Page 128 of The Heart We Guard
Brought Greer home, then sobbed all over again when Ember showed up with the scan picture of my grandbaby. I swore her tosecrecy and told her about my plans for tonight. I’ve kept things from my daughter in the past, something I promised myself I’d never do again. I’ll find out in a few minutes if she was able to keep it from Atom, as I asked.
She’s the one who helped me unstitch my president patch and my Colorado rocker. Greer’s the one who stitched the nomad patch on; after all, she said, she’d had many more years of stitching practice than Ember and me.
“Yeah. It’s time.”
I didn’t quit in the immediate aftermath of the crash and death of Gauge.
Wraith was a mess after killing the man who killed his previous wife and child. But, thankfully, he had Raven, his rock, and Fen, the kid he loves as his own, and the hope for his unborn child, to help him find the light again. They went to Mexico for some sunshine and blue water and sleep.
Atom was splitting himself into twenty-seven pieces, spending ninety percent of his time at the hospital with Ember, and the rest doing his best to keep the ranch afloat. He looked like the walking dead, and was so tired, I saw him peel a banana and then put the banana in the garbage and try to eat the skin. That day, I took him to my place, forced him to nap in my spare room, and made him eat a plate of steak and potatoes before he left again.
As a club, we gave both of them some time to heal, but it meant Grudge and I split the enforcer and sergeant at arms role, alongside being president and vice. Jackal and Shade stepped up to provide additional support.
It only served to make Grudge and me closer.
And I had some fun with the prospects. Took them out to Dr. Mendez’s house in the middle of the night, and we covered his brand-new sports car with multipurpose grease. Won’t do anyharm to his paintwork but it will be a nightmare to wash off. Serves the good doctor right for firing my girl.
I chuckle at the idea he’ll be swiping grease in circles on his hood for weeks.
Now, four weeks later, Ember is home and Wraith is smiling, and we’re having a family night at the clubhouse that will start with all the brothers in church. I look at the boxes stacked in the corner of my clubhouse room. The club members don’t know it’s packed up for me to move out.
Maybe I’ll end up with a different room, in the future.
Maybe I won’t.
But my new patch is already sewn onto my cut. And the fresh patches for the others are in an envelope on my desk.
“You know I’ll love you no matter who you are, Nolan,” Greer says.
“I should hope so,” I say with a grin, lifting the ring to my lips. “But I’m doing this for me too.”
I take her hand and grab my cut off the hook by the door for the last time. It’s too early to put it on, to reveal my intentions.
As I step out, I turn and take a look at the room I’ve called home. Memories of club girls, wild parties, ruining my marriage, neglecting my daughter, puking, being stitched up, counting cash, standing watch over Wraith when I thought he was going to kill himself…
A thousand memories.
A different life.
Greer squeezes my hand, as if she knows what I’m thinking. “You’ll be back. Maybe not this room. But you’ll be back.”
“I know. I didn’t think it would hit me like this. It’s the right thing, but it’s still overwhelming.”
“Then, let your men see. A bit of vulnerability would go a long way in a place like this.” She steps up onto her toes and kisses me tenderly. “I love you, Nolan.”
“I love you too, Greer.”
The men are confused when I walk into church with my cut in my hand after leaving Greer outside with a chaste kiss. They’re all sitting in their seats. Seats they earned. Seats they’ve worked hard for.
I close the doors behind me and walk to my seat for a final time. My mouth feels dry, but my heart is settled.
“Men. This is the last time I’ll address you as your president.”
Atom stands, his mouth open in shock. It’s clear my daughter kept my secret like I asked.
“What the fuck?” Grudge mutters, confusion etching his features.
Some of the others look at me with wide eyes.
