Page 31 of The First Cut

Hannibal

Ihead back downstairs with the prospect who let me know church’s about to start. I stop at the bar to grab a shot first. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I brace myself for what’s about to happen.

“You know what this is about?” Midas asks, walking up to me.

“Maybe.” I throw back my shot, wincing at the burn.

“So it’s about Lola,” he grumbles. “Is it gonna piss me off?”

“Everything pisses you off lately.”

“Fuck you.”

I grin as I make my way into church and take my usual seat. I look around the room, feeling a wave of something foreign. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or heartburn. I never expected to care—always taking my role here for granted. After becoming a fully patched brother, I thought I’d be coming in here until I died or wound up in jail.

I can’t get my head around the fact that soon it’ll be another church, in another club, in a different home. And I’ll be the onesitting in the top spot like the one Havoc takes as he addresses the room.

“Alright, calm down. I have a few things we need to discuss. First, I’ve decided who’ll be taking over for Khan.”

“As long as it’s not Driller,” Crane mumbles, earning a unitedhere, herefrom the others. “Driller couldn’t lead a dog on a leash.”

Havoc grunts his agreement before his eyes move to me. “Actually, his replacement’s in this room.”

G nods, so I know Havoc’s already told him. But everyone else looks confused.

“That’ll piss Driller off,” Kruger says, grinning.

“Hannibal, it’s been an honor being part of the same club as you. I can’t wait to see what you do as president of the Ohio chapter.”

There's silence for a minute before the room erupts.

“Holy fuck, Hannibal. You’re leaving?” Midas asks, shocked.

I wait until the noise dies down before I get to my feet. “I didn’t make this decision lightly. When Havoc asked me, I honestly wasn’t sure it was for me. I’m not exactly one for orders.”

A couple of brothers snicker.

“What you don’t know is that I have a daughter.”

That shuts everyone up.

“I met her mom, Melissa, while I was home on leave. It wasn’t anything serious––I had no plans to see her again. You know how it goes.”

I sit down and rake my hand through my hair. “Imagine my surprise when six months later, I got a message through my CO that she’s pregnant with my kid. I told her straight up I wasn’t interested in being a parent. We fought. She found out real quick why I was named after a psycho. After that, she was more than happy to raise the kid alone. We’ve barely spoken since. I sendher the money, and she sends me photos. That’s it. Then, a few weeks ago, I got a phone call.” I look at G and his expression shifts as realization dawns. That was the day I bailed on him, and he ended up in a situation that caused a fight between him and his old lady.

“Melissa passed out while driving. She and my kid were okay, but the tests showed she’s got an inoperable brain tumor. That’s why she passed out. Her parents and sister died in the last few years, so when Melissa goes… there’s no one left to take Millie butt me.”

“That’s why you were asking me about foster care,” Midas murmurs.

“I don’t want to fuck her up. Part of me still thinks she’d be better in the system than with me as a father, but?—”

“But there are things that could happen to her in foster care that you’d never do to her,” Mac says.

I look around at my brothers and feel something loosen inside me. I’m not sure what I expected their reaction to be, but I’d been prepared for the worst. I mean, what kind of man willingly considers letting his daughter go into foster care?

“One who knows where he falls short,” Havoc says, reading my mind.

I sigh before continuing. “Either way, when Melissa dies, Millie’s coming to live with me. I’m taking her to Ohio for a fresh start. And you should also know that I have an old lady now to help me not fuck her up.”