Page 37

King

“You came.”

I frown as Dragon walks out to my bike. “I told you I would.”

“I know, but I wasn’t sure you’d actually show up. It’s not like you’ve come to many of our other family meetings,” Dragon says, pulling me into him and slapping my back in welcome.

“You have those shit weekly. I have a life. I’m here now because I figure this meeting is about me and my old lady. So, I need to be here.”

“Your old lady?” Dragon repeats, his voice rough.

“Claimed her and I’m keeping her.”

“Son, you just got divorced?—”

“Don’t start that shit. It’s none of your business. I’m not some wet-behind-the-ears kid. I’m in my thirties. I grew up hard and fast. I know my mind.”

Dragon holds up his hands in surrender. “I just want to make sure. I’m your ally in this, King. Nicole and I both will make it plain that we’re supporting you.”

My body jerks with that announcement. I don’t know what I expected, but that wasn’t it.

“I appreciate it, but I don’t think you get that I don’t need support.

I spent most of my life without knowing my brothers or my sister.

If they can’t see their way around to letting me live my life the way I choose, I can live the rest of it without them.

Gabby’s dealing with enough. I won’t let her take on more shit. Her plate is overloaded as it is.”

“How is she doing with the pregnancy?”

“She’s good. We decided not to find out what we’re having. Gabby wants it to be a surprise.”

“We?”

“She’s having a baby, Dragon. I can hardly claim her and not her child. What’s more—and this is nonnegotiable—to anyone outside of those already in the know, Gabby’s baby is mine. That’s how it’s going to be on the birth certificate and that’s how it’s going to be period . You get me?”

“If they knew the pregnancy was from the rape, that with what she’d been through, it might make them more sympathetic.”

“I don’t care. That’s Gabby’s to share, and I’m not asking her to share it with people that don’t care about her. Besides this baby is mine!”

“King—”

“If this is how the night is going to go, I’m thinking I should leave now.”

Dragon lets out a grunt, shaking his head. “Get your ass inside. My woman has been cooking all day. She wants her family together and whether you believe it or not, she was kind of hoping Gabby would be with you.”

“Let’s go get the party started,” I mutter sarcastically. Dragon laughs, but even his laugh is pretty humorless.

We go up the deck and Kayden sees me at once, but it’s her son Little D who is running toward me.

I’ve only met the kid twice, but for some reason, he always runs full speed at me.

I scoop him up effortlessly. He’s a cute kid, looks more like his mom than his dad, but his eyes are the same color as his father’s.

“Hey, little dude. Where are you going so fast?”

“He’s always going a hundred miles an hour. Chains keeps talking about having another, but I am not that brave just yet,” Kayden laughs, walking over to me while her son starts squirming.

“Pway with me!” he demands as I put him down.

“Go play with Tam-Tam, buddy. Mommy wants to visit with her big brother for a bit.”

“No! I want Keen!” he says, stomping his foot.

“D, what did I tell you?” Chains asks, his voice stern, despite the smile he’s fighting.

“Fine!” he grumbles and stomps off, muttering under his breath like only a grouchy-but-cute four-year-old can.

“God, that boy is going to kill me off,” Chains says, coming over to grab my hand in hello.

“Chains! Stop it. He’s just in a stage. He’ll grow out of it,” Kayden mutters, still pulled into my side, her arm hugging me to her loosely.

“Bullshit. He’s going to get worse. I knew naming him after your father was a bad idea. We’re fucked.”

“If you keep using that language where Taz can hear, and you will be,” Thea says, coming over to me and smiling. “Hey, King. Good to see you again.”

“Hey, Thea. Did you say Taz?”

“Club name for our boy. He might just be a baby, but he never stops. So, we’ve nicknamed him Tasmanian Devil.

Taz for short,” Dom says, coming over to shake my hand.

I nod. After everything Gabby has shared about Dom, I’m having a harder time warming up to the guy.

I push it aside, though. The truth is, he was just as young as Gabby was.

They both fucked up, and they were kids.

He seems to at least have his shit together now, and he and Thea seem happy.

As if echoing my thoughts, Dom goes straight to Thea, kisses her forehead, and then bends down and kisses the baby.

“Where’s Lyla and T?” I ask when I don’t see any sign of them.

“They dropped off Tam-Tam and then went to Dancer and Carrie’s with Grunt, Jazz, and Daisy. They should be back anytime. Grunt wanted T’s help unloading the cabinets they made for Carrie’s kitchen they’re redoing,” Nicole explains.

