Chapter 35
Ricochet
“We’re having a barbeque today. Bring your old lady down,” Lockout told me.
Sidestepping his jab, I frowned. “Why am I just hearing about the barbeque now?”
It’d been a few days since the attack and Trent’s subsequent arrest. Everything was settling down and going back to normal.
Still, we’d set up a rotation at the girls’ homes.
When I wasn’t there, one of my brothers was.
I wasn’t going to be able to relax fully for a while.
It didn’t matter that Trent had been transferred to the state penitentiary in Florence.
An hour’s drive away wasn’t nearly enough for my peace of mind.
We wouldn’t need to keep the guard up much longer.
Trent was being housed in Gen Pop, just as I had advised the DA to do. He wouldn’t be around for much longer.
I threw a jab, testing Lock’s reflexes and focus as we circled each other inside the boxing ring. He’d put this thing in a few years ago and it was by far the best investment the club has ever made. All of us used it on a regular basis.
“It was sort of last minute. Listen, some Army friends of mine are swinging through town. I convinced them to stay for a day, catch up. Turns out Hush and Toxic know them, too, so we decided to make one big party of it. You should be here. It will be good for you. Trust me.”
Since this whole thing started Lockout had been good about giving me space.
He hadn’t pushed me at all. This was the first time he was really trying to get me to do anything, and I couldn't help but feel the pull from him. It was an easy way to show my support, especially after all the help all of my brothers had given me. “Okay. We’ll be there.”
Things with Jordan were slowly getting back to normal.
We’d talked a few more times about expectations around emergency situations.
She knew now that if I felt there was any kind of threat to her safety, I would handle it in the way I deemed best. She agreed to that and also laid down her own rules.
Mostly, that she was going to try to get me to shake things off and not fight as much as possible.
She wouldn’t be successful every time, but knowing how much she disliked it, I was willing to do my best for her.
Unless necessary, I planned to keep the fighting to the inside of this boxing ring.
That is, unless we were out on missions.
“Good, looking forward to it. They should be here around six.”
“Perfect,” I muttered, barely missing a haymaker. His glove swung past my face so hard the wind ruffled my hair.
“You’re not paying attention,” he said with a grin.
Laughing, I went in low and landed a solid strike on his side, then blocked his return hit to the side of my head before moving back. “Can’t have the old man beating me.” I grunted as his hit landed this time.
“Fuck,” he muttered, glowering at me. “Just because I’m turning forty this year doesn’t make me old, asshole.”
“True. That’s still Hush’s title.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Hush called from the sidelines where the others were watching.
Lockout and I both laughed as the buzzer went off, ending our session. I had to admit it was nice to be wanted back in the club. Not that my brothers had ever given me cause to think I was unwelcome. That was something I did to myself.
Tapping my gloves on Lock’s, I left the ring. Every brother who was standing around watching or waiting for their turn said goodbye to me and for once, I acknowledged them all. Gone were the days where I just slunk through life like a kicked dog.
Sure, the nightmares still woke me at night.
That would likely always be a thing, but having my life back in my waking hours was worth any price.
The flashbacks were more manageable, and for once I was looking forward to the future instead of immersed in the past. Butcher had been right.
I was living for today and the future now. Jordan had given me that.
The drive back to my sister’s place didn’t take long.
Once she was healed up and the kids were in the right headspace, I’d likely be moving back into the clubhouse.
It was going to be quite a bit different than living next door to my old lady, but I was hoping I could charm her into moving in with me eventually.
It meant I’d have to get a bigger space at the club, but Lock had plenty of apartments.
The dorm style rooms had always just worked for me in the past and I’d had no need for more space. Now I did.
I walked over to Jordan's house. Better to do this in person. I knocked on the door and waited.
She opened the door and leaned against the frame, giving me a seductive look. “Hey,” she said.
“Hey.” I reached forward and brushed my thumb over the bruise on her jaw.
It was lightening up, but was still very noticeable.
It was a badge of courage and a reminder to me of what I could have lost. “There's a barbeque at the club tonight, just club members and a few special guests. Some of the guys' Army buddies are coming through town so Lockout is throwing a party. Just the guys and their old ladies. I’d like you to come with.”
