Page 90
“He looks less sad,” Ali adds and I sigh as I step away from the couches.
“Y’all need to get control of your women,” I call as I turn toward Blaze’s office and the girls all laugh.
“Listen, brother. The sooner you realize that’s never going to happen, the easier your life will be.”
I stop and turn to face them. “Yeah? Well, then… Storm, I can’t wait to meet Magnolia.”
“Absolutely fucking not!” he yells and I grin as I turn around and walk to Blaze’s office, knocking on the door.
“Yeah,” he calls and I open the door.
“You got a minute?”
He glances up from the paperwork in his hand and nods before pointing to the chair across from him. “Have a seat.”
The yelling from the bar area is loud even after I close the door and he scowls. “What the hell is going on out there?”
“Storm and Ali,” I mutter and he sighs.
“You know, that girl is family now but I’ll be glad when she’s not staying here.”
I laugh. “Don’t let Storm hear you say that.”
“Boy, I wasn’t born yesterday,” he mutters before grinning. “Now, what can I help you with?”
Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and prop my elbows on my knees. “Um, it’s my brother… I need to find a rehab for him and I need help getting him there.”
“Wow,” Blaze whispers, his eyes wide. For years, I’ve refused the help of the club as I tried to fix things all on my own but I know now that I can’t do this by myself. “This is huge. Does it have anything to do with the girl Ali says you met?”
“Quinn?… Yeah. She’s opened my eyes in a lot of ways.”
He nods. “Sounds serious.”
I pull the two carat cushion cut diamond ring that I’ve been carrying around for the last two days out of my pocket and lay it on the table. Blaze’s eyes widen and he lets out a whistle.
“Damn, kid. You dropped some serious coin for that ring.”
I nod. “She’s worth it.”
“I don’t doubt that she is. Does she know everything about you, your past, and what’s going on with your brother?”
“Yeah,” I answer with a nod. “I told her everything last night and she lost both of her parents when she and her sister were little so she understands me in ways that y’all never could… no offense.”
He holds his hands up. “None taken, but you know we just wanted to help.”
“I do know that and now I’m asking for it.”
He turns to the filing cabinet and digs around for a second before pulling out a folder. As soon as he opens it, I recognize the rehab facility on top. When the club decided to go legit all those years ago, Blaze’s actions weighed heavy on him and there was a time when we helped the people that we had once sold drugs to as some sort of penance. Blaze slaps his hand down on the folder and stands.
“Leave it to me and I’ll find the best place I can for your brother, okay?”
I grab the ring off the table and slip it back into my pocket before shaking his hand. “Thanks, Prez.”
“Your family is our family, Smith. Always has been, always will be.”
