Chapter 29

Mayhem

 

The break was a welcomed relief, but I’m glad to be home. I have some things I want to handle, and Tay’s dad is one of them. I haven’t figured out a full plan of action yet. However, I do know that I want him to stay the hell away from her.

“You talked it out with her?” my dad asks me after I ran my idea past him.

“Nope. Don’t need to. I don’t give a shit if she agrees or not.” I take a long pull from my beer before kicking my boots up on the table in front of me. “The way I see it? She’s mine. I can make those decisions.”

My dad cocks his head to the side, an amused look crossing his face. “That so? You claimin’ her the right way?”

I run my hand through my hair. I’ve thought this over. Long and fucking hard, too. “Not yet. She knows her place with me, Pop. I just need a little more time to adjust, you know?” I give him an honest answer. This is a hard choice for me to make. I didn’t know if I’d ever find a woman again. I wasn’t looking for one, but Tay just fell into my lap. I know I care about her. I don’t love her. I won’t lie and say that I do either. I’m just not ready to take her on as an old lady and all that it entails.

My dad sighs, running his hand down his face. “As long as she’s good with her place, so am I.”

I look up to see the smile on his face. He looks happy.

“I’ve missed you, Son. I mean that. You’ve always had a hard head, but for a while there I thought we were losin’ you. I don’t know if I can handle that.”

I throw my feet back to the floor and stand. I walk over to him and throw my arms around him.

“You’re never gonna lose me, Pop. I’m too much of an ass to just leave you.” He returns my embrace but laughs at the same time.

“Enough of this girly shit. Sit down and tell me what your thoughts are on her dad.”

Shit. I’m not even sure what my thoughts are on him. I know he doesn’t deserve her.

“I don’t know, man. He wanted to send her back to Rome. That’s why she called Brooke for help. After she told him no, he told her to get out.” I reach up and pull my hair back, tying it in place.

“He called and let me know that she was out. Didn’t say much else. Before Brooke showed up with her here, I figured he tried to get rid of her again. I think we need to set some guys up and see who exactly we’re dealin’ with so we can go from there. I don’t know who the fuck is messin’ with him.” My dad seems a little off by all that. He doesn’t like not knowing things, especially if it involves the club. Tay is now club property and will be protected as such.

“Let’s do that. I was wonderin’ the same shit.”

He nods his head and grabs his phone.

“I’ll get some calls out. Keep her close for now, though. We don’t want any fuckin’ surprises. Get the girls to go shoppin’, and we’ll cook out later. Give us all a little break.”

I smile up at my dad. This man has been the one solid thing in my life. Even when my mom split, dad stepped up to the plate to be both parents. He’s done the best he could with us. Hell, he practically raised me, Tic, and Declan after Dec’s dad died. He’s a good man who deserves a good life.

“What about you, Pop?” I ask. His eyes meet mine, and I can see the confusion in them.

“Me what?”

“When are you gonna find you an old lady and calm down?” I ask with a smile on my face. I love my dad. I always have, and I want to see him happy.

“Worry about you, Son. I got me.” He laughs.

“Kenderly got anything to do with that smile?” We all suspect it, but I don’t think he’s messing with her. That goes against all our club’s rules.

His face hardens as he glares at me. “How many club laws does that break?” He grinds his teeth. Shit, I hit a nerve.

“More than one,” I grumble.

“Exactly. Take that shit outta my office.” There he is - the ruthless man I know him to be. I knew my Pop was a hardass since I was little, but I also get to see the vulnerable side of him at times.

“You know I’m only fuckin’ with you, old man.” I shove out of the chair as he chuckles.

“Old man? I could take you on any day.” He laughs. I bet he could.

“Not likely,” I say as I pull the door closed behind me.

“You good?” Dec asks when I walk down the hall.

“Yeah, why?”

“You look different. Almost happy. That’s a fuckin’ scary sight to see.” Declan laughs when I slap him in the chest.

“I’m gettin’ there. Don’t go thinkin’ that changes shit, though. I’ll still kill at the drop of a fuckin’ dime.” Dec shakes his head with a smile.

“What was shit like down South?” he asks as we walk out the side door and into the hot California sun.

“Shit’s insane, brother. I don’t know how any of them have old lady’s over there. They just fuck, suck, and dump them whores like they are yesterday’s trash. Heard Ruger was headin’ this way soon.” Dec’s eyes widen a little. He and Ruger have always been at odds. I never understood why, but they never got along all that well.

“That motherfucker better have a good reason.” He lights up a cigarette and leans against the wall.

“You ever gonna tell me what the hell happened with you two?” I’m interested to know now.

“Fuck! Might as well if he’s gonna be hangin’ around here.” Dec flicks the ash from his cigarette before looking back up at me. “Heard he’s my half-brother.” Holy motherfucking shit!

“How the fuck! Who else knows?” I ask.

“Blu. That’s it. We didn’t take that shit past the office, man. Didn’t want any drama out of it.” I nod my head understanding that.

“You know I got your back on whatever you wanna do. Just say the words,” I tell him truthfully.

“Glad you’re back, motherfucker, glad you’re back.”