Chapter Five

50 years old

THIS YEAR IS A BIG YEAR FOR THE WILD KINGS MC. Grim has been President of the club for a few years now. Well, if I’m honest, the next generation has been leading the club for the last few years. They began taking our seats once Ace was killed. It was a horrible tragedy to lose my best friend, but Alana and the kids helped me move on with my life. To say it was an adjustment was an understatement of the year.

Grim has been looking at different locations to move the club to. It was a club decision to get away from where we’ve been since the conception of the Wild Kings. There’s too many memories here that we need distance from. Not to mention that Grim has the club heading down a different path now. One that’s legit and open to helping our neighbors and community members more. I think that Ace would be very proud of the man that Grim has become and the direction that he’s taking the club in.

Over the last almost twenty years the men that started the club with Ace and I have died, gone to jail, had kids, and just moved on with their lives. I’m the only one that’s left from the original members. It’s hard to imagine what this club would’ve been without the men that were closer to me than any blood relative could’ve been. Some of the guys leading the next generation of the club are sons of the men that started it while others are friends that the boys made in school and various sports they played. These boys instantly became our family and decided to join the club with their best friends.

So, today we begin packing up the past and loading it in various vans, trucks, and other vehicles to move to a little town called Clifton Falls. It’s a small town and no one there will know the club or what we used to do to earn money. While I wouldn’t say that the Wild Kings were a one percent club, we didn’t exactly deal in legal activities on a regular basis either. Grim stopped all that and now we’re ready to move forward once again.

“Pops, where do you want all these photos to go?” Ma asks me, walking up to me with a box full of the photos from the very beginning of the club.

Taking the box from her, I give her a kiss like it’s the first time and walk to the SUV we’ll be driving in. I watch as Ma walks back in the clubhouse. I’ll never get enough of watching her walk away from me, even if I hate that we’re not in the same area. Maybe that’s my old age kicking in. Or maybe I just hate being away from my wife. Who knows?

The next few hours we spend clearing out the old warehouse. Joker, my son, and Bailey, bust ass and make sure that nothing is left behind. Those two are still my world, and I hope that this move allows them to find that special someone they’ve been looking for. Bailey, she’s been hung up on Grim for as long as I can remember. I think since the day she started realizing the differences between the two of them. He wants her to be his old lady, but something is holding him back. Grim might be the President of the Wild Kings and I have all the respect in the world for him. But, if he doesn’t get his ass out of his head where my baby is concerned soon, I’m going to help him see the error of his ways.

Joker, he’s got an uphill battle on his hands. Cage and he are looking for a woman that will be able to handle both of them. They’ve been a pair for as long as I can remember, so it wasn’t really a shock when they started exploring sharing women. They tried to hide it for a while. Ma’s the one that made them understand that there was nothing to be ashamed of. That what they were doing wasn’t wrong. Now, they’re not parading all over the place because most of the time Ma and I are around. Not to mention Bailey. But, we all know what they’re about and not a single person here has anything bad to say about it. It will just take some time to find the woman that will complete their trio. I’m pulling for them and I’ll do whatever I can to help them out along the way.

Ma, as always, is the driving force behind the Wild Kings becoming such a good club and the men having the respect that they do. She makes sure we have hot food on a daily basis, that every man and woman in the club knows that our door is always open no matter what time of the day or night it is, and that even the club girls’ matter. Don’t get that twisted and think that Ma won’t put a club girl in their place when it’s needed. But, she also lets them know that she’s there for them if they need help or someone to turn to. The club girls we have know that cheating isn’t tolerated and if a brother in the club, or visiting club, has an old lady, they’re off limits.

It’s been a few of the longest days we’ve had in a while. We spent three days on the road to get to Clifton Falls. Now, we’re busy unpacking the vehicles and trying to get things set up in the new clubhouse. I’m ready to take Ma to the house that I’ve been talking to a realtor about so she can make the final decision about buying it. But, we need to help the kids get everything set up here. So, we’ll spend the next few hours here and then tomorrow I’ll take Ma to see the new house that I hope she falls in love with.

