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N AVY

“How did you guys sleep?”

“I’ve only been out for a week, but this stint wasn’t too long, so it’s been easier to acclimate than it was before.

” When I nodded in understanding, he got a dreamy look on his face before he said, “I don’t know if I could ever get used to sleeping like I did last night.

That bed felt like being hugged by a cloud, and with the air conditioner going, it felt like a walk-in freezer that smelled like home.

I had to give myself a fifteen-minute pep talk before I could make myself get up this morning. ”

His moony smile made the rest of us laugh, but we all understood how he was feeling.

Any time in lockup, whether it was county or federal, was enough to make even the most jaded person appreciate the finer things in life.

Air conditioning, a soft pillow, the scent of clean laundry fresh from the dryer, and the ability to open and close any door you came across were things that most people took for granted, but a person who was incarcerated dreamed about them almost constantly.

“I remember how wonderful it was to sleep in a real bed for the first time after I got out,” Chewie commiserated.

“The second I had some money in my pocket, I went straight to the grocery store and spent every penny on fresh produce and fruit,” Oz said with a wistful expression. “I’d never tasted anything better than that first bite of a fresh peach.”

“I don’t think I went inside for a week,” Sully admitted. “I slept on the front porch of Pop’s every night until it got too cold. I got out in the fall, but I believe if it had been spring or summer, I’d have slept outside for months.”

“I appreciated everything when I got out, but I didn’t feel completely free until I got out on the water.”

“That makes sense, surfer boy.” Donner looked around and asked, “Where’s the ninja?”

I burst out laughing before I explained, “She borrowed my truck and went to a doctor’s appointment.”

“Let’s go for a ride so you can show us the places we need to keep an eye on and the people we should stick close to,” Chewie suggested. “I can’t wait to have some of Rafael’s enchiladas, and I’d love to sit and have a beer with your dad again.”

“Same. It’s been way too long since I saw Clark,” Donner added.

“Dali’s family owns two businesses within a few blocks of Three Sheets. They got hit, too, and then they got the follow-up visit from that smarmy asshole trying to shake them down. They roughed up Dali’s aunt and hospitalized her uncle.”

“Son of a bitch,” Oz hissed.

“I’d like to help them out. It might spread us a little thin, but . . .”

Chewie interrupted, “Then we call in some reinforcements.”

“Ajax will be here this afternoon. He’ll probably know who is available, and he’s got numbers for just about everybody.”

“Has anyone called Lurk?” Chewie asked.

“He’s probably perched outside somewhere, listening to our conversation,” Donner said as he looked out the window at the water. “He does that, you know.”

“I’m sure he does, but the man can’t be everywhere at once,” Chewie argued.

“Are you sure?” Oz asked.

“Not really,” I admitted. I looked at the wall of windows and then felt a chill at the thought of being watched. I turned around and said, “Let’s go for a ride.”

It only took a few minutes to get to the bar which would be opening tomorrow.

Dad and Rafael were already there getting everything ready for the big Three Sheets reopening party for the regulars that had waited patiently.

We walked inside to Dad putting up decorations and Rafael prepping dishes for a feast.

It was nice to see Dad interact with my friends, and Rafael was happy to see them too.

Over the years, I’d had visits from a lot of my club brothers - especially the Nomads as they traveled through.

Some of them only stopped to catch up over a quick meal while others spent a few days or even a few weeks.

In the course of those visits, Dad had made some lifelong friends in my brothers just like I had.

They all looked up to him as a father figure even though some of them were too old for him to really fill that role. However, Dad had a presence about him that garnered respect, and they appreciated that about him.

Although they teased that he was a little too old to step in the ring for a boxing match, I could tell that the sight of the fading bruises on Dad and Rafael’s faces did more than just piss them off.

Like me, it made them homicidal. Men like us who had been forced to be away from our families while we paid our penance for the crimes we’d committed didn’t take a minute for granted with the ones we had left.

Once I’d pulled enough beers for us, we went to sit on the patio - another addition Dad had commissioned from some of his new friends he’d met through the VA.

Chewie was the first one to ask, “Do you know where the men who did that to your father live?”

