Page 41 of The Secrets We Keep

Old school rock pumps through the speakers in the clubhouse and members are standing around laughing and drinking beer. A few of the club girls hang off the single guys. I smile as I walk by and place the macaroni on the waiting warmer.

Today we’re having BBQ and marinated pork steaks, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, candied carrots, salad, and rolls. Chef walks out of the kitchen carrying a large container of fresh rolls and butter. When he sets them down, everyone knows it’s time to eat. A few cheers ring out before everyone falls into line.

Grayson and Asher step to the front of the line and Grayson pulls me along with them. The other officers and voting members fall in behind us and the prospects and club girls fall into the end of the line. I swear these guys do everything according to their rank.

Grayson makes me and Asher go ahead of him, but helps Asher get his plate together. It’s amazing how something as simple as him helping our son with his plate makes my heart ache with happiness. I’m not alone in this anymore. I’ll never be alone again.

Our meal is full of laughter and good food. This isn’t the same club that I remember, and that’s probably because of the men in front of me. They’re nothing like the pigs who used to be in charge. They’re more like Grayson and Rowan’s father, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. My son isn’t just goingto have his father, uncle, and grandfather to be good male role models in his life. He’ll have this entire club.

“What are you smiling about?” Grayson murmurs as he pulls my seat closer to him.

“I’m just happy that we’re here,” I say softly before planting my lips on his.

“Me too, baby,” he whispers against my lips.

“Gross,” Asher mutters, breaking the moment. We laugh and break apart. “Can we throw the football around, dad?”

“Yeah, buddy. Just finish your vegetables and we’ll go into the yard.”

Asher rolls his eyes. “Do I have to? Veggies are gross.”

“Hey now, if you want to be big and strong like all of us, you have to eat your veggies,” Rowan tells him with a wink.

We burst into laughter as Asher shovels his green beans into his mouth at warp speed. “Done,” he mumbles around a mouthful of food.

“Whoa, wise guy. Swallow all that food before you go anywhere,” I say through my laughter.

He makes a show of swallowing and then turns to his dad. “I’m ready!”

“All right.” Grayson plants a kiss on the top of my head and then leads Asher out of the room and into the yard.

I smile as I watch them go and then head into the kitchen to see if Chef needs any help. “You know that you can eat with all of us, right?” I ask when I see him huddling over his plate of food.

“I know, but I’m used to it this way.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “All right, old man. Do you need me to do anything?”

He waves me off. “Nah, sweetheart. Just go and enjoy the evening.”

“Don’t work too hard,” I tell him as I give him a kiss on the cheek and then head back into the main room.

Most of the guys are standing by the bar chatting with our bartender and the club girls. I walk over and join Cole and Nash who have Ana and Lacey on their arms.

“Dinner was great, Sophie,” Ana says with a big smile.

“I can’t take all the credit,” I say with a laugh. “Chef did most of the work.”

Nash’s brow furrows as he looks behind me. “What the fuck is she doing here?”

I whirl around and find a disheveled Candy glaring at me. I sigh and then immediately search the room for my son. I find him through the window, just where he should be, tossing around the football with Grayson outside.

“You can’t be here, Candy,” Cole says as he stepscloser, pushing Ana behind him.

She doesn’t say a word and her eyes don’t leave me. “Get out of here before you make things worse for yourself,” I mutter, not wanting to deal with her brand of crazy right now. I grit my teeth when she still doesn’t move. I advance on her. “Don’t make me drag you out by your hair.” When I’m standing in front of her, she pulls a gun from behind her back and aims it at my head. I stop in my tracks.

“What the fuck, Candy?” Nash growls. I hear him move behind me, but I don’t take my eyes off the crazy woman in front of me with a gun.

She lifts the gun in the air and fires off three shots. I duck in cover as plaster falls from the ceiling. Hands grip my hair and drag me forward. Candy holds the gun to my temple as chaos erupts around us. My eyes search the craziness for my son and find Grayson leading him to Rowan, who urges him further into the yard.Further away from Candy.

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