“Pops, you ready to get this shit done?” Joker asks, walking up to me as I finish my cup of coffee that Ma made.

“Yeah. I want it done today,” I answer my son, letting him know that I’m over it as I drain my coffee cup and stand up.

“It will be. We’ve only got the bike trailer to unload with all the tools and then the one van. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or two with everyone helpin’. I know you’re waitin’ to get Ma out of here,” he says, a smirk covering his face.

“I am. Want to show her that house,” I answer, walking out the front door and to the van. The younger guys and prospects we brought with us can take care of the damn tools.

Ma

The move that we made to Clifton Falls was a good choice. We’ve been here for a little over a week and I can feel the change coming. Pops found a great house. It’s the perfect size for the two of us, but there’s still plenty of room for anyone that stops by unexpectedly. I fell in love with it as soon as we pulled in the driveway.

I’ve also noticed a change in Joker and Cage. A day ago, Bailey called her brother about helping someone out. I don’t know exactly what the story is, but I know they’ve been in a corner of the common room whispering and talking amongst themselves ever since they got back. My daughter has a mischievous glint in her eyes whenever she sees the two of them now too. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was playing matchmaker. I’m getting down to the bottom of this shit. Today.

Walking into the clubhouse, I don’t see anyone around. I know that Bailey is here and that her brother and Cage are gone. Their bikes aren’t out front so I don’t have to worry about Bailey being quiet about the situation. I make my way into the kitchen and find my girl sitting at a table with a book in front of her and she’s totally lost in whatever she’s reading. Well, too bad for her. Mama wants some damn answers.

“Daughter, what are you up to?” I ask, sitting down across from her and pulling her book away.

“What do you mean mom?” she asks, trying to play innocent right now.

“I’m your mother and I taught you all those looks you’re gonna try to use on me. It’s not happening. Now, what is going on with your brother and Cage? They’ve been acting weird ever since you all got back late yesterday,” I say, letting her know that I’m not going to accept anything but the truth.

“Well, I stopped at that little stand on the other side of the field yesterday. The owner is an amazing girl. She’s a single mom of twins, a little boy and girl. Anyway, her car wouldn’t start for her and the house sits back from the stand. So, I called the boys to come help get it started,” she says, sitting up straight in the chair. “Ma, I’ve never been as scared as I was yesterday. We were standing there talking when her little girl started having a seizure. Joker and Cage jumped on it and followed us to the hospital. I guess this isn’t the first time it’s happened, and it won’t be the last time either. At least from what Grim said.”

“Oh my! Is she okay?” I ask, hoping like hell that little girl will survive whatever ails her.

“Yeah. She needs her medicine changed or something like that. I’m not sure exactly what’s going to happen. But, I know that Cage and Joker are over at her house right now. They want to help her out with some yard work and putting together some things that she hasn’t had time to do yet,” she tells me, letting me know where the boys have gone without me having to ask.

“Do you think she’s the one?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“I know she’s the one. She won’t make it easy on them. You can see the pain and hurt in her eyes. Someone’s hurt that girl real bad, Ma. Her name is Skylar by the way,” my daughter says, letting me know that moving here was in fact the best decision. “It’s going to take them some time before they can bring her and the kids around the club. So, try to hold off on making your own introduction.”

Bailey knows me all too well. If it were up to me, I’d be on my way over there right now. But I’ll give them a little time to make sure that Skylar is ready to be brought into the fold. I just hope they take their time and don’t let her insecurities get in the way of something that could be amazing. Cage and Joker will treat any girl that they make theirs like a queen. If she’s as hurt and damaged as Bailey says, they’ll need to tread lightly with her. But my boys will do what they have to in order to ensure she becomes theirs if that’s what they feel in their hearts.