Page 1

Darko—

When I roll up to Rock’s place on the top of the ridge where he finally built his dream house, Evelyn is standing outside with their baby.

My president takes his ol’ lady in his arms and kisses both her and their child. The love he’s found with this woman is powerful, and I’m happy for him.

He spent a lot of years alone after the mother of his first two kids died. He and those kids took a dark turn, but they’ve pulled out of it, and I’m glad to see they made it to the other side. No one deserves it more than Rock.

He breaks away and trudges toward my crew cab.

Evelyn waves, and I lift a hand in return.

Rock climbs in and slams the door, then meets my eyes as I pass him one of the coffees I picked up on the way.

“All right, VP. You call me last night and tell me you need me to ride with you to the airport. You say it’s important but won’t tell me a damn thing about it. You know I’ve got your back, and always will, but you wanna tell me what the hell is going on?”

I spin the truck around and head down the steep drive. “I have a son. One I didn’t know about until now.”

“Are you shittin’ me?”

“Nope.”

“Jesus, Darko. That’s fucking huge.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I barely get a word out. “Yeah.”

“I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but you sure he’s yours?”

“He’s mine.”

“How’d you find out?”

“I got a call a couple of weeks ago. An attorney wanted a DNA sample.” I turn onto the main highway and speed up.

“Back the train up. You’ve known about this for weeks?”

I shift in my seat. “Not for sure. I thought it had to be a mistake, but the DNA says otherwise.”

“So, you’ve got a kid? For real?”

“Yep.”

“The chick never told you? You didn’t blow it off, did you?”

I drill him with a look. “No, I swear to God, Rock. No woman has ever contacted me to tell me I’m the father of their baby.”

“So, you’ve got a son. Wow. How old?”

“Twelve.”

“Twelve?” His brows lift. “Where’s he been all this time?”

“Nebraska.”

“When the hell have you ever been to Nebraska?”

“Attorney said his client met me in Sturgis. The kid was born May 17 th , 2013, so it would have had to have been Sturgis that August of twenty-twelve.”

He whistles. “Sturgis, huh? You remember this girl?”

I shrug. “There’ve been a lot of runs to Sturgis, brother.”

“I get that. So, all this time and she never thought to tell you until now? Have you talked to her?”

I shake my head. “She passed away three weeks ago.”

“Oh, man. I’m sorry.” He stares at me for a long moment. “That sucks for the kid. And they’re packing him off to live with a father he’s never even met. You ready to deal with all that? This kid’s gonna be a mess.”

“I’m not ready to deal with any of this, but this is what’s happening, so I’ve got to suck it up.” I meet his gaze. “Any advice from the expert?”

“Lola and Trez were a long fucking time ago.”

“You’ve just had another one with Evelyn.”

“And I’ve had nine months to wrap my head around becoming a father again. You, on the other hand”—he checks his watch—“have twenty minutes to get ready for this, and your son is twelve with all kinds of opinions and attitude. I don’t think I can help you with that.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.

“Hey man. The shit we’ve been through. I know you can handle this, but it ain’t gonna be easy.”

“Guess not.”

“You know what you’re gonna say to the kid? What’s his name, by the way?”

“Eli.”

“And his last name?”

“Johnson. His mother was named Daisy.”

“Daisy? That’s pretty unusual. Ring any bells?”

“Sort of, but I can’t picture her.”

“If Eli is only twelve, who’s coming with him on the plane, or is he traveling alone?”

“His aunt and uncle. Daisy’s younger sister and her husband. That’s what I was told.”

“Have you talked to this chick?”

“Nope. All communication has been through the attorney.”

“How did he track you down?”

“The attorney said Daisy told her sister the father was the VP of the Royal Bastards in Durango, Colorado. Told her my name was Darko. That’s all the attorney had to go on, but we’re not too hard to find. He must have called local law enforcement to confirm our existence. Probably where he got my address.”

“So, we’re picking the three of them up.” He checks the backseat. “It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I guess they’ll fit.” His eyes meet mine. “They checkin’ into a hotel?”

“I said they could stay with me. Give the kid a bit of transition time having someone he knows staying with him the first night he’s here.”

“Good thinking. Did you clean your place?”

I give him a look.

He grins. “I know how you live, brother.”

“I had one of the girls come and clean up for me,” I admit.

“I’m surprised this sister isn’t fighting you for custody.”

“She’s not happy about this, but she’s honoring Daisy’s wishes.”

“Odd this woman would leave her kid with a man she barely knew.” He looks at me. “You don’t find that odd? How’d she die?”

“Cancer.”

“So, she had time to plan this all out, but never contacted you?”

“Hell, I don’t have all the answers. All I know is Daisy told her sister she wanted Eli to meet his father and spend six months with me. Then, if he wants to go back home to his aunt, he can.”

“Not sure that’s how custody works. I don’t think the aunt just gets to come get him.”

I give him a you’re-kidding-me look. “All she’d have to do is tell the judge I’m in the Royal Bastards. Who the fuck you think they’ll give him to?”

“Yeah, I get that. Still. It’s weird she’s letting you take him at all.”

“Maybe not so weird. Would you want to live in the-middle-of-nowhere fucking Nebraska? We rode across it once on our way to Chicago. Remember?”

“God, that was a hundred years ago.” He gets a faraway look in his eyes. “Before I’d met Gillian.”

“Yeah, well, I remember it. Nothing but cornfields and wheat fields for as far as the eye could see, and land so flat it drives you crazy.”

