Page 16 of Blackout-

My name is Blackie and I’m an alcoholic and a drug addict.

They didn’t judge me as I shamefully admitted to giving into temptation. Instead, they rallied around me and prayed for me to find the courage we all so desperately need to win our battle against addiction. I was by no means fixed by the time I left, but I wasn’t consumed by my cravings either. I don’t know what it is about these meetings that make me feel stronger. Maybe it’s knowing there are people like me, some even worse. If they can find the strength to refrain from relapsing, then maybe I can too. If not, I’ll die trying.

Especially after last night.

Once I got Lacey to fall asleep, I laid awake most of the night thinking. She needed me now more than ever. As did Jack. It was time for me to step up and be the man he groomed me to be. The man who not only led our band of brothers but the man he trusted to take care of his daughter. Jack Parrish didn’t give me his daughter’s hand without expecting anything in return. He gave me his blessing knowing I would love her through the dark just like Reina loves him. If I reassured him of that, maybe he’d give the medication a shot. If not, at least I’ll be able to say I tried, that I didn’t intentionally break my promise.

With that in mind, I decided to visit Jack. We had a lot to discuss, mainly Wolf and the situation with the paramedic. Once we figured out what our next move was, I’d mention his medication. He’d undoubtedly try to brush off my concern by telling me he had everything under control. The man is as stubborn as the day is long and has a real hard time admitting defeat. We’d likely fight but once he realized I came to him as a son-in-law, not his friend or his brother, he’d listen to me. Or so I hoped. As I reached my bike, I put in a call to him to set up a time and place to meet. He answered right away and sounded normal—well, as normal as could be for Jack.

He didn’t mention the paramedic, and that made me wonder if he remembered ordering me to the safehouse yesterday. Before I could suggest meeting, he told me he was headed to the garage to meet with Needles.

“What are you meeting with Needles for?” I asked as I fitted my helmet to my head.

“Time to black this shit from my shoulder,” Jack growled.

After Cain died, Jack had his name inked to his shoulder in tribute to the man who handed him his legacy. Then, Cain was a fucking hero in Jack’s eyes. The man who believed in him despite his illness. Now, with the truth laid bare, Cain was no hero. He was the ruination of the Satan’s Knights. A pussy who took his own life and left all his demons for Jack to battle.

“I’ll swing by,” I offered.

“No,” he replied. “This is something I need to do alone.”

“Jack—”

“It’s not up for debate,” he said and before I could get another word in, he hung up on me.

Sighing, I pocketed the phone and revved my engine. Peeling away from the community center, I made my way home to Lacey. Now, I’ve barely got one foot in the door and she’s ushering me out.

“Whoa, whoa…what’s going on?”

“We’re going to be late,” she says.

Grabbing my hand, she shoves the keys to her SUV in my palm and bends to retrieve the four blue gift bags.

“Shit, I forgot the balloons. We’re going to have to stop.”

Taking the bags from her hands, I bend my head and kiss her lips.

“Calm down,” I murmur against her mouth. A small moan escapes her lips, and she laces her fingers through the belt loops of my jeans, tugging me closer.

“You didn’t kiss me good morning,” she says, giving my lips another peck.

“I did, but you were sleeping,” I tell her, smiling as I nip at her lower lip. Pulling back an inch, I lift my gaze from her mouth. “Now, why don’t you tell me where we’re going and why the hell we need to stop and get balloons?”

“Lauren and Riggs brought the baby home from the hospital,” she reveals, releasing my jeans. “I told them we’d come and meet their newest cub before I go to work.”

Raising an eyebrow, my lips quirk.

“He’s got you calling his kids ‘cubs’, that’s something.”

“Stop,” she retorts, playfully swatting my arm. “I think it’s cute he refers to his kids as cubs.”

“Of course you do,” I tease.

In the midst of all the drama surrounding the club, Riggs’ girl went into labor. Two days ago, Lauren a.k.a. Kitten, gave birth to their third child, a boy they named Anthony, after her brother. Under normal circumstances, everyone would’ve been at the hospital awaiting the birth, but with the club being divided, I didn’t even know Lauren was in labor until she had safely delivered the baby via emergency c-section.

“Come on,” Lacey says, pulling me out the door. “There’s a dollar store on the way to their house.”

“I think they’ll survive if we don’t bring balloons,” I reply, letting her usher me out of the house. “Especially when you hand them all this shit,” I add, lifting the gift bags. “What the hell is in here, anyway?”

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