This life doesn’t bring any guarantees, and we both know it. I let her go when she stands and asks, “Will you be here when I get back from my shift?”
“I should be, but you know anything could come up.”
Her stare lingers on me long enough it sets off my what’s-going-on radar. She shakes whatever thoughts she has from her head and opens her dresser drawer. I go to get dressed when she comes to sit beside me holding a plastic white stick. I immediately know what it is.
“I took it last night. It’s positive.”
I frown. “I thought we were waiting?”
“So did I, but it’s happening.”
Silence sits between us for a long moment. The plan was to wait to start our family for a couple more years, until we had saved for our own place and the club was steady on its new feet.
“How do you feel about it?” I dare to ask her.
She clears her throat. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m happy. I want nothing more than to have our child. I just don’t want to lose everything else, and I don’t want to raise it here in the club.”
Putting my arm around her, I pull her in and press my lips to the top of her head. “We have nine months to figure it out.”
“More like seven,” she tells me.
“It’s still more than enough time.”
“Don’t tell anyone for another few weeks until we’re in the clear.”
“It’s our secret, babe.” I kiss her again and grin. “This is good, this is real good.”
I’ve seen old ladies around the club pregnant and haven’t thought anything about it, but to see Rudi growing, carrying mychild has always been something I’ve seen in my future. That future is coming at us now, and I can’t wait.
A delivery guy drops off the package I’ve waiting on and I glance around the bar. These men have come to be family and it’s time to settle shit within in these walls.
“Get your asses in the back room!” I holler.
Luca and Victoria come in from the kitchen, and I hold the package up for Luca to see it’s arrived. He nods and passes River to his momma.
That will be Rudes and me in seven months and I’m so fucking ready.
I join my brothers in the back room and wait for Luca to walk in and close the door. He slams the gavel down and nods for me to go ahead.
“We’ve been here a long while now, you’ve all seen what needs to be done sometimes, and you’ve seen how good life can be when we’re on top of our shit.” I rip open the package and my fingers curl around the fresh patches. “Luca and I have been watching you all this whole time. You’re the original members of this chapter and with that, comes responsibility. Luca’s president, I’m the VP. I flick through the pile of patches and take out Warren’s new patch and walk around the table, dropping it on the table in front of him.
“Road Captain?” he asks picking it up.
“Your job is to lead the brothers on the road, you’ll be the president and VP if Luc and I ain’t on the road. You’ll plan our routes for our runs, anywhere we go.”
He nods and sits back in his chair. I move on to King. I slap his patch down in front of him. “Sgt at Arms,” I say. “You ensurethe safety of every fucker in this room. Uphold our laws and rules. It’s your job to keep track of these assholes.”
I move on and stand behind Trey, dropping his patch in his lap.
“Secretary. You’re now the record keeper of this fine chapter. Anyone misses a meeting, you’re the one to catch them up.”
Ford’s next and I have his full attention. “Treasurer. Money man. It’s your job to deal with the expenses of the club. What comes in and what needs to go out. Anything that involves cash, it’s on you.”
Konan is up next, and I grin as I slap his patch down in front of him. “Enforcer. Similar to the Sgt at Arms but it’s your job to maintain peace around here, hand out punishments if brothers break the rules. We know you’re more than capable of thinking of creative ways people don’t forget.”
His grin is cold, and I laugh.
“And finally, Max. You’re going to be our Tail Gunner. It’s on you to keep us safe on the road. You’ll ride at the back to make sure formation is tight, no one gets lost, help when brothers break down. You’ll act as road captain when he’s unable to.”
With the patches handed out and in their new owners’ hands, I take my seat.
Luca sits forward, resting his arms on the tabletop. “We all have our place in this club now, these patches ain’t for life. You fuck up, you lose them. They’re a privilege. This club is going to run like the tightest ship ever to set sail and it’s going to take every one of us to make that happen.”
