so he’s pissed.”
“Is she having an affair?” I ask quietly, aware the two are behind us, and Axel instantly shakes his head in denial.
“Nah, she just has this mentality to help people she believes need help after what she did with Leah,” he grunts, and I nod as Annie links her arm through mine and pulls me towards the door.
“Lilah will be elated that you are here,” she says and I grin thinking of Meghan and Slicer’s little terror, but my grin falls when she mentions, “I also heard you need our Doc to look at you so he’s going to do that while Axel goes to Flame and if you don’t, Star may paint your bike,” and I groan while Axel laughs his ass off.
Fucker…