Chapter 11
WALKER
“Spoke with Stone today,” Preach announced like it was nothing. “He seemed surprised but pleased that you’ve decided to stick around for a bit.”
“I’m sure he was.” I ran my hand over my beard. “Haven’t been one to stay put for long.”
“Well, I’m hoping that’s going to change.”
“He offer to come down and give you a hand with the Coyotes?”
“He did, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”
“Any news with them?”
“There’ve been some rumblings of movement in the area, but nothing’s been confirmed. Shep’s staying on top of it, and I have the boys on high alert. If they want a war, we’ll be more than happy to give it to them.”
“Maybe they’ll come to their senses and let this dog lie.”
“That’d be the smart move, but I’m not taking any chances with these assholes. I’ve already reached out to Gus and Rooster, and they’re sitting on go, right along with Stone.”
Gus was the president of the Memphis chapter, and Rooster ran the Bama chapter. With their help and Stone’s, Little Rock would be unstoppable. “That’s good to hear. Stone is one of the good ones. He’ll do whatever it takes to have your back.”
“Funny. He said the exact same thing about you, but I already knew that. I’ve always known.”
I leaned back in the chair in front of Preacher’s desk, and Creed was sitting next to me. The office smelled like leather, whiskey, and something faintly metallic. More likely, it came from the guns he kept stowed away in the secret cabinet behind him.
His office was impressive, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less. I cleared my throat before I got to the reason why I’d come to see him in the first place. “Well, since you think so, there was something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“That so?”
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms and cleared my throat. “I’m considering staying a little longer than I first planned. And if that’s the case, I need to start pulling my weight around here.”
Creed gave me a look, and I could tell that he respected the offer. But he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he asked, “What did you have in mind?”
“Anything you need doing. A shift at the Vault. Runs. Work around here. Whatever you need.”
Creed was quick to answer, “We could always use a hand over at the Vault.”
“Sounds good.”
“You good with construction or working on bikes?”
“Both.”
That earned a nod and a slight grin. “I’m sure we can keep you as busy as you wanna be.”
“Good deal.” I felt something settle in my chest. Not relief exactly.
More like a shift, like things were finally clicking into place, whether I’d planned it or not.
While I was at it, I decided to tell him, “Gonna need to find a place, too. Something a little more private. Not that I don’t appreciate the setup.
I do. I’m just getting a bit old for the late-night parties and whatnot. ”
“So, you really are planning on sticking around a bit.”
“Unless something changes.”
Preacher leaned back in his chair, and I could tell by his expression he’d already decided on what he was about to say. “My place is empty?”
“Your place?”
“I held onto it after me and Tabitha got hitched. With the horses and the barn, it was just easier to move into her place. Just never saw a reason to let it go.”
Creed glanced over at Preacher, then back to me, clearly intrigued by the exchange. Preacher seemed unfazed as he added, “You’re welcome to stay there as long as you want.”
“That’s a generous offer.”
“It’s nothing. Seriously. The place has just been sitting there. The girls go by and clean every now and then, but that’s about it. So, if you decide you’re sticking around for good, I could sell it to you for a fair price.”
I took a moment to let his offer sink in. It would be a real place, not some dive hotel or temporary patch of floor. Something that would be mine, and I haven’t had that in years. And that felt a little too close to putting down roots, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
“I’d appreciate that.”
Creed smirked faintly and teased, “Careful, man. Next thing you know, you’ll be wearing the Fury patch again.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, now.”
“There’s always a possibility,” Preacher interjected. “We’d welcome the opportunity of taking you on… That is, if Stone would be willing to let you go.”
“He let go of me a long time ago.”
“Well, consider the offer on the table.”
Even as he said it, something in my chest felt a little less restless than it had been in years. But I wasn’t na?ve. I’d been on the road for a long damn time. It was going to take quite an adjustment to stay in one place for more than a couple of weeks.
But this had been the first time I’d actually been tempted, and that was enough for me to take a chance. I gave them both a nod and stood. “Thanks, brother. I’ll stay there for a bit and let you know.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll get out of your hair. Just remember I’m here if you need anything.”
“Meet me at the Vault tonight at six,” Creed ordered. “I’ll show you around and get you on the calendar.”
“I’ll see you then.” I turned and started for the door but stopped when a thought came to mind. “One more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“You got any suggestions on where to take someone out for dinner or something?”
“Ah, so now we know why he’s looking to stick around.”
“Don’t go and make me change my mind before I even get my foot through the door.”
“Ah, come on, now. I was just fucking with ya,” Creed teased. “What’s this girl like to do?”
