25. Pez
Pez
“If I were any other man, I’d be pissed seeing you coming out of my daughter’s house looking so damned satisfied,” Sabre grumbles as I make it outside. “And where the fuck is your shirt?”
I laugh and for maybe the first time in my life the sound is carefree and happy.
I’m wearing my cut, but my shirt is indeed gone.
It’s covering my woman—my woman who just came so hard for me that she passed out.
I don’t even bother to try and hide the satisfaction I feel. I’m sure it’s written all over my face.
“I’m not going to reply so I don’t piss-off my future father-in-law,” I brag.
“Future father-in-law? You’re sounding pretty positive of that,” Sabre says, studying me.
“I am. I’ll wait on her until she’s ready, but I’m not letting her go. I … I love her, Sabre. Her and Cammie, they’re mine.”
He nods. “Good to see you got your head out of your ass. You’re exactly what my daughter needs. Hell, if it wasn’t for you, I’d still be drowning in whiskey rot. While I was lost in grief and losing my mind, you took care of my family. I don’t know how to thank you, Pez, but I’m in your debt.”
I back out of the drive once we get settled and then steal a glance at Sabre. I frown. “Something has changed for you, too,” I reply.
A half smile spreads on his lips that I can see despite the scruff on his face that is more gray than anything else. His hair is a sandy color with gray mixed in. He keeps it shorn close to his head these days, though I’ve seen pictures of when he was younger that it was longer.
“I’ve decided that I need to start concentrating on living my life instead of running from my past,” he finally says, sounding pensive and looking out the passenger window.
“Good for you, Sabre. Cammie and Daphne both will be so happy to have you back.”
“They should turn their backs on me after the way I’ve been with them,” he says, regret thick in his voice.
“They love you. Now, I do need your help,” I tell him, not wanting him to get lost in the past again.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“I need to make sure that asshole Dane doesn’t hurt my family anymore. Can you go with me to meet with the guys in the morning and see what we have on him? If we can’t find anything, no matter how much Daphne cares about me, my past may keep us from being together.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Sabre says at once. “I know you have that in your head, but I’m telling you it won’t. You need to have faith in your brothers. You joined the club for a family that would always have your back, and I promise you we will, Pez.”
“I feel more a part of this club than my last. I respect my brothers here, Sabre. I know they wouldn’t do the shit that I experienced the last time.
They can’t help me with this, though. I have a past and marks against me.
No matter what the ruling was, that prick can use it to try to keep me out of Cammie’s life and in doing that, I’d lose Daphne, too.
I know you may think I’m crazy, but I’m going to tell you right now, I was born to be with them.
I feel it in my bones. They’re home for me.
Since the moment I was old enough to know what a relationship was, I only had one wish for my entire fucking life.
I wanted a family, an old lady that I could work my ass off for, pamper and I’d make her proud to call me her man.
I wanted kids, a house, part of something bigger than myself.
Now, that’s all shifted. I still want it all, but I want it with Daphne and Cammie.
I wouldn’t want to live without them, Sabre.
I don’t want to take one breath without them. ”
He slaps his hand down on my leg and I notice it’s trembling.
“I understand that more than you know, Pez. I’m asking you to breathe.
Tell my girl about your past if you haven’t, because if she finds out and you aren’t the one who tells her, that’s going to hurt her, and could possibly fuck up what you’re building with her.
The rest will take care of itself. You just need a little faith. ”
“I don’t know if you realize this, Sabre, but my life hasn’t given me reasons to have faith,” I scoff.
“Hasn’t it?” he asks me with a smirk. “Your life led you here. If your past hadn’t shaped you, you wouldn’t have joined the Army.”
“Sabre, damn it …”
“If you hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have saved Drew.”
“I—”
“If the thing with your parents hadn’t happened, I doubt you would have searched for a club to join—or hell, even moved to Tennessee.”
“Sabre,” I grumble, because I know he’s right. I was in Tennessee because that’s where the home I was shipped to was located.
“If that little asshole you thought of as a brother hadn’t fucked your old lady, you would have been saddled with her.
There wouldn’t have been a shot to even get to know my daughter, because if I know anything about you, it’s that you don’t cheat.
Not to mention, after the hell my daughter has been through, she wouldn’t have done that to another woman—no matter who it was. ”
I sigh because I know he’s right. “Using that logic, I guess I should be thankful to LD for fucking anything with a pulse and Nora for being a lying whore.”
“Damn straight. Send them a box of chocolates with a thank-you card.”
“Not happening.”
“Maybe include a picture of you, Daph, and Cammie so they can see how you leveled up,” he mutters, making me laugh.
“Now that has merit,” I admit.
“You could also lace the chocolate with laxatives,” he adds with a smirk.
“Fuck, you’re twisted.”
“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that,” he quips. “Get me home, son. I have a busy day scheduled tomorrow.”
“Do you want to go with me to Daphne’s tomorrow after we meet with the club? I know Cammie would like to see you again.”
“Any other time, I’d say yes. I’ve got a date tomorrow, though.”
“A date?” I ask, and I don’t even bother to keep the surprise off my face.
“Yeah, don’t look so shocked. Just because I’ve been hiding from life, doesn’t mean now that I’m sober that I can’t remember how it’s done.”
“No, I’m glad you’re back in the world of the living again. I’m just wondering who the lucky lady is.”
He closes his eyes as if he’s savoring memories of the woman. “That’s my secret for now, son,” he says simply.
I shook my head, but didn’t say anything else. The rest of the ride back to the clubhouse was quiet. We were both lost in our own thoughts and this time, I was glad to know that Sabre’s were good for a change.