Page 11 of Bren

My throat tightens at his words. Cash is right; my sperm donor may have created me, but the man who taught me everything I know and has been there for me from the beginning—he’s my dad.

Clearing my throat, I reply, “Thanks for always believing in me, Dad. I’ll fix this, I promise.”

“Love you, son. Hurry up and get home so that this can all be sorted out,” Gunny orders me. “And son, your daughter, she’s beautiful.”

“Get me pictures if you can,” I say to him.

“I will,” he assures me, “let me know when you’re arriving, and I’ll pick you up.”

“Okay, and Dad,” I hesitate before continuing, “don’t tell anyone I’m coming. I’ll meet with Reaper, Sam, and Ben first. Can you make sure the room at the back of the garage is ready for me? I don’t want Bren upset about what they’re going to do to me.”

Gunny is quiet for a minute before he replies, “Will do, son. I’m proud of you, and we’ll see you soon.”

True to his word, Gunny was at the airport to collect me; not even my mum knew that I was arriving. Neither of us spoke much on the way home. I was stuck in my head, desperate to see Bren and Lexi but knowing that I first had to fix things with her dad and brothers. While I was a full member of the MC, I knew that tomorrow I’d not be meeting my President; I’d be meeting with a fucked-off father. I’d take my punishment, then work on mending fences.

Opening up the back of the garage, I wave goodbye to Gunny as he drives out of the back parking lot. Walking into the room where I’d spent a large part of my childhood staying under the radar from my biological father until I trusted Gunny enough to move into Crow Manor, we’d kept it as a bedroom because I’d still crashed here when I was working late and didn’t want to make the twenty-minute ride home. Setting my suitcase down, I lay back on the bed, groaning tiredly as I sink into the bed and promptly fall asleep, only to be woken by the blaring of my alarm a few hours later.

Muttering tiredly, jet lag pulling at me, I remove the phone from my pocket and switch off the alarm. It’s four in the morning, but I want to be at the gym waiting for them when they get there. Routines hadn’t changed much, and most of the brotherhood and some of the Old Ladies got their workouts in early.

Dragging myself out of bed, I strip my clothes off and walk into the tiny, attached bathroom. Jumping into the shower to wake me up. Ten minutes later, I am dressed and brewing a coffee, pouring it into a travel mug. Picking up my gym bag, I leave the garage, ensuring it is locked and the alarm set before I walk over to the gym. Taking out my set of keys, I open up and disarm the alarm. Even with the beatdown I know is coming to me, something in me eases at the familiar routines.

I’d missed home.

Dropping my bag off in the changing room, I start my warm-up and am still hard at it when Carly walks up beside me.

“You’re back,” she greets me with a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. It doesn’t surprise me; Carly and Bren were tight. Seems I would be making amends with more than just Bren and her family.

Gripping the bag I’d been punching to stop it swinging, I wait to reply. Only when I’m sure the bag is secure do I turn towards Carly and reply, “I am.”

“Lots of people are pissed at you, Alec.”

“I know,” I nod in agreement.

Carly tilts her head, her gaze assessing. I’m not sure what she sees, but this time when she smiles, it’s a full smile, not her customer service one. Reaching out, she wraps her arms around me in a hug, “Welcome home.”

Returning her embrace, I reply, “Thanks, Carly.”

Letting me go, she steps back, “I’m guessing you’re here early for a reason.”

Nodding towards the ring, I reply, “I’m waiting on Reaper, Sam, and Ben.”

“Ah, okay. Well, they’ll be here in about five minutes. Here,” she hands me a bottle of water from the bag at her feet. “Drink up, you’re going to need it.”

Taking it from her, I say, “Thanks,” before opening it up and tilting my head back, drinking it down. When I’m done, she takes the bottle from me just as the first rumble of bikes can be heard entering the village.

“Good luck,” she smirks, walking away. Going towards the ring, I pull myself up and in. I’m standing, waiting in the corner when Reaper walks in; anger flashes across his face as soon as he sees me. Behind him is most of the brotherhood, including Sam, whose face hardens when he catches sight of me waiting. The only one not looking surprised is Ben; I’m assuming Carly let him know I was waiting. Bringing up the rear is Gunny. He nods at me, letting me know he’s here if I need him.

The silence is deafening, then Reaper breaks it, throwing his bag on the ground. He toes off his shoes and stalks toward the ring.

The man might be older than me, but he’s still in peak condition, and I know from experience that he hits hard. With him being so angry, I know this is going to hurt because he won’t be holding back, and I have no intention of defending myself. I’d take what he gave me both for him and for me. Because as angry as he is at me, I’m just as angry at myself for the missed months with my family.

“You little motherfucker,” he grinds out as he punches me in the face, nearly taking me down. I only just keep my feet. And then he’s on me. I don’t lift a hand to defend myself; it’s only when I’m down on the mat that he stops.

Panting, he points a finger at me as he grinds out, “This isn’t the end, you little shit. I promised my daughter I’d not touch you out of the ring, but every time I’m in here with you, it’s fair game. You’d better be here to make things right with my girl and my granddaughter.”

Coughing, I groan and roll to my knees, blood dripping from my nose. I already know that it’s broken; my ribs are aching, and I can already feel bruises forming. Coughing again, I push myself up and slowly stand, turning towards Reaper. “I am,” I assure him.

With a nod, he turns away and leaves the ring. Sam climbs in and I grimace at the anger on his face. “My sister!” he storms towards me and hits me; I groan as his fist connects with my cheek, opening up a cut there.

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