“I don’t want no goddamn deal, Rager. I arranged this marriage between you and my niece because I wanted her protected and properly cared for.” Jabbing his finger in the air, he adds, “Your club was supposed to be stable, able to protect her businesses and the border between our territory.”
My old man breaks into the conversation. “What I’m hearing you say is that you didn’t have anything to do with this latest round of what the fuck.”
“You’re damn right about that, Rock. I’m not trying to take any damn thing that belonged to my fuckin’ brother. We talked about it years ago. I told him to leave it to his granddaughter. He wanted her to have a good life and built businesses she could manage when she grew up. He started her working at that damn trucking company the day she turnedsixteen because he wanted to train her up, so when the time came, she would know all about the business and be able to run it on her own. That damn custom chopper shop has a competent and trustworthy manager. It’s meant to generate income to support her growing family.”
He pauses in the conversation and then tacks on his final point. “After he died, I fucking looked high and low for her a good, trustworthy husband. Someone from a good, grounded one percent club. Nova is book smart, so when I found Mica was an accountant, it seemed like the perfect match. I gave her what she needed, not what she wanted because I knew that if you give a woman a good man, love and respect will grow.”
A long silence spins out in the room. We’re all clearly looking at this situation from our own perspectives. After hearing Cray’s impassioned speech, I’m thinking he might not be involved after all.
My old man says, “Slate. What do you think?”
Without hesitation, my brother answers, “He’s telling the truth, every single word.”
Cray’s expression shifts to something close to amusement. “What are you, boy? A truthsayer?”
Slate frowns. “I’m the guy who’s gonna beat your ass if you call me a boy one more time.”
Our old man quickly interjects, “Slate can always tell when someone’s lying. So far, he’s never been wrong.”
Cray and Rock get into a lively discussion about that, and the conversation drifts away from talking about the only subject that interests me, which is who burned down Nova’strucking company office. I wait patiently for their conversation to die down before asking, “I get that you weren’t involved and apologize for thinking you might be, but I have one final question.”
“Bring it, Mica. I’ll answer any question you put to me because I ain’t got nothin’ to hide.”
“Do you have any idea who might have a reason to want that trucking company to fail?”
“No, but I wish that I did. I’d go after them myself. I’m pissed that someone thinks that just because my brother ain’t here to protect her, they can just mess her shit the fuck up.”
I tell him, “This feels like the way Viper used to strike out. He would slash and burn when people least expected it.”
“You might wanna look at Mac. Maybe he’s upset that your club is taking over Vulture’s territory. Maybe he wanted it for himself?”
“Nah. Mac never wanted to run a club. Plus, he’d be destroying his own livelihood by burning down Nova’s businesses. She sent you a message by the way. One I’d prefer to deliver in private.”
My old man and brothers take that as their cue to leave us to it. With the jerk of his chin, Cray sends his two officers away as well.
“Now, what is it that Nova wants me to know?” Cray asks quietly.
“She wanted you to know that she spoke up for you. She said you were family and would never try to hurt her.” I pause fora second and add, “She also wanted you to know that arranging a marriage with me was the best thing that ever happened to her.”
His expression brightens, but when I tack on that last bit of self-promotion, he snorts a laugh. “I believe you added that last bit on yourself. But tell my niece that I appreciate her loyalty and she’s welcome to visit my home any time she wants. My door is always open to the two of you.”
I pause for a second before bringing up the subject I’m not ready to mention in front of my family yet. “I’ve been thinking of starting my own club, one that honors what your brother started as well as where I come from. How would you feel about that, Cray?”
His eyes light up like I’ve never seen on this grumpy old biker. “Tell me more about what you’re thinkin’, son.”
“Maybe something along the lines of Raging Vultures. Something that’s allied with both your club and my old man’s but not a chapter of either. I’m ready for a new challenge and I think it would make Nova happy to see her old man’s club name live on.”
Cray’s mouth falls open for a second before a genuine smile tugs up the corners of his mouth. “I think that would be a mighty fine idea. I’ll be sure to tell Vulture all about it the next time I visit his grave.”
He glances at the door my family just walked through and lowers his voice, “Do you think Rock is gonna go for that?”
“I suspect it might cause him some real angst, but my best guess is he’ll come around in the end.”
“You certainly have my support. Since I haven’t had a chance to say it yet, welcome to the family, son.”
When he reaches out his hand, I shake it. This is the closest thing to acceptance I’ll ever get with Nova’s family and it’s enough to leave me a little choked up. I leave more convinced than ever that striking out on my own is the right course of action for me.
Chapter 13