“That sounds like fun,” she hesitated, her eyes darting over to Gwen’s house, “but what about your sister?”
“Don’t worry about her. I have another friend who’s going to be looking after her and the kids tonight.
” Gwen was healing up too, but it was still painful for her to move around thanks to some broken ribs.
I’d been helping out as much as I could with everything, and when I couldn’t, Jordan was there.
The sound of an engine roaring filled the air and I grinned. “There he is now.”
“Well, that’s something I didn’t expect to see.” Jordan crossed her arms over her chest and grinned.
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Static, still in his suit, getting off his bike. “Yeah. He’s fucking fancy.”
“He’s handsome.” My glare made her laugh. “For an older man. Don’t worry, I already have my old man.” She pushed off the doorframe and wrapped one arm around me. The other tugged on my neck, silently asking me to bend enough to kiss her.
Everything about her was intoxicating. Her scent, her taste, the way her body wrapped around mine.
I wanted to bring her into the house and show her exactly what she meant to me.
I groaned against her mouth. “We’re going to be late.
Go get dressed.” I forced myself to let her go.
When she turned, I slapped her ass, chuckling at her squeal of indignation.
Leaving her to dress, I walked over and shook hands with Static.
We didn’t know each other well, but he knew Lock and Rip and he’d helped the club out a few times.
According to what I’d heard, if he had accepted back when Lock took over the club, Static would have been our VP.
I was glad things had played out the way they had.
Riptide was the perfect VP for us. He was laid back, but he got shit done.
When Lockout was working with all cylinders firing and burning the candle at both ends, which he did far too often, Rip was there to take some of the burden from him.
Lockout was the classic overachiever and Riptide was the surfer guy who just barely made it on time anywhere.
Somehow they evened each other out and made each other better.
Add in Hush and Priest and the rest and we had the perfect set of officers for our club.
It ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to them.
That didn’t mean that Static wouldn’t ever have a place.
I was pretty sure Lock was trying to talk him into joining.
It would mean prospecting, though, and I wasn’t sure the lawyer’s ego could handle that.
“Thanks for doing this, Static.”
“No problem. I’m happy to help. I was sorry to hear what happened to your sister. How’s she doing?” His intense blue eyes were on mine. Everything about him radiated intensity. I understood living in that state of mind. It was only recently that I’d been able to take a step back and breathe.
“Better, though she still needs help with things. Come on, let’s go introduce you to her and the kids.”
He followed me into the house and we found Gwen and her kids wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, eating popcorn and watching a kids’ movie.
“Gwen, this is Static. Static, my sister, and her son, Sean. And this little angel,” I said, while catching Grace up in my arms as she rushed up, “is Grace.”
“Nice to meet you,” Static told her.
Grace gave him a shy smile. “Nice to meet you,” she parroted.
“Static is going to be hanging out with you guys tonight, okay?” Glancing over at Sean, I arched a brow. He’d been nervous about having a man around he didn’t know. He’d grown accustomed to my brothers, though, and I knew he’d do fine with Static. Sean gave a nod of agreement.
“That’s a pretty suit,” Grace told him.
“Thank you.” Static looked amused, but his eyes kept drifting over toward Gwen.
I wasn’t sure if it was because of all the bruises and cuts, or something else. I sure as fuck hoped he was just pissed about the state she was in. I wasn’t sure I was ready for my sister to be in a relationship. Hell, she probably wasn’t ready.
“Hi,” she said, tone quiet, but the smile she gave him was friendly as Static sat down in the recliner.
I settled on the couch with Grace, and by the time I left, the anxiety and unease had fled the room. Grace helped with that. She was open and cheerful. It was a permanent state for her.
Twenty minutes later we were on my bike and heading over to the club.
I grabbed Jordan’s hand and held it in mine as I drove.
Everything that had gone down had just shown both of us how much we loved each other, and how one stupid fight wasn’t worth losing the good thing we were building.
I was grateful for that, though I wished none of them had to go through the shit show that Trent brought to our door.