Chapter 2
JOHN (DAGGER)
Ilounged back in the armchair, watching the kids’ eyes get rounder and wider as I told them the story about the dead biker.
The hands of the clock had passed midnight, and honestly, I was done. Leesy and I had a long day helping Abe and Iris with the Halloween preparations for the party.
The teens had taken the younger kids trick-or-treating, with us following behind to make sure Wilder didn’t kick someone’s shin for giving him what he called ‘shitty candy’ like he did last year.
Kai, DJ, Kady, Sunny, and Gabby huddled on the floor before me, sitting on beanbags and mismatched cushions.
I flicked on the torch and shone it under my chin as I leaned forward, telling them the story of the day Bear died, although I changed the names and location to disguise the fact that the murderers were currently downstairs in the bar, no doubt dancing around the joint like lunatics to “The Monster Mash.”
I flashed the torch off and then on again.
“They say Grizzly’s spirit haunts the clubhouse of the Armored Knights MC.
Dollar kept his cut as a souvenir from the night he killed Grizzly to remind him every day to fight for good and not evil.
Grizzly’s ghostly image is seen wandering the halls of the Armored Knights’ clubhouse, searching and wailing in torment because his spirit’s caught in the Veil. ”
Kady clutched her hands while Sunny and Gabby pressed closer to each other.
A gust of wind rattled the windowpane, and Kai and DJ’s heads whipped around, startled, before they both let out nervous laughs.
Kai’s eyes sliced back to me. “W-What’s the Veil?”
I bit back a smile. “The Veil’s a place where tortured spirits are trapped when they can’t move on from this realm. Some believe that a tortured soul is stuck in the Veil at the site of their death by an object or person, unable to pass on to Heaven or Hell until they’re released.”
“Oh my God,” Sunny whispered. “Poor Grizzly.”
“Stop bein’ an idiot,” Kai muttered. “Grizzly deserved to be tortured for eternity. He was a child killer, and he abused women. Hope he rots in the Veil for eternity.”
Sunny’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, Kai. I’m just saying that whatever Grizzly did, he should go to Hell or at least go to Purgatory for judgment.
Plus, while he haunts the Armored Knights’ clubhouse, he’s tormenting them too, and they’re the good guys, so why should they have to put up with his moaning and wailing? Didn’t he put them through enough?”
“Jesus, Sunshine, calm down,” Kai rumbled. “It’s just a lame story. You on the rag or somethin’?”
My confused stare veered toward him just as Sunny jumped to her feet and ran out of the room with a small sob.
“Son,” I said, my tone low. “There was no need for that.”
“Granddad’s right,” Kady admonished in her soft, musical voice. “Why are you being so mean to her over a ghost story? You’ve been like this all night. What’s going on with you?”
My grandson’s stare cut to the door Sunny had just exited through, his shoulders slumping. “She’s too sensitive.”
“No, she’s not,” Gabby countered gently.
“Sunny’s the least sensitive person I know.
It just hurts her when you’re so dismissive of her.
It’s not cool, Kai.” She gave him a knowing look.
“Did she do something to make you mad at her, like, you know, agree to go on a group date with Maverick Meadows?”
I jerked forward, fully invested in the drama. “Mac Meadow’s grandson?”
Kady nodded. “Sunny scored a hit there. Mav’s one of the coolest boys in school.”
Kai rolled his eyes, “He’s a douche.”
“Mav’s okay,” DJ cut in.
“If you like douches,” Kai returned.
“You’re just pissed ‘cause he likes Sunny,” DJ accused.
“She’s too young for him,” Kai bit out.
“Sunny’s gorgeous,” DJ argued. “She’s on some watchlists.”
“Whose watchlist?” I demanded.
“The juniors and seniors keep their eye on the talent coming up from the lower years,” Kady explained. “They make lists, then talk about who’s going to ask who out before fighting it out amongst themselves.”
DJ nodded in agreement. “Can’t blame Mav for getting in there before Sunny gets snapped up.
She’s a freshman now, but next year, when she’s a sophomore, it’ll be a free-for-all.
Mav’s playing the long game, and it helps that Sunny’s connected, too.
The Demons and O’Sheas are town legends, especially since Donovan started the boxing club.
Me, Kai, and Kady are already top tier; now Gabs and Sunny are about to be hot property. ”
“Sunny and Gabby are on most radars, along with Sienna Marks,” Kady informed me. “They’re the top-tier freshmen girls. The second-tier girls usually end up with the best boys from their own classes or maybe lower-tier boys from the class above.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “When did high school politics get so complicated? It’s like Melrose fuckin’ Place.”
