Page 33 of Sophia, Property of Tracker

“I’m your brother.” I growl.

“I know that, Ryan. But these guys are my brothers too. They took me in, no questions asked.”

I take a moment to think about what he’s saying and then take in his look right now, seeing that he’s bulked up a little. Tate’s shorter than me. He has lighter skin, dark eyes like our mom, and light brown hair. He’s muscular and loves to work out at the gym and lift weights, and it seems he’s been doing that regularly here. He’s all that I have, and I don’t know how I’m going to leave here and not take him with me.

“You worry too much,” Tate says. “You’ve seen me now, and you can see I’m fine.”

I nod and reply, “You are fine, aren’t you?”

“Yes, brother, I am.”

“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. I don’t give a fuck if your president asks you to do something and you feel you have to obey his word. If it’s anything dangerous, you have to promise me you’ll stay out of it.”

“You know I can’t promise that. I’m a Sinners’ club member. What they ask me to do, I must. It’s a decision I made when I joined, and I’m sticking to it.”

“Have they made you do something you didn’t want to do?” I growl.

“You’re my brother, and I love you, but they’re my family too. I don’t snitch on family.”

I have to respect Tate. I mean, he’s no longer the young kid I once knew. He’s grown up and is sticking to his decision, and I have to admire him for that.

“Look, I know your job requires you to take down clubs like ours, but we’re not bad people, Ryan. We work hard for what we have. If anyone wants to ruin that, then that’s on them, but know that I’m safe, I’m happy, and this is where I belong.”

We grow silent for a minute, and I turn to the bench and grab my beer and take a swig.

Tate does the same.

“We good?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

Tate walks toward me and places his arm around my neck, and we begin to walk back to the clubhouse. “So tell me, how did you come to meet the Blood Brothers.”

“Tate, that’s a whole other story…”

TRACKER

Present

That was five years ago.

Five years ago was when my life changed.

After I left Tate that day, I rode back home and left the Blood Brothers with the Sinners to deal with club business.

Before I left, Quill made one of his men, Trigger, follow me home. I stated I’d be okay and didn’t need a babysitter, but he insisted. Trigger didn’t seem to mind, and I had actually really liked him.

On our stops, we chatted, and he told me about his past and how he had found the Blood Brothers. They all have the same story when it comes to joining a biker club. It seems they’re all drawn to this lifestyle.

I arrived back home and began to work again, but it wasn’t until six months later when Quill was in town with some of his men on a run, that I truly missed their company.

Quill had offered me a position in the club if I wanted it. Said I’d be useful to them with my FBI skills and detective work. So one night, as I was working on an investigation with Sam, I got so bored with everything that I decided to give up my career and took Quill up on his offer.

I handed in my resignation and told Sam my plans. He thought I was crazy and being pressured into joining, but he didn’t get it. No one understands what it feels like to be part of a club unless you spend some time with them.

On the other hand, my mom didn’t take the news so well. First, she cried and thought I was going crazy. Then, she asked if I was doing drugs, stating there was no way her son, Ryan, could do such a thing. Tate, on the other hand, well, he was always a rebel, so him joining a club didn’t bother her as long as he was happy and safe. But for me, she practically had a breakdown.

The Blood Brothers are a family to me.

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