Page 3 of Kingpin (Blackjacks MC #1)

Chapter three

Kingpin

After two more days in the hospital, and a battery of tests, I was released to go home. Baby Doll and Big G showed up, bringing a fresh change of clothes, and my cut.

“I’m surprised to see you’re still in one piece,” Big G said, with a smug gleam in his eye. “Hattie didn’t feel like chewing you up and spitting out your bones?”

“Very funny,” I replied, dryly. “I’ve never seen a man turn tail and run for the hills as fast as you did.”

“I don’t stand in the way of an ex-wife on the warpath. Besides, I didn’t think you would appreciate it if I stuck around to watch the show. I figured you probably wanted to be humiliated in private.”

I huffed and took my cut from him with a scathing look.

“A little back up would have been nice.”

“It’s your marriage. You can fight your own battles.”

Baby Doll set the paper bag of clothes on the foot of my bed and began unloading it.

“Fresh jeans, a T-shirt, and I grabbed a light jacket, just in case. Figured you might have some trouble regulating body temperature after the accident. I didn’t find any boxers or briefs at your place though, so I figured you go commando.

Which isn’t surprising with you boys. But it was far more information than I ever needed to know. ”

I chuckled.

“Thanks, Baby Doll.”

With her thick dark hair, pretty face, and an uncanny ability to read people, she didn’t have to tolerate our bullshit.

There were dozens of opportunities available to a woman as brilliant as she was.

Hanging out with rejects, misfits, outlaws, and dumbasses like us shouldn’t have even registered on her radar.

But Baby Doll fought like hell to earn her place among the Blackjacks, to prove herself. She was close with my VP, Diego “Blackbeard” Mendez, and he put his neck on the line to vouch for her.

A majority of clubs didn’t generally allow women to be members, and God knows the Blackjacks had been no exception to that rule. It hadn’t been easy to convince my men to give Baby Doll a chance.

In the end, Blackbeard was right. We were better with Baby Doll on our side, putting us back together when we fell apart, slapping sense into us when we needed it the most. As our Treasurer, she presided over the purse strings, which was no easy task when the Blackjacks had operated in the red for years before she tidied up the books and got us back on track with positive cash flow again.

“I didn’t realize Hattie was in town,” Baby Doll said. “Didn’t she move away after…?”

That unspoken word lingered in the air, heavy and silent.

Divorce.

“The hospital called her,” I replied, pushing the sheets aside as I rose from the bed. I could practically feel Baby Doll’s gaze boring into me.

“How is she doing? Big G said she looked good.”

I shrugged, thinking about how close I’d been to kissing Hattie. Thinking about how much she’d changed—the gray in her hair, the softer figure—and how other things had stayed the same, like her perfume and that sassy attitude I still loved so much.

“She wasn’t really in the mood to reminisce about old times when she found out she didn’t need to attend my funeral,” I said. “Except for my bike. She made sure to let me know how much she still hates it.”

A pause settled over the room. Big G and Baby Doll stared at me. I gestured at them with annoyance.

“What?”

“You haven’t seen your ex-wife in thirteen years,” Baby Doll replied. “But you’re acting like it’s just another Tuesday.”

“What did you expect? A nervous breakdown?”

“No,” she admitted. “Not exactly. I was thinking more along the lines of digging up dirt on her new boyfriend. Or husband. Breaking his kneecaps. Making his life a living hell. Something like that.”

It had crossed my mind. More than a few times.

“She didn’t mention anyone. And she wasn’t wearing a ring.”

Baby Doll’s eyebrows shot up with interest.

“Really?”

She exchanged a look with Big G. He released a low breath and shook his head, crossing his arms.

“Why do I have a feeling this shit is about to get messy?” he muttered.

“Would you two nosy old biddies leave already?” I demanded. “I’d like to get out of this goddamn hospital gown, and I’d rather not have you staring at my bare ass while I do it.”

Baby Doll shrugged.

“No need to be such a prude, boss. I’m a big girl. I won’t faint dead away if you flash a little cheek. In this club, it isn’t the first time I’ve been subjected to male nudity, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.”

“Especially with Spike on the loose,” Big G said.

She made a noise of agreement.

“I swear, he loves to show off. That man doesn’t have a shy bone in his body.”

“Can’t blame him though,” Big G countered. “If I looked like he did, with ladies crawling all over me, I’d wear nothing but my birthday suit, too.”

“Oh, come on. Ditch the false humility. You’re packing some heat yourself.”

He sputtered a laugh.

