Braxton

 

Monday comes too quickly, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting in chapel with my brothers and church is taking place. There are ten of us patched members so far, but we have four prospects who are working their asses off to become brothers. I know our club is smaller than most which is why we’ve hired outside the MC for the trucking company. I shake my head thinking of the current receptionist. Starla has made no bones about the fact that she likes Hatchet, but she’s been flirting unmercifully with me in an effort to make him jealous. Don’t think my woman is going to go for that at all. We’re doing the boring part at the moment, going over the financials, and setting up the trucking company runs for the next week. I’m finding myself lost in thoughts of Caraleigh and the way she felt in my arms as we laid in bed after a night filled with making love.

“Earth to Axe,” Twisted calls out. I didn’t even realize anyone had been speaking to me.

“Sorry guys, lost in my head there. What did I miss?”

“Depends, how long were you in la-la land?” Hatchet asks with a smirk on his face, one I’d love nothing more than to wipe away. With my fist to his face, though DJ may not forgive me if I rearrange his appearance any.

“Keep it up, Hatch, and you and I will have a personal meeting in the parking lot,” I growl out in frustration.

“Just because you’re sexually frustrated doesn’t mean you gotta take it out on the rest of us,” he says. If only he knew. Guessing my girl hasn’t shared with hers just yet and that makes me smile, knowing that is ours and ours alone—for the time being anyways. If anything, I’m waiting for DJ and Paisley to pull it out of her, they’re some nosey ass bitches.

“So, to recap for you since you weren’t listening, you’ve got the run to Cali this week with those parts, Hatch is taking the one to the East Coast, and I’ll keep shit running here,” Twisted says, breaking into my thoughts. “We’re all good with you making Cara your old lady, thinking she’ll be a good fit, brother. And she’s starting tomorrow at the trucking company. You’ll leave once you get her squared away, okay?”

I nod my head. Hate that I’ll be gone after the night—and morning—that we shared, but she knows we’re trying to get more drivers and until then, I’m on the runs. She did mention that she was going to contact the local technical college that had a CDL program to see if they had any recent graduates they could recommend. I like that idea and decide I need to mention it while we’re all here in the same place. “Cara is going to call the tech college, y’all, and see if they have any recent graduates that are looking for a job.”

“Think that’s a good idea,” Chief says. “You need to be here more so you can be with your daughter. I understand why you’ve been taking the runs, but she needs you too.” I happen to agree with his assessment, only it’s not only Lily that I need to be home for anymore. Needing to change the subject and get it off me I ask if there’s any other business that needs to be brought up at today’s meeting.

“What about your mom and her shenanigans here at the clubhouse?” Hatchet asks me. I’m glad he brought it up, I was so focused on getting the attention off of myself that I completely forgot that she’s taken over here.

“I’m seriously debating taking her credit cards and keys away from her,” I say with all seriousness.

“Sure, then we all get to hand over cash when she needs it and we start a driving service. We’ll be driving miss daisy!”

“The fact that you even know about that movie, Hatchet, is a bit disturbing,” I say to him.

“What? I like Morgan Freeman,” he says, which has the rest of us laughing.

“Alright, we know what we want done around here, maybe we let her know that before she embarks on her next trip to Ikea, she has to tell us so we’re prepared,” I state. “That way, if we’re not ready for something, we can hold her off.”

“Yeah, like a stampede of wildebeasts,” Hatch states, causing more laughter around the room.

“It’s a better solution than each one of us being her keeper,” I say with my eyebrows raised at my brothers.

“She’s very persistent,” Chief mutters. “I was concerned the day she tried to get in here, considering this is our sanctuary away from the women...period.”

“I agree, this room is sacred to the brothers, everything done and said in here is confidential and patched club members are the only ones allowed to enter those doors. It’s in our bylaws,” Twisted says with a voice of finality. They’re right, this room is off-limits to anyone not wearing a bottom rocker on their cut.

“Alright, guys, I’ll deal with Mom later and make the stipulations known to her of what she is and isn’t allowed to do without our approval first. Any other business?” No one says anything and I see a lot of head shakes. “This meeting is adjourned,” I slam down my gavel indicating that everyone can leave. As the brothers get up and leave the room, I stay in my chair and am thinking of how disappointed I am in the fact that I’ll be leaving so soon.

“You alright, man?” Twisted asks me, I wasn’t aware that he’d stuck around. I need to get better about being lost in my thoughts and not be one-hundred percent aware of my surroundings.

“I’m good, brother, just thinking about life and how quickly it can change.”

“What’s with the frown then? I thought all the changes happening with you are what you want.”

“They are, just wishing I wasn’t leaving so quick after making Cara mine is all. I don’t even think at this point an overnight trip would be welcoming to me...you get my drift?”

“I getcha, man, I don’t think I could personally take being away from Paisley and Tig for even a short amount of time either.” Which I know is a fact, he told me once he married her and their son was born that he’d no longer be taking any runs, he wanted to stay in the background and run things from our office. He’ll sometimes take a day run, as long as he’s home in time for dinner, he gives me no shit. He likes handling the office things that drive me insane, so it’s a win-win situation as far as I was concerned in the beginning. Things have changed however, and I want nothing more than to sit behind a desk beside him so I’m home every night as well. “Don’t worry Axe, I’ve got your back, I’ll help Cara get us more drivers so you can stay home more often.” He slaps me on the back, stands up and walks out of the room with determination marked on his face. My brothers, they always take care of me, even when I don’t realize I need it.

Knowing I need to get home and take my baby girl to dinner, I shoot Cara a text message.

 

Braxton: Would you and Luca like to go to dinner with Lily and me?

Cara: Yes

Braxton: Be there soon sweetheart

Cara: Can’t wait...I’ve missed you today. I am excited to see you

Braxton: Same here, beautiful, I missed holding you in my arms. See ya soon

 

I put my phone in my back pocket and get on my bike, damn it's good to be me. With a smile on my face I head towards the house to grab my family and treat them to a night out.