Chapter Nine. #2
Dawson couldn’t possibly have known what I was up to.
Still, it felt as if the world was against me.
For six years, I’d put up with Dawson’s abuse and that of his family.
My mother-in-law, Wanda-Faye, was as bad as her sons.
My father-in-law, Billy-Ray, was drunk most of the time, but when riled, he was also a mean sonofabitch.
I was shocked they’d not been to see me yet. Had Sheriff Cates visited them? That would make sense, and maybe she’d warned them off. But then Wanda-Faye was never one to listen to advice. That’s where her asshole sons got it from.
“Wait here, I’ll fetch my car,” Falcon said, and jogged away.
“Are you going to be okay?” the nurse asked, but I sensed her lack of interest.
“Yes.”
A smart black truck pulled up minutes later. Falcon hopped out, and the nurse sighed. I gave her a sideways glance as she smiled sweetly. It was so satisfying when Falcon ignored her and helped me. As soon as I was up, he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the passenger seat.
“Falcon!” I squealed, turning red, and he smirked at me.
“You can’t exactly walk on your own,” he retorted, and placed me carefully in the seat. I settled in and tried to reach the seatbelt. Falcon reached up and snapped it into place. He jogged back around to the driver’s side, and moments later we were on the road.
“How has Jayes been?” I asked. It had been selfish of me, but since I’d woken up, I’d concentrated on healing.
It might have only been for two days, but I realised I couldn’t care for Jayes without being one hundred per cent fit myself.
Getting my emotions under control would allow me to give Jayes everything he needed.
“Kid’s missed you. Jayes thinks you were sick, as that was the kindest thing to tell him. Jayes is smart for his age,” Falcon said.
“Yeah, he is,” I agreed proudly.
“And I took him swimming this morning. Jayes swam the full length of the pool. I couldn’t believe it. A day ago, he couldn’t swim, and today he achieved that. Seriously, Jayes has talent.”
Inwardly, I preened at the compliment. Jayes was special because he was my son, but I loved hearing that other people thought so too.
We arrived at a set of gates, and I opened my eyes wide.
Two men stood guard, and the gate rolled back.
Falcon parked outside a large two-storey square building opposite a parking lot, and I guessed this was the clubhouse.
“We are having houses built, but the builder turned into an ass. Three of us have homes, but the rest stay here for now,” Falcon explained, turning to me.
“Isn’t that tight?”
“It can be at times, but luckily, we get along. We’re potentially looking to buy the contractor business because the man is fuckin’ useless.
He was constantly delaying, and we’ve so many houses that need building, Calamity got shot of him.
We’re using a company that two brothers in the National Chapter own, but that’s based in Rapid City.
If we can buy the construction company we fired and manage it ourselves, it would help loads. ” Falcon sounded angry.
“Is yours one that’s delayed?”
“Yeah. It’s a matter of contention, though.
While we were at the in-between stage of moving, so setting everything up, we agreed on the order of builds.
Savage’s Uncle Earle and Gauntlet’s gran’s were first constructed.
They’re family members who needed looking after, and they wouldn’t have coped with the clubhouse.
Their homes were finished at the same time as Calamity’s and the clubhouse.
” Falcon chuckled and looked amused at what I assumed was a memory.
“Calamity claimed we were giving him preferential treatment and refused the house. The man’s our President and whining about special consideration.
His old lady agreed with us, and we just went ahead without his permission.
We also started Ghost’s, Savage’s, and Gauntlet’s homes at the same time.
Ghost didn’t mind, but Savage and Gauntlet kicked off a little, saying others needed theirs first.”
“Why? I don’t understand,” I admitted.
“Some of the brothers have families. So, we prioritised them. Ghost had lived rough for over a decade, so we agreed he deserved to be amongst the first. But Savage and Gauntlet claimed others had seniority. Such as Texas. In the end, Calamity put his foot down, and everyone was given a time slot.”
I got it. “And because you don’t have a family, you shouldn’t come before the others.”
“Exactly! Although mine, Texas, and Klutz’s are being built now, Hunter, Ice, and Harley have families. I could have gone to the bottom of the list, but they said as Veep, I need a house. Don’t see why.”
I hid a smile. Falcon came across a petulant child.
And I bet he sounded like Calamity had. I didn’t know much about motorbike clubs.
Just the basics. They don’t like being called gangs; they wore cuts that they treated with absolute respect, and they backed each other up to death.
If I were right, Vice-President was a huge role, and I could understand their thinking.
It sent a warm sensation flooding through me, but at the same time, it drove home my loneliness.
The double doors to the clubhouse opened, and a group of kids spilled out. I watched as they raced towards a grassy area. A guy came out bellowing at them to stay together, or there’d be no swimming later. He was a big man, but when he turned, my fear faded when I caught his slight smile.
“That’s Ghost,” Falcon said, climbing out. Ghost turned to watch.
“I’ll get Penny,” he called and disappeared back inside.
Who was Penny? I didn’t get to ask because several things happened simultaneously.
More kids came out of the clubhouse whooping, and some older teens followed them.
A group of women appeared, with some men.
One of them pushed a wheelchair, and then I spotted my reason for living.
Jayes saw me in the truck and released a scream.
That shocked me in itself, but he burst into a frantic run, heading straight for me.
Falcon moved back as Jayes climbed up and wrapped his arms around my neck.
For the first time in a week, a knot loosened in me, and I cuddled my precious son.
Tears trickled down my face as I hauled him in.
Shit, I’d missed him. I didn’t care about the pain I was in; I held Jayes close, breathing him in.
“Gently, Jayes, Mommy’s still not all healed,” Falcon said softly
Jayes went to pull away, but I clutched him tighter. “Myka, he’s okay. Go easy on your ribs,” Falcon warned.
Though it felt like hours, it was merely moments before I let Jayes go, and he grinned.
I couldn’t believe this was my son. Jayes would never have screamed with joy, wouldn’t have dared run at home, nor would he be beaming.
Dawson had driven that out of him, yet a week here and Jayes was acting like a normal kid.
“Are you okay, Mommy?” Jayes asked, cupping my face.
“I’m fine. Mommy was sick, but I’m getting better. Are you going to let me out?” I murmured, wiping my tears away.
“Yup. And Mommy, we have to stay here. They have a kitchen, and there’s food all the time,” Jayes declared.
“Wow, really?” I gasped with a watery smile.
“Yes. Not like at home with Daddy. I don’t want Daddy to come. He’s mean. Falcon has been teaching me to swim. He says I’m amazing and a pro…prod.”
“Prodigy?” I asked, smiling.
“Yes! That means I’m super cool at swimming,” Jayes exclaimed.
“That’s wonderful news! Mommy will watch you later!” I said.
Grinning, Jayes wriggled and climbed down. Falcon caught him and set him on his feet, and Jayes rushed off to play with the other children. Falcon helped me down, and I settled into the chair the guy had pushed over.
“Myka, this is Calamity,” Falcon introduced, and I blushed as I realised the club president had brought me my wheelchair.
“Thanks.”
“Come on, Myka, those rabid bitches won’t hold back for much longer,” Calamity said with a stern expression. For a moment, I faltered. Was I not welcome?
“I heard that, husband!” a woman snapped, and Calamity grinned. Wow, that changed his dour countenance completely.
“Tell me I’m wrong, wife of mine! You lot are like a bunch of gossiping old—”
“Calam!” the woman cried.
“Rosie,” Calamity mocked, and stepped back. “Proceed to your doom,” he teased.
With a shared sigh, the women turned towards me, beaming. Oh shit.