Michael, Nova and Tank's little boy, just a few days younger than his cousin Noah, hugs my legs. As does Daniel, Ghost and Avery's two-year-old son, also just a few days between him, Noah, and Michael. Their youngest son, Vinny, a year old has grown so much in six months. He's adorable!
I cry a little when Jessica, Maria and Jett's one-year-old daughter is handed to me. I missed her little face. She was just a few short months old when I last saw her. I was with Maria when she gave birth to this beautiful little girl. I saw her enter the world. I hold that precious little girl to my lips and kiss her soft cheek as she smiles at me.
That's when little Mark, Coral and Stryker's little boy, a month or so older than Noah, Michael, and Daniel grabs hold of my legs and hangs off me like a little spider monkey. These little ones are so trusting it melts my heart.
Then, of course, there are the older children, aged between six to fifteen, belonging to other members of the club. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed them all.
“Where's my sweet little grandson?” Taylor asks.
I turn my head to see where Hawk is.
I thought he was right behind me.
I smile as he walks toward me, our baby in his arms.
“Sorry, my son needed a diaper change.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head.
I take my son from him, ready for the onslaught of women to crowd me and coo over Gabriel, and, of course, it takes seconds.
All my life, all I have wanted is a family who would love me — the way these people love each other. There is no judgment with these people. Everyone is just whom he or she, are meant to be. They live and fight for each other every day.
This is all I have ever wanted. I feel safe. I feel loved.
This is where I belong.
This is where I'll stay.
Chapter Five
Hawk
Watching Brooke surrounded by women, including my mother, seeing her smile the way she is, I feel contentment within me. One I never thought I'd ever feel again. One I only ever felt whenever I was with her.
I'd dreamed about her being back here with me a million times a day since she left, but I never thought it would come true.
I never banked on her walking back into my life with my son in her arms. Gabe is a day old, and I've already forgotten what my life was like before he came into it. My boy is everything to me already. I'm going to teach him to be a good man, to protect those he loves, to be strong and honest.
I'm going to teach him to ride his first motorcycle, to drink his first beer. I know that's years away yet, but it's a big thing for a man like me to teach his kid those things, just as it was for my dad to show my brother and me.
“Cute kid, man, congrats.”
I let the smile widen on my face and tip my head in thanks in Stryker's direction. “Thanks, brother.”
“Everything all right between you?”
“Fine, Ghost, but I don't think it's really sunk in yet for either of us. I mean, it's not like I was prepared for fatherhood.”
“But you wouldn't change a damn thing, would you?” I shake my head at the Prez. Shepard is like a second father to me, an uncle, my father's best friend, his wife is my mother's best friend. An honorable man, a man who would die for any man, woman or child belonging to this club. A man who taught my father how to live a better life. A man who told my father to walk away from his bigoted family and marry the half black woman he loved more than life itself — the woman he has loved since he was sixteen years of age.
Loving a half black woman is how he earned his road name. BlackJack. Many would have found it offensive. Jack, my father, did not. He found it amusing that Shepard always said my father was a black man stuck in a white man's body. My mother's father has often said the same thing.
“Nothing. I love Brooke. I have since the day I met her. I thought I'd lost her for good, but she came back to me. Gave me a son.” I smile like an idiot.
“A beautiful son,” My father acknowledges. “I'm proud of you, Hawk.” I look him directly in the eye. My father has told me many times that he's proud of me, but there's something different there now. I can't quite put my finger on it. “Incredibly proud.” He squeezes my shoulder. That's all he's going to say on that matter.
“Thanks, Dad.” There's an understanding between us, even better than before.
Small arms wrap around my waist from the side, pulling my attention away from my father. I smile down at the beautiful blonde who is now once again mine. There is nothing in this world that will ever take her away from me again. “Hey, baby. Where's Gabriel?” I look across the room for my son.
“He's with your mother.” She smiles up at me. Those damn bruises on her beautiful face are really bothering me. That fucking monster beat her as soon as she gave birth to our son. I always knew Webster was insane, but what he did was beyond anything I could've imagined. I know one thing for sure, he'll never get his hands on her again.
