Page 26 of His Flawed Ride

“He’s not going to want to be in any part of her life, Slade. Please listen to me when I say she’s better off without him.”

Once we’re alone, I smile down at my daughter. “I don’t care how hard this is going to be, I’m going to love you and be therefor you. We don’t need your father. We’re going to be just fine. I promise.”

It’s not like Cas would want the responsibility anyway. He acted like he couldn’t remember our night together and I was all too happy to let him. Waking up next to Cas, I knew he wasn’t going to be obsessed with me and make me his old lady. Him calling out Alannah’s name when he climaxed was a big indicator he’d never be mine. I’ve spent months carrying his child and wondering what his reaction would be if I told him I was pregnant. Nope, me and Harper are better off on our own. I’ve got this.

How hope has let me down time after time. Now years later I have relationship with my daughter that’s surviving by a thread and no relationship with my grandson. My relationship with my brother is different and my mom is gone. Without Slade and Harper, I have no one and it kills me that it’s my own actions that have led me here. Harper is breaking unhealthy cycles with her son because I was the one who started them. There’s nothing like seeing your parenting reflected back to you in how different your child parents. It’s the biggest wakeup call I could get.

Falling onto the couch, I grab my phone and bring up the notes app.

I type out a to-do list:

Stop drinking.

Stay home and away from men.

Fix relationship with Harper.

Get to know Gunner.

Learn how to ignore JJ and the club.

Prove to Slade I can change.

Keep my job no matter what.

Shutting down my phone, I toss it to the side and close my eyes. I have never been so driven to make amends.

Chapter Eight

Shane

The Five Falls chapter is fucking wired weird. Leo had us ride for two days so JP can take his own life on account his Parkinson’s is progressing rapidly, and he doesn’t want to be a burden to his old lady or the club.

I wouldn’t want to go out to a disease that strips away everything about me, but I don’t know if I’d have the balls to end it.

“When I first patched into the club, shit looked a lot different. Tonight I look out and see how far we’ve come. I have no fuckin’ idea what waits for me on the other side, but I know whoever takes my place and under Leo Jackson, this club will continue to live beyond us all. This patch is going to be our legacy.”

His old lady and VP cling to his side as his last piece of energy slowly drains from him.

A gold gun gleams on his blanketed lap. At this point I don’t know if he’s going to find the energy to hold it up and pull the trigger. His old lady kneels before him and lays her head on hislap. I glance around and I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s a little concerned about what’s about to go down.

He stares down at his old lady and smiles fondly. “I love ya, baby. Never forget that.”

She wails as, with trembling hands, he lifts the gun and presses it against his temple.

“Fuck me, he’s gonna do it right here,” Myles chokes out beside me.

The shot rings out and echoes around the bar. I’m momentarily stunned. I couldn’t move or speak if I tried. Not until his old lady cries out and his VP, Ashton, chokes on a sob.

I turn my back and come face to face with a striking blonde with a cracking rack and an enticing smile.

“Hi,” she murmurs.

I tip my chin. I slip my arm around her and head toward the bar. I can’t be seeing his blood and brains splattered over the place.

“What’s ya name, darlin’?”

“Annie.”