Chapter 27
TRUCK
I’m ready to surprise Rory today, and it’s going to be one hell of a surprise. I park my truck outside Rory’s house and grab two bags of my stuff. I’m not bringing everything because we’ll be moving into the house as soon as it’s ready. Rory can rent this place if she wants at that point.
I can’t get last night out of my mind. It was the most earth-shattering sex I’ve ever had, and I’ve had more than my share in the past. From this point the only one I’ll be sharing my dick with is Rory.
Grady is back sometime today, and I want to be set up and here to welcome him back. Some man-time will be good for him because he spends way too much time with women, and we don’t want him to be a pussy if he’s gonna be associated with the Restless Demons MC.
“Hey, Bono, Tank, Pyro make sure you are kind to the kid. He’s only eleven and I don’t want you scaring the shit outta him.” I turn when I hear a voice saying, “Good morning.”
The neighbor is standing with the front door of their house open and checking out what I’m doing. “Good morning. I’m moving in today with Rory. If you need anything, just give me a holler.”
“I’m Martin and the wife is Cora. Welcome to the neighborhood…” the old guy stops speaking, and that’s when I realize I’ve not told him my name.
“I’m Truck.” I give a chin lift and head to the front door that has opened, and Rory is standing with her mouth gaping open. “Close your mouth, babe, or you’ll catch bugs.”
Martin chuckles when Rory snaps her mouth shut and gives me a nasty look. “We’ll talk again, Truck,” Martin quickly closes his front door, but I don’t miss the chuckling he’s doing.
“What are you doing, Truck?” Rory asks.
I give her a smile that I can’t hold back.
“I’m moving in, babe. Now that we are official, I’m going to be here with you.
Oh, and when our house is built, we’ll move into that, and if you want, you can rent this out, or sell it.
It’s yours and you can decide. But we are a we and don’t you forget you said, mine! ”
“I said that in the heat of the moment, Truck.”
“It doesn’t matter. You said it, and I said it. Now, let’s get me settled in because Grady will be back later and it’s a busy day tomorrow. I have church in the morning, and we need to discuss the funeral.”
“Church? Do you go to church on a Sunday morning?” Rory asks, and I don’t even try to stop the chuckle before I explain it’s not church where you pray to an almighty being. It is, in fact, an official club meeting where club business is discussed.
Two hours later, and I’m unpacked, fully satisfying the itch I had, which soon became Rory’s itch, and now sitting in the kitchen listening to Rory, Jill, and Grady talking.
“Are you all set for summer break, Grady?” I ask grabbing his attention from Rory and Jill’s conversation.
“Yeah, but it’s boring because I never have anything to do.”
“We can’t have that, Grady. How about you do chores at the clubhouse and earn a few dollars while you’re at it? I could use some help at the gas station too.”
I notice it has gone quiet and look up to see Rory and Jill watching my discussion with Grady, and Grady’s response.
“Yeah, I’d do that,” Grady bursts with enthusiasm.
“Okay then, I’ll speak with Rory, and she can organize it with Jill. If that is okay with you two ladies?”
“Yeah, that’s good,” Jill responds while looking softly at Grady. You’d be a fool not to see how much this kid means to her.
Rory is giving me an exasperated look. Probably because I’ve not discussed it with her first. But you know I react to things that happen now, and don’t think to hang on until I’ve got the all-clear from someone else. I’ll probably have to learn mind you.
“Can I, Jill? Can I?” Grady is buzzing with excitement, and I can see Jill isn’t worried about Grady spending time at the clubhouse or around the brothers.
Rory, of course, the voice of reason, as the saying goes, asks, “Doing what at the clubhouse, Truck?”
“Well, the brothers are happy to pay for their bikes to be cleaned. We have chores around the compound that are always in need of doing. Like the little herb corner that the kitchen made earlier in the year. I noticed it needs weeding. There is always something to be done, Rory.”
“Aw, come on, Rory, don’t kill the buzz,” Grady rolled his eyes while placing his hands on his hips. I keep my face blank because, fuck, now is not the time to laugh.
“I’m okay with that, Rory,” Jill states as she turns to look at Rory. “I trust Truck and the others at the club to watch over him. They have been good to Grady while he’s been going for his math lessons. I’ve heard all about the place, and Cilla is there too, and Grady knows Cilla.”
“Okay, okay, if you have no problem with it, neither do I.” Rory shrugs and turns to the counter where she continues making lunch.
On Sunday morning, I guide Xero, Collins, and Mitchell into church when Pres decides it’s time to officially make them brothers and give them their road names.
“Come on, come into the meeting. Say nothing unless spoken to. Stand on the side and wait for whatever is going to happen.” I don’t give them time to ask questions as I re-enter church and take my seat.
The three of them stand on one side, arms behind them, at ease as they are told in the military. They don’t look comfortable standing there I have to admit, but they’ll be okay in a few minutes I’m sure.
Pres looks at the three and gives them his blank stare. It’s enough to make a grown man cry, but they stand firm, showing no discomfort, and I have to tell you, I’m proud of them.
“You want to be brothers?” Pres asks firmly.
“Yes, sir,” the three of them quickly responded.
“I’m not a sir, I’m Pres. We are not in the military now.
But to join us you have to know it’s for life.
