I’d been a crazy father who forgot my daughter was a grown woman instead of my baby girl.
The cage stopped at the gate.
“What happened to the fencing and guard shack?” I asked Storm as he drove onto the property. A lot had changed since I was last here.
“Was time for an upgrade.”
I studied his profile, not believing a word he said. The fencing had only been up ten years. Since I wasn’t a member, he didn’t owe me shit. I wasn’t privy to information about the club. It stung a little, feeling like he didn’t trust me, but I didn’t deserve it after I’d bailed on the club and pushed my brothers away, not to mention getting involved with a gang.
“You got houses going up on the south side?” There were three in various stages of construction. It looked like a small neighborhood.
Storm turned his head toward the homes. “Yep.”
“Did you get the family unit behind the clubhouse finished? You’d paused the project because of the Dirty Hunters.” I hated to think about those fuckers.
Storm parked the cage. The prospect in the back seat hopped out as Hero and Track got off their bikes. I’d forgotten he was in the back. He’d been silent the whole drive. Storm’s cousin Cobra had had some of his crew lead us out of Fargo before we’d split off in different directions.
Both clubs had come to my aid when I didn’t fucking deserve it. I couldn’t ever repay them, but I knew they didn’t expect anything in return. It wasn’t their way, the Knight’s Legion MC way.
“Angel and I moved into it after our daughter was born in May.”
“I can’t wait to meet…”
“Birdie.”
“That’s adorable, brother.”
“She’s adorable.” He winked.
Inside the clubhouse, Storm settled me at a table in the bar and went to grab us beers. It was quieter than I was used to. Usually, music blasted through the speakers. Kittens would mill about or be on a brother’s lap. I liked it like this better.
I hissed, fighting through the throbbing pain in my stump. It’d started bothering me once we were on dirt roads. Of course, I wouldn’t show my discomfort. I’d push through it.
“Here you are.” Storm put a bottle in front of me and sat with two more.
“Thanks. No all-day parties anymore?” I waved the bottle around before putting it to my lips.
He took a swig of his. “Things pick up in the evenings. The number of single brothers is dwindling. We still like to have a good time, but you know how it is. Things change. Change is good, brother.”
I drank my beer while watching Storm. He certainly seemed different. He was still larger than life, but there was a calmness about him that wasn’t there even after he’d met his Angel. I wondered if it had to do with becoming a father. Having Emilee certainly had changed me.
“Will Emilee be around later?” I couldn’t hold out any longer from asking about her.
Emilee was the person I wanted to see most. I’d been dead to the world when she’d visited me in the hospital. She never came back because it wasn’t safe. I was glad Storm and the others took the decision away from us.
Cobra’s club had waged war on the Rat Brotherhood. I hadn’t been told much about it. Before I left the hospital earlier today, he’d stopped by to say good-bye and let me know his club had found the missing boys. Simon had been returned to his mother. Emilee would be so happy and relieved.
“Yes, after you talk to Dodge.” The prez raised an unyielding brow.
“I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
Dodge entered, stalking straight for our table.
I groaned. “Fuck. You set me up.”
Storm shrugged. “My club, my rules. Don’t forget you’re a guest here.”
“Don’t leave me alone with him.” I caught a glimpse of a woman as she passed by the bar. For a second, I thought I knew her, but I doubted it.