“Hey, Devil, you got a minute?” Diesel asks as I walk through the doors of the garage. I’ve been back home now for well over a month and I’m slowly starting to feel like my old self again. Whatever spell Torrent had on me during our brief time together is finally lifting.

“What’s up, man?” I ask, walking over to him.

“It’s about the shootout at the old marina around three weeks ago. You remember it?”

“Fury updated me on it. We going to deliver a message to the club that was in our territory?” I ask.

When news first filtered in through our contacts in the local police department about what happened, I know Diesel had Crusher checking it out. Nothing more had really been said about it, so I figured he’d decided to let it go. It’s not like him, but his head has been elsewhere lately.

“I met with the leader last week while you and Crusher were in Kentucky at Dragon’s. The way I figure it, they’ve lost enough and they’re already back in Nashville. Wolf seems like a good enough guy. Can’t hurt to keep friendly with them for now.”

“Then what’s up?”

“As a show of good faith, I’m going to go down for the ceremony of the man they lost.”

“It was one of their men that died? Our contact said four died,” I remind him.

“Yeah. Three were from a low level gang. They don’t have real ties here. According to Wolf, their former president’s daughter was in the area and this gang tracked her down and kidnapped her. The club came up quickly to retaliate and that’s why they didn’t bother with protocol.”

“Fuck. I’m never having kids.”

“I wouldn’t give anything for Ryan, Ese, but kids make you damn vulnerable. You have too much to lose when it comes to them. It’s one of the reasons I’m thinking of turning the reins over to Crusher.”

“You love the club, man.”

“I do. You guys are my family, but I need to do what I can to protect Ryan and being the leader of this club puts a mark on me.”

I rub the back of my neck as I think over Diesel’s words. I’d like to argue with him, but honestly, I’m not sure I can. I’ve never had kids; I’ve never had anyone that made me that vulnerable. If I did? I can’t say I wouldn’t be considering the same exact thing. I’m not about to speak out of my ass and offer him advice either. I haven’t lived Diesel’s life and I sure as hell haven’t walked in his shoes. His decisions need to be his own.

“So we’re headed to Nashville?” I ask instead.

“Well, more to the point, Murfreesboro.”

“You okay to leave Ryan?”

“Yeah, Dani will keep him. He’s comfortable with them and he and Dakota get along really well. Besides, if I don’t take a break from being a dad for a bit, I’m going to go insane. We’ll just be gone one night—two tops.”

“When are you wanting to leave?”

“They’re going to have a send-off for him tomorrow. It won’t be a long trip, so we can leave early in the morning. That work for you?”

“Yeah man. I’ll be ready to go. Maybe you’ll do yourself a favor and get laid while we’re away. I’m starting to think the Pope has more sex than you do.”

“He probably does,” Diesel mutters. “Shit, I doubt I even know how to pick up a woman anymore.”

“Aww fuck, that’s easy. It’s like riding a bike.”

“You mean once you do it, you don’t forget?”

“Nah. I mean you tell a woman some bullshit about how they’re special, then hop on them and ride them like a bike.”

“Jesus, you’re such an asshole.”

“That’s me. But I ain’t lying. Maybe while I’m there, if the old man’s daughter isn’t a total barker I’ll let her pour her heart out to me about everything she’s been through and let her comfort herself by sucking my dick,” I say with a wink.

Diesel shakes his head and starts to walk away.

“Try keeping it in your pants. I got the feeling the new President is sweet on the girl. Last thing I need is for your dick to cause a club war.”

“Shit man, my dick is easy going. If I can’t play with her, I’ll find another chick. He’s not particular and he only gets mean if he doesn’t get petted.”

“You’re a fucking loon, Devil,” Diesel yells over his shoulder as he exits the garage. I smile because at least I made the bastard laugh and that’s better than the misery I see on his face most of the time.