Page 2 of Thunder

“Fuck, I’m glad our women aren’t like this,” he chuckles as he walks over, and Ink laughs and heads over to his brother, who probably either allowed a woman too close or broke something of his old lady’s again.

She can’t be pregnant again because the punishment is too tame…

“You mean except for Molly?” I remind him, and he winces, probably remembering the massive PVA glue balloon bomb that landed on his head at the club's diner, but was meant for Ace because Molly felt a little insecure.

What started as her trying to get him to fire her after he forced her to waitress at the diner when she wrecked his bike. Or more like was pushed into the bike by her horrid stepsister, turned into her reminding him that she needed him. Every time, he doesn’t get angry, instead, Ace cleans off and sits with her while she works in the diner's kitchen.

Their love is something I only dreamed of having, but I’ve never been that lucky.

All the women in town know brothers are settling down. They are aware I’m one of the last brothers standing, except for a few newly patched brothers who are nowhere near ready to settle down. They all only want me to get my leather. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve dabbled, I’ve enjoyed the attention, but fuck, it’s getting old, I’m getting old.

“Molly is a sweetheart, and technically, that balloon was meant for Ace,” he mutters, and I hum as I look back at Allan and notice him taking pictures while the other prospects are preoccupied, and I groan, “You got a sedative on you, Doc?”

I know he does, he always carries them as a precaution.

“Why?” he questions, and I nod to Allan, causing him to follow my head nod, and he curses as the idiot prospect moves his phone around like he’s recording.

Fucking hell.

Putting his hand in his cut pocket, Doc grabs the sedative, and I grumble, “These prospects are getting fucking annoying…” and Doc snorts as he hands over the needle.

Time for Allan to go nighty fucking night.

***

Laughter echoes around me four hours later, and I smile slightly as Cole, Trigger's son, and Caleb, Dirty's son, run after Lyra, Dirty's adoptive daughter, their grins as big as a fucking house, bringing me some joy despite feeling disconnected.

The kids, they’re the club's future and I fucking love them to pieces, I just… fuck.

I feel like I need to leave for a while, to go for a ride. Which is fucked up considering I’ve just spent years trying to keep this club together. I’ve been the one trying to keep the brothers from trying to blame the club for all their problems, but I think I need space. I need to find me again, the fun-loving uncle and brother because that guy, he’s nowhere to be seen. I know the pain in my shoulder and knee isn’t helping my mood, then add in the not sleeping because of the pain.

I feel a body sit next to me on the swing bench before a head lays on my shoulder. I smile as I press a kiss against my sister's caramel hair before watching the kids play while their parents chat.

“Where are the kids?” I ask Brittany.

“With Canine inside, Asher thought you needed me,” she murmurs as she links her arm through mine. I sigh as I eye Doc from near the BBQ, his eyes solely on me, concern etching off him.

Now why am I not surprised?

“Guess nothing gets past him, huh?” I mumble, and she snorts, “Nope…” then demands, “Talk to me, or I’ll go grab the bat.”

My lips twitch as I watch the kids, my mind running so fucking fast I feel like it’s going to explode.

I killed Allan, gave him an overdose, then dumped his body after confirming all evidence of our club was gone. He isn’t the first person I’ve killed, most likely won’t be the last. I’m struggling with this kill. Don’t get me wrong, he knew too much, he needed to be silenced, but fuck, this is just getting harder now.

“Bradley,” Brittany whispers and I sigh.

I’ve grown up with Brit, I always knew she was my sister, my family, even if not by blood. Her mama had an affair with my dad, but her mama hated the fucking club. I mean despised it, blamed it for her husband, who was a cop, being killed because of her association. The woman basically trapped Brittany in her family home the house I grew up in wasn’t really my home.

Kathleen knew I wanted to join the club, she knew Dad was pushing for me to join and she hated it. Fuck, if she had it her way Dad wouldn’t even be a part of it and when they got married, Dad agreed to keep club life separate. He even moved us from our home behind the club to hers. I guess the woman didn’t expect Brittany to fall in love with Doc after Dad asked him to pick some documents up.

She now comes to the club, but you could see the disdain, the same look I got growing up, especially if I called her mama. The same look she currently has as she stands next to Dad, who is laughing with Canine.

“I think I need to leave for a little while, little sister,” I whisper, and she tenses, but I don’t take my eyes off the kids.

“You haven’t been yourself. I've noticed, so has Dad and Asher, but to leave?” she murmurs, and I clench my jaw at the sadness in her tone.

I thought I hid shit well, but I guess I didn’t.