“I don’t know about their specific homes, but I’ve found the location of their clubhouse.”

“Clubhouse?” Oz asked. “They ride?” When I nodded, he said, “It’s gonna be hard for them to do that without the use of their legs.”

Sully clinked his mug against Oz’s before he added, “Or their hands.”

“We leave their hands alone,” I said firmly. “We don’t need a connection like that.”

Sully nodded before he said, “Good point.”

“How many are there?” Donner asked.

“From the reconnaissance I’ve done, I think there are at least thirty.”

“Were they hired by the schmuck that tried to shake your dad down, or is he part of their crew?”

“I believe he’s their leader. If not, then he’s close to the top. I haven’t seen him on a bike, but he’s at the clubhouse every day, sometimes for hours.”

Oz chuckled before he asked, “Has anyone considered going to those that run this state so we don’t have to expend so much energy taking out their trash?”

“I’d like to get my payment in blood first, and then I’ll ask Boss to get in touch. These guys do have at least two brain cells to rub together, though. I mean, they do have matching tattoos, but none of them wear colors or anything. I think that may be how they’re flying under the radar.”

“Do they ride in groups?” Sully asked.

“Never more than four at a time. When they leave the clubhouse, it’s in groups of three or four with a gap in between.”

“Probably the smartest thing they can do, but that won’t work forever. We’ve gotta get permission to travel here, so it only makes sense that they’d need to pay their own dues.”

“Oz has a point, but there’s something else we should consider.”

I looked over at Donner and asked, “What’s that?”

“What if they’re a sanctioned club? What if they already have permission?”

I leaned back in my chair and thought about it for a minute before I shook my head. “That’s something I didn’t even consider.”

Donner took a sip of his beer before he said, “If that’s the case, then they should be wearing support patches somewhere. Any sign of that?”

“None.”

“Do you have any contacts in the local chapter?” Chewie asked. “I’ve got some up north but nothing down this far.”

“I know a few of them from fundraisers and such, but I’m not a big fan of their lifestyle, so I do my best to stay far enough away not to get caught up in their shit.”

“That’s a good idea,” Chewie admitted.

“Obviously, we don’t have enough men to fight them all if it comes down to it, so I think we need to figure out if the local chapter is in on the extortion scheme before we do anything drastic.”

“Good point,” Oz agreed.

“I vote we have Boss reach out,” Sully suggested.

“I’ll call him when we’re done here,” I promised. “For now, we need to make sure that there’s protection here at all times, and maybe even someone hanging out at Dad’s when he’s there.”

“You mentioned that there are more people you want protected, right? The little ninja’s family?”

“Right. They’ve got two businesses up the street. One is run by two women who are about Dad’s age. They were roughed up when the first round happened, just like Dad and Rafael.”

“They’re knocking around old ladies? Fuck that,” Sully snapped angrily.

“Dali’s uncle hasn’t even been released from the hospital yet,” I reminded them.

“We need to put at least two men at each location - one to cover the inside and one outside,” Oz said thoughtfully.

“I volunteer to go with the aunts,” Sully said quickly. “Little old ladies love me.”

“And you love their cooking,” I said knowingly.

“That I do.”

We laughed before I asked, “Who wants to take to the grocery store?”

“I’ll do it,” Donner volunteered.

“Again with the food thing,” I teased.

“I like to fucking eat!”

“Chewie and I can keep an eye on things from outside,” Oz volunteered.

“Ajax is coming this afternoon, and I think he’s got some more guys headed this way. Until then, I’ll hang out here with Dad and Rafael.”

“We’ll be back and forth between all three places,” Chewie assured me.

“As soon as Dali gets here, she can go with us to make the introductions and let her family members know you guys are a safe resource for help.”

“They don’t know we’re coming?” Oz asked. When I shook my head, he said, “I’m not sure that anyone who doesn’t know us would believe we’re not the bad guys. We’re definitely waiting for her.”

“You do look like a bunch of thugs,” I teased.

“Shut up, pretty boy,” Donner growled. “Not all of us can look like we just finished filming Baywatch .”

