Page 4 of Aftershock's Fury

“He told me to leave and never come back until it was safe. But…” I pause, running my hands through my hair that’s grown longer. I’m currently sporting a full beard too, the typical Alaskan winter man scruff. It gives off the “don’t fuck with me” vibe I like. I don’t have to worry about bear bait thinking they can hook up with me. I don’t do them and never have.

“But?” He looks up and stares me down.

Kodiak has been my friend since we were boys, but that deep stare, with the scar through his eyebrow, makes him look formidable. I don’t cross him because he’s not only my president and best friend, he’s a fucking psycho. I’ve watched him kill with little remorse.

“He made me swear I’d always protect her.”

“He knew he couldn’t trust the club. He’s always known.”

“But how? That would mean we have someone among us who is a traitor.” I growl the words, pissed that someone would turn their back on the brotherhood. We are more than a family. You have to trust that the man next to you has your back. We don’t speak of what happens, not even to the old ladies.

“For now, keep this between you and me. As for Harley and the attack, only the current officers know what happened. I don’t want any of the general members, prospects, or lifers finding out.”

“Got it.”

“What are your jobs looking like?”

Kodiak is a general contractor and uses my ironworks business for his projects. We basically have a whole crew here capable of building anything. Granite Peak Contractors is one of our legit businesses. We specialize in barndominium-style houses. With the harsh Alaskan winters and the strong winds of the Mat-Su Valley, we are in high demand. Our buildings not only hold up well, but they retain heat efficiently, especially since one of our brothers runs a heating business and installs in-floor heating during construction. We’re not cheap, but we deliver exactly what our customers want.

“Good. Filling up, along with the schedule of builds you sent me. I’m going to be looking for a couple new workers. What about you?”

“I need to get some general laborers. I’m thinking about seeing if GB wants to get his pretty little hands dirty.”

GB, short for Golden Boy, is a prospect we’ve got. His mom was a former state politician, so he’s clean and doesn’t like to get his hands too dirty. For a while, we wondered if he was a plant sent to find our illegal side. Turned out it was just rebellion against his mother and her expectations. He’s going with me on a run in a couple weeks. He’s already proven he’s willing to break the law with us.

We both chuckle, and I stick around to go over some plans with him for the upcoming build season. If the weather keeps holding steady with no precipitation, we’ll be able to start early or pick up some extra work.

“You know you’re going to have to give her time. When she gets here, she’ll stay with me,” Kodiak says.

“What?” My voice drops as I turn to look at him. I lean down, pressing my hands on his desk. “The fuck you talking about? You said you understood she was mine and wouldn’t interfere.”

“Date her. Get to know her. She was young when you last saw her.”

“You won’t stop me.”

He rises from his chair, that scarred eyebrow lifting as his jaw locks.

“Hey, for all you know, Shock, she could already have a boyfriend.”

I swing around at the sound of Loki’s voice and spot him standing in the doorway with a wicked grin on his face. His nickname fits him. He’s all about stirring shit up.

“Take that fucking back, Loki.” I stomp toward him. But before I can reach him, Icarus and Wing grab me by the arms, holding me back. Sparky and Romeo step between us, facing Loki, ready to stop him.

“Why should I? I’m stating the obvious, asshole. She’s fucking twenty-two years old and has been in college. I know you didn’t go, but think about what you were like back then. I know exactly what I was like. Fucking every woman I could who wasn’t bear bait.”

“I fucking remember. But you and I both know I don’t fuck around, and I know she wouldn’t either.”

“You say that, but she doesn’t even know us anymore. She’s been sheltered. She probably doesn’t even ride anymore. She probably blames us for her mother’s death. I admit I blamed the club for a bit after my mother died.”

He did. It was surprising when he finally decided to patch in. It was like a switch flipped, and suddenly he wasn’t angry anymore. The Black Devils didn’t just take his mom and hisaunt. They took his father too, then his uncle and cousin. Out of all of us, he’s lost the most. When he heard Anvil was dead, he put his fist through a wall.

My father raised him after he was left with no one. He’s a brother through the club, but he’s also my brother in every sense of the word. He and I rarely fight. I can put up with his pranks and usually laugh them off. I pull back from Icarus and Wing. Both of them are as big or bigger than me. Icarus is six foot five and muscular. The only man taller or bigger is Kodiak, by about three inches and a lot of mass. That’s one of the reasons he’s called Kodiak. He’s as big as a fucking bear.

“I’m going home.” I push past everyone but stop in the doorway and turn to face Kodiak. “I’ll give her time but only for so long. Then she’s mine.”

“Thank you.” His voice is gruff, thick with held-back emotion.

I get it. He hasn’t seen his sister in a decade, and his father died before he could see the man Kodiak has become. My father was president for a long time, keeping the seat warm until Kodiak finally showed both the dominance and the propensity to lead, then he stepped down and passed the torch.

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