We all burst out with laughter and hug each other. Sutton has been through a lot over the years and nothing, especially a guy, is going to tear us apart. Once Ivy leaves to head back to New York it will be just the two of us, and I think we are going to just as close as Ivy and I are.
We talk some more and find out some really juicy details from Sutton that I try to help her with and table the thoughts I have for another time when we aren’t hovering over sober and buzzed. Just before eleven o’clock Sutton’s phone rings. We can hear a woman ordering her to come home, “Nothing good happens after the sun is down.” Ivy and I have a silent conversation that says we are going to help this girl live her life to the fullest and not let anyone squash her light. I can tell she’s embarrassed about the call, so we walk her out to her car and say our goodbyes. Since Ivy’s plane leaves tomorrow evening, we lock up the house.
“Let’s get some sleep,” I offer after we lock up the house and set the alarm.
We’ve been back from the protection run for almost a week now and things are getting back to normal. Well, as normal as our life can be. We still have the threat of the Vipers lingering over our heads but things are quiet. Today we are making preparations for the release of my blood brother, Blaze. He was convicted three years ago for arson and has completed his time. We’ll ride out early in the morning and stay the night down from the Arizona State Prison at the chapter there, then meet him at the gates when he walks out tomorrow. After that, we’ll drive back to the clubhouse and have one hell of a welcome home party for him. We’ve got brothers from other chapters coming in to help celebrate.
Allison is beside herself and can’t wait to have him home. I know little Annie will be so happy to have her daddy home too. She is the one who has blown up the clubhouse with all the decorations.
Raegan is coming by the clubhouse later in the day to help celebrate with us. Right now, her mother has her doing some work in preparation with a charity event that is being held at one of the schools, to raise money for their athletic department. We’re sponsoring some of the food for this, like we do every year. As much as the mayor hates us involved in anything, we actually do a lot of good in the community. Most of the people know us and what we do, so they look the other way when the mayor goes on a smear campaign.
This will be the first time Raegan will be at one of our parties. I’m not sure how she is going to handle it, but hopefully it won’t be too much of a shock to her. I still haven’t inked or claimed her publicly yet, mainly because we’ve been so busy with cleaning up our mess in Great Falls, and dealing with what we are going to do with the Vipers. She’s showed Hawk how to build false files. They sent them over with a virus encrypted. Before their MC figures it out, it’ll be too late. We will have their full drug supply next week coming from Mexico. If they don’t have drugs to sell then their money dries up. After we make sure they’re in a tailspin, we’ll put a stop to their gun business that they’ve started running. Watching them dissolve will be the sweetest victory.
Another thing that I had to fix when we got back was Hawk. I almost had to go back into the ring again. When we got back from the run, he wouldn’t shut the fuck up about how remarkable it was to work side by side with her. I almost throttled him when his eyes starting looking dreamy when he made a comment on the lotion she’d wore one of those days. I’m pretty sure he got the hint when Brass and Reaper took him outside for a smoke after they saw me take a step towards him. I don’t flaunt our relationship in front of the club, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that she’s my woman.
A knock on the door awakenings me from my thoughts and my brother, Rocky, walks in.
“Hey Prez, I need some signatures,” he says shoving the documents on my desk in front of me. I know he’s mad when he calls me Prez and not by my road or legal name.
“How’s your day going, Bub?” I reach for them, scanning them over.
“Fine,” he huffs, crossing his arms.
I lean back in my chair giving him my full attention.
“You want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“Mom, won’t let me have my own house,” he states, mad. “She thinks I’m a baby and can’t take care of myself.” He stomps his foot and I have to school my face.
Melissa is the best thing to ever happen to our family years after our mom was killed. She’s never tried to replace our mom but became a female we could rely on when Dad was being an asshole and unreasonable. She’s really stepped up with Rocky. She does mother and try to shelter him a bit too much, but it’s always in a loving way.
“We talked about this, remember? It’s a big responsibility to live by yourself. There are a lot of things that could go wrong if you forget to shut off the stove or lock your door at night,” I try to remind him.
He’s wanted his own place for a while which I don’t have a problem with, but I don’t think he’s ready just yet.
“I do my chores every day and don’t mess up,” he argues, then shoves his glasses back up his nose when they slide down from all the hand gestures he’s throwing around.
He has been doing a good job lately at the shop. I make sure to give him several tasks on top of his regular jobs to challenge him and so far he’s been accomplishing them. Maybe I can talk with Melissa and Dad to figure something out where he has a small place on the compound he can stay at for a few nights during the week.
“I’ll talk with Melissa and Dad,” I say to compromise, and he immediately perks up. Seeing him smile and happy makes me want to give him the world. “You excited about Blaze coming home?”
“You bet!” he flips the switch on his attitude. “Gonna take him for a shake.”
“He’ll love that.”
The sun is peeking out over the horizon as we wait outside the barbwire chain-link fence, it brings back the memories of when I released from prison. I had just turned twenty years old and did two years for having a small amount of drugs on me. I’d only been in the club for a year after prospecting and was out on a run with three other brothers. We got stopped and I was able to unload most of my shit before the backup had arrived. Since the others weren’t so lucky they each got five years, Bulldog being one of them. It was my first offense, and I should have only gotten a slap on the wrist, but the judge was up for reelection and put the hammer on us. It was a hard two years, but I learned a lot and when I got out, I was completely different then when I went in.
A horn blasts over the speakers, and we watch as the metal gate opens granting a few men to walk out together. Blaze is the last to come out, and he’s wearing a white shirt with his worn out jeans along with riding boots.
“I don’t think I have ever been this fucking happy to see all your ugly mugs in all my life!” he spouts off as everyone joins in greeting him.
He’s gained some muscle while inside and it looks good on him. His dirty blond hair is buzzed cut, and he resembles a young teenager. I’m the last one at the end of the line, and hold him a little longer and a little tighter than any others. This was his first time inside, and I know how that can change some people. Blaze has a wife and child now and being away must’ve been hard for him. We’ve got some strong connections inside to make sure we’re treated well so I know he was good.
“It’s good to see you, baby brother,” I say when I finally release him, but keep my hand on his shoulder.
“You too, bro! I can honestly say I don’t want to go back anytime soon.”
“We ready to get the fuck outta here?” one of the brothers yell from the bikes.
