Chapter 1
Hyde
“Joe, can you take Leslee for a second?” Riley calls out to me, and I turn to see her juggling a stroller and a couple of bags.
Surprised that Gunner isn’t with her, I nod and rush forward to unfold the stroller and make sure it seems to have clicked into place. “Let me have that, too,” I say, reaching out for a black leather bag and laughing when I see the Northern Grizzlies patch on it.
“Yeah, Gunner isn’t a fan of traditional diaper bags.” She smiles over at me as she slams the door on her truck.
Even though we’re close in age, I’ve been in awe of Riley since I met her. She’s got her shit together in a way I’m sure it’ll take me half my life to catch up to her.
“How’s Leslee been doing?” I ask, smiling down at the sleepy girl in the buggy.
“Perfect. I know it’s early yet but she’s really taking it easy on me,” Riley says, popping the stroller up on its back wheels when we approach the door to the clubhouse.
The door swings out just then and nearly knocks into me.
“Riley!” Flint yells, his complexion ashen even before his eyes had even registered us. “Thank fuck. They’ll be here with Gunner soon. Roy and Sophie are on their way to help out. He’s going to be alright, kiddo.”
Riley’s face drains of all color and I’m not sure her knees would have held her if Flint didn’t grab her in time.
“What…” Riley can’t seem to get any other words out of her mouth and her lower jaw trembles.
“There was some trouble and he was shot. They’ve got him in an SUV and they’re bringing him here now,” Flint states in a calmer tone of voice than he had originally used.
Motioning them to head inside, I take control of the stroller and cringe when the baby starts to fuss, pushing against the straps until she spots her mother. Looking around, Riley’s eyes search the room until they fall back on me.
“Can you mix a bottle for Leslee?” she asks me, pulling an empty bottle and a container of powder from the diaper bag. “It doesn’t look like there’s anyone else around.”
“He can handle that,” Flint says, pushing the supplies against my chest and pointing me to the kitchen. A quick glance tells me I’m the only prospect in here, so I quickly move to fill my task—thankful to find the directions clearly spelled out on the side of the container.
When I return, I can’t help but smile at the little girl; she seems big for barely a year old and is waving her arms in frustration. Riley thanks me as she reaches for the bottle and little Leslee’s mouth opens in expectation. Everyone is running around, preparing for Gunner to be brought in so I sit down next to Riley, knowing that Gunner would want someone to keep his wife steady.
For lack of anything else to say, I ask how much Leslee weighs and Riley starts telling me all about her, while constantly shifting her eyes between her child and the door. Halfway through the baby’s meal, the room breaks into pandemonium as Gunner is carried in.
“Please take her,” Riley says and pushes Leslee into my arms, desperate to rush to her husband. “Just until Bree or Charlie get here.”
The baby looks up at me and lets out a gurgle, pushing her brows together in frustration. Worried that she’s going to cry, I shove the bottle back between her lips.
And just like that, she cuddles against me and falls asleep moments later, still sucking on her bottle. Bree arrives shortly afterwards, and after checking on us, she begs for a second to go down to see if Riley needs anything. I stay in place, scared of waking the little girl up.
It’s when I hear Leslee’s stomach rumble and feel a load filling the diaper that I stand up, grabbing the diaper bag and head down the stairs—one deliberate step at a time.
Riley and Bree both turn to look at me.
“I don’t do diapers,” I announce and thankfully Bree steps forward to claim Leslee.
I turn and run. No disrespect to Gunner, I mean I practically want to be that man when I get older, but sticking around will get me stuck with diaper duty eventually, I just know it.
Getting back to the main room, Shade calls my name and waves me over to where he and Royce are standing by the door.
“Come on,” he tells me, turning on his heel and walking toward the row of bikes outside. “We need a third man to go clean this shit up.”
I grin, getting on my bike and quickly following them past the gate. It’s nice to be asked, I think, not knowing at the time we were riding off to kill a few men.
That was the day I learned that I’d never be much use to the club in that capacity.
*
Three years later
“Again, Joey! Again!”
“You’ll puke all over me if I do that again.” I laugh down at Leslee and bop her nose with my finger, trying to ignore her pout.
At four years old, I can barely resist her requests as it is—let alone when she sticks out her bottom lip.
“None of that, sassy pants,” Gunner calls out to his daughter as he crosses to us.
“Daddy!” Leslee’s face lights up and all thoughts of having me swing her around disappear as she skips to her father.
Gunner gathers her up in one of his arms and she immediately scales up it, climbing to sit up on his shoulders as he looks over at me. “Hyde, you can let me know if she’s bothering you.”
“I’m not, Daddy,” Leslee announces, resting her chin on top of his head and smiling brightly at me.
“Now, why is it you’re never in the playlot with your friends?” Gunner tilts his head so he can look at her face while pointing toward the massive playground that was built for all my brothers’ children.
“Because Joey needed to be saved!” She leans down and loudly whispers this in his ear.
“Is that right?” Gunner laughs and looks at me in question. I’m as confused as anyone at her statement, but she doesn’t keep us waiting.
“Uh, huh. I heard Holly telling Cricket she was going to get Hyde to play hide the salami with her today and that sounded dis-gust-ing!” Leslee bursts that gem out, with total authority behind her words and I’m not sure who turns redder, her father or me. “Don’t laugh, Joey! Isn’t salami yucky? I hate it!”
“I don’t like salami either, Leslee,” I tell her, holding my hands up so she won’t get upset with me.
Leslee starts bouncing since Gunner’s body is shaking with laughter, and I try to keep an innocent look on my face for the precocious tyrant who’s staring down at me. She’s way too sharp for her age though and starts to look suspicious.
“Why is it, whenever I send you to look for Leslee, I have to come looking for you both?” Riley’s voice is full of humor as she approaches us, and we all turn to see her waddling our way.
“You’re right, next time I’ll save myself the effort and text Hyde to bring her to us.” Gunner laughs, reaching one hand up to tickle his daughter even as he lowers his head to kiss his wife. “You okay, Sweetheart? I was just headed back to you.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask Riley, not entirely sure what you’re supposed to say to pregnant women.
“Like I swallowed a watermelon,” Riley answers, gliding her hand down her rounded belly. “Hyde, I hope Leslee wasn’t bothering you?”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Leslee growls, giving us a frown that rivals her father’s. “Joey, tell them you like me best of all.”
“There’s no one I’d rather throw in the air and catch a couple dozen times,” I answer, trying to keep the smile from my face. “I gotta take off though.”
Tonight, Wrench and I planned on running an update to add a VPN into the systems for all the MC’s side businesses. I’ve never done anything of this scale and can’t wait to shadow my mentor.
“We’ll see you next week for dinner,” Riley calls out, waving good-bye.
“Unless you pop!” I yell back over my shoulder, hearing Gunner laugh and Leslee chanting, “Pop. Pop. Pop.”