Page 55 of Chaos & Carnage

“Then come and see it. Us. See who we are. The fun we have. Our family. That’s what the club is about. And the bikes.”

“Suppose I could.”

“Good. Tonight. Come tonight.” The smile on his face faded, too close to sleep.

“Do I get to meet your brother?”

Cade’s eyes snapped open. Just for a moment, meeting my gaze and then slipping closed again.

“Uh-huh. You’ll love him.”

“What’s he like?”

“A lot like me.” The side of Cade’s mouth twitched.

“What’s he called?”

“Caleb.”

I smiled.

“Enough about me, kitten. Tell me about your family.”

And now I sighed, Cade’s eyes opening, the beautiful sage-green staring at me.

“Mam and Dad divorced years ago. He’s moved on. New family. Mam, well, she’s never really moved on. She’s tried. Really tried. I mean, she’s gone through many relationships. Just no one was Dad.”

“That sounds sad, kitten.”

“Maybe for her, I guess. Dad’s happy.” I shrugged.

“My dad died years ago.” Cade said matter-of-factly.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Came off his motorbike on a run. He was a King too. Being part of this club makes me feel closer to him, to the thing he loved most after my mam and me and Ca…Caleb.”

“And that’s why the club is important to you?”

Cade’s eyes drifted shut again, and he nodded slowly.

“One reason. We’re brothers in the non-biblical sense. One in. All in. That’s how it works.” He moved his head again, pulling me against his neck. “Not always for the better,” he muttered quietly.

“Cade?”

“Hmmm?”

“What’s happening at the club tonight?”

“It’s Saturday. It’s just a club night. Drinks, people, lots of drunkenness, music. That sort of thing. Sometimes a fight or two.”

“Fight?”

“Aye. Bikers love a good scrap.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry. You’d be safe. I’ll pick you up at eight.”