Page 45 of The Oath We Take

It’s been this weird push-pull between us, where he knows I’d be more than capable under the hood of his businesses, and yet I’ll never be allowed because I’m a woman.

And I wonder when I’m going to set a boundary that worksfor me.

I think of the message I sent to Rocco before I left, telling him that I needed to talk to him after I get home from the Outlaws’ clubhouse later. It took me an age to think about how to do it without my phone, then I remembered I have the messaging app on my laptop connected to my phone. It’s on my mind; I want to get it done so there is no optic that I’m cheating on him.

But what I’m looking at has me torn.

“You want to buy Atom’s family out of this clubhouse land?”

Dad nods. “That’s why I wanted you to take a look at it. I’m the only one who’s worked on it, so I’m sure there’s some shit I’ve not added up right or misunderstood the law on.”

“There are two ways of doing this, Dad. The legal way, or one that respects the huge gift Atom’s grandfather gave the club when he let the original Outlaws build here.”

I look at some of the things he’s written. “Adverse possession is a harsh legal doctrine, Dad. It’s supposed to help someone claim land ownership, for sure, but I’m pretty certain it’s only for people who have been occupying it for a prolonged period of time without permission.”

“I gotta do what’s best for the club. I realized with the Bratva sniffing around that I can’t take chances. I know Atom is loyal to the club, but his dad? I’m beginning to feel like Wheeler is in it for himself. Greedy people like one thing in this world. More money.”

I shake my head. “That’s unfair. Atom’s family isn’t like that.”

“You know why most super wealthy people are assholes?” Dad asks, lighting a cigarette.

“Because everyone is too busy kissing their ass to say no to them.”

Dad chuckles. “Close. It’s because they believe they’re something special. Like, imagine you’re born wealthy, born lucky enough to have every opportunity in life. Then you go buy some fucking tech company or ranch or some shit. And that does well, because you have lots of money to invest and you can ride out bad times and decisions, so then you sell that company or land for a shit ton of money. You think, ‘Man, I’m a fucking business genius,’ when you’re not. You were born fucking lucky.”

I lean back in the chair. I’m one of the few women allowed to sit at the church table, but only when I’m with Dad. His office is at the top end of the room the club uses for their most sacred of meeting places. “What does that have to do with Atom’s family?”

“For the safety of the club, I need to protect the land it sits on. We don’t own it. It’s appreciated in value the whole time we’ve been sitting on it. What if Atom’s Dad decides to kick us off? We lose everything. But it’s more than we can afford at the current rate. I put the numbers into one of those inflation calculators, seeing if I could figure out how much the land would have been worth back then versus now.”

I take a breath. “Dad. Speak with Atom’s grandfather, then. Tell him you want to buy the land over time for the club. Heck, even explain that, while you trust him, you have concerns about Wheeler. I understand you feel like the club should have bought the land back then, but you didn’t. The Addams family doesn’t owe the club shit. Ask him what he would take for it. Or speak with Atom; it’ll be his one day. He might be reasonable and go to speak to his granddaddy with you.”

Dad takes a long draw on his cigarette. “We won’t be able to afford it.”

“Then you can’t afford it. But the Addams family has not only been integral to the Outlaws, they’ve been good to the club. And while I really don’t want to know anything about it, I bet they also move some money for you. You need to figure out the risk if you offend them with a shitty offer.”

“Wish I hadn’t asked you,” Dad mutters.

I smile at that. “There are some good parts to your proposal, though. You should keep them. I think the early photos of the land before the club really built on it shows the infrastructure the club put in play to be here. It speaks to the longevity of the relationship between the club, the land, and the Addams family. That will make it easier for you to set the tone for a friendly negotiation with them.”

“Fine. I’ll rework it.”

“If you want me to read that version, I’m happy to. And, even if Atom’s granddaddy says no, doesn’t mean Atom will too.”

He stands and shakes the denim of his jeans down over the ankles of his boots. “I’m gonna get coffee. You stay there because you’re gonna help me write it.”

“I need to get back to the bar, Dad.”

“Just need an hour more of your time, Em. And Atom has got some business this morning.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. Then bring me coffee too. You know how I take it.”

Taco, one of the newer patched-in members, appears in the doorway as Dad walks away. “Em. There’s a guy here to see you. Says his name is Rocco.”

My heart sinks. I have no idea why Rocco has chosen to come here, but plenty of options flood my mind. He wants to be a biker and was looking for an in. He wants to meet my father because he thinks my father can do something for me. But maybe telling him here that I don’t want to see him again will draw a line under the two of us.

“Let him come in,” I say.

Maybe I can get this done quickly.

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