Brooke told me everything that happened, what he'd said to her about not wanting a little monkey in his family. That alone made me want to kill the bastard. Not only did he say that he beat the hell out of her with his belt and his fist. He wouldn't allow her to bathe Gabriel, dress him, feed him. Even told her that he had someone coming to collect the baby the very next morning.
He gave her one night with her son before she'd have to hand him over to a stranger. Brooke may not have known she was pregnant until the moment she gave birth to him, but the love she felt for him and her need to keep him safe, drove her to walk miles to find me and ask for help.
I may have thought I hated her for leaving me in the time we've been apart, but I never stopped loving her, never once gave up hope she might one day come back to me. The circumstances in which she came back may not have been perfect, but she's here now, Gabriel is here, and I will protect them with my life. Until my dying day and beyond, no one will hurt her again and live to tell the tale. Brooke has been one of us, part of this club since the day I laid eyes on her in that strip club. Every brother here will protect her, especially when I can't.
“She's smitten with him.” Brooke giggles.
I lean down and kiss her softly. Everyone in this damn place knows she's mine, but we have new prospects. Men she hasn't met before, and they need to remember not to touch what doesn't belong to them. It's not like men don't see a woman walking around the clubhouse and try it on. All unclaimed women are free to be hit on. Hit on my woman, and I'll break your fuckin' face!
“Hawk?” I turn my head to the Prez. Mickey, one of the new prospects, is whispering something in his ear. The Prez looks concerned. “We have a little problem we need to deal with. Hammer, Tank, Ghost, Jett, Stryker, BlackJack, I need you to come along.” Each man nods, and I narrow my eyes. “Little lady, you'll be okay with the other ladies for a few moments?” She looks at him, then at me, before looking back at him and nodding her head. There's plenty of women here to keep her company for a while.
“I'll be as quick as I can, baby.”
“Okay,” She smiles and I kiss her again before she takes herself back to Maria.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask no one in particular.
Shepard tips his head; we all follow him out of the clubhouse. “Her father's at the gate demandin' to see her. Mickey didn't want to say anything in front of Brooke. I warned everyone the moment I found out she was back not to mention that man in front of her. Especially if he came looking.”
“What does the son-of-a-bitch want?”
“His daughter, of course. Come on,”
I follow Shepard along with my father and MC brothers. The old man is standing on the other side of the metal gate that separates our club from the outside world. Hank Webster. He looks just as I remember him, s
hort gray hair, jeans, and a white T-shirt, with his cowboy boots. The man is in his mid-sixties, but you wouldn't know it to look at him. He's strong for a man of his age; anyone can see that. However, to me, he's nothing but a woman beating, racist piece of shit!
“Where's my daughter, you fuckin' boon!”
“What the fuck did you just call my son?” I hold my arm out, stopping my dad from stepping forward. He never could take people saying things like that to my baby brother and me. Christ, he's killed men because of it. He's done fucking worse to those who've said things to my mother. Trust me.
It's a joke in this day and age, the way people are still as racist as they've ever been. Is the color of someone's skin really such a big issue? Ain't nobody any different from anyone else. My daddy taught me from a very early age that we're not different; the color of our skin is the only difference.
I look at my dad for a second and shake my head. That piece of crap can call me what he likes, he's called me worse, but it won't change the fact he's never going to see Brooke again. I don't want my father to attack this man and give him what he wants. He'd have the cops on us faster than we could swallow.
I turn to look at the old shit. “She's inside with my son.” His face hardens, his posture stiffens. “Not that you'll be gettin' anywhere near her again.”
“Bring her out here right now!”
I fold my arms around my chest and smirk at him. “Not a chance in hell. You think I'd subject her to your sorry ass even for one more second? You've hurt her enough.” My face contorts in anger as I take a step forward — Shepard's right to keep the gate locked. I want nothing more than to end the old cunt on the opposite side. “You come near my girl again, my son, and I'll kill you!”
“I don't want your little ape, keep him, but I want my daughter! Now!”
I scrub my hands over my face. I'm gonna fuckin' kill him! However, it isn't me who rips the gate open with my bare hands; it's Jett. Fuckin' psycho, amazin' brother.