I love visiting different countries touring all the ancient sites. Mom, I’ve not missed out on anything. If it were a late concert when I was younger, you’d put me to bed and read me a story. Kids who have regular parents don’t get that often. As I got older, I could watch the concerts, and you’d tuck me up before even washing. And now I can stay awake until you shower. We have days out seeing places that open just for the band, and we’ve had great vacations.
Is it your fault, Mom, that there are whack jobs? Nah. It’s a shame they seek to ruin our life, but the trick is not to let them. We got more touring and places to visit, more songs to sing and fans to hear. Don’t allow them to take away the life you built for us, Mom because that would be a genuine tragedy.” I stared at Jesse, wondering when my child had become so clever and grown-up. Jesse’s words struck home, and I recognised the yearning my boy had. It was the same as mine, wanderlust.
“You’re right, Jesse, plus if we stopped touring, all those postcards and magnets of yours wouldn’t grow.”
“That’s true, and my baseball cap collection would look pathetic,” Jesse teased and then stared at Celt.
“Why do you keep hanging around, Mom?” he asked bluntly. A soft gasp escaped me as Celt turned to face our son.
“What’s it to do with you, Jesse? Your mom and I are both adults.”
“Because she’s my mom, and I know what you did,” Jesse spat back, anger in his eyes. I hated these teenage hormones and thanked God that Jesse wasn’t a girl. Controlling a boy was hard enough.
“We’re working through a few issues. Jesse, I don’t expect Chey to forgive or forget my actions. But several of my brothers have admitted to being roofied by Zeus, unknown to us. But there’s something worse than we knew.” Celt turned to me with sorrow in his eyes. My back stiffened; Celt was about to admit something I guessed I wouldn’t like to hear.
“Spit it out.”
“Big Al said Zeus once spiked Tati, and he just reached her in time.” Celt dropped the shocking news with no finesse at all.
“Zeus tried to rape Tati?” I gasped. Tati was one of the kindest women I’d known. The thought of Zeus destroying Tati was appalling.
“Zeus tried, and Big Al caught him. It was what caused the break in Hellfire, although only Chance knew that. Chance just told us it was time to make our move. Big Al found her half-naked in Zeus’s room, completely out of it. Tati was crying and trying to hide her body while Zeus grabbed and bruised her. Big Al knocked him out and got Tati out of there. The next day, a vote was called, and we were outvoted, but Chance made his move and reclaimed the club. Having the last founder on our side meant they couldn’t kick us from Hellfire, although Zeus tried.
Chance split the MC in half, those who defended Zeus and those who sided with Chance. Our lot. We began refusing to do what Zeus wanted. Hellfire ended up with two Presidents because we wouldn’t follow anybody but Chance. Hellfire wound up fighting for a year and a half before Hellfire was ours. We lost many of our former brothers along the way but none of our own. Zeus was wicked. Chance stuck to the credence his father had created. Families are not to be harmed.
Zeus didn’t care and went after anyone we cared about. We were borderline losing when Chance won. Zeus had hurt our friends and families. His evil had touched every single one of us. The moment we removed Zeus was the best day of my life because it meant I could breathe freely. So, Jesse, you can sneer at me being drugged, and we’ll never know the whole truth. But Zeus’s use of narcotics to control brothers was established and caused Chance to make his move.
To this day, I never wished to injure your mom. I loved Chey before life itself. Yeah, I felt betrayed that she planned to go on the road; I’m not denying that. Chey upset me so deeply because she was picking the band over me, but I see now that was for the best. Zeus would have hurt Chey if he could. I can tell you now, I’d never raise a hand to her, nor intentionally harm her or you. All I want, Jesse, is a chance to be part of your lives, and if your mom gives me a second chance, I’ll take it with both hands.” I was amazed that Celt had opened himself up. Jesse could sneak right in and harm Celt. Instead, I sat back because I knew Jesse better than myself. Jesse didn’t let me down.
“Words are easy to speak; actions show better.”
“Then I’ll try to prove to you what my actions mean, Jesse.”
“That’s all I ask, but I warn you, Celt, fuck my mom up one time, and I’ll beat your ass,” Jesse threatened. I hid a smile. Jesse was half the size of his father. Yeah, Jesse would match Celt’s height and muscles in a couple of years, but for now… no. Even though Jesse had been taught to fight by the band, and they were scrappers and fought dirty.
“I’ll fuckin’ tie my own hands and will give you the bat to do so,” Celt agreed.
“Got my own one,” Jesse muttered before turning to me. “Ken sent me to tell you the hospital called, and they’ve changed your appointment. Instead of next week, they want you to come in tomorrow at eleven. Ken said you can do that.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue; I’ll let Angie and Lucy know so they can adjust for my physio.”
“I’m coming with you, and there’ll be two security guards. Mom, I can push you while they monitor what’s going on,” Jesse grinned.
“Not a problem, son,” I replied, tousling his hair. Jesse backed away with a grin.
“We’re ordering Greek tonight, so you better come and place your order before missing out,” Jesse teased and darted to the house.
“Chey, I’ve never told you this, but that boy is a miracle. You raised a good kid, and he’ll be a wonderful man,” Celt said from behind.
“Jesse is something special, but I didn’t raise him alone. The band, Nana and Jed, had a role in that,” I refuted, and Celt shook his head.
“There’s too much of your personality in him. Jesse’s amazing, and never forget it.” Celt grabbed the handlebars of my wheelchair and pushed me towards the house. I could hear fighting and rolled my eyes. It seems not all of them wanted Greek, and now there was a full-scale argument. The joys of being the voice of reason.
???
“We need to ride. The alarm on the car Chey and Jesse was riding in has been triggered,” Levi said, racing into the clubhouse the next day. Celt was on his feet before he even realised he was moving. Shotgun and Rooster ran beside him as they headed for their motorbikes.
“Where?” Celt snapped at Levi.