Tide (SBMC Savannah, Ga #2)
Chapter 1
Tide
Prison. I would say that this is the last time that I’m going to be in that place, but that would probably be a lie.
I’ve spent most of my life in and out of the pen.
Some things were my fault, others not. A jaded system and bullshit judges will do that to you.
This time I plan on staying out a little longer.
“Look at you, big son of a bitch,” Bane says as I step out of the gates again.
“You miss me?”
“Always miss you, brother. The clubhouse isn’t the same without you there,” he says as I look over and see Ban, Ranger, and Patch. I walk over and fist bump each one of them when they step aside and reveal my bike. That beauty I haven’t had the pleasure of being on in seven months.
“She sure is beautiful,” I say under my breath.
“Better than pussy?” Ban asks. I turn my head and look at him.
“Hell no. Nothin’ is better than pussy.” We all laugh when Patch tosses me my keys. I catch them in one hand and walk over, grabbing my helmet and sliding it on my head. I feel bad for the prospect that brought it down here now that he has to catch a ride back.
“You could let me ride,” Rock, the prospect, says.
“Nut to butt? I don’t fuckin’ think so.” The guys all laugh, but I don’t. There’s no way in hell that we’ll be riding like that back home. I’ve dealt with enough shit like that while I was locked up and there won’t be no funny business on the way home either.
“You got nut on the mind?” Rock asks with a laugh.
"You've seen the inside of the pen, Rock?” He shakes his head no. “Then you wouldn’t get it. Some motherfuckers are always thinkin’ they can take what you have. Ban gets it,” I say, glancing over at him. He nods his head, knowing what I’m talking about.
“Heard that, brother,” he adds.
“Let’s get the hell outta here. I’m sure Tide is ready for a beer,” Patch says. I nod my head and run my fingers along my bike before climbing on. It’s the best fucking feeling in the world to be back on this machine.
We all rev up the engines before pulling out of the parking lot and out onto the main road. It feels like heaven. I’ve missed this shit more than I actually realized I did.
The wind hits my face, and I sigh. We have a long ride back, and I savor every second of it.
The open road. The breeze caressing my face.
These are things I could only dream about while I was locked up.
That and her. The fucking girl that I can’t have.
The one thing that doesn’t belong to me.
She does something to my head, and I can’t quite figure it out.
There’s something about her that makes me crazy, and I can’t explain why.
She’s also not mine. She’s my son’s. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about her while I was locked up.
She’s probably the only thing that kept me going, and she doesn’t even know it. She’ll never know it.
When I see the clubhouse come into view, I smile.
It’s home. It’s my home. Has been for a long time.
Aside from my son Christian, this is the only family I have.
His mom left us long ago when she realized I wasn’t worth a damn.
I was never going anywhere but here. My life was never going to revolve around her and a white picket fence.
She couldn’t handle that and left when Christian was three.
I did the best I could raising him. Mainly the club girls raised him.
Most of them are long gone now. Christian never became part of the club.
Sure he’s everyone’s little brother, but that’s about it.
He didn’t want this life, and I didn’t force it on him.
I kill the engine and climb off my bike, leaving my helmet on the seat when everyone cheers and welcomes me home. It’s nice to be back. Back home with my brothers. I fist-bump a few, shake hands with others, and hug most of them. This is what my world consists of. This is what I’ve always wanted.
“You look good, motherfucker,” Storm says as he pulls me into a hug.
“Thanks, brother. Glad to be back home,” I tell him.
“Well, we’re glad you’re back. Your boy is here.” I nod my head and walk past the guys and head inside to find Christian waiting.
“Hey, Pop,” he says when he sees me. I walk over and pull him into a hug, holding on just a little longer.
“Good to see you, son. How’ve you been?”
“I’m good. You look good,” he says as we pull apart.
“I feel good. That place can sure make or break a motherfucker.”
“Hopefully you don’t have to go back anytime soon,” he says. I nod my head.
“I don’t plan on it. How you been?”
“Everything’s good. Work’s good.”
“And Mylah? She good?”
“She’s here. She wanted to welcome you home.
I think she went to the bathroom,” he says.
My heart kicks up a notch knowing I’ll get to see her.
I shouldn’t want to. I shouldn’t even think about her that way, but I can’t help it.
Just as I’m about to say something more, she walks up.
The girl is thick and curvy, every fucking man’s dream.
She isn’t stick thin, and I like that about her.
She holds her head high and carries herself like a queen, and I think that’s what draws me in.
“Mylah,” I say when she looks over at me. She smiles, and my heart beats a little faster. Fuck, I’m so wrong for looking at my son’s girlfriend like that.
“It’s good to see you, Tide. You look great,” she says before I pull her into a hug. They’ve been dating for years. Years of me pinning after her. Years of me wanting her and not having her.
“You look good too, darlin’.” She pulls back, a slight blush on her cheeks as Christian wraps his arm around her. If he weren't my son, I would take his ass out and take the girl. But I can’t do that. Not to him.