Page 35 of Speed

“Looks like I’m going to be the most mature one in this group now.” All that had done was make them laugh louder.

“Don’t dodge, boy. We going to have a little one running around here soon or what?” Preacher stopped laughing, and his eyebrow cocked at me.

“Better yet, is an ol’ lady going to be moving in your place?” Cruz hit his thigh, and they all laughed again. Fuckers thought they were so damn funny. They’d spent their entire lives avoiding getting tied down.

“Let’s just say, I’m not running.” The door opened, and my friends walked in. “I’m done sticking my dick in any hole just ‘cause they’re available.”

“Brother, are you sick? You haven’t been back a week yet. Taking over the Enforcer job, going to be a lot of women wanting to congratulate you with a wet, wild ride.” Flirt had always been a dog.

“Leaves more for you guys.” I’d stepped in just to tell them of a few changes that would be coming, not to discuss feelings and shit.

“Damn straight it does. We’ll take it too, but, man, are you sure?” Jag was always serious.

“I’m sure. Surer than I’ve been in a long while.”

“Then, man, we’ll be happy for you.” Coast walked up to me and slapped my back. I noticed Crusher hadn’t spoken, so I turned toward him.

“Don’t have nothing to say?”

“I do,” Devil spoke up, “One pussy for the rest of your life. You sure a bullet didn’t graze your head when your group got hit?”

“No, but what I do know, I got a daughter who’s life I want to be a part of.”

“Okay, understand that but, Speed, you don’t have to take the mother on to do that,” Stroker spoke, and Crusher still hadn’t said a word.

“What’s your problem, man?” I asked him. He looked at each man in the room until his eyes landed back on me.

“Does the little girl know you’re her dad?”

“Not yet, she will here soon, Crusher, you know me?”

“Good.” His arm went out, and he motioned to others, “Unlike this bunch, I understand what you’re feeling. When should we expect them to be moving here, ‘cause I know you well when you set your mind to something.” He had me smiling then as I remembered the dazed look on Sami’s face that morning when I’d said it to her.

“A week.”

“Son, not that I don’t believe you will get what you want, but you know her dad may not agree with you, regardless of what she does.” I’d thought of that already, and I’d take whatever he dished out, then he’d better get the fuck over it.

“I’ll face that shit when it comes.” I rubbed my neck when smiles spread on the dads’ faces. “And it will be coming soon.”

“Never was slow on the draw, boy. We were here because I received a call from Wild Bill. He was clearing it with us to come visit Sami, his granddaughter, and Carly. And hey you get a twofer, her brother, Reed, is coming too. He’s an Enforcer for the Haven.” Stroker smiled, and his lips twitched. The others didn’t refrain from letting out their laughter.

“Fucking great.” Nothing like meeting the whole family.

“Now get out and go get that business you boys are starting ready to go.” We took the hint and cleared out.

Once we reached the garage behind my place and started working on what we needed to get up and running, I was able to put Sami and the situation out of my mind.

“When the parts due in for your dad’s bike?” Jag asked as he finished writing up the order for the parts we needed to have on hand to start building the first custom bike. A rich lawyer from Arizona with more money than what he needed.

“Day after tomorrow, Chuck’s going to drive them out and drop them off for me. My stuff that I had shipped from the military will be here too. I’ll buy the beer and pizza if you guys can stop over to help me sort the shit out, maybe work on getting a routine down starting with Dad’s bike.”

“Works for me.” Flirt finished, straightening the shelves with the different cans of paint, cleaners, and solvents needed.

“Me too,” Devil said, followed by the same from Coast and Jag. Crusher was outside wiping off the dust from some of the equipment.

“l’ll go check with Crush, see if he’s in.” I stepped outside to check and found Crusher just standing there, rag in hand, staring off. “You okay, man?” He turned at my voice.

“Yeah, just about done, then we can move the stuff back in.” He bent back down and continued with his job.

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