Shepard explained how it would be best for my baby and me if I gave her to an older couple who could give her the world. I knew he was right. I was thirteen, how could I have given her what she needed? Even then I knew I couldn’t. I knew I had to give her away so she could have everything a baby needed.
So, I sat with her in my arms as I wrote her a long letter explaining everything, why I couldn’t keep her, how much I loved her, how hard it was for me right then, and how I hoped one day we could meet again. I wanted her to know that I would always love her, and how I'd never forget her.
Shepard told me it would be better not to put my name on the letter right then. That one day, my baby would come looking for me because her new parents would have his name. They’d tell her, my baby would find him, and he’d point her in the right direction.
I cried, of course, when I handed her over to him. I sobbed, actually. I kissed her little cheek, breathed her in and told her how I would always love her.
I wasn’t allowed to know where Shepard was taking her, who her new parents would be. I was simply told to get on with my life and make it a good one. Shepard and BlackJack, another member of the Snakes Henchmen, a kind of uncle to me, both kissed my head before they left.
What Shepard told me about making my life good stuck in my mind, and I have worked hard ever since to do just that.
“I’ve been doing okay.” I shrug while tucking my hands into my jeans pockets. “I miss her every day, but I know she’s better off with them.
“I did well in school. Passed every exam I ever took, graduated top of my class, got into a good college. It seems I have a knack for numbers. I graduated early with my master’s degree.”
“I’m proud of you, Sunflower. You didn’t let it break you.”
“Nothing could break me, Shepard. I’m strong.”
“That you are. Now get the hell over here and hug me.”
I laugh and run at him. He catches me and hugs me tightly with a kiss to my head. God, I’ve missed him.
“Daddy, who is this?”
He lets go of me and lifts a little kid into his arms. He’s a handsome little devil.
“Who’s this handsome young man?” I ask.
“I’m VJ.” He tells me. “I just had my sixth birthday.” Six? God, he’s tall for Six. “And this is my daddy.” Oh, wow. Denise didn’t tell me Shepard had another son. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Coral. It’s so very nice to meet you, VJ.” He giggles at me, and it’s so cute. “I had no idea you had another son.”
“I’ve got two. Max is inside somewhere.”
Two? Wow! He and Lynette have been busy. I used to imagine what their babies would look like because I always believed they’d have at least one when they finally realized they were meant to be together.
“VJ and Max. He looks just like you.” He does, right from his dark hair color to his blue eyes.
“That’s what my mamma says. Jett and Maxy look like daddy too, huh, Daddy?”
“That’s right.”
“She’s sexy, Daddy,” Oh, my god! I’m laughing. This kid is a ladies man already!
“Oh, my god! He's such a charmer. He is so Jett’s brother!”
“Someone mention my name?”
I spin on the spot, eyes wide, smiling excitedly. Jett is coming towards me. He’s fucking huge! He’s bigger than his father. My best friend from across the street.
I run at him, he catches me around the waist and spins me around. “It’s so good to see you!”
“And you, short stuff.” He winks and sets me on my feet. Can’t believe he's still calling me that! “How the hell have you been?”
His eyes slide up and down my body shamelessly. “Tate Jackson, are you seriously checking me out right now?”
“No one calls me that anymore. It's Jett, and...”
“Coral? Is that you?”
Again, I spin on the spot. Another giant of a man stands behind me. I recognize him instantly. “Haiden!”
“Tank.” Jett laughs from behind me.
Tank. It suits him. Tank was my other best friend. The three of us had some fun when we were kids. Haiden – Tank – was my first kiss. We were twelve, and it was gross. Felt like I was kissing my brother. So I kissed Jett, same problem. My brothers they were since that day, they took care of me. After what happened to me, my parents moved me away, and I had to leave them behind, it broke my heart.
“Get the hell over here!” I laugh, and he grabs me, hugs me, and I feel like I’m home. Home with my brothers. “This calls for a celebration!”
