Page 42 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Forty

Leo

T he three-day ride was as expected. Long and ass numbing. Heavy rain set us back a few hours until we were able to ride again. It doesn’t help when Holly sporadically answers my calls or replies to my texts. She’s tired but she always answers when I’m on the road.

JJ and I are the first to arrive at the meet point with a few hours to spare. We decided to get something to eat and that’s where we’re still sat when I see Tank and his VP ride by.

“The party’s about to start.” JJ grins.

“I just need to make a call.”

Scrolling down to my mom’s number, I hit call on our way outside. It’s warm out today and I tip my head back to feel the heat on my face while waiting for mom to answer.

I’m about to hang up when she picks up. “Hey, my love. You okay?”

“I’m good. I’m about to sit with the chapters. I’m just calling to check on Hols, she doesn’t seem…”

“She’s okay, Leo. Roman is keeping her up all hours, but I’m having him and Rayna tonight so she’ll be back to herself soon enough.”

“You don’t think there’s something else going on with her I should be worried about?”

Her laughter fills the line. “No, my son. She has two kids to look after, one being a baby who is keeping her on her toes at the moment. I’m keeping a close eye on her, don’t worry. Concentrate on what you’re there to do. I’ve got you covered here at home.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

The call ends and I store my phone away. We cross the street, and the bar is quiet when we step inside. The owner throws sharp glances our way but after I’ve put down a fat wad of cash, he leaves us to it.

After greetings are made, we take our seats. “How are we all doing?” I begin.

“I think I can speak for everyone when I say we’re all tired and our backs and asses hurt. Are you going to tell us why you had us make this ride?” Wyatt asks.

I lean forward on the table and meet each of their gazes before saying, “Each of your clubhouses are no more than a hundred miles from a Hog’s base. They’ve become a problem and if we don’t deal with them now, we’ll end up in a war that we don’t want to spend money on or lose brothers to.”

“I take it you have a plan having had us ride all the way out here,” Tack asks.

I nod. “Each of you will go home and prepare to blow up the nearest Hog base to you. It’s up to you how it goes, who does what, but the plan is to hit them all at the same time. So coordination is fuckin’ key.”

“You’re talkin’ about a massacre?” Tack says.

JJ snorts. “Are you sayin’ you’re gonna lose sleep over it?”

Tack looks away and keeps his mouth shut.

It’s Creep who asks, “Why isn’t Luca here?”

“He’s handling his own shit,” is all I say.

“We’re all handling our own shit, Leo. What makes him different to us?”

I pin my glare on Creep. “I didn’t say he was different, did I. If one or all of you fail, I will call Luca in to do what you couldn’t.”

The insult stings as it was intended and Creep shuts his mouth, but only for a matter of seconds. “I wasn’t digging him out, it’s just…”

JJ cuts him off. “It’s just nothing. Luca isn’t your business or your fuckin’ concern.”

Before this gets out of hand, I say, “You have until a week Saturday to prepare.”

Ashton sits forward and asks, “Why have us ride all this way to tell us this? We all have phones.”

I promised I was going to keep a close eye on all chapters, remind them of how serious I am, that just because they’re out of sight, they are not out of mind.

“I miss your pretty faces,” I lie. “Besides, I want updates on all club business. If there’s a problem meeting with me, just say.”

“There is no problem, it’s just not how Cas used to do it.”

I lean back in my chair and sigh. “I thought we’d passed this shit, as you can see, I’m not my dad. I’ve never claimed to do things the way he done them. You don’t have to like my methods, but you do have to see the end game and agree.”

“And what if we don’t? Will you change your plan?” Ashton asks.

Drumming my fingers on the tabletop, I narrow my eyes.

“Each of you have done or will have run ins with the Hogs. My plan means it all comes to an end, and we go on living our fuckin’ lives the way we want to.”

“I’m down. My chapter is on board,” Wyatt says.

I nod. Presidents murmur their hushed conversations with their VP’s and I light a cigarette to pass the time. I give them five minutes. To me it’s not that much of a debate to conclude.

In the end, we’re all in agreement, and all I want is to get home. We share a few beers while they catch me up on their chapters business dealings and then we’re all heading off in different directions, heading home.

“I say we ride as long as we can then stop for the night,” JJ suggests.

“Sure.”

The sooner I’m back with Holly, the better. The sooner my plan comes to fruition, the fucking better.

Late afternoon gives way to evening and we end up pulling over and setting up on the side of the road. It’s a warm night, there is no need to build a fire. Planning to ride at first light, we get our heads down not long after stopping.

But JJ has other ideas. “Are you still awake?”

Opening my eyes, I sit up and light a cigarette. It doesn’t look like I’ll be falling asleep any time soon.

“What’s on your mind, Jay?”

“You got through to Harper.”

