“One thing is for fuckin’ sure. I can’t abandon her, put her in a half-built clubhouse or ask her to sleep on a cot for months on end while I’m working on making my dreams come true.”
“That goes without saying. I don’t think she’d go for that anyway.”
“And I can’t leave her alone, Flint. Not with the trauma she’s carrying around in her head from that night on the beltline.”
I take a breath and say what I’ve been thinking since Mica first offered him the position of Road Captain.
“I can look out for her. She trusts me and you do too. We already agreed to offer her a job at the shop. If you’re gonna be busy at the Vultures clubhouse, I’ll actually need to hire someone for the front counter.”
Tommy’s expression turns hopeful. “She’s really personable and smart too. It wouldn’t take her long to catch on.”
“Well, that’s our answer. We need to go back to the farmhouse, sit down together and tell her what’s going on. The vote, Mica, the offer, all of it. She’s twenty-two years old, and she’s gonna want a say in what her life looks like while you’re gone. We can’t make decisions and just expect her to go along with it.”
“She’s gonna tell me to go. I already know she won’t want to hold me back.”
“I’ll be working with her all day and keep an eye on her the rest of the time. My word is my oath. You already know that about me.”
“I know,” he says slowly. “I just feel like I’m asking everyone to rearrange their life around mine. And I don’t know how fair that is.”
“But it’s somehow okay for you to rearrange your life around all of us? Come on, bro. You are smarter than that.”
“Come with me,” he says. “I want her to hear this from both of us. You’re right about her trusting you, Flint. And I need her to know that you’re serious about being there for her. I need her to know we’re making this decision together as a family, and you’re family. You’ve always been family to me and Jules.”
Something moves in my chest when he calls me family. I’ve always felt that way about the two of them but never said anything. This is not the moment to analyze it. “I’ll come with you, brother. We might as well get to your house and get this over with.”
As we ride back, I think about how this all went down. Tommy is my best friend, my brother. He’s well worth taking onthe extra responsibility of looking after his sister. I’d do it gladly. Although I’ve never really thought of her as my little sister but I’ve thought of her as a kid. I still do at times. She’s only twenty-two years old and as innocent as the day is long.
Chapter 6
Jules
I’m at the kitchen table with my sketchbook open when I hear the sound of two motorcycles approaching. That usually means Flint’s coming for a visit. I can’t help but smile at that unexpected surprise.
Glancing at my watch I see it’s barely half past six. Tommy doesn’t usually get home from the clubhouse before eight on Saturdays.
My cat, who has been curled in my lap, lifts her head. She’s easily spooked since those assholes messed with her. Before I can fall into memories of what prompted me to come back home, my brother calls my name.
“Jules? Where are you?”
“I’m in the kitchen.”
I fluff my hair and hope I look presentable. I’ve been working on the face again, the one that everybody says isn’t Mr. Allen but I know it is. I haven’t been able to stop drawing him. Maybe if I get it out of my system, he won’t haunt my dreams anymore.
Tommy walks in first with Flint at his heels. Neither of them looks like their normal selves and I’m instantly on alert.
“Hey,” I say carefully. “You two look like something the cat dragged home. What’s going on?”
Tommy droops down in the chair across from me. Flint stays standing, hovering around near the sink. He’s so awkward sometimes.
“Why aren’t you wearing your cut? Where is it?” I ask.
He frowns at me. Something about his expression gives a hint of hurt feelings. “I turned it in,” he replies.
“You what? I thought you loved the Sons MC.”
“This morning Flint nominated me for my patch. I didn’t get enough votes and that means I’m not a prospect anymore. I’m not associated with the Sons anymore.”
My mouth drops open because I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The silence seems heavy and filled with all kinds of emotions.
