Chapter 11

 

I called a meeting with the club to make some decisions. I don’t know how well they are going to take any of this, but it’s worth a try.

“We all know Everleigh is still here.” Roc snickers next to me until I cut my eyes at him. Yeah, that shut his ass up for a minute.

“There’s a situation with that shit, too. She’s the wife of the goddam police Captain.” Ghost lets out a whistle before Devil speaks saying, “Since when do we vote on pussy? You want it Dragon Man; it’s yours.” Everyone turns to look at the idiot as he grins.

“Ain’t about that, smartass. It’s about the club and what’s best for it. We don’t need any more shit comin’ in here from the local PD. We got Wiley’s dumb ass for that. However, she can’t be sent out on the street either.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I don’t want her to go anywhere.

“So, what’s the goddamn vote about? Clearly, I’m fuckin’ confused.” Ghost pipes up yet again.

“The goddamn vote is what we do with her. Hand her off to another club? Put her ass on a bus outta here?” I ask because I don’t know what the hell to do. Shrugging my shoulders, they all look at me as though I’ve lost my mind.

“Am I fuckin’ missin’ somethin’ here?” Devil says as he shoves out of his chair. The guys all laugh, but I don’t get where he’s going with this.

“Again I ask. Since when do we vote on pussy around here? You have an obvious attraction to the girl. Why are we even debatin’ sendin’ her away? I don’t think I’ve seen you smile this much since I’ve known your hateful ass.” The guys all laugh, which doesn’t help the situation at all.

“We vote because unless you’re fuckin’ deaf or dumb, I just told you. She’s the PD Captains wife!” I roar, slamming my hands onto the table in front of me, they all stop.

“I don’t give one shit who she is. He beat her! He hit his own kid! Fuck him! He has no fuckin’ play in this, Dragon. This call is on you!” Ghost screams at me. He is highly pissed. He stands up, his chair slamming to the floor behind him before he storms from the room.

Blowing out a breath, I guess that’s my vote. My head spins with everything I have to deal with right now. This run was easy, which I’m grateful for.

“Here’s the cash. See you in a month.” Nodding, I toss the bag over my shoulder, making my way back to my bike.

Running shit since Cambridge is out has been hectic. A lot of drops but for the most part, they have been worthwhile.

“You wanna talk about that shit?” Ghost asks me. I think we’ve played out that whole conversation about Everleigh now.

“Dragon, come the fuck on! There has to be somethin’ you wanna say here.” Turning on my heel, I glare at Ghost.

“What do you want me to say, Ghost? That I feel somethin’ when I’m around her? Fine! I feel somethin’! That doesn’t change who she is, though.” I grab my helmet and slide it on before Ghost grabs my arm. Pissing me off a little further, I rip the helmet from my head, tossing it with the bag to the ground. Rounding on him, I slam my fist into his face. Ghost stumbles back only slightly before coming back at me with a punch of his own. We both get some good ones when he speaks again.

“You want to throw somethin’ good away because you’re scared! Fuckin’ do it, but don’t you dare try to make us vote on that shit! That’s all on you, Dragon! You scared to lose her too? Huh? Is that it? Don’t be a fuckin’ pussy and take the easy way out of that shit!” Wiping the blood from his lip, he grabs his helmet. Before I can even register anything else, he’s gone.

Is he right, though? Is that what I’m afraid of? Losing her, like I did Maggie and Emily? 

 

***

Riding back to the clubhouse alone has given me a little time to think. I’ve only known her for a few weeks. It doesn’t make sense to start a war with the local PD over a few friendly fucks. I may feel something different when I’m near her, but that doesn’t change the facts. Pulling into the clubhouse, I see Ghost and Devil smoking by the front door. I know I owe him an apology.  I cut the engine off as Devil walks toward me.

“You done bein’ a dipshit?” Devil says as he looks me in the eye. At first, I think he’s playing, but I can see now that he’s not.

“I won’t bring the local PD down on this club over a girl, Devil. You guys deserve better than that. I’m not a selfish person. I can’t keep that girl here knowin’ that shit could turn on all of us.” Devil scrubs his hand over his head, glancing around until coming back to me.

“That’s the thing, Dragon. We’ve been talkin’ about that shit. If you think she means somethin’ to you, keep her here. We can handle that Captain bitch.” The way Devil’s eyes light up, I know we can.

“Just one question.” He adds. Nodding, I knew there was something more.

“You think she’s worth it?” I let that settle in me for a second. From what I know about Everleigh, she is worth it. She’s more than worth it.

“I’d say yeah, but I don’t know that she’d agree with me. I don’t know where her head’s at.” Devil nods, pulling a cigarette from his jacket.

“Then we ask her. This isn’t just about us guys, Dragon. We’d be draggin’ the girls and kids into a world of shit, too. If one of us goes down, there are others here. You get what I mean?” He’s right. If I don’t know where her head is at, I won’t go for this.

“I got you. We’ll talk to her, see where she’s at.” Devil grins.

“You deserve to be happy too, Dragon. I’d be fuckin’ honored to take out her man.”  As much as I’d like to say I’m not nervous, that’d be a fucking lie.

The guys and girls are all here, crowded around the fucking table. I swear it looks like Everleigh is on trial or some shit.

She looks around at everyone, and I can tell she’s nervous.

“Dragon, go outside for a minute.” My eyes jerk to Devil’s as he smirks at me. Son of a bitch. I don’t know if leaving her to the wolves is a good idea.

I guess we’ll see what she’s made of, though.

With a quick nod, I shove out of my chair and out the door.

Haylee spots me as soon as I close the door.

“Dragon!” She comes running, jumping into my arms. It’s like a tiny piece of heaven.

“What are you doin’ out here?” Walking toward the couch, I drop down with her in my arms.

“I was playin’ but Jordan got tired. Are you my new dad?” She asks me, throwing me off balance. Swallowing hard, I shake my head.

“I don’t think you can replace dad’s like that, sweetheart.” Her smile fades. It rips me up seeing that smile gone.

“You don’t want to be my dad?” Her eyes plead with me for an answer. An answer I don’t know how to give.

“You know what? I got somethin’ for you.” Shifting her, I reach into my pocket and pull out a small locket that I’ve kept there.

Putting it around Haylee’s neck, I almost cry.

“What’s this?” She asks as her fingers come to rest on the tiny heart that hangs there.

“I had a little girl once. She was almost your age when she died. She would wear this all the time to think about me. Would you keep it safe for now?”

Haylee gazes up at me with such a sweet expression on her face, I almost melt.

“I will, I promise.” Wrapping her arms around my neck, I hug her tightly.

What the hell am I doing?