Page 16 of Ryker

“You’re lucky you didn’t knock any out,” Bear said.

I snorted.“Yeah, because all those are really yours.”

“Boy, do I have to take you back home the hard way or are you going to come easy?”Torch asked.“Because I didn’t come here on vacation.One of mine is hurting, and you’re the cause.So you’re going to man up and fix it.”

“You’re here for me?”I asked, then glanced at my dad who suddenly seemed very interested in the wall across the room.Yeah, the fucker had set me up.I should be pissed, but part of me was glad he cared enough to interfere.We might not have the typical father/son relationship, but he was there for me when I needed him, and he’d understood when I’d left and joined the Marines.

Torch scratched his beard.“The club and I have talked, and as much as we don’t like the way you handled things with Laken, the truth is that she wants you there.It’s obvious to any of us that she misses you, and I think she’s a little scared having to face this pregnancy alone.”

“Alone?”I asked.“She has all the Dixie Reapers there with her.”

“Yeah, but none of us is the daddy to her baby.You’re the one she wants,” Torch said.“Flicker would be content if you never showed your face again, but even he agreed that something isn’t quite right with Laken.She’s healed up just fine.Still gets headaches here and there, but the doctor said everything looks good.Baby is doing good too.”

“Then it sounds like she’s just perfect without me,” I said.

“Then why does she look so fucking sad when she thinks no one is watching her?”Torch asked.“I’ve seen her get this melancholy look on her face and put her hand over her belly, and I know she’s not sad about the baby.She’s excited even though she’s worried about her brother having to pay for everything.”

Wait.Flicker was buying my kid the things they needed?That was my job.If anyone should be providing for my son or daughter, it was me.

“He’s been good about taking Laken to her appointments, asking the doctor questions to make sure he takes care of her properly,” Torch said.

There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t quite decipher, but I knew he was telling me all this for a reason.Maybe he knew I wouldn’t like the idea of someone else taking care of my kid, taking care of my woman.And fuck, but that’s what Laken was.Mine.I think I’d known it as soon as that first night.I should have tied her ass to the bed so she couldn’t leave.Maybe things would have turned out differently if she hadn’t snuck out that next morning, or if I’d asked more questions the second time I saw her.

“What’s it going to be?”Torch asked.“You coming willingly, or do I have to do this the hard way?”

“And what’s the hard way?”I asked.

My dad cleared his throat.“That would be me, as your President, ordering your ass to go with Torch.As of this moment, you’re the liaison between the clubs.We reached an agreement, but he’s sending one man here, and I’m sending you to the Dixie Reapers.You’ll still be Hades Abyss, but you’ll follow Torch’s rules while you’re there.”

“And if I don’t want to go?”I asked.

“Didn’t realize I was asking,” my dad said.

I could read between the lines.Either I did as I was told, or I was out of the club.The Hades Abyss had never meant much to me, not after I was old enough to leave and start my own life, but being back here… I’d realized that maybe they meant more to me than I’d ever admitted to myself.They were family, and you didn’t turn your back on family.

“If Laken wants to move here with you,” Torch said.“None of us would stop her, or you, from leaving.Your dad would just send someone else to our club.But Laken is family to us, and we’re hoping the two of you decide to stick around.”

“Looks like my future is all decided for me.And here I got out of the Marines so I’d be allowed to think for myself.”

My dad snorted.“Son, you were born into this club.You’ve never been allowed to think for yourself, so don’t go acting like that’s anything new.You’ve either followed my rules or the government’s, and I think between the two, you’d prefer mine.”

He wasn’t wrong.I sipped my beer and studied the two men over my mug.Assholes.They both looked like they knew I was going with Torch whether I wanted to or not, and really, they hadn’t given me any choice.I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of thinking I actually wanted to go, though.The thought of seeing Laken again both thrilled me and terrified me.I didn’t know what kind of reaction I’d get when she saw me.But fuck if I didn’t want to hold her again, to breathe in her scent, and run my hands through that silky blonde hair that hung nearly down to her ass.

“Fine.When do we leave?”I asked.

“Now,” Torch said.

“Your stuff is already boxed and ready to go,” my dad said.“Had it done while you were down here moping in your beer.A Prospect will drive the truck down with your shit.As a courtesy to me, and in hopes you decide to stay there with Laken, Torch is letting you use a house on the compound.Mostly furnished.”

“If I’m not here to work, how the hell am I going to earn money to take care of my family?”I asked.

“You’re working, just not doing what you normally would.Torch needs help on any jobs, he’ll let you know and pay you accordingly.But I’ll have funds transferred to your account every month, for as long as you’re there.Don’t think being a liaison is going to mean you sit around on your ass all day.We’re going to work you.Hard,” my dad said.

I shrugged and finished my beer.I’d never been afraid of hard work.As long as I didn’t bring shit home to Laken and my kid, I’d do what I was told without question.But the second that shit came to my door, then everyone would remember why I was called Diablo.

“Guess we’d better hit the road, then,” I said.

“I’m only stopping for gas,” Torch said.“So if you need to piss, do it now.”

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