Chapter Thirty-Five
Jack
We walked into the clubhouse, and all signs of life disappeared. Everyone stood motionless as Derek walked in behind us.
Mimic stormed over to Sammy, and Tank rushed over and lifted Charlie off her feet.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Mimic growled.
“Uncle Derek is a hero, Uncle Mimic,” Charlie declared.
“A hero?” Mimic snorted.
“Yes! He saved me!” Charlie yelled.
“Ok, everyone, listen up,” I shouted. “Derek is the reason we got Charlie back. And he is the reason Carrie can never come after her again.”
“What about what he did to Sam?” Stocks asked.
I opened my mouth to say more, and Derek touched my arm.
“Let me,” Derek offered. “What I did to Sam is something I will never forgive myself for. I am not asking you to forgive me either. Jack invited me here because my room at the motel is a crime scene. I will only be here a few days before I head back to Arkansas. While I’m here, I would like the opportunity to get to know my brother a little, and maybe at least try to make it up to Sam in some small way.”
Sammy smiled at Derek.
“You already have, by saving Charlie.” Sammy turned to the room. “The truth is, he could have turned his back on her when he opened the door and found Carrie standing there. He didn’t. He did everything he could to not only protect her, but to keep her from being traumatized more than absolutely necessary.”
Sammy walked over to Mimic. “We do our best to forgive and offer grace. Isn’t that right, Mimic?”
Mimic continued to glare at Derek.
“Mimic?” Sammy pressed.
“Yea, Momma. I’ll do my best, but I ain’t promisin’ shit.”
Sammy hugged him, and I heard her whisper, “That’s all I ask.”
“Derek is my family. And Charlie’s family. I’m gonna get him set up in a room, then I need to head to the hospital to see Ryder,” I told everyone.
Once Derek was set up in a room, Charlie wanted to hang out with him and watch TV. Sammy offered to ride to the hospital with me, but I didn’t want to leave Derek at the clubhouse alone on his first night. It was enough I had to leave.
King called and asked me to grab something from the office before I went up. I stopped and grabbed the box, then headed out.
Walking down the hospital hallway, I thought about the way today could have ended. I reached the waiting room and found Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Blade, Cash, and King all sitting there.
There was another pretty young woman I didn’t know sitting in the corner, talking with Beck and Rachel. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t place it.
“How is he?” I asked.
“He’s in surgery. They had to repair a small artery, but it was a through and through, no bones hit,” Mr. Thomas explained.
“How are Charlie and Samantha?” Beck asked.
“They’re both doing well, considering. Charlie is telling anyone who will listen that her Uncle Derek is a hero.”
“You told her?” Cash asked.
“He did. He needed her to trust him.”
I explained to them everything that had happened.
“I offered him a room at the clubhouse for a few days until he heads home,” I said, looking at King .
“Is that a good idea?” Blade asked.
“You weren’t there, man. I know what he did to Sammy was bad. But I saw a different man today. I need to at least try.” I shrugged. “He’s the only family I’ve got. I never thought I would ever find any.”
King nodded his approval.
“I’ll talk to the guys, let them know to tread carefully,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” I grinned. “Charlie already handed Declan his ass. She won’t hesitate with the guys.”
King’s mouth hitched up in the corner.
The doctor walked into the waiting room, and we all stood.
“Family of Ryder Thomas?”
“We are his parents,” Mr. Thomas said. “These are his friends.”
Blade and Beck stepped forward with Ryder’s parents. The young woman also stood.
“He came through surgery with no issues. He’s in recovery now, should be about an hour, and then you can see him.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Thomas said.
“Mark, Abby, I am so sorry.”
“Micah, this wasn’t your fault.” Mrs. Thomas placed her hands on each side of Blade’s face. “That’s what we get for raising a good man. I know my son. When he saw that gun pointed at Rebecca, he wouldn’t have thought before jumping in front of her. Just like I know you and your brothers would have done the exact same thing.”
She kissed his cheek and sat back down. Beck walked over and sat with her.
“Abby’s right, Micah. I know my son. He wouldn’t want anyone to make a big deal, but I also know you and Rebecca. I know you won’t let his humility prevent you from showing your appreciation.”
“He’s still pissed at me,” Blade muttered, his eyes on the floor.
“He’s hurt, not mad. I’ll be honest, son, we’re all still a little hurt. Give him time. He’ll get over it,” Mr. Thomas assured.
Two hours later, the doctor came and let us know we could see Ryder. I saw Beck speak to the woman. She shook her head, hugged Beck, and then sat back down. Walking down the hall, I asked Beck about her.
“Who’s that woman?”
“That’s Rayne Perry. She is the author doing the book signing in November. She was in the bookstore today. She wanted to make sure Ryder was ok,” Beck explained.
“That was nice of her.”
“Yea,” Beck said with a wide grin.
We stepped into his room. He was pale, but looked good, considering.
“Well, the gang’s all here, I see,” he said.
“Be nice, Ryder,” Mrs. Thomas warned.
“Where are my girls?”
“At our house with Avery. We didn’t think they should stay in the apartment tonight,” Mr. Thomas said.
Ryder just nodded. He looked at me.
“Charlie?”
“She’s home. Carrie, in her delusion, took her to the motel Derek was staying at. Thought they would be a family. He kept my baby safe. Carrie can’t hurt her again,” I explained. “There’s more to the story. We can fill you in on it later.”
Ryder nodded. Beck sat in a chair on one side of the bed, and his mother sat on the other side.
“How are you feeling?” Beck asked.
“Like I got shot,” he stated, looking at Beck. “Hey, none of that.” He lifted his hand, wiping her cheek.