“I’d save your glowing opinion of their home state when you meet these people, VP. Just sayin’.” Rock drinks his coffee, and I pick up mine.

“Guess I’m nervous,” I admit, taking a sip. “I sort of resigned myself that having kids wasn’t in the cards for me, Prez. I mean, all these years… Hell, I wasted so many of them partying and not giving a shit. Then the last few, I’ve really thought about it, but there’s never been anyone I cared enough to make a commitment like that with.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, Darko. If it hadn’t been for Evelyn, hell, I’d still be alone.”

“You got damn lucky with that one, Rock. I don’t mind telling you that.”

“I know I did.” He stares out his window. “And I almost lost it all.”

I realize this conversation is going down a grim path and change the subject. “Hey, Prez?”

“Yeah?”

“What was Trez like when he was twelve?”

“You don’t remember?”

“That was years ago.” I try to remember his kids coming around the clubhouse to cookouts and such, but it’s hazy.

“He was a little shit. It’s that awkward age between being a boy and becoming a man. They think they know everything, and they want nothing to do with you.”

“Great.”

He meets my eyes, grinning. “Eli may be different. If he’s got your DNA, he’s probably pretty chill. You’ve always been pretty laid back and even-tempered. It’s what makes you a damn good second-in-command.”

“Thanks, I guess.” I roll up highway 172 and take the exit for the airport. We pass a sign for the Ute Casino.

“We need to go there one of these days,” Rock murmurs.

“Why? So I can lose my shirt again? No thanks.”

“You sayin’ you didn’t have a good time?”

“It was fine. The food was great. I just don’t like going home broke. Besides, I don’t think I’m going to have much free time to go to any casinos anytime soon.”

“Guess not.”

I turn into the airport. The place is tiny, with just a small parking lot. Automatic doors slide open when we enter.

The ticket counters are to the right, and the baggage claim and rental car counters are to the left. We head down the only corridor, ALL GATES indicated with an arrow. The place is so small there are only three gates and two airlines that fly out of here. United has gate one, and American has gates two and three.

Of course, we can’t get past the TSA screening, so we wait on this side of it. Straight ahead at the gates are floor to ceiling windows, and we can see a single plane out on the tarmac.

There are no jetways. Passengers flying into this airport deplane out on the tarmac and down the mobile staircase like they’re exiting Airforce One.

“Is that their flight?” Rock asks.

I check the flight board. “Must be. It’s the only one arriving until much later.”

We watch the passengers descend the staircase, and I see a boy of about the right age with a woman and man.

“Think that’s him?” Rock asks.

“Maybe.” I wait to see if anyone else of the right age disembarks, but only a few more adults exit the flight.

“I think that’s it,” Rock says.

A sick feeling sweeps over me that I recognize as nerves. I haven’t felt this way since the last time I stared down the wrong end of a barrel of a gun.

I’m about to meet my son. I don’t think it’s truly sunk in until right this moment.

“God, what do I say to the boy?” I whisper, not really expecting an answer. Shifting positions so I can get a better view, I watch him approach the entry doors.

He’s tall for his age. At least, I think he is. Gangly, too. His long bangs hang across his face, and he tilts his head to one side in that way teens do when their hair is too long. It brushes his collar in the back. It’s brown, but a much lighter shade than my own. Maybe that’s his mother in him.

He’s got good bones and a handsome face.

“He’s a good-looking kid, VP,” Rock murmurs beside me, and I swallow.

“Yeah.”

“Must get that from his mom,” Rock teases with a grin, his hand slapping my shoulder. “It’s gonna be fine, Darko. Take a breath.”

It’s only then I realize how tense I am and do as he says.

“Smile, VP. Look happy to meet the kid.”

“I am happy.”

“Then wipe that frown off your face before you scare him.”

“Christ, I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper as they cross the threshold about twenty yards away.

The sister immediately scans the area.

I’m not in my cut because I’m not riding, and I suddenly realize I’m going to have to wave or something. I lift a hand, making eye contact with her, and she notices the two of us. Her eyes sweep over me.

The three of them approach, and my gaze shifts to my son. Goddamn, that sounds so odd to even think the words.

“Eli.” I hold my hand out to him, studying the same brown eyes as my own. “I’m your father. I’m sorry about your mom.”

He stares at my hand, then reluctantly takes it. I want to pull him in for a hug, but I don’t think he’s ready for that. I’m a complete stranger to him.

My eyes shift to his aunt, and I hold my hand out. “I’m John Taylor. Everyone calls me Darko.”

“Maggie Oswald. This is my husband, Evan.”

“Maggie.” I shake her hand. “Good to meet you.” Then I shake Evan’s hand. “This is Rock.”

“Nice to meet you. How was your flight?” Rock asks them.

“Fine.”

I motion with my head, assuming the boy is going to have more than the backpack he’s got. “Baggage is this way.”

I collect his large suitcase off the conveyer. “Dang. This weighs a ton,” I tease. “What’ve you got in here, kiddo?”

“Everything I own,” he snaps.

“His Xbox and all his gaming equipment,” his uncle Evan volunteers, patting the boy’s shoulder.

“Awesome. What’s your favorite game?”

“Call of Duty,” he mumbles.

“He’s pretty damn good at it, too,” Evan adds.

We walk to my truck, and I toss the bag in the bed. “I’ve got a room that’s all yours. You can decorate it however you want.”

Eli yanks the truck door open. “We all know this is only for six months. So, let’s just get this over with.” He slides in and slams the door behind him.