Page 68 of Centering Kaos

Blinking back my own goddamn tears, I opened my arms. He flew into them, smacking his head into my chin.

“You know… this makes you way cooler,” he said, squeezing me.

Laughing, I hugged the shit out of the little asshole.

Mylittle asshole.

“You ready to go get patched in?” Link asked, breaking up our moment.

Releasing Dylan, I turned to nod at my president. “Sure am.” Turning back around, I chucked Dylan under the chin. “Be good… Son.”

He grinned at me. “I will… Dad.”

That hit me right in the fucking feels. Taking one more moment to compose myself, I stood. Emily and Naomi had been joined by Carisa and several other women. I had no idea when they’d all come in, but there wasn’t a dry eye among the bunch.

I didn’t want to leave Tina and Dylan alone, but my cousin gave me a watery smile. “Go. I’ve got them.”

I followed Link down the hall and into the chapel where we held the weekly meetings everyone called church. In a blur, the meeting was called to order and business was handled. Then Havoc called me up to the front and I was put on the spot.

Clapping me on the back, Link addressed the club. “I gotta be honest with you, brothers, I didn’t know what the fuck to think about an NHL player turned soldier. Figured he’d be some kind of entitled little fucker.”

Laughter and nods of agreement came from the group.

“But this man right here… he’s solid. When the ladies needed him to step up and take in a single mother and her child, he didn’t hesitate. Hell, he was the one who suggested it.”

Feeling like a goddamn poser, I shook my head. If that was the reason I was finally getting patched in, Link was about to be sorely disappointed. “I didn’t do it for Ladies First. I did it for Tina and Dylan.”

Link nodded. “And when he fucked up, rather than make things worse, he called in and got orders.”

“I wasn’t tryin’ to follow protocol,” I said, coming clean. “I was looking for advice. I knew keeping her at my place would cross a line, and I didn’t want do that shit. Matt had crossed enough lines, and… that wasn’t what she needed.”

“I know,” Link said. “And that’s why you’re worthy to wear this patch. Stop being a dumbass and trying to talk us out of this. Look at this bunch, Kaos.” His gesture encompassed the whole gathering. “A crew of fuck-ups with more issues than Sage can shake a stick at.”

The club’s shrink nodded in agreement.

“But they’re good men who are just trying to help where they can. Just like you. Now shut your mouth and repeat after me.” He walked me through the pledge, and once finished, he shook my hand. “Welcome, brother.”

Everyone stood and repeated the greeting.

Within the span of a couple hours, I’d become a dad and gotten patched in. Feeling like the luckiest son-of-a-gun on the planet, I followed everyone out to the common area, where I found Carisa talking to Shari. Sneaking up on the two of them, I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“So, you just… sleep with all the bikers?” Carisa asked, her expression intrigued.

“Oh, honey, there’s no sleeping involved. We fuck. But not all of them. I don’t force myself on anyone. I have needs, some of them have needs… we provide a service for one another.”

“And who do I talk to about signing up to be a… a club girl?” Carisa asked.

“A club whore,” Shari corrected. “We wear that shit like a badge of honor.”

That was about enough of that bullshit. “Nobody,” I said, inserting myself into their conversation. “You’re not becoming a club whore, Carisa.”

She rolled her eyes and said, “We’ll talk later, Shari.”

“You most certainly will not,” I roared. “I mean it, Care. Don’t try me. I will tell your mom. Hell, I will announce it in my fucking Christmas cards so the entire family can kick your ass.”

“Why, Kaos?” Shari asked, sounding like the very model of innocence. “Do you have a problem with consenting adults having sex? That’s probably something you should talk to Sage about. Look, there he is now.” She waved him over.

“Sage, huh?” Carisa said, checking him out. “I dunno, cuz. He’s kinda hot.”

---