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I raised my eyebrow. “Ready to see him again?”
Bear shook his head. “Ready to make a decision that will stay with you forever?”
I dropped my head and stared at my boots for a moment, remembering my mother, remembering her eyes when she said goodbye to me. I raised my head and stared at Bear. “He killed my mom, brother; the decision to let him live all these years has done me more damage.”
Bear slapped his hand against the side of my neck. “Your mother would be proud of the man you’ve become, Gunner. She wouldn’t want you to behave like him; she’d expect more from you, and she’d never want you to exact revenge because of her.” His expression softened. “She was a good woman, brother, and he never deserved her.”
“I always wondered why the fuck she ever got involved with him. She was too damn good to be with scum like him. She told me once she only ever wanted to have a family, and she had no regrets because she had me.”
“He would have never let her leave with you,” Bear said. “She knew that. It’s how he kept her for so long.”
Thoughts of Maggie raced through my mind and all the hell Snake put her through. He was more like my father than I ever was. “Until she couldn’t take it anymore.”
Bear squeezed his hand tighter against my neck. “Until she realized she only had one chance to save you. And she did. Not the way she wanted, but she showed you the man he was when he killed her in front of you, and you walked away. You’re not living that life, and that’s exactly what she wanted for you.”
I nodded, having never thought about it like that, but Bear was right. That day in that old shack showed me exactly who my father was and proved to me that I was nothing like him. “You think I should hand him over to Luke?”
Bear dropped his hand. “I think you need to do what will help you move forward, what will make sure the future you’re trying so hard to build with Maggie and this club happens.”
I thought about Maggie. She’d made so much progress over the past few months; fuck, we both had. I wanted a future with Maggie. I wanted peace for my mom. I wanted to start my life.
And I couldn’t do that sitting behind bars.
“Call Luke. Tell him we’re making a plan. We have enough to get my father and Snake. We’ll take on the rest as they come.”
Bear nodded. “Will do, man.” His eyes flicked between mine. “What made your decision?”
I exhaled heavily. “That man had my past. He’s occupied my mind for more years than I can count. I willingly gave him that head space, but I will not give him my future. And I sure as fuck won’t lose the one I love to exact revenge on the one I hate.”
Bear ran his hand over his beard. “Maybe we need a little time with them before Luke shows to make arrests. Time to send a message to the Widows, one they need to receive,” Bear suggested.
I nodded. “I like the way you think brother.”
Bear was quiet for a moment before his lips tipped up in a grin. “So you and Maggie.” I huffed out a laugh. “You gonna let me be your best man?”
I grinned. “What the fuck do you think?”
“Happy for you, brother.”
I jerked my chin up. “When you gonna take the plunge?”
He chuckled. “Soon as I hate being single.”
I laughed. “So, never?”
“Fuck no.”
“You never know, brother. Sometimes they just fall into your lap.”
Bear ran his hand over his beard, a smirk lingering on his lips. “Then I guess I better keep my lap occupied just to be safe.”
I shook my head and laughed harder when he slapped my shoulder and left the room. His day would come. I’d known Bear for a long time, and I knew nothing would stop him when he saw something he wanted.
Fuck, I already felt sorry for the woman who would finally catch Bear’s eye.
She’d never stand a chance.
She’d also end up with one of the best men I’d ever known.