Page 3 of Patching Over

Diesel does not mess around.

“I’ve got a gun locked up in my truck. I’ll keep it close.” His reply surprises me, probably because he fits an image in my mind of a laid-back surfer type, rather than a locked-and-loaded type.

I give him a nod, really not sure what else to say to him. My head is already prepping for the job ahead of me, but I’m happy that someone will be here with my stubborn-ass woman while I’m gone.

Chapter 2

Jasper

“We’re just heading down now,” Flint tells me when I answer his call. I can’t help the bark of laughter I let out from the tone of his voice. “We almost needed a second van because of all the shit they packed.”

Letting out a low whistle, I’m glad I’m not there dealing with that shit. “I’ll have a whiskey waiting for you.”

“Damn right,” he chuckles, disconnecting the call.

“All good?” Declan asks, coming up behind me.

“They’ll be in tonight,” I answer, nodding at the breakfast casserole his wife left for us. “I guess that makes this your last chance to back out.”

“Nah, you’re stuck with us now,” he says, laughing as he claps me on the back. “We haven’t talked about your plans for the club. You’ve got California and Virginia, now Arizona. You thinking about expanding it any further?”

“It would depend on the circumstances,” I slowly answer his question as he dishes up a plate and crosses to the microwave. “Three chapters always seemed plenty to Flint and me, but we never expected to get your call. So, I’ll file it under ‘never say never’ for now.”

Declan is thoughtfully nodding as he sits across from me. “It’s awfully quiet around here.”

“Jenna took the kids to the masochist that’ll be taking care of them the next few days. She said she was going to run some errands and be back this afternoon.” I belatedly relay her message. “You sure it’s not too much trouble, considering her condition?”

“That’s why we’re going to stay at the clubhouse,” Declan responds in between bites of breakfast. “Jenna can sneak off and take naps or put her feet up when she needs to.”

I try not to grimace as I shift on the curved plastic stool. I’ve always been slim but can’t quite get my ass into a position that isn’t brutal, then I see Declan smirk.

“These seats are fine for Jenna and the kids, but why don’t you follow me?” While that may sound like a question, he’s already putting his plate in the sink before moving down a narrow hallway that’s just past the door to the yard.

Finding myself in his office, I gratefully sink into a large leather chair across the desk from him.

“Cigar?” This time it is a genuine question, as he opens a box and offers me one. After I take it, he leans back and hits a switch on the wall behind him, turning on a vent above us. “Installed that after Jenna and Justin moved in. Now, what’s on your mind?”

“We discussed most of the details,” I state, holding my hand up when his eyes harden. “Except for finances.”

“We agreed on our dues,” he says, his hand tightly wrapped around his lighter. Not letting that deter me, I reach inside my cut to fish out my own.

“Absolutely,” I easily respond, and we both take a moment to light up. “What are your plans? Since our dues are less than what you were paying before.”

“We had talked about some upgrades for the clubhouse, and we had some expenses from the fire that our insurance didn’t cover, so I’ll keep everyone’s monthly fee where it is now, through the end of the year.”

“Okay, as we discussed you’ll be pretty autonomous, but I am going to insist that ouraccountant, Fury, check your books,” I tell him, wondering if he knows who I’m talking about and how soon I can get one of these vents installed in my office at our clubhouse.

“Fury?” he asks, his eyes brows nearly touching. “Who the fuck is Fury?”

“From Virginia. Jigsaw’s youngest.”

“I thought Vector only had a sister … Well, fuck.”

I sit back, watching him process that bit of news, waiting until one of his shoulders quickly rises and falls in a shrug. “I didn’t know Jigsaw, but I’ve heard howtraditionalhe was. She surely didn’t pick up the books when he was still alive.”

“Hell, no. A woman running any part of an MC? He’d have a stroke,” I confirm what he’s heard about the man that co-founded the Northern Grizzlies with Flint’s father over fifty years ago. “He was proud as hell of her getting a full ride to school, but he didn’t live to see her graduate. Fury finished up in three years then went back to her brother, full of ideas on how to launder money.”

“Fury, huh? What’s her name?”

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