Chapter 1—Bass
“Hey, man. It’s good to see you again.” I let Gator pull me in for a hug, and I don’t even give him crap about it. I need it just as much as he does.
We got close before I left, and while we kept up on the phone, it ain’t the same as seeing my brother in person. As seeingallmy brothers in person.
“You, too, man.” I keep it simple and don’t say more. Not the emotional type, but I doubt anyone expected my “little” trip up north to take almost a year. I’m happy to be back. Hell, I’m more than that, but if I start talking about it, the boys will give me shit for acting like a chick.
“You been to the clubhouse yet?” Gator asks as he notes my clothes. Not that I look like shit, but it ain’t hard to see that I just got off a three-day ride.
“Nah, figured most of the boys would be here.”
He nods as he leads me past the front door of Chains’ house and walks me toward the back.
“You’d be right. Mama Bear went all out on Wyatt turning one, and while she didn’t say it was mandatory to attend, you bet your ass that Chains did.” He huffs out a laugh and pats me on the back as we come to a stop and look over the backyard.
When Chains commissioned Flint’s construction crew to redo Mama Bear’s aunt’s house and yard a few years back, itwasn’t hard to see that he’d expected this type of gathering. Every Hound of the Reaper I know—and I know a ton—pack the place, along with whoever they brought. Not sure what the theme is, other than kid friendly. From the two bouncy houses—yup, two of them—to the fairy-winged area that looks like glitter threw up on it, to paintball but with Nerf guns. If I didn’t see the text invite, I’d have zero clue this is for a one-year-old, other than the zillion number one balloons everywhere.
“Well, look what the crocodile dragged in.”
I turn at the voice behind me and don’t even try to hide my smile. This woman might piss off everyone else in the club, but I’ve got nothing but love for the president’s daughter.
“Hey, Ruby girl. How many hearts you breaking these days?”
I only get an eye roll from her in reply, which is typical. But it’s an honest question. Girl’s off-limits, and I honestly never saw her as anything but a friend. Nevertheless, I can still appreciate what she’s working with. Despite what her father says, Ruby’s always embraced the biker style, but she sure puts a twist on it. The corset tops with the laced-up boots would look slutty on anyone else, but she always pairs it with dark jeans and a cover-up, usually a leather jacket. Her red undertone highlights and braided hairstyle give her enough edge to tell everyone to back off, no matter that her body is screaming“come and pet me.”
“Too many to count if you ask Dad.”
“And if I asked you?”
She shrugs. “About average for a weekend.”
“Attagirl.” I pull her in for a side hug and keep my arm around her shoulders. Everyone knows we ain’t a thing and never will be, so I got no reason to think my life is in danger from her pops. “So, tell me, what did I miss?”
I nod to Gator as he wanders off once he sees I’m in good hands. No doubt to spend time with his old lady, who I notice is in a very nice bathing suit and not having a problem enjoying the random high temps Kansas is facing for late May. We’re usually still in jeans at this point, but that’s Kansas for you. Weather has never been predictable since the damn tornado came in and took Dorothy for a ride.
And before anyone gets too upset, yes, I checked out Gator’s old lady. Shit, I check outallthe old ladies. I’m a Hound, not stupid. I know I can look but never touch. Once someone claims an old lady—hell, sometimes before—she becomes off-limits. I’d never risk losing the respect from a brother for a chance with his girl. Plus, the boys know they’ve got some hotties. They expect the looking, as long as those who do it don’t linger. I keep my eyes roaming the backyard, making sure not to stay too long on anyone as I see who all is here.
“Well, you missed the fireworks at Bulldog’s wedding.”
“Yeah, I heard Domino went a little over the top when they gave him the green light to do the sendoff.”
“Ha.” She shakes with her laughter. “Almost blew up the entire clubhouse. He had enough fireworks for a New Year’s celebration for the entire country. Guy was lucky to only get off by washing the outside of the clubhouse and the bikes that got the worst of the smoke once half his stuff caught fire from a sparkler that was set too close to the fuses. But that wasn’t what I was talking about.”
Iraise an eyebrow and look directly at her. She has me intrigued. “Really?” She nods with an evil smile, one I match. “Go on.”
“Seems Margret was tired of not catching the bouquet and grabbed the thing out of Izzy’s hands before she could throw it. Then she dragged Mike, Gator’s dad, over to the judge we brought in to officiate and demanded he officiate their wedding right then and there.”
“No shit?” I so didn’t hear about this, and I would have expected my best mate to tell me if he was now related to the VP, even if it’s as stepbrothers with his dad marrying Bulldog’s mom.
“No shit,” she says with a nod. “The judge wasn’t for it, claiming that you got to get a license and all, but you know Margret.” She shrugs, and I nod. Boy, do I know her. Everyone knows her, and not in a good way.
While the entire club respects Bulldog, not only because he’s the VP but because he’s earned everyone’s trust ten times over for all the shit he does for us, not a single person gives a crap about his mom. Maybe it’s because she always reminded me of Kathy Bates inMisery, and that’s on her good days. Or that she’s just a mean old hag. But as I look over the yard, I take note that, for once, she ain’t yelling at someone. She isn’t smiling, but her not yelling is on par with a saint’s miracle—rarely seen and almost never believable.
“I know your dad likes to call us all family, but I never expected it to be a legit thing.” I get a huff of a laugh out of her as we both just watch the crowd before us.
A few brothers notice me and give chin lifts. I do the same. Ain’t mad that I’m not the center of attention. I’ll get my time when we’re back at the clubhouse. This momentis for Chains and his family. One that might not have been if things didn’t work out so well. Hell, almost every brother here wouldn’t evenhavean old lady if things went south like our enemies planned.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Ruby says without even looking at me as I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. She’s always been good at reading people—a trait she picked up from her old man, no doubt.
