Page 76 of Always Mine

“What makes you say that?”

“Intuition, and also, I’ve come to read you over the years.You stand by my side, as I’m the only person you trust to keep you in check.Daisy is the other person.Also, your mom.You won’t do anything to hurt your mom.”

Anthony stared at his father, and the older man laughed.

“I’m hungry,” Anthony said.

“Then grab yourself a bun, I’ve got a burger here with your name written all over it.”

He rolled his eyes but grabbed a bun.His father had already slapped on a slab of cheese and allowed it to melt, which was exactly the way he liked it.

“Luke believes his dad is going to kill him, along with whoever is left of the Monster Dogs.”

“They’re a problem, but we can deal with it.I’ve already told Luke he is a prospect and will probably make patch before you,” Lash said.

“Figured.”He took a large bite of his burger.It was hot but so freaking tasty.He looked around the club, at the men and woman, Skulls and Chaos Bleeds mingling, being a family.

Then he checked on Daisy, seeing her dance with Tabitha, only to bring Primrose and Bluebell into their little dance.They were the twin daughters of Hardy and Rose.

The club was growing.Getting bigger with every year.

“Did you always imagine it would be like this?”Anthony asked.

“No, I didn’t.The club you know now is not the club we started,” Lash said.“We’ve lost a lot of members.We’ve changed.”

“Does it bother you?”

Lash flipped a bunch of burgers.“Change is good.It’s scary, and at times not necessary, but it happens.We all grow up and evolve.It is the way of life.It’s how it’s supposed to be.Is it what I hoped it would be?”Lash shrugged.“Sometimes yes, sometimes no.”

This made Anthony frown.“I thought this is what you loved.”

“When you’re running guns, drugs, and doing some of the bad shit, it’s easy.You’re a bad guy.You do bad things.You kill people via snapping their necks, and it means nothing.You kill bad people because you are a bad person.The Skulls have never gone after civilians.So, our targets have always been enemies—the bad guys.It’s what we do.”

“And?”

“And now, we’re the good guys, and we see what real bad guys do.Helping these people makes you realize how fucked up the world is.I knew it was, and was happy to be part of it.But, like the girls we just saved, there were bodies.We saw what men and sometimes women are capable of.When you’re a parent, even to adult, mature kids, it can be a tough pill to swallow.You’re a married man now.You’re your own man, but the truth is, you’ll never stop being my son, and I have this instinct to take care.I want to protect you from the horrors I know you’re going to be exposed to.”Lash glanced over toward his wife.“And sometimes, you fail to protect those you love.You have to watch as they get shot at, beaten, and nearly die.Or, nearly driven crazy by what you lost during that moment.”

Anthony didn’t dare look at his mother.He knew all about this, and knew the story itself wasn’t a pretty one.The Skulls had their battles and had lost a great deal.

“The advice I’m giving you, son, is this.Be prepared for the change, never run from it.Just be open-minded.”

Anthony nodded.“I’m going to take full responsibility for everything that happened.I don’t want anyone else to suffer because it was my idea.This is what I wanted to do.”

“We’ll see how they take it.”

“Hey, honey and sweetheart.How is that food?”Angel asked.

“Where’s Daisy?”Anthony asked.

“She’s just inside.Gone to the bathroom, I think, but she is looking incredibly tired.”

Anthony finished his burger by shoveling the last half into his mouth.He gave his parents a big thumbs-up, then went in search of his woman.He didn’t find her in the bathroom but near the corner by the pool table, with the Hall of Fame guys.The men that had served the Skulls and died for it.

“Hey, baby,” he said, going toward her and wrapping his arms around her waist.“What are you looking at?”

“Him,” Daisy said, looking toward an older man.Well, he was older to them, but he was only in his late forties.

“Mikey?”

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