Pope
We searched fourteen motels and found no trace of Danny. He should ditch claiming a club and join the circus, because he can disappear faster and better than Harry Houdini. Cas and a few others carried on while he ordered Slade and I back to the cabin. I got my head down for a few hours while he spent some family time with Kristen and Zach, and took first watch. I woke up agitated an hour ago and took over from him. Leaving Sally sleeping peacefully in our bed is becoming harder to do. I’ll never give up the club, but I haven’t managed to sleep in bed with my wife for an entire night for far too long.
We spent years away from each other and now I have her with me, I’m still struggling to wake up with her in the mornings. I also spent years keeping Sally and the club separate, when I was with her, the club was in a good place or I wouldn’t have left. When I was with the club I would only allow myself to think of her while I was alone. Nowadays, the two coincide together and it’s been one hell of a journey getting used to it.
I close my eyes and listen to the bushes and trees bristling in the soft wind. It keeps me calm and rooted to this chair on the back porch, and not at the Mill beating the shit out of Danny’s brothers.
My eyes open when I hear light footsteps crossing the kitchen, it’s one of the women, if it were one of my brothers, their boots would be heavier.
Turns out, it’s Kyla. She sees me sitting out back and joins me.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she yawns, “I was on the phone with Ricky, he’s bored.”
I bet he is, sitting around and waiting is the worst part.
“We were also talking about the wedding.”
“Oh yeah? Have you decided what kind of wedding you want yet?”
From the smile growing on her face I can already guess.
“We want everyone we know there, I want the perfect dress, and I want you walking me down the aisle with scattered rose petals under my feet.”
Sounds like she wants a fairy tale, “Mom and I going into the city to look at dresses tomorrow.”
“I don’t think so, you can go the minute it’s safe. Your mom shares my account, she can pay for whatever dress you choose when you find it.”
She goes to open her mouth and judging by the look on her face, she wants to fight me on it.
“No arguments, Ricky will say the same. Until Danny is caught, you and your mom are staying here.”
She closes her mouth and sits back in her chair.
“It will be weird not being a Harris.”
I snort, “You’ll always be a Harris to me.”
“I didn’t think I could be this happy,” she says sadly.
“It’s all me and your mom want for you.”
It’s why I gave Ricky my blessing to propose, I see the impact he’s had on her and I also see how they bounce off each other. They not only love each other, they support each other. It reminds me of how the club works and that makes them rare and strong. I couldn’t ask for more for my daughter. The club on the other hand needs all the help it can get right now.
“When you used to come visit, you’d sit out in the yard and tap your knee. Mom used to say it was work that was bothering you, but it was because there was trouble at the club, wasn’t it?”
I frown, “What makes you say that?”
“You’re tapping your knee in the exact same way right now.”
I didn’t know I was doing it. I’ve never noticed doing it before either.
“You always used to tell me to keep my eyes open and take in everything,” she smiles.
“There was never trouble at the club when I came to see you, I wouldn’t have been able to leave if there was. I guess, it was because I didn’t feel myself, like I was on edge.”
“Are you on edge now?”
She sounds worried so I quickly squash it for her.
“Not because I’m worried, because I need to feel like I’m doing something, I need to do something.”
Silence falls between us and it’s comfortable. She’s definitely my daughter, she doesn’t blab on to fill the silence. However, it doesn’t last long and I’m glad for the distraction.
“It’s funny how life works. A year ago, I thought I was with a man who loved me, I didn’t know about you or the club and now I know everything and I’m engaged to a man who really does love me.”
“Our decisions led us to where we are today, it just took us a while to get it right,” I smile, knowing she needs to hear it.
“It was mom’s decision, it was her who brought me here.”
“I should’ve brought you here when you were born, I could’ve kept a closer eye on you. But, the past is where it belongs and you’re healthy and happy now. That’s what we focus on now.”
I can’t bear to think about where she nearly ended up, like I said to her, it’s all in the past.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you choose this life?” she asks.
There’s a question I’ve never had to answer before. Sally hasn’t asked it and I’ve always given the impression to everyone else not talk to me about anything.
“I’ve told you about Michael before, my previous president, I would crash at his place sometimes and when his brother started the Lost Souls and they were looking for men to join them, he came and found me. He told me what his brother was setting out to do and said I had a bed and cash if I wanted to join. I didn’t even think about it, I said yes and I joined that night. I told myself if it didn’t work out, I would leave and move on. Luckily for me, it did work out. It felt right for me, I felt free.”
It goes quiet again while she digests what I’ve told her and I stop myself from tapping my knee.
“I’m glad I’m here, I feel free too. We’re a proper family now.”
She gets up and kisses me on the cheek.
“I’m going to try and sleep before the sun comes up. Night, dad.”
“Night.”
When I’m alone once again, I smile to myself. My family, her family, our family. My family and I’m going to kill everyone who is a threat to them.
Engines rumble, disturbing the quietness and I get up, stretching out the stiffness in my back, before walking around to the front of the cabin. Cas and Noah are dismounting their bikes. Noah heads inside and Cas meets me halfway across the gravel.
“No joy on Danny?” I hedge.
“Nothing, I’ve sent the others to check out some more motels. Has everything been okay here?”
“All good, Alannah and Leo are asleep. She told me to tell you not to wake them up if you got back before morning, Leo’s not feeling well.”
“She didn’t say anything about him on the phone last night.”
I shrug my shoulders, not knowing anything else.
“Anyway, I’ve decided Kyle isn’t to be touched. He isn’t one of us but we will use him to our advantage. Cayden on the other hand, is free game. He’s a Devils Bastard and he’ll be killed like the others.”
About fucking time!