“What’s Melrose Place?” Gabby asked curiously.
I winced.
Fuck, I was old.
“Kids are much more sophisticated these days, Granddad.” Kady smiled. “The world’s changed a lot since the days when you were in high school.”
Yep... fucking decrepit.
“Tell us another story, Granddad John,” Kady encouraged.
My inner kid let out a whoop. “You sure you can handle it?”
She nodded eagerly.
Just then, the door cracked open, and Sunny slipped inside quietly and took her seat beside Gabby. Her eyes were pink and a little puffy.
My stare cut to Kai, who ducked his head, chewing on his lip.
I could tell he felt bad, but he should have.
Kai wasn’t a mean kid; in fact, he stood up for kids at school who were getting bullied or picked on.
We’d had phone calls from Principal Landry, telling us that Kai had gotten into skirmishes with other boys, some older than him, who were being assholes to the other kids.
His behavior was out of character, and I made a mental note to try to get to the bottom of it.
“You’re just in time for the next story, Sunny,” I told her kindly.
She gave me a tentative, watery smile and leaned into Gabby, murmuring, “Thanks, Granddaddy John.”
I gave her a little wink before my eyes slid to Kai, and I shot him a warning look.
His gaze dropped to his lap.
“I heard this story from one of the soldiers in my unit. It happened to his dad and his brother when he was just a baby. One night, his old man went into the brother’s room to tuck him in, the same way he did every night, kind of like a routine to wind down from the day.
This particular night, the room was dim, and there was a strange red light surroundin’ the guy’s son as he lay in bed.
The father could tell immediately that somethin’ was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
The boy looked the same but had an eerie glow, and he was grinnin’ from ear to ear.
The kids leaned forward, and Kady asked, “What happened, Granddad?”
“Well,” I continued. “Of course, the father asked the son if he was okay, and the boy, still with his weird grin, nodded and said, ‘I’m good, Dad, but can you check for demons under my bed?’”
Sunny’s eyes were so wide they took up half her face, and I saw DJ edge slightly toward Kai.
“Oh my God,” Gabby breathed.
I nodded gravely. “I know, right? Anyway, the dad chuckled nervously ‘cause his son had never asked him to do that before, but still, he walked toward the bed and got on his knees to put the boy’s mind at rest. He ducked his head under the bed, and to his horror, saw his son, his real son, under there, pale-faced and terrified, curled up into a ball. The boy whispered, ‘Daddy, there’s a demon on my bed.’”
The kids’ jaws dropped, and then I went for it. Shooting to my feet like lightning had struck, I bellowed, “And the demon boy screeched, ‘You’re my dad. You’re mine!’”
The kids all jumped a foot into the air and let out strangled shrieks.
Looking down at them, I busted out a laugh.
“Oh my God,” Kady cried. “I almost had a heart attack.”
“Jesus,” DJ muttered, holding his hand to his chest.
Sunny and Gabby both started laughing so hard they had to hold onto each other, and Kai straightened out the shocked expression on his face, resuming his badass cool and drawled, “I knew it was coming.”
Still chuckling, I cocked an eyebrow. “I got ya. Admit it.”
One corner of his mouth hitched. “Yeah, okay. You ate with that story, Granddad.”
“See? Your ol’ granddad’s still got it.”
He rolled his eyes. “I guess so.”
I jerked my chin toward the door. “Okay, kids. I’m going back to the party to get Leesy, then I’m heading home. You guys can hang out here and watch movies for a while.”
“Okay, Granddad,” Sunny said. “Thanks for the stories.”
I chucked her chin gently. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Don’t watch anything too scary or gory. You won’t sleep.”
“We won’t,” she assured me.
“Goodnight,” I called out, making for the door, then I turned back to check on them as I closed it, seeing them all taking their places on their beanbags and big cushions in front of the TV.
Sunny glanced at her cell phone while Gabby stifled a yawn, and I gave them a nod and clicked the door shut behind me.
The distant hum of the party below was the only sound until I heard the opening credits of a movie coming through the wall.
Turning, I headed for the stairs and felt the touch of cold fingers creep down my spine.
I shook it off; the hallway generally felt colder without the kids’ banter and chatter filling it.
I jumped slightly at the scream in the distance, no doubt coming from whatever slasher movie they’d loaded up as soon as I’d walked out the door.
Halfway down, I paused at the grinding sensation in my knee. It had been getting worse lately, and I made a mental note to ask Sophie to take a look at it, maybe do some X-rays with the fancy machine the club bought her for the clubhouse’s medical wing.
Damned, I was getting old. I needed to look after myself if I wanted to live a long and happy life with my Leesy. God knew we’d already missed so much.