Chapter 16 #6
Ghost claimed he’d been meaning to upgrade the club’s SUVs anyway, so he offered Steel and Jenna one at value. Since Ollie would be the main one driving it, they were referring to the SUV as his, and of course, Ollie then had to make it his own.
It took several weeks of packing, organizing, and driving lessons for both Ollie and Steel.
Ollie had never towed a vehicle before, and it had been a long time since Steel had too.
Pumpkin and Grumpy set up an obstacle course in the club’s parking lot and made Ollie drive his new camper through the entire thing backwards before they proclaimed him road worthy.
And now, it was the big day. The club had thrown them a goodbye party the night before. Most of their furniture was staying in the house and being gifted to Ghost, so they were able to stay one last night in the home Jenna and Steel had remodeled nearly a decade ago.
Ollie was off with Bree, Scotty, Lila, and Cassie, who had actually come outside to see her cousin, aunt, and uncle off. Jenna was over with the ol’ ladies, all of whom were crying. Cage claimed it was the pregnancy hormones that were causing his tears.
As Ghost walked off with a number of keys now jingling in his pocket, Steel found himself standing alone with Lucky.
“You’re not coming back, are you?”
Steel side-eyed his once second-in-command. “What makes you say that?”
“Neither of you are making any promises of visiting, not for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. You aren’t keeping here as your address, and you’re not having us collect your mail for you.”
Steel looked around the courtyard. He remembered the first day he’d driven past the then-distillery and saw the For Sale sign.
So much had changed, and so much was still changing.
Keys’ new building across the street was complete, the club was multiplying like rabbits in heat, and Ghost had to find his footing.
The club was no longer the white knights they’d set out to be after leaving the military.
They weren’t outlaws, but they certainly toed the line between moral and immoral.
“Ollie will be back,” Steel assured him. “This is his home.”
Most of the club was hanging around, shooting the shit. They’d said their goodbyes, were here to see Jenna, Steel, and Ollie off, and for many of them, comfort their women following their departure.
Lucky caught Steel’s eye. They were standing in the shadow of the clubhouse, right before the main double doors. “He still needs you,” Lucky tried to argue.
Steel didn’t ask who ‘he’ was. “He needs to rise or fall on his own,” Steel told his friend.
“He’s got you, Bulldog, and the other Officers.
And he’ll be a far better President than I because he’ll grow with the title.
Me? I was too set in my ways, held us back too many times.
I was too concerned about keeping us all safe to see the bigger picture.
” Steel tipped his chin in Ghost’s direction. “He’ll be great if given the chance.”
“We still need you,” Lucky insisted. “Don’t disappear on us.”
Steel stepped forward, embracing the younger man.
They’d been through a lot together. From Afghanistan to Mount Grove, they’d stood shoulder to shoulder through thick and thin.
Steel had watched Lucky step forward to protect his younger siblings, struggle through life as a single father, fall in love with Harper, had stood by him at the man’s wedding, and had celebrated with him at the birth of his two youngest children.
Steel had no doubt Lucky would help to guide Ghost for as long as he was able, be his voice of reason and his devil’s advocate.
“Take care, my friend.” Stepping away, Steel put his fingers to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. “Ollie, it’s time!”
After more frantic hugs for both Ollie and Jenna, Ollie headed towards his new cage while Steel brought the lift down to get Jenna’s wheelchair up into the camper. Carter came to help and give his mom another farewell hug.
Jenna’s cheeks were stained with tears as Steel locked her powerchair and started to raise the ramp up. Once she was inside, Steel got her maneuvered up to the cockpit. With the high emotions of their departure, it was no surprise that her symptoms were elevated today.
Leaning over her, Steel put his hands on the top of her captain’s chair behind her shoulders. “Say the word and we stay.”
Jenna, though, shook her head. “We need this, Jack. We need time to find us again. I love you enough to drive off into the sunset with you.” She held up her hand to him. It shook, and her fingers were curled in on themselves. “How about you?”
Steel went down on one knee before her. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. “Ride or die, baby.”
Jenna’s smile was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
From that fifteen-year-old girl in a yellow sundress to this vivacious, incredible woman before him, the mother of his children, and the love of his life, she was his forever.
Be it five minutes or five hundred years, it was them till the end.
“The road’s calling, Jack. Let’s get going.”