Page 59 of Shadow and Skulls

He stands.

“What about your love story?” I ask as he starts down the stairs.

This makes him laugh. “Some of us are only meant to be side characters. I don’t think love is in the cards for me.”

Chapter Eighteen

Tank

My foot taps over the wood floor as I watch men from both the NorCal and Nevada chapters fill the room.

Jackson bangs the gavel, and the room instantly quiets. “You have the floor,” he says to me.

The minute I tell them who I am, the room erupts in an uproar.

“Shut the fuck up!” Jackson yells.

I look every one of them in the eye before I continue. “My employers have been looking for the Congressman’s contact; they knew it was someone in the NorCal Chapter, but they didn’t know who. They needed someone on the inside.”

“We’re going to need your patch,” Jackson says. “I get why you did what you did, but …” He shakes his head, not finishing.

I toss my cut to him. He catches it in one hand, pulling out his knife with the other. Watching him rip the Skull patch from the back of it hurts worse than I could have ever imagined. I rub my temples.

“If it counts for anything, I’ve loved my time with the club. It’s … it gave me something I didn’t realize I was missing.”

After he hands my jacket back to me, I toss the file Anthony sent over this morning onto the table. “It’s all there. Their organization was one of the worst my friends have ever seen and, unfortunately, they’ve seen many. The men of this club took out two of the worst. You all should be proud.”

Before I step out of the room, I pause, speaking over my shoulder. “If you would ever consider letting me prospect again, I’d be honored.”

I try to hide the emotion in my voice, but I can’t. These are some of the finest men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.

Kelsie is standing by my bike when I exit the warehouse. I shake my head to let her know it didn’t go well. She steps away, her gaze roaming behind me.

“Give me an hour,” I tell her before kicking my leg over my bike.

Her hand goes to her stomach as if she’s going to be sick.

“It’s going to be okay.”

“I love you,” she says quickly, blinking back tears.

I don’t turn to watch as she runs away from me toward the warehouse. I’ve never been a praying man, but I’m sure as hell praying I’ll be back here someday.

I call Anthony and Danielle to let them know how it went.

“Just tell her parents your story,” Danielle insists. “They’ll see you two were meant to be by the way your past and present have intersected.”

I stare over the lake, watching the stars blink back at the sky.

My phone dings, letting me know that Kelsie and her parents are home. Did you think my stalker days were over? Nah. The time I spent with the club brought something primal out in me. They protect what belongs to them. It’s their motto. Kelsie is mine, and my girl is never going to get hurt again.

I flick my cigarette to the ground, letting the smoke roll out of my lungs. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll talk to you later,” I tell them, hanging up without waiting for a response.

Kelsie is looking out the window, gripping the curtains tightly in her palm when I pull into their driveway. I take a deep breath. Maybe this will go better than I think.

The curtains fall closed as she steps away.

Let’s do this … it’s time to meet the parents.

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