2. Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Jokester – Seventeen Years Old
“Oh my god, I can't believe Dad is allowing you, Bullet, Maverick, and Slick to go on the club fun run on your bikes no less. How amazing is that?” Bethany gushes from where she's pushing against my side, and I grit my teeth to stop myself from snapping at her to fuck off because, well, she's supposed to be my girl.
My arm is casually over the chair she's sitting on, where it was before she even sat down but I'm not touching her, refusing to. That hasn’t stopped her from touching me every chance she gets though, like now, her hand is gently rubbing my leg making me want to shiver is disgust.
For a year, I've been dating Bethany, something she was anticipating because, of course, she went to daddy, as I thought. When I told her she was my girl after I returned home, she squealed and thanked her father. She wanted me and promised to change her behavior just to make sure she got me, and instead of standing by me, both my father and my Pres stood by her, showing me what I fucking meant to them.
Wouldn’t surprise me if she had something on them.
After Butcher and dad brought up the situation, I ran away for about three days, not contacting anyone, to the point that my mother blew up my phone along with everyone else's, especially Bullet who was expecting me to return to the ring to train with him.
The club is everything to me. I was brought up to always put it first, and to have something I have worked so hard for, not only to be threatened with having it taken away along with the roof over my head was gut-wrenching, I needed time.
In the end, I followed their plan, hoping it would only be a few months.
I lied to my best friend, claiming I'd had a crush on her for a while. He and the rest of the club were happy for us, while Beth has done nothing but hang off my arm since.
The club, the diner, the ring, school, she is always fucking there. I haven't kissed her, heck, I don't even put my arm over her shoulder, and the last time I had sex was two days before my father and Pres bombarded me with one of the cheerleaders in the school bathroom from behind because, of course, I can't cheat on the club princess.
“I mean, it has to be such an honor. You four are just prospects right now, but Daddy's letting you ride your bikes, which will be so exciting,” she continues to gush, and I make eye contact with my dad.
I know he sees my coldness, especially with the flinch he tries to hide, but I don't hide my disdain, I don’t even care if anyone notices the hate I’m radiating right now. For a whole fucking year my life has been taken away from me all because of him and Butcher.
For weeks, this girl has tried her hardest to get me to sleep with her. For weeks, she's gushed about how in love we are, and the whole club thinks we're the it couple. But only I, my father, and my Pres know the truth.
I was coerced into this relationship, and now my mother can't understand why I never go home, why I refuse to speak to dad unless it’s regarding the club.
Bethany kisses my cheek when her mama calls her, and I try my hardest not to shy away before Slick, formally known as Maverick, takes her seat, and I move my arm before the fucker can cozy up to me, which he laughs at.
“Damn, and I here I thought you were going to cuddle me too,” he sighs as he runs his hand through his short hair, and I roll my eyes, not even smiling.
I'm fucking lying to everyone. All the brothers believe I'm in love with the club princess, and honestly, I don't know how much longer I can put up with this shit.
“Damn, what happened to our Jokester?” his blood brother Acid, formally known as Callum and one of my best friends, asks, and he takes a seat next to his brother, and I just shrug.
I haven't been myself since I was forced into the relationship, but they don't know that, and they don't need to know it either.
Butcher and Dad know if the club knew what they planned, what they forced on me, they'd be pissed, and a coup could happen.
Huh, maybe I should open my mouth… I blink. Fuck that was a dark thought.
“I'm just tired,” I lie, hoping they buy it. I have been put on night gate duty for the past three weeks, so they technically shouldn't see my lie.
“When was the last time you had normal shifts?” Slick questions with concern, but I shrug.
During the day, I'm at school, and in the evenings and weekends, I'm at Angel's tattoo shop that the club owns thirty percent of, but Victoria's dad, Hammer, runs and owns the last seventy percent. He's currently teaching me the ropes, allowing me to practice tattooing, fuck, he's even started putting my artwork on the walls, but being at the shop and school means nights is when I have to prove myself to the club, though, in my eyes having Bethany as my girlfriend should be proof enough not that Butcher gives a shit.
“It is what it is,” I reply, looking at my bottle of water. I can't make eye contact with them, knowing I'm lying to them and everyone.
I'm unhappy, and honestly, I don't know if this is worth a cut, being with someone I'm not even attracted to emotionally or physically, having my father sell me out.
For years the club has seen Bethany as this sweet girl, but we know her to be different, and that is only because Butch has hidden her indiscretions over the years while he and my father believe she's calmed down since being with me. I still see the old jealous Bethany, especially when Victoria is around.
She becomes petty, and I fucking hate it. She uses her best friend as a way to hurt Vicky, meaning Vicky is now bullying Scarlett at school, then comes home and claims Scarlett hit her or got her in shit for something she didn't do, and every single time Bethany sticks up for her friend but I can see through her. She's after attention, and it's working. Bullet is going to be Pres when he hits twenty-five while she has no role in the club, which is why she wanted me. Her dad allowed her to get her way at my expense and allows her to use Scarlett.
“Brothers, we're riding out in five!” Hammer booms, and I sigh as I stand, grabbing my water in the process and say, “Let's get ready,” and walk away from the blood brothers but not without hearing Acid mumble, “Fuck, maybe we need to put in a vote to have his name changed to Debbie Downer.”