I wait for more or a question but only silence follows.

“What about it?”

“I couldn’t.”

So that’s what has been playing on his mind. If I wasn’t as focused on my plan, I would’ve seen it bugging him.

“Brother, I helped her burn down your house,” I remind him.

“I should’ve been the one to know that’s what she needed.” He sits up and reaches for a beer he has stashed away in his saddle bag. “It’s pissing me off that I couldn’t help her.”

I frown. “You’re good to her, brother. She got from you exactly what she needed. Don’t doubt that.”

“Maybe,” he murmurs.

I finish my smoke and lay back down. There’s no point trying to get comfortable, I tuck my hands behind my head and stare up at the stars.

“You know people grieve in their own ways, all I did was give her an out not many people would need. You forget, Jay, she’s part Jackson. She’s not gonna be your average woman.”

“I can’t handle it when she’s not happy.” He sinks his beer and tosses the bottle. “I’d fuckin’ kill Lily if I could.”

I don’t disagree with him. The shit in Harper’s life constantly traces back to her no-good mom.

“Be content that she’s gone and never coming back.”

He falls back and sighs. “I can’t fuckin’ wait to get home. Fuck knows what else she’s burned down in order to get rid of her mother.”

I laugh. “I think you’re safe on that front. She’ll be okay, brother, you’ve just gotta give her time.”

“She can have all the time she needs, I just need her to talk to me. Let me know what’s goin’ on in that head of hers.”

She’ll be okay and Holly will be okay, we will all be okay. I just hope for all our sakes, I’m not wrong.

The brothers can wait. Instead of parking in my usual spot by the garages, I ride on, and park out front of my house. Everything and the world can wait.

It’s late and both kids will be in bed. Stepping into the house, my old lady is wearing a silky black negligee and sat on the kitchen island with her legs crossed. There’s no stopping my growing erection.

“I wasn’t expecting to come home to this.”

Seven days ago she was so tired she cried.

“Good, I like to keep you on your toes.” She uncrosses her legs and smiles seductively. “Your mom has the kids for the night. Today, I slept, took a bath in peace, and now I want to spend time with my husband.”

Crossing the kitchen, I unbuckle my belt as I stand between her legs.

“You misunderstand, babe. You can have me once you’ve showered.” She pecks me on the lips and laughs. “You’re going to take me upstairs, and you’re not going to keep me waiting.”

I grin, enjoying this side of Holly. “No, ma’am.”

“But first I need you to kiss me.”

I lean in and she wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. As I lift her, I kiss her and walk us upstairs. Laying her on the bed, I drag myself away from her.

“Don’t you fuckin’ dare fall asleep,” I warn her.

“Don’t be too long,” she retorts. “Or I’ll start without you.”

Stopping in the bathroom doorway, I glance over my shoulder.

“Babe?”

“Hmm,” she purrs.

“I fuckin’ love you.”

She smiles and tells me, “I fucking love you, too. Go get showered.”

For most of the night I lay awake beside her, planning and foreseeing every possible outcome. My head spins with scenarios that may come true, but mostly, hopefully, never will.

I wake the next morning without the tension I’ve grown used to pulling in my shoulders and neck. I roll over and my old lady is still fast asleep. Her soft exhales blow the wisps of her hair draped across her face. I gently move them for her, and she smiles.

“That’s been bugging me for ages.”

I laugh. “Why didn’t you do something about it?”

“You’re home, the kids are with your parents. I don’t want this moment to end.”

I pull her closer against me, kissing the top of her head. “It won’t be the last moment like this. When we’re old and the kids are grown, we’ll have this every day.”

Her sigh is slight but audible. “That sounds great, but I don’t think that far into the future. It’s too unpredictable.”

“Nah,” I promise. “If there’s one thing I can give you, it’s a future.”

And one that will be safe and comfortable, not only for her and our family but for everyone.

Climbing out of bed, I dress and slip out of the house. Dad is leaving his house as I walk out onto the porch.

“The kids are still sleeping,” he tells me.

“Good.” I left Holly falling back to sleep. The longer mom has the kids, the more rest Holly will get.

I walk over and join Dad on his porch. “How did you get on?”

Taking a deep breath, I tell him, “It went as I expected. By the time we wrapped shit up, everyone was on board.”

He nods, lost in thought. He goes to pat his pockets down, forgetting he doesn’t smoke anymore. It’s been years since he quit, yet he still goes for a cigarette every now and then.

“A few Hog assholes showed up at the hospital while you were gone. We rode out but Shane had sent them on their way before got there.”

“He took them on by himself?”

Dad nods. “In the middle of the cafeteria, by all accounts. No scene was made, and they haven’t been back since. The twins and Zach have been back and forth keeping an eye on things.”

Adrenaline hits me in waves. My club is strong, and my plan is going to work.