Chapter 37 Jim
I stood looking at all the people in the clubhouse.
We’d been here a while, and I could see Molly holding court with a group of ol’ladies at one table.
Janie had organized some of the younger ones to help Crackers with the food spread out on the bar and some central tables.
He’d also called in some of his paid employees from his catering company.
It was a real party of a send off, just like Matchstick would’ve wanted.
But I couldn’t see Daiz. I wondered if she was even here.
She looked furious at the funeral. And I knew she had every right to be.
It was disappointing that Molly was favoring Blaze over her own daughter.
But from what I’d seen, it was normal family dynamics for them.
Molly didn’t appreciate what an amazing woman her daughter had grown into.
I wasn’t happy with Molly’s blindness. Daisy deserved better.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
Not yet. But once we were out, I’d certainly have a word with Molly.
Daisy definitely deserved better treatment from her own mother.
It was getting harder to wait until I could offer that support to Daisy publicly.
I wanted to hold her today, to offer comfort, somehow hold her together and make her feel appreciated and worthwhile.
I was grateful and jealous that Granny and the kids could do it so easily, and the same with Horse and Bear, for protecting Daisy when I couldn’t.
I was surprised that Daisy was so close with Shaquilla.
I thought she was only friends with Blaze.
It was a big day for Daisy, and lots of emotions would have surfaced…I sighed. I was lying to myself. I wasn’t wanting to just look out for Daisy. I needed to see Daisy for my own selfish reasons. I needed to be sure she was okay, so that I could be. I felt broken when she looked broken.
I stepped into Bull’s office and made a call to Daisy. The phone connected on the first ring, but there was only silence.
“Daiz?”
I heard a sigh. “I can’t do this anymore.
She’s—” Daisy took an audible breath. “She’s a two-faced, lying, pretentious, fucking bitch!
She’s more concerned with keeping up appearances in her fake dream life than seeing what’s going on in her own fucking family!
” Daisy snapped. It sounded like she was gritting her teeth and forcing each word through the gaps.
“I take it you’re not here at the wake,” I replied.
I heard her chuckle and then sob. “No.”
“Are you okay?”
“No. No, Jim, I’m not. I’m so fucking angry and betrayed.” She drew a deep breath. “I want to go home, or I want to go to my apartment in the city and climb into bed, and forget that I ever had a family. I’m getting the message loud and clear that I’m not wanted.” She sniffed.
“I want you,” I said simply.
She sobbed. “You’re just about the only one who does.”
“I think Janie and Bull and the kids would disagree. And by the looks of those two pissed off bikers that were standing with you before the service, there’s a few more people around you than you realize,” I explained. She resounded with some more sobs, then let out a shaky sigh.
“Can you come and get me? And take me somewhere hidden. I need to be held by you,” she whispered.
“Where are you? I’ll take you wherever you want,” I said.
I heard her take a shaky breath, and then she told me where she was hiding.
“Okay, tough girl. I’ll be there soon,” I reassured her.
“Thank you, Jim. I love you.”
My grin crept across my face. I’ll never get tired of hearing those words jump-start my heart into a new rhythm.
“I love you too, and anytime, My Queen,” I replied as the office door opened and Bull’s heavy boot stepped in.
He frowned at me and shut the door. “What are you doing here?” he growled. I waved my phone.
“Taking a phone call. I have to go and rescue someone in trouble.”
Bull bounced his eyebrows up in acknowledgment, then crept over and fell into his chair.
“What a fucking shit show out there. Morons celebrating the life of an idiot.” He shook his head. “How can you trust someone to have your back when you can’t trust him not to fuck your girlfriend?”
“Rumor has it that he never touched ol’ladies. Once they were claimed, they were off-limits to him.”
Bull sneered at me. “Don’t defend him. He couldn’t be loyal to his own ol’lady, how could he be loyal to the club?”
“Fair point.” I shrugged. “Is that why you never promoted him?”
Bull groaned and leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes.
“Partly that, and the fact that he pissed off everyone he met. The only people who actually liked him are out there, and only a few of them out there are the ones who liked him. I actually used him to break off some alliances. Told them that either they deal with him, or not deal with us. Guess which option they took.”
I chuckled as I walked a few steps to the door.
“Is it Daisy you’re rescuing?”
Bull kept his eyes closed as he spoke. I turned to look at him. He heard me stop.
“Yeah,” I acknowledged. He grunted again.
“Be careful, Midwife. Don’t go chasing trouble. She’ll come to you when she’s ready.”
I nodded and then opened the door. Janie stood there with a fierce look on her face, and shoved a helmet into my stomach.
“Go on,” she hissed at me. “Get her, and keep her safe.”
I took the helmet and saluted her as I ran for my bike.