“ Baywatch , really?” Chewie asked. “Shit, man. How long have you been gone?”

We were all laughing as Donner glared at Chewie. He clapped back with, “Says the man who looks like he rarely comes in from the woods.”

Chewie made his signature sound, just like his namesake from one of my favorite movies. We were still laughing when Dalisay walked into the bar.

I could tell by the look on her face that she was excited, so I stood up and asked, “Did you get the all clear?”

“I did!” Dalisay said as she all but bounced across the bar and jumped into my arms. “I can get in the water whenever I’m ready.”

“We’ve just got to introduce the guys to your family, and then I’d be happy to take you out!”

“Surf ninja!” Donner teased. “Is there anything the woman can’t do?”

“I don’t have the ability to put up with bullshit or assholes.”

“Then what are you doing with Navy?” Sully asked.

“She can kick his ass if he gets out of line,” Oz said cheerfully. “I can’t wait for the day.”

“I like my women to be a little more . . .”

“Watch yourself,” I warned.

“Sweet and pliable,” Donner finished.

“I’m sweet, and the only one of you who will ever see how pliable I am is Navy.”

“That’s my girl,” I said before I leaned down and kissed her.

“I like the sound of that too.”

◆◆◆

DALI

“In case I forget to tell you later, this is the best date I’ve ever been on.”

Navy smiled and reached over to tug on my braid before he said, “I’m always happy to be on the water, but seeing how excited you are makes it even better.”

“I’ve missed this so much. Out here, there’s no extra noise or distractions. Nothing stops the waves from doing their thing or keeps the sun from being gorgeous as it sets. There’s no pressure.”

“You’re right.”

“You’ve got a lot on your mind, and I know there are things you should probably be doing right now, but . . .”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Navy assured me. He furrowed his brow before he said, “But I’d like for you to stick close by in case there’s a problem.”

“I haven’t forgotten how to swim, although I would guess that I’m going to fall several times since I haven’t been on a board in so long.”

“I’m afraid something bad could happen now since you told me why it took them so long to release you to go out into the water.”

“A happy life has no room for fear.”

Navy scoffed before he said, “I disagree.”

“Uncertainty, yes. Fear, no. Anything can happen at any time, and the smallest decision can change your life for either better or worse. If you’re afraid of what might happen, you’ll miss out on what could.”

“They were worried that the pressure of the water would make your chest cave in and your heart explode, Dali!”

“That’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but . . .”

“I’ve been pulled under a wave that made me feel like the world was imploding and my bones were on the verge of snapping from the pressure.”

“I’ve been sucked under to where I wondered if I was going to snap, too, but that mostly happened on solid ground.”

“But this . . .”

I shook my head and reached for his hand as I watched a wave build in the distance. “Don’t let your worries taint the beauty out here, Navy. Just let it be.”

“You’re definitely a surfer at heart.”

“I always have been.”

“Okay, I’m gonna roll with it. I’ll take this one, and you take the next. I think it will make me feel better to watch you ride in so I know if you need me or not.”

I watched as Navy laid flat on the board and used his hands to propel himself so that he could follow the direction of the wave’s crest. In less than a minute, he was standing and riding toward the beach.

As much as I enjoyed his easy company, which was a surprise considering how quickly and drastically our relationship had changed, I needed a few minutes to myself out here. I had missed this feeling so much that it was difficult to explain, but if anyone could understand, it would be him.

He’d been forced away from the ocean and stuck in a cell somewhere.

I’d been teased by water in different areas of the world - none of which I could enjoy the way I did here at home.

He hadn’t been around water at all, but for months at a time, I’d been surrounded by it and unable to appreciate it.

Yes, I’d seen sunrises that were breathtaking in so many different locations that I couldn’t begin to count them, and I’d watched sunsets transform the sky in just as many places - but none of them were home.

And now, I was finally here, back in the water, reconnecting with my family, and, as an added bonus, my dream of spending time with Anthony had finally come true.

I watched the next wave begin to build and knew that it was mine. This was my first chance to get back to the life I’d loved and missed for the last ten years. And to make it even more wonderful, that wave was going to take me straight to the man of my dreams.