“Bar?” Jett asks. I roll my eyes.
“Bar.” Tank parrots back. “Get on the back of my bike, girly!”
Bikers. They’re big bad bikers just like their father’s. I always knew it was coming. I'm proud of them.
Snakes Henchmen MC Tennessee Charter clubhouse is a place I haven’t set foot in since I was twelve. I never thought I’d be here again. It's changed some in the last few years. It seems bigger, brighter. The building always reminded me of a ski lodge, all wood and open fire, huge bar, big pool table, and lots of friendly faces.
Sounds crazy, right?
I mean, these are bikers for Christ’s sake.
They might have morals, but I never said they weren’t criminals in almost every other sense of the word.
BlackJack spots me first. He’s sitting by the unlit fire with his wife, Taylor. “Well, look who's here!”
“Uncle Jack!” I run into his arms, and it feels like I’m twelve years old all over again. God, I love him so much. Both he and Shepard have always meant the world to me.
That might sound crazy because I was just a little girl when I met them, these big, bad biker’s. Dangerous men who a little girl should’ve been afraid of, but I never was. They loved me and cared for me as my father did.
BlackJack holds me tightly for a moment before setting me back on my feet. “Look how beautiful you are.”
“Old flatterer,” I slap his chest with a laugh before turning to Taylor and hugging her too.
I remember a lot of the guys here, Cueball, Red, Ace, Hammer, Roman, although I remember Roman when he was still a prospect with the club back then. God, he’s filled out. He's also freakin’ gorgeous! Like, fit as. Muscles everywhere, biceps the size of melons, and those to die for green eyes against his tanned skin? He’s hot and then some.
“Hey there, pretty girl.” He winks at me, and I blush. Literally like some damn teenager with a crush.
“Hey, handsome.”
He hugs me, and yeah, he’s crushing me with his massive muscles!
“Back off, Roman.” Here we go, big brother’s getting all protective. I chuckle at Jett. He literally dragged Roman away from me.
“Chill out, Jett, I’ve known the girl since she was a kid.”
“Like that would stop you.”
“It would actually! I ain’t gonna do anything after what she’s been through.” In laymen’s terms, he wouldn’t touch me with someone else’s after what happened when I was twelve. Doesn’t make a girl feel very good.
This is the reason I could never tell any man what happened to me. Not one I’d date anyway. Not everyone here knows what happened to me, or at least, I don’t think they do. I hope not. Except for Shepard and BlackJack, the only other members that were around when it happened were Roman and Titus, Tank’s father, whom I heard was killed a few years ago. As far as I know, they’re the only ones who know. However, I can tell Jett and Tank do, too. Great.
“Drink?”
“Beer, please,” Jett goes off to get my beer. I kind of feel like the new girl in school, everyone staring, whispering, and now I feel self-conscious.
My eyes catch the figure sitting at the far table. He’s sitting alone, even though I can tell the two “club whores” near the bar with dreamy eyes looking at him would give anything to be his for the night.
Even though he’s sitting down, I can tell he’s tall from his frame. He’s b
uilt, not as big as Roman, but then most men aren't. He’s got light brown hair that dances between blonde and brown, stubble on his chin. I can’t tell the color of his eyes from here, but I get a weird feeling just looking at him.
“Who’s that?” I tip my head toward the guy at the table nursing a half glass of beer.
Tank answers me, “That’s Stryker. Stay away from him, he’s dangerous.”
“He’s a biker, be a pretty shit one if he wasn’t dangerous. Aren’t you all?”
“Touché.”
“Is he always alone?”
“He’s a quiet guy. Does what he wants, who he wants, when he wants. Isn’t much for socializing unless it’s called for.” He says nothing more just hands me the beer Jett just brought over. I take a sip from the cold bottle, my eyes still on Stryker.
Stryker. I wonder how he got that road name and what his real name could be. Why do I even care?