Page 45 of Axe
“You are one badass lookin’ dude,” I said as I picked him up. He replied with a giggle as he pointed to the motorcycle on his shirt, then to the patch on my cut. A smile spread across my face and for some fucking reason, I felt pride spreading through my heart. Why? Well, I couldn’t even begin to answer that.
I leaned over the pen and grabbed his blanket and his lion. Then I headed back down the stairs, my slightly elevated mood wiped clean the moment I laid eyes on Allison.
She was standing there, a nervous energy coming off of her as she wrapped her hand around the strap of the diaper bag that was hanging off of her shoulder. In her free, hand I saw she was clinging to a sippy cup full of milk and a container of oatmeal for Neiryn.
I hardly gave her a second glance as I walked out the back door and to the attached garage where I knew her car was.
“Keys,” I said and she placed them in my palm. “Get in.”
With a tiny nod, she scooted around to the passenger’s side as I moved to put Neiryn in his car seat in the back. I somehow managed to get him buckled in that kid contraption seat without too much trouble, even though it was my first time. I checked to make sure it was all buckled tightly before I stood tall and shut the door.
I leaned against the driver’s side door, the coolness of the metal against my back did nothing to douse the angry fire I had inside. I blew out a harsh breath as I reached into my pocket for my pack of smokes. This entire past week I’d had the amount that I would have before noon on a regular day. Tank would have been so proud.
I was in a ‘fuck it all’ mood. If I didn’t take this moment to try my best to calm down there was no telling what I would do. The last thing any of us needed was for me to snap. I lit the cigarette and took a deep drag. I needed to call Cal and find out where he was. Fuck. First I needed a phone and the new number to reach the prez.
Man, shit was all fucked up. Whatever was going on with Bocca and his shit was messing us all up.
Taking one last inhale, I dropped the cigarette to the ground and smashed it under my sneaker. As I slid into the driver’s seat and started the car, the only thing I could do was think about how bad this was all about to get. I had a feeling once Cal and the rest of the club found out, I wouldn’t be able to protect her anymore and the fucked up thing was that I still wanted to.
Rolling out of the driveway, I saw the prospect leaning up against his bike across the street. I waved him over as I put the window down and he came jogging over without hesitation.
“You got a new phone?” I asked him. He gave a short nod as he dug into his pocket and produced a burner phone. “Cal’s number in there?”
Without a word, he brought up the number and handed me the phone. Cal picked up on the second ring.
“Yeah?” he grunted.
“I’m coming in. Need to talk right now,” I said as calmly as possible.
“There a problem?”
“Yeah,” I answered him shortly.
“Fuck. I don’t need more shit right now. Fine, I’m at the clubhouse. I’ll be in my office waitin’.” I could hear the stress thick in his voice.
“Seven minutes,” I said, letting him know that I was coming right now and then dropped the call.
I handed the phone back to the prospect. He nodded and shoved it back into his pocket.
“Watch the house,” I said to him. “Anything unusual you call Cal or Loch right away. Even if you think it’s nothin’.”
“Got it,” he replied and stepped back, giving me room to drive off.
