Page 13 of The Oath We Take

Ipull up at the clubhouse and scan the lot, grateful when I don’t see Atom’s bike. The takeout container has stunk up the inside of my car, but Dad asked if I wouldn’t mind dropping some food from the bar for him, and I really felt like taking Lemmy out for a ride.

Two birds, one stone.

When I walk in, I find Dad sitting by the bar, nursing a beer while he studies his phone.

Nolan “Butcher” Deeks is a handsome man. With hair that seems whiter every year and a boyish twinkle in his eyes, he’s used his looks for most of his life. It’s how he was able to convince my mom to take a chance on a biker with a no-good reputation. And it’s how he blew his marriage apart because there were so many women willing to replace his old lady.

I’d like to say my father is a good man, but it wouldn’t be true. He’s occasionally loyal, mostly honest, and has provided for me financially, which is more than some men do. But his morality is the darkest gray.

“Hey, Dad,” I say.

He glances my way. “Hey, Spitfire. Thanks for bringing it. I’m starved.”

I place the container on the bar. “It’s quiet in here.”

“Everyone just left. Long meeting. Some of them have driven into town to get food.”

Even better if one of them was Atom. If I’m quick, I can get to the stables and be out on Lemmy before Atom returns.

“Well, I’m gonna leave you to eat. I want to get in a ride before my shift in the bar.”

I turn to leave, but Dad reaches for my wrist. He tips his chin to the neighboring bar stool. “Sit for a minute. Wanna talk to you about something.”

The leather is cool as I pull the stool out from the bar. “What’s up?”

“Heard you had a little trouble last night.”

I’ve never considered myself an easily enraged person, but I swear my blood pressure doubles. “Atom.”

That’s all I manage, because my brain is already calculating the three hundred and twenty-five ways I’m going to kill him.

“My enforcer shouldn’t have to be telling me things like this. You should.”

“Your enforcer has no business saying anything at all. It’s part of the job. Guys come to the bar, get drunk, overstep boundaries. Men are the problem. Not me. Not my bar. And if Atom had waited two seconds before pounding on the guy, I would have had him and his friends ejected.”

“I’m not talking about the fight. I’m talking about the guy who was bothering you.”

“Nothing happened, Dad. A guy flirted. And for both of your information, I happened to like it. He has my number, I hope he calls it. Might even sleep with him.” I jump from the stool.

“You gotta be safe, Ember. You can’t just be giving out your?—”

“Dad! Stop. I’m old enough that I could fuck everyone who walked into my bar. Train-style and in front of witnesses if I want to.”

“For fuck’s sake, Em. I’m your dad. I don’t need to hear that.”

“I think you do. I’m not clueless. I’m not naïve. I’m a woman. I run a business and grew up within a motorcycle club.”

Dad rubs his hand across his trimmed beard. “I didn’t say you were clueless.”

“So, I’m just naïve then?”

“Stop twisting my words around. You need to be careful out there. We know what happened to Margie’s place.”

Even thinking about how Wraith’s mother-in-law’s diner got torn up doesn’t temper my frustration. Although it does explain Dad’s sudden interest in my life. God forbid he loses more ground to the Russians he thinks I don’t really know about. “And you need to stop listening to your enforcer, because the guy last night? He was being playful. Flirty. And I didn’t mind his hands on me. Enjoy your food.”

I stomp out of the clubhouse before I say anything else. That was probably way too much to say to my dad. But if I see Atom again, I can’t be held responsible if I swing for him.

It takes a few minutes to drive up the dirt road to the stables. When I step out of my car, I force myself to take three deep breaths and look at the mountains.

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