Chapter 28

EZRA

One week later…

“What was he like?”

Murphy had a quiet confidence about him. Not the kind of confidence that guys had when they were trying to talk to broads. Not the kind of confidence guys had when they were about to get into a fight. No, the old man wasn’t the type to brag about all of the shit he used to do. His confidence was something else. The kind of confidence you’d have knowing something that nobody else in the room knew.

He leaned back in his seat with that same confidence. Despite all the wrinkles and blemishes, his hunched-over posture and the belly that he hid behind the jacket of his suit, there was a man who knew exactly who he was.

“Corey was a bit of a jackass,” Murphy said. “Most people didn’t put up with his shit for good reason. The bastard was always getting on everybody’s nerves.”

“Why was he in the MC?” I asked.

“Because you need a guy like that in the club. An agitator. He was a jackass but he was our jackass.

“Black was the president. Always took the lead and wasn’t afraid of anything. Never afraid of being on the front lines.

“AP was the straight man. Loyal. Honest. Did everything he believed in and willing to put everything on the line for the club.

“Then there was me, of course. I handled most of the business. That’s what treasurer’s do. I reckon you know a thing or two about money.”

The old man finally looked at me and left the memories he’d lost himself in.

“I know a thing or two,” I said with a nod. “But you still haven’t answered my question. My grandfather… It sounds like he didn’t matter.”

“Harper mattered. Don’t ever question that. None of us would be who we are without our VP.”

“But what was he like?”

He thought about it for a second, shifting his gaze away from me like he was going back in time again. I guess when you were as old as him, shit like that tended to happen a lot.

“There was an incident once,” I said. “I don’t know how we made it out. I remember thinking how crazy it was that we did it. It was me, Black, and Harper. I told Harper that we couldn’t have done it without him. Our president said the same thing. Said that Harper was the heart and soul of our MC.”

He looked right at me. His eyes unblinking, Murph sighed a soft breath through his nose and gave me the subtlest little smile.

“Damn, you just like your grandfather,” I said.

“I hope that I can fill his shoes,” I said.

“Don’t try to fill his shoes. Just be who you are. Harper was the soul of this club. I think you’ll be the same. Here…”

He reached into his pocket then held his hand out to me.

“What’s this?” I said.

I looked down at the patch in his hand. The fabric was old, worn and dirty. But I could still make out the words.

“Soul…”

“It was your grandfather’s. It seems only right that you have it now.”

“Wait… Why do you have this?”

Murphy patted me on the shoulder and smiled.

“It’s a long story,” he said. “Your grandfather was a Devil all those years ago. Now you’re a Devil. It took a long time to get here. But I’m glad you’re here.”

“So am I.”

I turned toward Sebastian. He walked toward me with Hunter, Aden and Roman right behind him.

“Treasurer of the New Devils,” he said. “How does that sound?”

Murphy gave me one last look of reassurance. There was no way I could turn this shit down.

“It sounds like we’re gonna get some shit done,” I said.

“You sure about this?” Hunter said. “Just because your grandpappy wore the patch doesn’t mean you have to.”

“Ivory is my home. I don’t plan on leaving Old Town. It’s only right I do everything I can to watch over it.”

“I feel the same way,” Aden said.

“Welcome to the club, brother,” Roman said.

The VP of the club walked up and wrapped his arms around me. The four men standing with me now were all different but I knew I could trust them. No matter what happened, I would stand by their side.

“Look at that,” Murphy said. “An even five members. You’re starting to look like a real MC.”

“Up from the ashes of Hades,” Sebastian said.

“You’re all wearing the patch. Wear it with pride. Wear it with honor. And remember that loyalty is more important than anything. Look around at each other. You’ve all been to the bottom. Nobody cared about you bastards… Nobody believed in you… You were all in darkness but you still managed to claw your way back up… All of the blood, sweat and tears…”

Everybody in the club started looking around at one another while Murphy spoke.

“…Being a Devil was never about having a fancy ride. It was never about beating people up or being an outlaw. One-percenters get caught up in trying to prove how tough they are. They forget what it’s all about.”

“And what’s it all about?” Roman asked.

“A brotherhood. You gotta watch each other’s backs now.”

The old man straightened up as best as he could. I’d gotten used to seeing him in the expensive-looking suits that he wore. Now I realized that they were just a mask for what he really was. He was one of Ivory’s original outlaws.

“Black. Harper. Woods. AP. The first five would be proud.”

“I bet they would,” Hunter said. “I bet you we could take ‘em.”

“Don’t get carried away now,” Murphy responded.

Murphy slowly started walking to the back of the clubhouse before disappearing through one of the backrooms.

“Meeting tomorrow,” Sebastian said. “Stitch that patch on your kutte and come in early.”

“You got it,” I said.

He patted me on the back. The rest of the MC dispersed among the clubhouse to celebrate my getting patched in. Even though everybody was in a good mood, it was a quiet night at Hades.

I walked over to the side of the clubhouse and stared at the small photo on the wall. I’d only gotten a second by myself before I was interrupted.

“What are you looking at?”

Lacey suddenly appeared next to me, a happy grin on her face like it always was.

“This,” I said, pointing at the framed photo. “These are the original Devils.”

“The West Devils of Ivory,” Lacey said. “It looks like so long ago.”

“It was. But things haven’t changed. They still had the same values we do.”

“I’m guessing he’s your grandfather.”

She ran her index finger over one of the men.

“You look just like him,” she said.

“People always told me that I looked more like my mother.”

“Well, that’s good because you are so damn sexy…”

She reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I leaned forward, kissing her softly on the lips.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked. “Being an old lady isn’t easy. If you want me to take the kutte off—”

“If being an old lady was easy, I wouldn’t want to be one. This…”

She took a step back and ran her fingers over my vest.

“…This is who you are. This is who you always were. Not some guy in a fancy suit trying to make underhanded deals. You’re your grandfather’s grandson. I can’t ask you to change who you are. That’s who I want to be with.”

Another kiss removed any doubts I might’ve had about patching in. With the club getting my back and Lacey by my side, business in Ivory was finally settled.

I put my arms around her and looked out into the clubhouse.

“You know, it’s funny,” I said. “I hadn’t been here until just a few days ago. But as soon as I stepped in, it all felt so familiar. It already feels like home.”

“Home… That sounds nice.”

Lacey reached down and intertwined her fingers in mine. I looked down and saw the tattoo on her arm. I thought about all the shit she’d been through. We’d both been through a lot to finally get to this point.

I squeezed my hand tight, enjoying her gentle touch.

I was never gonna let her go.