33
Storm
Hero hadn’t stopped grinning since Roja said the two words he’d been dying to hear all year:I do.The weddingsort ofwent off without a hitch despite the shit with Lynx and his woman last weekend.
The happy couple had wanted to postpone the wedding, but I’d told them absolutely not. Lynx would have carried an enormous amount of guilt to the grave if they’d put off getting married because of him.
As I held my daughter to my chest, I absorbed her chill vibe. Being a husband and father had changed me in ways I never imagined. I’d always been a worrier and protective of my brothers and club. But I’d managed to not get caught up in the emotional drama. I’d stayed closed off.
I flicked my gaze to Ryder sitting across from me. While my Angel sat with some of the old ladies, I was on babysitting duty. Not only for Birdie but also Ryder. Caring for my daughter was expected, something I enjoyed. Making sure a prospect didn’t go off half-cocked wasn’t my fuckin’ job, yet I’d agreed to keep an eye on him when Hero asked.
When had I turned soft?
“Prez, she keeps looking at me. I just want to talk to her.” Ryder was the reason the wedding almost got canceled.
“Stop looking at her prospect.”
He snarled, turning away from the redhead. I didn’t mind if he was pissed at me. I understood his quandary. When Tara’s half-sister, Willow, arrived an hour before the wedding, Ryder had gotten the shock of his life. Willow was the runaway he’d gone to jail for after beating a fast-food employee almost to death for trying to sexually assault her.
Willow had freaked out when she saw Ryder and had asked Tara if she could go home. It had taken some convincing, but Willow had agreed to stay if Ryder kept his distance.
The young prospect appeared to be at the end of his rope.
“If she’d give me a chance, she’d see I’m an understanding guy. A good listener. I just want to talk to her, get to know her better.”
“Stop whining,” I hissed. “Bikers don’t behave as you are, prospect.” In all fairness, he was only twenty, and Willow was sixteen. I didn’t expect much maturity from either of them, but he didn’t need to know that.
Ryder sat straighter.
“This is one of those times you just need to deal with an undesirable situation. If the girl doesn’t want to talk to you, respect her wishes. Maybe she’ll come around.”
“Yes, Prez.”
Hero approached our table and nudged Ryder’s shoulder. “Let’s go. I’m taking you to the compound.”
“What for?” Ryder asked.
“You’ve been acting like a creepy stalker all day. Let’s go. Justin’s agreed to watch over you.” Hero grabbed Ryder’s arm, making him stand.
“Later Ryder.” I jerked my chin.
“See ya, Prez.”
Justin would probably talk Ryder’s ear off. Give the boy tips about life and to not make stupid decisions as he had. It was good having Justin back in the club. He wasn’t a member, but he was a damn fine project manager. He kept the construction crews in check, worked for Wolf at the garage, and did anything I asked of him to earn his living quarters in the dorms. More importantly, he’d been making up for his wrongs with Emilee. Their relationship would never be the same, but Emilee wasn’t an unforgiving person. She didn’t hold grudges, neither did Dodge. They were good people.
I adjusted my sleeping baby in my arms and took in the scene. It sure didn’t feel like a happy occasion without Lynx. I worried about Jaynee and Sadie. Couldn’t stop pondering what part the TC Vipers could’ve had in all this. I fuckin’ didn’t want to get into another MC war.
I kissed Birdie’s head. My top priority was keeping my baby girl and her momma safe.
The Vipers hadn’t named the price for us going into their territory. If they retaliated on my turf, I hated to imagine the violence they’d bring.
Don’t borrow trouble;my Angel’s words ran through my head.
How could I not obsess over this? Jaynee’s friend had been murdered in her home the day she arrived. I wasn’t confident it was a coincidence, as the authorities suggested. Grizzly had been working on the case but hadn’t linked the murder to Richard or the Vipers. Maybe it was only a fluke.
Track sat next to me, putting a tray of shots on the table. “This will help to take the edge off.” He handed me a glass.
“Thanks.” I tossed the amber liquid back, exhaling as warmth spread through my chest. I eyed his glum expression. “Let it go, brother.”