“He’s down to prospect when he’s eighteen, along with Kai,” Cash told me. “Their plan is to get their patches and then enlist. Training with you will help them build strength and focus for what lies ahead.”
“Maybe I could hook them up with a fitness plan,” I suggested. “Get them conditioned for military life.”
“If anyone can, it’s you,” Bowie cut in. “You’re not long out of the Army, so you know what they should expect. I know you boxed for your unit and you’re a PT, but I’d be happy to come in and help. The club brats have been on my ass about teaching them to fight, so I may bring a few of the younger ones, too, and start teaching them some discipline.”
“Good idea,” Cash interjected. “Wilder needs focus, and boxing may help him burn off some energy and calm his ass down.”
“Or it might help him hone his serial killer skills for later in life,” Bowie muttered.
Cash laughed. “Yeah. Or that.”
An idea pinged through my brain. “What do you think about starting a boxing club at the gym for the town’s kids?”
The other guys stared at me for a beat.
“That’s a fucking incredible idea,” John announced.
“I may have to charge subsidiary fees to buy the new equipment I’d need,” I told them. “But I’d keep the costs as low as possible. The bar’s in the black now, so I could even ask Callum for some sponsorship.”
“The club would sponsor them, too,” Cash offered. “Put together a report with all the costings, and we’ll go over it together with Callum when he’s back from honeymoon.”
“Have you got time for it?” Bowie asked me.
“I will when Callum and Maeve get back from Ireland. I’m managing things while they’re vacationing, but the gym runs itself really. Karma spends a lot of time there training, so I’ve given him the keys to open for me on the mornings he gets there before me. You know how fucking early he starts.”
Cash’s mouth curved, and I knew why.
Karma, formally known as Mason, was the newest member of the Speed Demons, and he was proving to be a huge success. A while back, he went to the Virginia chapter for a year and spent time with their ink slinger, Picasso, learning how to tattoo.
He’d found his calling while he was there and discovered Martial Arts, along with an interest in Buddhism and philosophy. It helped calm him down, and these days the guy was up with the sun, meditating and training. He wasn’t a Buddhist because he enjoyed cracking skulls too much, but it had helped him calm his mind and hone his body into a fucking machine.
It was crazy because the dude was covered in ink—even his skull was tattooed. To look at him, you’d think he was a hooligan, but then he’d open his mouth and you’d know immediately that he was a thought-provoking, intelligent guy. Karma was the very personification of never judge a book by its cover.
A familiar song came over the speakers, and the corner of my mouth twitched as loud squeals filled the place, followed by Atlas’s yell of “Toots! It’s our song.”
“Fuck,” John spat. “It’s the Pony song. Did somebody give Maeve cider?”
My smile widened. “She doesn’t need it these days. The girl’s confidence is through the roof. Believe me, she doesn’t need any Dutch courage to give your SAA’s ass a good spanking.”
John looked up at the heavens and sighed before lowering his stare to me. “Callum’s gonna damned well kill you. Atlas is wasted. He’ll be all up for doing their new party trick.”
Cash busted out a laugh.
“I’ve gotta see this,” I told the guys, grabbing my beer and heading toward the commotion just as Ginuwine started crooning how he was a bachelor looking for his lady.
I kinda got how the dude felt.
I spotted Rosie standing with the rest of the crowd at the edge of the dance floor with Gabby beside her, and Layla, who was with Sunny. The girls’ eyes were bugging out as they watched the show while Rosie and Layla cheered on Maeve and Atlas. I approached just as Rosie threw an arm in the air and let out a loudwoohoo, her hips swaying seductively to the music.
My hand slid across the small of her back until my fingers rested on her hip.
She glanced up, the confusion falling from her face as soon as she realized it was me. “Have you seen this? My big brother is actually bending over a chair and pretending he’s Maeve’s pony?” She nudged Gabby, who had her cell pointed at them. “Are you getting all of this, baby? We’re gonna send it to Grandma.”
Gabby laughed softly, then glanced at me and blushed before she nodded and turned back to her phone screen. “We could blackmail Uncle Dan with it.”
Rosie bent her head until her cheek rested on her girl’s and laughed. “Jeez. Get out of my head.” Her hand covered the one I had at her hip, and she gave it a little squeeze before moving out of my hold to maneuver behind Gabby and hug her girl. ThenI watched as Rosie moved her lips to her daughter’s ear and mouthed,Love you, beautiful girl.
Something slid through me, and I felt it click into place as warmth flooded my insides.