“Don’t know much about her. Know she’s a librarian at an elementary school, and she has two boys. That’s about it.”
“Well, you could go for a ride out to the lake, or if you want something more active, you could try a game of Top Golf. They have drinks and decent food.”
“Don’t think I’m the golfing type.”
“Don’t have to be. You just gotta hit the ball… That’s the fun of it.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“If you want to try something a bit safer, there’s always 42 Bar and Grill. It’s got good food and drinks with a decent view of the water, and Southern Tail Brewing is damn good, too.”
“I’ll keep ‘em in mind. Thanks.”
I stepped out of Preacher’s office and pulled the door shut behind me, closing a little harder than I’d intended. It rattled something inside me, stopping me in my tracks. I inhaled a deep breath as I ran my hand roughly down my face, my fingers catching my beard.
The clubhouse suddenly felt different. It had the same walls, same worn floors, and even the same hum of voices and movement throughout. But it carried a weight it hadn’t been holding before.
I was staying.
Staying.
The word didn’t sit like I’d hoped it would. Neither did everything that came with it. A home, a routine, and people who expected you to be there tomorrow and the next day and the next. And keeping promises and forging friendships. That was what brotherhood was all about.
Hell, even the thought of getting that close to anyone again made my chest tighten.
Throw in the fact that I was actually considering going on a fucking date.
I had no idea what the hell I was thinking.
I had no idea how to do this kind of shit anymore.
I didn’t have it in me to open up and let someone see the past surface without it all going sideways.
And then Preacher’s voice drifted back into my head, steady and sure. “It’s time you find your peace, brother.”
“Yeah,” I muttered under my breath as I started down the hall. “I’m working on it.”
That didn’t mean it wasn’t going to be a rough road getting there. But I was going to try. But first, I needed coffee. I made my way down the hall, and as I got closer to the kitchen, I could smell the dark, bitter brew, and it made my mouth water.
I rounded the corner and found Grim sitting at the table with Goose and Memphis, and from the looks of it, they’d been there a while. The table was covered in empty cups, dirty plates, and wadded-up dirty napkins.
Grim was the first to look up, and a slight grin marked his face as he said, “Well, look who decided to join the land of the living.”
“Morning to you, too.”
Goose snorted, and Memphis gave me a quick chin-up, greeting me with silence. I poured myself a cup of coffee and walked over to the table, sitting across from Grim. He leaned back in his chair as he said, “So, the word is, you might be sticking around for a while.”
I shook my head, and a low chuckle slipped out. “Damn, you boys waste no time, do you?”
“Hell, no,” Goose snickered. “This place runs on gossip and bad decisions.”
“Lots of bad decisions,” Memphis interjected. “And mostly his.”
“Hey! I do believe you’ve had your fair share of them,” Goose whined. “Weren’t you the one who thought you could kill the weeds out front with bug spray?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, ass-wipe. It worked.”
“Only after you got the blowtorch after ‘em, and that cost us not one, but two trees.”
“You really want to go down this road?”
“No, actually I do not.”
“That’s what I thought.” Memphis scoffed, then turned his attention to me. “So, you really thinking about staying?”
I took a drink of my coffee, letting the heat hit the back of my throat before answering, “Said I might be around for a bit. That’s it.”
Goose raised a brow. “That’s how it starts.”
“I’m not committing to anything just yet.”
“Um-hmm. Whatever you say boss,” Goose poked.
I shook my head once again and let out a breath, hoping that would be the last of Goose and his pestering. “I’m meeting Creed over at the Vault later. He’s going to give me the lay of the land and try to find a place where I can help out while I’m here.”
“Finding you a spot won’t be a problem,” Memphis replied confidently. “That place never slows down.”
“Good. I like keeping busy.”
“Well, if that’s the case, you still good with bikes?” Grim asked with a grimace.
“I can hold my own. Why? You having an issue?”
“Electrical is being a pain in the ass. Headlight cuts out whenever it feels like it.”
“Faulty wiring?”
“Pretty sure.” Grim gave me a disgruntled look. “Or the damn thing’s possessed.”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“I knew I was gonna like him,” Goose added with a smirk.
“Don’t go getting attached,” I warned.
“You’re not the type to sit still long, are ya?”
“Nope.”
Memphis nodded like that confirmed something. “Good. You’ll fit in around here just fine.”
I didn’t answer right away.
I just took another drink of my coffee, letting the noise of the room settle around me, and for the first time in a good long while, I didn’t feel like I was just passing through. That didn’t mean I was ready to call this place home. Far from it.
But maybe… just maybe, Preacher was right.
Maybe this was a start.