Page 88 of Ruptured

“That don’t mean she knows you want to join the club. Even if she did, I don’t think she’d encourage it.”

“Roxy loves me and accepts me as her son, no matter what I want to do.”

“Hey, kid. I know Knox a little clueless, but he love you, too.”

“Will he still love me when I tell him whatIwant?”

Judging by the anxiety in those words, Grant truly feared losing Knox’s love and support. Roxy would beat that motherfucker until he changed his mind.

“He’ll be angry, Grant, but he’ll come around. He love you.”

“Okay.”

“Prospecting not easy,” Mort confided. “It don’t matter who you affiliated with. The shit fucking torture. Awake for days at a time. Jumping to do the bidding of the members. Whatever it might be at whatever hour. You need a Harley.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “And, Grant, you don’t only have to watch a motherfucker die. You have tokilla fuckhead to earn your patch.”

“Just a random person?”

“An enemy. If you don’t have access to none locally, you have to hit the road and take out an op. One of the most dangeroustimes. A motherfucker can get the jump on youoryou can fuck up and end up locked away for life.”

“Has that ever happened before to a probate?”

Mort nodded. “Three and one.”

“Three guys killed and one locked up?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you take me under your wing?”

“We got to tell Knox first, Grant. As much as I empathize with you, I can’t disrespect him and start teaching you shit. For that matter, we need to talk to Outlaw. And I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but Roxy might not be too happy about your intention to become a full-time biker. She don’t want nothing to happen to you. You her boy as much as you was for Callie.”

“Aunt Meggie doesn’t want anything to happen to Diesel and CJ.”

“It’s different. As fucked up as that sound. No one expectedyouto patch in.”

Grant snapped his brows together. “I’ve always wanted to patch in.”

“Not in the way you want to.”

“True,” Grant conceded. “I thought about obtaining my degree and being a full-patch club lawyer. But I wouldn’t be on the board as the support CJ needs and I don’t know if I could be just a regular member.”

Mort grinned. “Careful, kid. Your inner Knox shining through.”

“If I get my degree, Dad and Granddad would expect me to follow the paththeyset for me.”

“You right, little dude.” Kind of like what everyone was doing with CJ. Suddenly, Mort wondered if the kid knew what he actually wanted. It didn’t matter howMortfelt about CJ’sabilities and desire to be in the club, everyone had projected onto that kid for so long, he might not fucking know.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

Grant rocked on his heels. “Have you put these arguments up to Lou and Kaleb? Or are they too young? Will you list all the cons on becoming a Dweller?”

Mort shrugged. “I want them to do whatever make them happy. I’d love for them to join the club. They know it. Still, it got to be there decision. I made my own fucking choices. They can do no fucking less.”

“Do you ever regret joining?”

“My only regret is not taking my son. Tyler.” Even years later, an ache still rose in Mort’s chest when he brought him up. “I should’ve insisted. He might still be alive.”