Page 26 of Brother to Brother

Dragon’s expression was inscrutable from behind his wraparounds but I could tell, now would come the questions he spoke of before. The first thing he asked was what exactly the hell was going on with the Arizona chapter that they would send me all the way out here on a wild goose chase?

I told him everything and of course, the next question on the heels of the first, was about Dom, specifically what it was about him that made me say no.

“I’ll tell you on one condition,” I said softly and braced myself.

“What’s that?” he asked me.

“That Archer, Rush, and Nox won’t be in trouble for not selling out their brothers,” I said.

Dragon huffed a bit of a laugh, “They ever involved in what I’m worried might come out your mouth?” he asked.

“Only insofar as looking the other way. They never had a direct hand in it that I know of. Of course, I’m just a dumb club whore and this probably falls under club business… At least it did according to Dom.”

“You worried he might come out here holding a grudge?” Dragon asked.

“Insightful,” I said. “And yes, yes I am…”

Dragon sighed, “Just what’re you runnin’ from, Sweetheart? We can’t protect you if we don’t know what the big bad is all about.”

“It’s nothing club related. I went to the club in Arizona to find out where Grinder had gone, remember? They told me, they just conveniently left out some of the important details.”

“Right now, I’m just askin’,” he said gently. “Don’t make me have to order you, Honey. I don’t want to be like the guys you just left.”

He pulled off his glasses and even red rimmed from weeping, his gaze was so sincere… I told him. I told him about Dom and turning out the girls. I told him about all of it and then I begged him to keep it between us unless it became absolutely necessary to tell Noah’s uncles.

He nodded, “Your secrets are yours to keep, I’m satisfied with what you’ve told me and I gotta say, you understand you’re safe out here right? That the club is gonna protect you and your boy. Archer explained to you that you’re being treated as Grinder’s property with all that entails, yeah?”

I nodded, “I guess it’s just been so long, you know? Feels like if I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” I huddled in my jacket, “Usually, if it’s too good to be true, it undoubtedly is, you know?”

He nodded and sighed, “Maybe you’re just due for a little good luck, eh?”

“I don’t disagree, but it’s still so hard to believe.”

“Well, believe it Sugar, you’re gonna be okay. We aren’t perfect, but as far as this club is concerned, you and your boy is family. Speaking of which, you ready to get back to him?” he asked; I nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

Dragon was as good as his word, he took me back to my son, who was sitting and playing in the midst of the media room floor with another, younger baby, while everyone stood around cooing and awing. I was passed to Ashton and Hayden who took it upon themselves to introduce me to the rest of the ol’ ladies while Dragon quietly called a church meeting.

There was Everett, who belonged to Dray and Mandy her best friend who was the mother of the little girl my son played with; she belonged to a brother named Revelator. Shelly was next, and she positively glowed, her belly just beginning to show. She belonged to a brother called Ghost. Dani introduced herself; she said the love of her life was a man who went by Thirteen. I felt adopted right into their circle and it was the first time in a long time I felt like I belonged anywhere. It was nice, even when the men came out looking equal parts pissed off and grim. Archer, Rush, and Nox stared at me and I cringed inwardly, afraid they would take my candor as a betrayal.

“You good, Mel?” Archer asked and I felt some of the tension in my chest ease. I nodded and he gave a quick nod before turning and putting his head together with Rush’s and Nox’s. The women provided fantastic distraction from the goings on around me and Noah, and for that, I was grateful. My son remained happy and safe, and above all, oblivious to the very adult goings on around him.

The rest of the early evening passed into night and when I took Noah home, Archer riding before us like some kind of vanguard, the anxiety returned and I worried what awaited me when I got us there. I put my sweet little sleeping boy down and turned, expecting Archer to have something to say, but all he did was drop heavily onto the couch with a sigh.

“Nothing?” I asked softly.

“Yeah, g’night Mel,” he said gently and I went back into the bedroom a little shocked. I closed the door and changed for bed, but lay awake. This time for a completely different reason than the thumping and bumping of bass through the walls.

Chapter 14

Archer

It’d been weeks, more than a month, I couldn’t say for sure if it’d been more than two, but Mel, Noah, and I had settled into a kind of routine. In that time, Mel had even gotten a job; working a day shift over at some diner taking care of the lunch rush. She was bringing in good tips, and I’d told her to keep ‘em to get her and Noah set up.

I say all this, because it was weird as hell that she’d be calling me in the middle of the day at the garage. She should be at work, slinging plates to a bunch of blue collar working stiffs like myself.

I picked it up on the third buzz and asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just calling to let you know that Rev called me, said Noah wasn’t feeling well. Jake is letting me off to go get him, so I’ll be home when you get there.”

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