Aero
One week later, I was heading back to the Dogs of Fire compound after spending the afternoon with my mom. The doctor had ended up keeping her longer than anticipated, due to the MRI results being a concern, but she was home now and rocking her rehab. Her memory was coming back faster than expected, which the doctors loved, but it still wasn’t fast enough for me. I wanted to go home.
I missed my woman and my brothers.
In that order.
Today was an unusually clear day, so I’d borrowed a bike and ridden from the club to my mom’s place in Beaverton. Hatch had called a meeting, and even though the Dogs weren’t my club, when the prez of a friendly club requests your presence at a meeting, it’s bad form to refuse.
I parked out front of the building and headed inside, pulling my sunglasses off, and waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dim light.
“Aero,” Hatch called, and I followed the sound of his voice.
“Hey,” I greeted, and Hatch gave me a chin lift.
“You get your mom sorted?”
“Yeah, her friend’s hangin’ with her until I get back.”
“Good. Come on back. You want a beer?”
“Nah, I’m good,” I said.
We continued down the hall and I followed Hatch into the conference room.
And froze.
“What the fuck’s goin’ on?” I demanded.
Hatch closed the door and blocked me from leaving. “You and Harmon are gonna hash your shit out. You’re both on a path that Rocky and I have decided you need to get off of.”
“This is none of your goddamn business,” Harmon snapped.
Hatch jabbed a finger toward him. “You’re on fuckin’ thin ice, brother, so you need to sit down, shut up, and wait until your elder gives you license to open your mouth.”
Harmon glared at me but did as he was told.
“What the fuck’s goin’ on, Hatch?” I growled, pissed I had to repeat the question.
“This is an intervention,” he said, crossing his arms. “You two were friends, hell more like brothers back in the day, and you have shared a fuckin’tragedythat no one should ever have to experience. Marlene also loves you both and she has mentioned more than once how much she’d like you two to work your shit out. So...” He focused on me. “You’re gonna work your shit out.”
“This has nothin’—”
“I’d highly fuckin’ suggest you suck whatever bullshit you’re about to spew back in your mouth, bud. You know how much I loved your sister, and you know how much I respect your mother, so this haseverythingto fuckin’ do with me.”
I dragged my hands over my face and tried not to rage at the man who’d treated me like a son since I was ten. He was right. I owed him my respect, even if it wasn’t convenient for me at the present moment.
Jesus, this was a shit show.
“I have nothin’ to say to him,” I said.
“Then maybe you can listen,” Hatch said.
Jesus, I’d just opened myself up for that. The last thing I wanted to do was listen to whatever bullshit Harmon had to say, but when Hatch gave you a suggestion, it was more of an order, and not one to be dismissed.
“Aero?” Hatch pressed, waving to a chair.
