That was when Dalton grew up. The thrill of seeking another rush on his bike paled in comparison to the pain he saw on Oceane’s face.
He took the first job offered to him. The wildness inside of him was tamed and smothered down, and when Dax was born, he still rode hell-bent for leather, but he hung out with the brothers less. Life became boring and mundane, holding down a nine-to-five job and escorting Oceane to the numerous parties she was required to attend.
During one of the parties he had gone to with to Oceane, he had overheard a film producer lamenting the fact that his stuntman had gotten hurt and he was having trouble finding another one willing to do it. Dalton had told him he could do it, and when he had arranged a private meeting with him and showed him the tapes that the brothers had taken of him riding, he was offered the job.
After that, he’d gotten several jobs that most stuntmen refused to take. One thing Dalton learned early in the game: the more dangerous stunts made the most money. His pride had taken a hit at having to depend on Oceane’s money to support their small family.
During one job, he had been hanging around waiting to film a stunt when the actor stormed off the set and refused to come out of his trailer, wanting rewrites to the script. The delay was going to cost thousands of dollars to the already over-budget movie.
The producer asked him to run the last few lines while the other actors could leave, planning to dub it over in post-production with a reshoot of the missing actor. Wanting to fly home himself, he agreed. He ran the lines, performed the stunt, and was flying home within hours. The producer called when he was casting for his next picture, and asked if Dalton would take a small part.
By then, they had Grace, and Oceane was asking him not to take such dangerous stunts. Holding his baby daughter in his arms, the last of his wildness within him died. His film career took off, and he left his biker life behind him. He had stayed away from the Road Slayers until he had come back a month ago to find breathing space from his overly concerned son and daughter.
“I told him not to try it. He was riding the wrong bike to make that jump. He’s lucky he didn’t break his neck.”
Whip rolled his eyes. “Like that would have been a loss. If he weren’t my nephew, I would have cut him loose a long time ago. Hell, the only reason he wanted to join was because he wanted to meet you. If my sister keeps busting my chops about her little boy getting hurt, I’m going to drill my boot up his ass.”
“Could be worse. Cammy could want to join.”
“I’d rather have her. At least she knows how to ride a bike.”
Dalton was tossing back the rest of his beer when Whip’s cell phone rang. He listened as the club’s president talked.
“Where’d she go? How many are with her? Keep out of sight and let me know if anyone else shows.”
Turning on his stool, he saw Whip disconnect the call.
“She went to a Burger King five miles away. There are four people waiting for her.”
“They must have not realized I called Grace an hour ago.”
“You think?” Whip said sarcastically. “I would have liked it better if you had waited until tonight to call. I would have been holed up in my room with that pretty piece instead of sitting here talking to you. She even took my best tequila.”
“It was crap, and you know it. The only thing that’s worth drinking in here is the case of whiskey I bought the night I came in. I would have bought more, but you wouldn’t let me.”
“The brothers can’t handle the good stuff. Dutch ended up in Georgia with his ex, and Jello is still trying to get sand out of his motor because his drunk ass decided to ride his bike on the beach. It couldn’t be too bad, or she wouldn’t have drunk half the bottle before I came back.”
“She was scared out of her mind.”
“She wasn’t too scared to smash your nuts.”
“I blame you for that. She wouldn’t haven’t gotten inside the club if you hadn’t wanted to have some fun when Grace called me back to tell me T.A. couldn’t be reached to call it off.”
“I had to have a last laugh with you. It’s boring as shit here without you. Come on, Hollywood, let Dax handle his own problems.”
“I was the one who talked him into hiring Zeke. Dax has produced the last three movies on his own, and he’s not asked me for anything since Oceane died. All our money is tied up in the last movie Dax made, which won’t be released until next month, or is invested in this one. If Zeke doesn’t show, it’ll put Dax behind schedule. I’d tell him to get another actor, but the son of a bitch is perfect for the role.”