I ignore him, knowing I'm not even sure I want to be part of this club any longer and continue my stride. Today is the club's fun run, which normally only brothers participate in, but as Bethany stated, we get to participate this year.
It's to raise money for all the local schools, and having kids from one of the school’s rides along helps the cause.
“Jokester,” Butcher calls as I approach the steps leading to the front door and grit my teeth but try not to get tense, knowing Slick and Acid are watching me and look Butcher's way. He nods me over, and without showing any emotion, I walk over to where he's standing near the oak bar in the common room.
“What can I do for you, pres?” I ask as I stop in front of him and he clears his throat at my standoff tone as he looks around. Making sure no one heard me but unfortunately for him, the brothers are not stupid, they know I have a problem with Butch, they just don't know why.
I no longer go to his home for family dinners or advice, and I only speak to him if it is regarding club business.
In my eyes, this man is just the club president, and I struggle to show respect when respect is not earned.
“Look, uh, you and Bethany have been together for a year,” he starts, I raise a brow, but he ignores it and states, “Today she wants to go on the fun run.”
I shrug and reply, “Alright, then tell her to get in with one of the other prospects in the truck like she normally does.”
He clears his throat, and I just notice his discomfort before he says, “Actually, she's going on the back of your bike, and that is an order.”
I tense and glare at him because fucker clearly is on something if he believes I’d allow a woman I don’t see as my future on the back of my fucking bike.
He opens his mouth, but I quickly cut him off and snap quietly, “Please tell me you are not ordering me to allow your daughter on the back of my bike? A space that is only meant to be for my future old lady?”
“Damian,” he says quietly, “you've been together for a year, this is the next step.”
I step closer to him, getting in his face not caring who sees, and I growl, “Only because you have threatened my patch, my livelihood, my fucking family, basically bullying me into this relationship, and like fuck am I having her on the back of my bike. That is the privilege for my old lady, not your daughter, who only wants me for my patch while telling everyone we're madly in love!”
He looks to the left, and I know he is looking at his daughter, who most likely begged him to talk to me about this.
I shake my head with disappointment because, yet again, I'm last in everyone's thoughts.
He looks back at me and says, “She either rides with you or you don't ride at all and go on gate duty for the rest of the day.”
He says it firmly, but I see the guilt, guilt that I don’t give a shit about. He can shove his guilt up his ass for all I care. This man is a worthless, spineless piece of shit and he is not my family.
I nod and he sighs in relief, believing the fun run is that important to me, but it isn't. I may be a prospect, but I still ride even to school, which is my way to rebel against the shit they're forcing me to do meaning this ride today is nothing to me.
He sighs and begins, “Alright, I'll get her to grab her–”
I cut him off and say loudly, “Hey Slick,” and my friend looks my way before he goes out the front door with a furrowed brow, and I say, “Change of plans. I'm going on gate duty, so you'll ride next to Bullet.”
Everyone around us freezes, and I look at Butcher, whose mouth drops open in shock and I sneer, “Who knew a man I saw as an uncle, as family, was really just a spineless bully?” and I turn and walk away not missing his flinch.
I pat Slick’s back on my way past but avoid Bethany, whose eyes are wide open, and head out the door.
The brothers are all lined up waiting while my spot next to Bullet, who is already on his bike talking shit with Acid, is still empty. Both look my way and grin, but instead of going to my bike or even stopping to talk to them, letting them know the new plan, I salute them, making them furrow their brows, and I walk over to where Devin is sitting at the gate.
“Alright,” I say when I'm close, and he gives me a nod and looks back down the street, making me smirk and state, “You're off gate duty and going on the fun run in the truck with Bethany, I'm taking over.”
He looks my way with a furrowed brow, but I ignore it, climb into the booth, and take a seat before he finally gets the hint and leaves, and I look towards the bikes.
I lock eyes with my dad, and he looks down, making me scoff and fist my hands. Of course, he knew.
So much for him putting his son first. Ha, putting his son first. He hasn’t done that in years.
I shake my head and look down the street, watching for any activity, when Bullet demands, “Why in the fuck are you here and not on your bike next to me?”
I look his way, not shocked that he followed me and lie, “The battery has been fucking up, so I spoke to your dad, and it was decided I be put on gate duty, so at least then I don't have to do it tonight.”
He frowns and opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, his dad booms, “Alright, brothers, let's ride!”
Bullet's jaw moves like he is trying his hardest not to snap, and he nods before walking away. I sigh, watching with jealousy and frustration as every brother starts his bike, while Bethany looks my way for a moment then climbs into the club's truck, making me scoff.
They rev their bikes and slowly move to the gate one by one. I press the button, and electronically, they open as Butcher leads the pack with Louise on his back. Before he rides out, he looks my way, and I glare at him, making him look away and ride out while his wife looks confused. My mama looks at me with concern while my father doesn't look at me as they follow, and I look away as every brother leaves the gate, especially when the club's truck goes by.
If I lock eyes with Bethany, she'll see my hate for her. She wants what she wants, and because Butcher wants a quiet life, he's ensuring she gets it while letting his old lady get away with trying to plan a wedding between Victoria and Bullet.
As soon as the last vehicle leaves, I press the button, and the gate closes and everything in me deflates. My mind races over everything, and I wonder if I even want to be a part of this club after my prospecting phase.
Why would I want to be involved and respect people like this?