Your club’s colors are the most important thing you’ll own, and they always remain the property of the club.
You will guard your colors against anything or anyone, at all costs.
You never discuss club business with anyone outside of the club.
You will guard our territory along with your club brothers.
You will wear your colors and any patches earned or given with pride and honor.
If you cannot do any of that, you walk out of the door now and never return,” Pres is watching the three of them closely, and when they all remain stoic, he continues, “Your names have been put forward for full brother status, missing out the prospect portion of the club criteria. That is something we normally do not consider, but we have a working prospect at this time, and I will present you to the brothers today for status with the understanding you receive only seventy-five percent for the first year. How say you?”
Xero speaks for the three of them. “We are fully onboard with that Pres. We honor the code and will fulfill all criteria set out that you mentioned.”
“We actually voted last week, and you were accepted into the brotherhood, but we had to hear you say you agreed to the oath. You will go to the tattoo studio and get your left shoulder blade covered with the club colors. If you already have something on that shoulder we will accept another place on the body, but it has to be visible while wearing pants of any description. What I’m saying is upper body.
” Again, the three nod agreement, and Pres once again continues.
“Okay, Xero, please step forward and accept your cut. You will be known as Xero from this point forward. We will not give you a different road name as you earned the one you have in service. We honor your service name.”
“Welcome to the brotherhood, Xero,” Books firmly states as he hands the cut to Xero.
Pres speaks again once Xero has stepped back into line with his brothers. “Collins, step forward. From this moment you will be known as Echo. You have that name because you never see the shot that kills you, and you’ll understand the meaning with being a sniper.”
Echo steps forward and takes his cut, giving a nod to Books as a way of thanks. He holds the cut as if it were the jewels in someone's crown. Which tells us all how much he honors the leather.
“Mitchell, step forward.” Pres states one last time. “You will be known as Dice, and I think you know why that is…”
Dice, as we’ll call him from this moment forward throws his head back laughing, “Oh yeah, I’ll never live down those fucking dice now.”
“You will come when called. You will attend all club meetings unless they are officer meetings. You will never disgrace the club or your brothers. Now, from next Sunday you will take a seat in church alongside your brothers.” Pres is satisfied with their, “Yes, Pres,” “Okay, Pres,” “Thanks, Pres,” responses and continues, “Okay, dismissed.”
We all head out of church and slap the three of them hard as we pass. But none of our antics stopped the huge smiles on the three of their faces.
After church, I grab Rory who is with Grady in the common room, and walk her over to where our house is being built. Of course, Grady came with us and is excitedly talking a mile a minute.
“What do you think, Grady?” I point to the half-built house and wrap my arm around Rory’s neck, pulling her to my side as I kiss the side of her head.
Rory is staring at the house and looks at Grady as he asks questions so fast that nobody would even have a chance to answer them all.
“Grady, stop shouting out questions. One at a time in a proper manner,” Rory sighs and rolls her eyes at Grady, who laughs at her with no sign of being upset with her comment.
“I’ll tell you what the house is going to be like, Grady.
” I give Rory another kiss to let her know she’s included.
“The house will have four bedrooms, all with en-suites, a guest bathroom, and a half-bath on the first floor. I’m making sure there is an enormous kitchen because I think the kitchen is the heart of the house.
But we will have a dining area in the kitchen, along with a separate dining room.
It will have a basement which will have a game and cinema room, and a small gym. ”
Rory looks up at me with a frown. “Will it have a mudroom, or a utility room, you know, like a laundry come storeroom?”
“I hadn’t thought about that, but I’ll speak to Jeremy and see what he can do,” I reply with a frown. Goddamn, I never thought about any laundry or storerooms.
“It’s a big house,” Grady says as he walks around the side of the building.
“Don’t go inside, Grady. It’s not safe yet,” I quickly say and watch him closely. He, however, stops walking and turns as he walks back to where we are standing.
“Can I go inside when it’s finished?”
“You can, and you can have a bedroom,” Rory says as she looks at me to confirm that it’s okay.
“Yep, you can have the one that will look out over the garden. It will have its own bathroom, and you’ll be responsible for keeping it clean when you stay with us,” I say this firmly, so he knows I’m not messing with him.
“Thanks, Truck.” With that, Grady runs back to the clubhouse, screeching about having a room, and he can stay with us.
Rory giggles as we watch him run. “He’s going to be okay isn’t he, Truck?”
“Do you mean about his mother dying and being here?”
Rory nods. “Yeah. I know Jill has some financial stuff to sort out, and she asked me to look at some financials for her. But the funeral…”
“Stop worrying, Rory. Things happen when they should. Help when she asks you for help, but don’t worry too much.” I kiss her thoroughly before we walk into the clubhouse.
We both stop as we enter the clubhouse because Finger is standing looking at Ayla as though she is a traitor. Cilla is looking at her daughter, then at Bono, Tank, or Pyro. I’m not sure what’s going on until I clearly hear Ayla say, “Ank.”
“Oh, fuck, she said Tank,” I mumble as the realization hit.
“Who is Tank?” Rory asks, and I’m not sure how to answer the question, so I pick Rory up and throw her over my shoulder. I head to my clubhouse bedroom and shout for Cilla to watch over Grady until we come back. I intend to keep Rory busy until she forgets what she just heard.