Chapter 29 Goose
GOOSE
The clubhouse was quiet, especially for a Friday afternoon. It was the kind of quiet that settled in after a storm when everybody was still looking over their shoulder, even when they knew the fight was done. It had been weeks since the robbery, and things still felt off.
No one said it, but everyone knew something had shifted, and things hadn’t quite settled back into place yet. But it was coming. We were moving forward and making plans.
I leaned forward and studied the papers that were laid out in front of me. It was the proposal for the new club, and it was a lot to take in. I was trying to make sense of it all while I listened to Creed and Memphis yammer on about all the possibilities.
“East Village is always an option. Or even Riverdale. I don’t think we’ll get much pushback there, but I think our best option would be down on the Riverfront. We could even try securing some property down past the casino. It’s already a popular area, and it would give us plenty of room to build.”
“It’s a flood zone,” Memphis argued.
“Only the lower part,” Creed answered. “And we can always work around that.”
He had a good point. It was a popular area, and it would be close to everything that mattered. Memphis seemed skeptical as he asked, “And what’s Sergei gonna think about us encroaching on his sweet spot?”
“We’ll help his business as much as he will help ours.”
I took a slow pull from my beer, listening more than talking. That had become more the norm over the past few weeks. Listening. Watching. Trying to piece together how everything had gone so wrong without me seeing it coming.
We’d done our homework. Shep and the cops tracked down the names of the men who’d tried to rob us. Everyone except Davis had ties to the Rebel Coyotes. I had no doubt that Davis was behind all of it. I’m sure he did some sweet talking and got them to go rogue.
I’m sure he made the whole thing seem like a breeze.
It would be an easy way for them to get their kickback and an opportunity to dish out a little sweet revenge.
The Coyotes’ president hadn’t wasted any time reaching out to Preacher. As soon as he got word of what happened, he reached out to Prez directly. He made it clear to him that his boys had acted on their own. He felt ashamed and embarrassed that he hadn’t had a better handle on them.
Regardless, he hoped that we could all put this behind us and let grievances die where they fell. He hoped we could find a way to exist in the same city without blood running through the streets.
Preach made no promises.
But he respected the call.
We all did, and in the end, he agreed to no retaliation. At least, not for now. That didn’t mean we would forgive and forget. We wouldn’t forget a damn thing. I certainly wouldn’t.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Creed looked over to me and asked, “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a lot to take on, but we can do it.”
“That’s it?” Memphis grumbled.
“What do you want from me, man?”
“I want you to pull your head out of your ass and be Goose again.” Memphis let out a breath. “Is it me? You still blaming me for being the one…”
“We’ve been through that,” I interrupted. “I don’t blame you for shit. You did what you had to do.”
“I did, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was the one who pulled the trigger.”
“I would’ve done the same fucking thing, brother. You gotta let that shit go.”
“And so do you.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder,” Memphis snapped. “Hell, I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the old Goose. Our Goose. The one who always had the smart-assed remarks and goofy comebacks. Hell, even the pestering. This hum-drum bullshit has to go.”
“You miss me fucking with you?”
“Yeah, it surprised the hell out of me, too.”
“Sadist.”
“Maybe, just a tad.”
“Need me to tell Tallie to break out the whips and chains?”
“Easy, smartass.” Memphis smiled. “Just needed to know you were still in there.”
I was still far from being back to my old self, but with each day that passed, the weight on my shoulders seemed a little lighter. I owed that to my brothers. They’d been by my side every step of the way. Even Preach had tried to ease my mind on the whole situation.
He gave me a couple of days to stew over things before coming up to me and saying, “You’re still mulling in it.”
I didn’t ask what he meant. I knew. We all knew. I ran my hand down my face and sighed, “I should’ve seen it sooner.”
“Seen what?”
“That he was full of shit.” My throat tightened. “I vouched for him… put my patch on the line. Hell, I put the whole damn club on the line.”
“You trusted your brother.”
“And look how that turned out.”
“It’s a tough one.” Preacher let out a long breath. “Blood doesn’t always guarantee character. It just gives history.”
That hit harder than expected.
“You wanted to believe the best in him.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “That isn’t weakness, son. That’s who you are.”
“It cost the club.”
“Yeah, and it cost you more.”
That was the part I hadn’t let myself say out loud. I swallowed hard, then muttered, “I wish I could go back. I would do so much differently.”
