“Everything okay?” I ask, trying to mask the panic in my voice.
Ever since my dad was diagnosed, I can’t help but feel terror when anyone mentions going to a doctor’s appointment.
Prairie stands and offers me a soft smile. “Everything is fine, sweetheart. Don’t worry. It’s just a routine appointment, I promise. I’m not sick.”
Relief fills me.
“Okay.” I stand and walk him to the door.
“Don’t make yourself a stranger, you hear me? We miss you around the clubhouse,” he says as he steps outside.
“I’ll come by soon,” I promise.
I watch him walk down the drive and get on his bike, waving as he drives away.
Shutting the door, I sigh, looking around the room. My eyes catch on a photo from years ago. Smiling, I walk over to it and pick it up.
I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was ten and begged him for months to take me to the amusement park. Dad might have been a badass, but he hated rollercoasters. That day, though, he rode every one because he knew I loved them. In the photo, he looks as white as a ghost. My hair is messy, ponytail falling out, and chocolate smeared on my face, but he looks at me with so much love as I beam at the camera.
Why, Dad? Why?
It’s so hard to comprehend that the man who did everything with me, who tried his hardest to make me independent, made me marry a man in the disguise of safety.
I want to trust in his decision, but it’s hard.
“I hope you’re happy, Dad,” I mutter as I set the photo down.
You got your wish.
Ridge
Taking a deep breath, I relax into my chair as my brothers filter in. Panther takes a seat at the head of the table with Eagle on his left. Once all of us officers are in the room, Meek shuts the door before sitting down.
“Church is in session,” Panther rumbles. “Who wants to start?”
Talon looks around before sighing. “I guess I will. Money is good. The bar reno has taken more of our budget than we expected it would, but that’s normal.”
“That’s why we had the emergency fund,” Eagle says.
Talon nods. “Exactly. Anyway, I think we will make up for the cost soon enough. If my projections are correct, we will pay it off within the first six months.”
“That would be good,” Panther tells him. “Anything else?”
“Yeah, I split the money we got from the fundraiser into two, like we discussed. Donated half to the hospital and the other to cancer research.” Talon turns toward me. “I put the donation in Mustang’s name. I figured it would be a good way to honor him. I’m sure Rain would love to know.”
I nod. “Thank you, and I’ll let you tell her yourself the next time she comes by.”
“Of course,” Talon says before looking back at Panther. “That’s all I have.”
“Meek, what do you have for me?”
Meek adjusts his glasses. “Several things, actually. First things first, everything is quiet. No hits on any of us or our club as a whole.”
“Even with the FBI?” Panther asks.
“Right now, they have bigger fish to fry dealing with the cartels. I’m sure they will circle back around to us when the time comes, but for now, we are good,” Meek says.
“It helps that we aren’t one-percenters,” Falcon, our sergeant, says.
