Page 27 of Deserter

“Our guys are good. We searched the woods and found their bikes about a quarter mile back. They wanted to send us a message.”

I took in the bodies littering every nearby surface. “I’d say they succeeded. Took out our highest-ranking members. Club’s fuckin’ done, Slim. It was already in its death throes, thanks to a lack of leadership, but it’s fuckin’ flatlined. Everything we’ve done to free Wolverine was for nothing.”

Slim’s eyes narrowed. “So, just like that, you’re out? Wasn’t that long ago, some asshole asked me that very same thing. I told him then that I wasn’t shedding my colors until the day I died. Seems like maybe you’ve forgotten your own vows, brother.”

I gestured around the bar. “Are you fuckin’ blind? Half our goddamn chapter is gone, and the others don’t have the numbers we’d need to fight. It’s over, Slim.”

He lit up a cigarette. “Is that right, Pres?”

What the hell had he just called me?

We both turned at the sound of boots. Comedian held up his hands. “It’s just me. It’s all clear, Pres. I’ll call for backup and we’ll get this fuckin’ place cleaned up. Anything else you need?”

I stood up, knocking the chair over onto Rock’s body. “Why the fuck are you two calling me that?”

“Because the club falls to you now,” Slim said. “My old man will support you, as will the other originals. Dragon was nobody’s favorite and, let’s be honest, he fucked the club over. You told me you have ideas. Well, guess what? Now’s a good a time as any to put ‘em to work.”

“I’m behind you, Pres,” Comedian called out as he made his way across the bar and picked up the wall phone. “I’ll let the guys know that we got ourselves a real leader now.”

The man that I’d been planning to murder had just saved my life and pledged his allegiance to me. I had to be fucking dreaming.

“I’m twenty-two, Slim—” I said quietly, even though Comedian was too far away to hear anything.

“Yeah? And? Wolverine was that age when he started the damn thing. Maybe that’s what this club needs to get back on top. So, forget about the kid and—”

He paused and his eyebrows rose as he connected the dots. “The kid… the kid has unique eyes. In fact, they’re so unique that I’ve only seen a color like that on one other person. Tell me why that is, Grey.”

I clenched my jaw and watched as Comedian animatedly described what had happened to the person on the phone before answering Slim. “You know exactly why that is.”

“Grey, listen to me. You cannot claim that boy as yours and keep the club. Comedian saved your life and now,” he gestured behind the bar. “Everyone will fuckin’ know it. Look at me.”

I turned with a growl, “I thought I was the one in charge around here.”

He slammed a fist against the table top and Comedian paused to stare at us before resuming his conversation.

“Goddammit, Jamie! You’re in charge, but I’m trying to keep you alive. You can watch that boy from afar, but you sure as fuck can’t announce that you’re his father. Do you really think that if Angel had announced that he was the father of the baby your ma lost that things would’ve turned out better? You and I both know that your old man would’ve just killed her sooner; probably would’ve taken Angel out too.”

He was right.

As much as I wanted to argue, I was only going to fuck people over by speaking up now. Betsy had given me my chance four years ago. Now, this boy saw Sullivan as his old man. If I interfered, it was only going to screw up everything Mikey knew.

“You take this, and you bury it,” Slim continued. “You bury that shit so far down that it never sees the light of day. Sullivan is an asset and not someone you want as an enemy. Don’t ever tell anyone what you told me—if one of our enemies ever got wind of it, they wouldn’t hesitate to go after him to get to you.”

Thinking of Mikey being hurt made my chest ache, and I nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep him safe, but no one will ever know that he’s mine.”

* * *

“I thought I might find you in here.” Wolverine poked his head into the office with a grin.

I jumped up and met him halfway, realizing three steps in that I had no idea whether to hug him or just shake his hand.

“Get in here, you fucker.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and squeezed. “I won’t tell the guys what a softie you really are.”

“Asshole.” I pulled back to look at him. The lines on his forehead were more pronounced and his eyes held a weariness about them that hadn’t been there before.

Being locked inside a cage had aged him.

As predicted, the trial had fallen apart when their star witness skipped town and once the petition was filed, they began releasing our men one by one. It had taken a few months, but everyone was now officially free.

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