“Hindsight is 20-20.” He gave me a nod. “You learn from the pain. You don’t live it. That’s the difference between a mistake and a downfall.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. You’re a good man, Goose. You gave your brother every chance. He made his choices.” He gave me one last pat. “Don’t carry what isn’t yours to carry.”
And with that, he walked off, leaving me to soak in every word he’d said.
And I did.
He and the others had slowly helped me find my way back to reality, and it meant a great deal to me. I eased back in my chair as I told him, “I am, and I gotta say, it’s good to know I was missed.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late.” I gave him a brotherly slap on the shoulder. “And I gotta say, I think the whips and chains would do you good.”
“And I think a muzzle would do you good.”
“You did this,” Creed fussed at Memphis. “You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”
“Don’t give me that shit,” Memphis piped back. “You know you were worried about his ass, too.”
“Pfft.”
“Awe, you boys are making me feel all warm and fuzzy.”
“I think I’ll get while the getting is good.” Creed finished off his beer and stood. “I’ll let Preacher know we’re on board, and you two try to behave.”
“I make no promises.”
Once he was gone, Memphis nudged me with his elbow. “All jokes aside… you okay?”
“Yeah. Just having a hard time shaking the guilt.”
“I get it, but you gotta know none of us blame you for what happened.”
“He was my brother.”
“Yeah, but he acted on his own accord. You couldn’t have stopped him even if you wanted to. So, listen to me when I say… put this shit behind you and move on.”
“I hear ya.”
“Good. Now, actually do it, and maybe we can get back to normal around here.”
“Have we ever been normal?”
“Hell no, but we can pretend.”
“That we can.”
“How are things with Presley?”
“Couldn’t be better.” I cocked my brow. “Even met the folks.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah, I think it went okay. I won her mother over pretty easy, but her father’s gonna take some time.”
“Protective type?”
“Absolutely, but I respect him for it. Hell, I’d be the same way if I had two girls to raise.”
“You’ll win him over.”
“I’m definitely going to try.”
We talked a bit longer, then we both decided to call it a day and headed home. When I got to the house, Presley was standing at the stove. I never thought I’d like having a woman in my kitchen, making a mess while she cooked dinner, and treating my house like a home. But I did.
Hell, I liked it more than I ever thought I could.
This woman had me wanting things I’d never imagined I’d ever want or need. She had me wanting a real future with her—one with all the bells and whistles. The perfect house. Fenced-in backyard. Kids. All of it.
Unaware of the thoughts racing through my mind, she asked, “How did it go?”
“It went.”
“That well, huh?”
“We’ve got a lot to hash out, but we’ll get there.”
I walked over and slipped my arms around her, pulling her closer. She watched me with those beautiful dark eyes as I dropped my mouth to hers.
The kiss quickly became heated, and a slight whimper escaped her lips when I stepped forward, pressing her back against the refrigerator.
She wound her arms around my neck, and just as we were about to lose ourselves in the moment, the oven timer went off. “Hold that thought.”
She quickly pulled away from me and rushed over to the stove. A wonderful aroma filled the air when she opened the oven door, making my mouth water. I stepped over to get a better look as I asked, “Whatcha fixin’?”
“Dirty rice with chicken and sausage, and I’m roasting some of that corn Grim and Jenna sent us.”
“Sounds good.” I motioned my head toward the timer. “How much time we got?”
“Um.. a half an hour or so.”
“Perfect.”
I lowered my mouth to hers once again, drawing her closer as I kissed her, long and hard.
She didn’t resist. Instead, she wound her arms around my neck and kissed me back.
Need surged throughout me like a fucking wildfire as she eased her hips forward and started grinding against me.
It was all I could do to keep from taking her right there in the kitchen.
I was on the brink of losing control when she placed her hand on my chest and pulled away from me yet again. “I thought Skid and Laken were coming over.”
“They are.”
“Are you sure we have time for this?”
“I’ll be quick.”
I pulled her closer and pressed my mouth to hers, kissing her once again. This kiss was different. This kiss wasn’t laced with doubt or any resistance at all. Instead, it was filled with a hunger that matched my own. Her body melted into me as her tongue brushed against mine.
That was it.
I’d taken all I could take.
I dropped my hands to her waist and started to unbuckle her jeans.