I wasn’t expecting any less from him. “In my eyes, they’ve proven themselves to be worthy of wearing the patch. They're strong, and they’re not afraid to protect and fight for this club.” I could go on all night but deep down, every brother here already knows it.
“My only concern is they’re reckless,” JJ states.
Grinning, I say, “No more than we were.”
“They have us beat, brother, and you know it.” He laughs.
“Who’s in favor of Roman and Wolf earning their patch and their place at our table.”
Dad: Aye.
JJ: Aye.
Bam: Aye.
Gunner: Aye.
Sparky: Aye.
Mason: Aye.
Myles: Aye.
Joey: Aye.
Damon: Aye.
Aye’s float around the room and I slam the gavel down. It’s official, my boys are now Lost Souls, and I couldn’t be prouder.
They've always known they could choose another path to live, but like me and Luca, this shit is in their blood. I've known since they were ten years old, that they would grow up to walk in my world.
“Call them in.”
Bam opens the door and hollers their names. I've spent years raising them into the young men they are, and I know more than most that they are ready.
They walk in and while Roman holds his cockiness together, Wolf is wearing his usual shit-eating grin. He's been my son since I scribbled my signature on the adoption papers, I treated him no different to Rayna or Roman. I gave him the same life I would have if he had been my blood. But his own blood shines through every now and then. His grin is his father’s, and I’ve let him know it over the years. I like that he has something from Shane. It keeps him alive.
I stand and collect the patches from the drawer off to the side of the room. They stand side by side, their chins held high. I don’t hide my pride and grin straight back at them.
“Tonight, my sons, you collect on everything you’ve worked for over the last year. You know what it means to be a Lost Soul, and in turn, you know what is expected of you both. Is this what you both still want?”
They both nod and I slap their patches against their chests. They take them and I pull them both in against me.
“You’ve done me proud, you little shits.”
“Thanks, Dad,” they murmur simultaneously.
Releasing them, I say, “Get them sewn on and don’t get anyone pregnant when you celebrate tonight. I'm not old enough to be a grandpa.”
“Fuck that, I'm not old enough to be a great grandpa,” Dad calls over.
Brothers cheer and my boys are welcomed into the fold. I step back and watch on.
“Is this what you felt like when you patched me into the club?”
“It was an honor to bring my blood under the patch. No matter what’s happened over the years, I've never regretted a fuckin’ thing.”
“Can’t say I feel the same, I've got a few regrets that still haunt me to this day, but my boys... they’re the future.”
