Page 41 of Charger

I straighten in my seat and brace myself. Throttle blows a puff of smoke at me while Chain gears up to rip me a new asshole. “I’m tickled fucking pink that you volunteered, Charger.”

Throttle claps my shoulder. “Better you than us, brother,” he snorts out, then laughter erupts. I sigh, knowing whatever Chain decided to volunteer me for won’t be fucking fun.

“Uh, yeah, boss, whatever you need. I’m your guy.” I clear my throat.

“Fucking fantastic, you and Hush will meet with the Skulls MC’s finest President, Scorpion, and his equally humble Vice President, Venom.” Sarcasm pours out of him. “Apparently, they wanna talk business, but I have a prior engagement tonight and so does Bullet.” Bullet being our Vice President. It’s unusual for the Vice of a club to be absent at a meet, but I guess Chain has his reasons.

Chain takes the glass of scotch that’s sitting on the spot in front of him and swigs it, wiping his knuckles across his mouth. “Hush, you getting all this back there?” Everyone’s head darts over to him, still leaning against the wall with an if looks could kill expression. He just jerks his head forward into a nod.

Chain shakes his head. “Crazy fucker,” he mumbles to himself. He looks back at me. “I’ll send the address to your phones along with the time you two gotta be there, got me?” I nod. “Fucking great. Meeting dismissed.” He slams the gavel down and chairs start screeching against the floor. Chain points in my direction. “You. Stay.”

After everyone disperses, he shoots me a curious look, scratches his beard and interlocks his ringed fingers inside his folded hands. “You look like shit.”

“Fuck, is everyone gonna tell me that today?” I grunt, rubbing my palm down my face. “I got some stuff that’s been going on. Mind’s been shit lately. But I won’t let it affect this club. You have my word.”

Chain squints before answering. “It better not. That includes the meeting tonight. I don’t know what those fuckers have planned, but I’m sending you and Hush because you two are my best guys for this sort of shit. Hush might be a weird fucker, but he’s good, and I need you guys sniffing out their motives.”

“I got it, Pres. What sort of business do you think they have?

He sighs. “Who knows with those pieces of scum? I hate that we already have to share a turf with them, but because we do, I wanna keep shit civil between us. We don’t need the unnecessary drama and attention.” He gets up from his seat. I follow suit. “Do yourself a favor, kid. Whatever it is that’s eating you up, deal with it. Because the longer it eats away at you, the worse off you’ll be, and I don’t want to see you in that place again.”

The memories haunt me to this day, being completely numb, inside and out. If there were any type of time machine, I’d use it in a heartbeat. “Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

“Good, now get the fuck out.” He smirks and lights up a cigar from the tray table.

Walking out of Church, I have some type of fucking epiphany or some shit. I know what I have to do, or what I want to do anyway. Should I open up that can again? I don’t know, but I don’t give a fuck. I can’t go another day (or night) without talking to her.

I left that bar without saying a word. Without saying a goddamn word. I really am a piece of shit. Now, all I have to do is ask Bullet for a little favor, one that involves finding out where she lives. Because I’ll be dammed if I let my pride or self-doubt get the best of me. That was one mistake I made before, not going after her. I won’t do it again.

SIXTEEN

Jules

“Mommy, I don’t like this stuff.” Chloe picks the green bean off her plate with her fork, making the worst face at it.

After setting her juice down on the table, I snap my fingers at her plate. “Eat them. Vegetables are yummy and healthy for little girls. They make you grow up beautiful and strong.”

“They are not yummy. They’re gross.” The green bean drops off her fork. I smile, holding back a laugh.

“All right, here’s the deal, you eat some of those green beans and I’ll let you watch extra cartoons today.”

Chloe makes a face like she’s thinking, then holds her thumb up. “Deal. It was good negotiating with you, Mommy.” She mispronounces the word “negotiating” and I chuckle. The girl is way too smart for her age.

“Hey, mommy.” She chokes down her green bean, sticking out her tongue in disgust. “Are you gonna show me more pictures of Uncle Garrett today?”

The question hits me like a hammer to a nail. The pain works its way up again, taking its usual residence in the middle of my chest. Chloe started asking me about Garrett when she saw the prom picture sitting on my end table. I couldn’t say no. He was her uncle after all. It sucks to see that picture in the same spot every day, but it’s also comforting.

“And what about Daddy?” Before I could answer, a knock sounds at the door.

Saved.

“Finish your beans, little girl.” Walking to the door, I look down, remembering I’m wearing a very low-cut tank top with comfy shorts. I wasn’t planning on having company or going anywhere before work tonight. I decide not to change, because it’s probably just Lucy.

My stomach drops after whipping the door open. Leaning against the frame with one arm, the other in his pocket, is Zach. His outstretched arm openly displays his muscled bicep. His black t-shirt is lifted a tad under his leather and I can see that he still has his lean, solid abs. I swallow, trying not to salivate too much.

He gives me a once-over, starting with my legs and only stopping when he’s at my breasts. “Jesus Christ,” he mumbles. But it’s loud enough I can hear him.

I quickly cross my arms over my chest, in hopes of hiding my cleavage. After Chloe, my breasts may have gotten a tad larger than what they were in high school.

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