“Grunt’s damn good at that,” I admit, as Nicole walks over to me, pulling me in close.

“How are you, sweetheart?” she asks me softly, hugging me close. The damn woman makes it impossible for you to dislike her.

“I’m doing really good,” I tell her with a smile, as she pulls away, but keeps her hands on my sides.

“I can see that,” she says with a grin. “You look happy and … satisfied.”

I shake my head at her, my lips twitching. “That statement could be made,” I admit, making her laugh softly.

“Dragon?”

“Yo, Mama.”

She winks at me. “You better get those steaks going. My twice-baked potatoes are almost done. The stuffed mushrooms already are.”

“You got it. King? You want to help me man the grill?” he asks.

“That’s okay, old man. I think I’ll just watch you work.”

“Asshole,” he grumbles, making me laugh.

“You want a beer, man?” Dom asks.

“Yeah,” I answer. “I’ll go grab one though.” Nicole had left after calling out Dragon, so I just follow her footsteps.

I walk into the house. I’ve only been in here a couple of times, but it’s a nice house.

Nicole has a way of making the house feel welcoming.

Gabby is much the same, I realize. I need to talk to her about finding a more permanent home.

I haven’t thrown my name in yet to become a full member of the Tennessee Chapter.

I like the men a lot. The whole vibe is a fuck of a lot better than what was going on at the Saints in North Carolina since Blade got out.

Still, I need to know I fit in with the crew completely before I take the plunge.

I can admit I miss Ford and the crew. It would have been good to see Grunt again.

That was my home for a lot of fucking years.

The time for me to move on was definitely at hand, though.

I’m just not sure it’s in Tennessee. I’d move there absolutely for Gabby, but I get the feeling she’s not happy there either.

She’s existing. I’m just not sure going to Denver is the right call.

I’d rather have Gabby happy and near people she loves.

If that doesn’t work out, then we’ll find our way somewhere.

I’d just rather not move halfway across the country.

“Hey, sweetheart. Everything okay?” Nicole asks, turning around.

“Came for a beer,” I tell her. She goes to the fridge and yanks one out, handing it to me. “It’s good to see you again. I was hoping to see Gabby. How is she feeling?”

“We didn’t think this was a good place for her, Nic.”

She looks up at me. “Isn’t it something they all need to get used to?” she questions, looking at me strangely.

“It is.”

“Then—”

“But aren’t you the one who was more or less warning me away from her before?”

Nicole smiles, making a gesture with her hand like she’s waving me off. “I wanted your eyes open, but I want Gabby to be happy. This will be complicated, that’s true.”

“It’s not for me.”

“It’s not?” she asks.

“Not at all. I love her.”

“Love who?” a voice calls from the door. Fuck.

I look at the back door that leads into the kitchen to see T and Lyla standing there. I ignore T’s question and go straight to a smiling Lyla. “Hey gorgeous. I’ve missed you.”

She hugs me tight before pulling back to look up at me. “We’ve all missed you. Dad complains daily. He wants you to come home and spend some time with him and Grace.”

“I don’t think your dad would like another man around when he’s with Grace,” I laugh.

“You know what I mean,” she giggles. “You need to come home. It’s where you belong.”

“It’s not anymore, Lyla. I’m happy. I’ll always come back for a visit though.”

“I want to hunt that bitch down and throat punch her for all the sisterhood,” she grumbles.

I laugh. “She’s not worth your time,” I tell her.

“You look happy,” T says, and I smile. The more settled he is with Lyla, the less his stutter is an issue.

I’m fucking glad the two of them worked their shit out.

They were made for one another. I smile as I think about the fact that Gabby and I were, too.

We were both broken and feeling alone. We understand one another in ways no one else could probably grasp.

Fuck, I’ve only been away from her for a few hours and I’m missing her.

“I am, T. Life is good.”

“So, who are you in love with? For a m-minute you had me w-worried you were going back to that b-b-bitch.”

I shake my head. Apparently, just the thought of Shelby upsets T.

Fuck, I hope they manage to accept Gabby.

It would suck losing T in my life. He had my back and took up for me when he didn’t have to.

We fought a war together. My relationship with him is always going to be special—if he can at least manage to be civil around my woman.

“A story for later. Life is good.” He frowns. I can tell he wants to ask more questions, but thankfully Nicole distracts him, and he backs off.