“Is that what you do in your spare time? Junk appraisals?”

“It’s not like any of you are fucking subtle,” Baby Doll said. “You never miss an opportunity to whip out the measuring sticks.”

“Is that jealousy I hear?” Big G’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

She scoffed.

“I believe traumatized is the word you’re looking for.

Last week, you spent three days straight in a back room of the clubhouse with that club bunny, Roxie.

And everyone knew it. I can still hear her voice echoing in my head, praising your big dick.

I’m scarred for life, thank you very much. You owe me therapy.”

He smirked.

“Can’t fault an old guy for blowing off steam.”

“Yeah, well, the whole damn block heard her. Believe me, I would not spare your feelings if she was faking it. She definitely wasn’t.”

“I don’t strut around buck naked like Spike though,” Big G pointed out.

I sighed as Baby Doll and Big G talked amongst themselves, completely ignoring me.

“He does have a very nice ass,” she admitted thoughtfully. “But if you ever tell him I said that, I’ll kill you. His insufferable ego is bad enough as it is.”

Big G chuckled.

“Trust me, I won’t say a word.”

I cleared my throat. They glanced at me.

“Out,” I said. “Now. And I don’t want to hear one more peep about the qualities of Spike’s ass again, is that clear?”

“Someone’s a little sensitive today,” Baby Doll said with a small smile.

“I bet he’s cranky because we weren’t complimenting his ass instead,” Big G said.

“You’re probably right. We could change that if—”

“OUT,” I barked.

As they filed out of the room, Big G closed the door behind them with a wink.

Secretly, I was grateful that they hadn’t probed the ex-wife topic too much.

I needed more time to process how I felt about seeing Hattie again.

I knew it would spread through the Blackjacks like wildfire, and I had to quickly figure out how I would handle it when my brothers eventually brought it up.

After ditching my hospital gown, it felt good to finally slide my cut on again. To resume my role as President, with the weight of the leather across my shoulders, resting against my back.

I managed to dodge the nurse and the wheelchair required by hospital policy. No way in hell I was getting wheeled out of this place. Even though I might be a little roughed up, stiff, and sore, I still had two perfectly good legs.

Baby Doll and Big G were waiting in the parking lot for me with the cage that belonged to the Blackjacks—a standard black utility van, battered and rusted, with an interior that perpetually smelled like nacho cheese and motor oil, despite the lemon-scented air freshener, dangling from the mirror.

“Hot Shot is almost finished with repairs on your bike,” Big G said, pulling the passenger door open as I approached. “He’ll drop her off at your place when she’s done.”

“You probably shouldn’t be riding a bike yet anyway,” Baby Doll said from the driver’s seat. “Give those painkillers a day or two to wear off first. It’s nice to see you properly clothed and back on your feet again, Prez.”

“All I need now is a drink and I’ll be good as new,” I said.

“Didn’t the doctor tell you to take it easy?” she protested.

I turned to look at her.

“When have I ever followed orders?”

She cocked her head with a half-shrug.

“Good point. I guess that means we’re heading to the clubhouse instead of taking you home where you should be resting.”

Big G climbed into the back of the van, sliding the door shut. He reached over my shoulder and deposited something in my palm with a metallic clink.

I glanced down to see my wedding ring on a silver chain, coiled there in my hand.

“Found it on the pavement after the crash,” he said. “I thought I’d keep it safe until you were out of the hospital. Didn’t want the nurses to lose it.”

I traced the slim gold band with one fingertip. Hattie didn’t wear hers anymore. But I didn’t have the guts to get rid of mine. Couldn’t bear how cold and empty I felt without it.

Hooking the chain around my neck again, I tucked the ring into the collar of my shirt. The cool metal settled against my skin, next to my heart. Where Hattie would always belong.

Didn’t matter if I signed those fucking divorce papers. Didn’t matter that we had been separated for over a decade, and there was no chance of mending what had been broken.

I made a vow all those years ago.

For better or worse.

In sickness and in health.

For rich or for poor.

Until death do us part.

And I didn’t take my oaths lightly.

Hattie is my wife. The love of my life. As long as there was breath in my body, that would never change. Paperwork be damned.

I thought about pulling out my phone, calling to see if Hattie was still in town. Had she fled back to Washington as soon as possible? I knew she had family in Brightwater—her sister, a handful of friends, and her mother, since that stubborn old broad would outlive me purely through spite alone.

Hattie and I could meet up for coffee and chat…

I shook my head, banishing the idea. Desperately grasping at any excuse to see her again would only cause more harm than good.