“Don’t you ever do something so stupid again,” Beck said.
“Me not stepping in front of that bullet and letting it hit you would have been stupid. Besides, I didn’t even think about it,” Ryder told her.
“See what I mean,” Mrs. Thomas said, smiling at Blade.
“What?” Ryder asked.
“Nothing, Son. Your mom was just bragging about you out in the hallway,” Mr. Thomas told him. “Now that we have seen for ourselves you are ok, we are going to head home to be with the girls.”
“Good, they need you more than I do. Tell them I love them,” Ryder said.
“We will, Son.” Mrs. Thomas kissed Ryder on the head and the two of them walked to the door.
“How about you and Rach walk them out, Beck?” Blade asked.
“What? Why?” she questioned.
“Come on, Beck.” Rachel grabbed her hand, pulling her from her chair. “Ryder, we’ll be back soon.”
Rachel and Beck followed Mr. and Mrs. Thomas out of the room and the four of us stood at the end of the bed.
“Why are you all here?” he asked.
I opened the box in my hands and laid what was inside on his legs. He stared at it for a moment, then glared up at us.
“What the fuck is that?” he growled.
“Your cut,” King stated bluntly.
Ryder’s eyes narrowed at Blade, then moved to King.
“I told Sam weeks ago, club life doesn’t work for me. My girls come first. The time I would need for prospecting would take too much away from them. Besides, he didn’t want me there,” he said, hitching his thumb toward Blade.
“We aren’t asking you to prospect. What you did for Beck, an old lady, and my family,” King paused and shook his head.
I knew he was thinking about what could have happened if it weren’t for Ryder.
“That shit shows me more than a year of prospecting ever could. The truth is, we wanted to approach you. Blade asked us not to.”
“Thanks, man,” Blade muttered.
“You agreed to this?” Ryder asked Cash.
They had a tumultuous relationship at best. Cash didn’t like how close Ryder was with his old lady, Rachel. And Ryder kissed Rachel on the cheek every chance he got, just to stick it to Cash.
“I wasn’t at first, then Blade reminded me that as VP, I could order you not to touch my woman ever again.” Cash grinned, which made Ryder snort .
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept,” Ryder said, pushing the cut back toward King.
“Stop being a stubborn ass,” Blade argued.
Ryder looked over at him. “Exactly how long were you a stubborn ass? Seven fucking years. I think I am entitled to at least that long.”
I watched Ryder wince when he tried to move his arm. He was easy to read at that moment, and I knew he wanted to cross his arms over his chest, but couldn’t, given one of them was in a sling.
“You told me you knew who I was as soon as I came back. That means you have already used up five of those seven fucking years,” Blade argued, then crossed his arms over his chest and grinned.
He guessed what I had and knew Ryder wanted to do the same but couldn’t.
“Then come talk to me in two more years,” Ryder countered.
“Come on, man. I told you I was sorry. You have to at least try to see it from my side,” Blade pleaded. “You think Becca’s gonna let you keep acting this way once the baby gets here?”
“What?” I whispered.
Every head in the room turned to Blade.
“Fuck, she’s gonna kill me.” He pointed at King. “You know nothing, and you say fucking less to your brother. If you tell him before she does, there won’t be anywhere you can hide.”
King just grinned. “Dec is gonna lose his shit.”
“Beck’s having a baby?” Ryder muttered.
“Yea, I need you with us, brother. Need you to love my kid like I love yours.”
“I wouldn’t do anything less, but I don’t need to be in the club to do that,” Ryder said.
“Ryder—”
“No, King. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t,” Ryder insisted.
“Ry,” Blade begged.
“I said no, goddamn it! Now get the fuck out, all of you.”
I grabbed the cut, placing it back in the box. I handed it to King and ushered them out the door.
“You guys head back to the club. Let me talk to him,” I said, my hand still on the doorknob.
Once they left, I walked back into his room.
“I told you guys to leave,” Ryder hissed.
“And they did. I stayed because I wanted to talk to you.”
“There is nothing more to say.”
“There is a lot to fucking say,” I told him. “The day Carrie and Derek were at the store. We got called back to the club, and you didn’t come with us. You missed a lot of fucking information.”
“That was club business,” he reminded me.
“Which you would be a part of, if you got off your high fucking horse. But that isn’t the point,” I said. “That day, I found out Derek was my brother.”
Ryder looked up at me then, surprise clear on his face.
“Yea, talk about a fucking plot twist. Anyway, I went to talk to him, to see if he knew. He knew I existed, but didn’t know where I was until the first day we met when he came to the clubhouse. Said he suspected it was me because we look so much alike. He said I look like my mother.”
I ran my hands through my hair, taking a breath.
“I never thought I would ever know who my family was, and I found out my brother was married to the woman I love. The woman he put in the hospital when he found she was pregnant with my child.”
“Fuck,” he whispered.
“Yea. He rejected me then. Still didn’t want anything to do with me. I didn’t think I could ever forgive him for what he did to Sammy. Then he saved my little girl’s life. Kept her safe for me until I could get to her. I’m not saying we’ll ever be close, but I’m willing to try. Because, despite everything he did, he was my brother when it mattered the most.”
“Micah’s not—”
“He is. In all the ways that matter. There will come a day when you need him and the club to stand at your back. Wouldn’t it be better for us to already be there? ”
Ryder laid there, staring at the ceiling.
“Think about it,” I said and rapped my knuckles against the end of the hospital bed.
I walked out of his room, leaving him to think about everything I said. It was time to return to the clubhouse myself. I had a woman to love, a child to raise, and a brother to get to know.