Page 2 of Biker's Baby

Our president, Tad, was already inside, just as I figured he would be. And, as usual, he had chosen the booth that was in the back corner of the restaurant. He didn’t care that most of the people who came through the place didn’t stay long.

When Tad wanted to sit down and eat, he stayed for as long as he wanted. There were other members of the club who would drift in and out as often as they chose, but no one in the restaurant would tell Tad that he had to hurry or that he had to leave.

Everyone in town knew who he was, and no one wanted to do anything to offend him.

And that included those who were part of the club.

But Glenn and I also knew our places. We were active members of the MC, and we both held rank as well. It wasn’t any surprise to Tad when the two of us stalked into the restaurant and headed straight to the corner where he was already holding court with several other members from our MC.

We greeted the others at the table with a mere nod, then both sat next to our leader as he continued to address everyone seated around. He only stopped speaking long enough for Glenn and me to put our order in for lunch and request two blended margaritas in the meantime.

“We’ve got another shipment coming up this way from Mexico in two days,” Tad was saying to those around the table. “You know I would prefer to cut out the middleman in this situation, but I’m afraid that’s not likely to be possible. I’m going to need several of you to meet with the runners directly.”

I swallowed. I knew I would be included in the group sent to meet with these people, but I already didn’t want to. My brothers were dispersed among other MCs all across the country, and we all shared the common goal.

We were to reform the clubs we’d joined. Stop them from doing all the illegal deeds they engaged in doing and turn them into something good. It was a dream of our late father’s, and he’d promised each and every one of us a sizeable inheritance if we were able to achieve this goal.

I personally didn’t think it would be possible with The Black Cats. I’d already been part of this MC for years, and while we had changed from doing some of the old practices, we were still one of the biggest drug-running MCs working with the cartel.

Cocaine was the name of the game with our MC, and with my increasing rank, I was becoming the face of the man who had to handle the drugs personally. Well, I had my team of men with me who did the heavy lifting, but I was the one who made contact with those who were selling to us, and I was the one who made sure the entire operation went smoothly.

In itself, I knew I should be proud of this position I held. It showed Tad trusted me, and it was likely I would continue to rise in my ranks within the club.

However, being twenty-four now, I wasn’t sure I would last very long in this club if I was already the one out on the front lines when we dealt with the cartel’s drug runners.

We were supposed to be just another link in the chain, dispersing the drugs to others who would then take them and continue dispersing, but that didn’t change the fact that this was an incredibly dangerous place to be. And if I was supposed to somehow reform this club into something positive, I had to mind what I said and did.

I didn’t know how I would stay on Tad’s good side and continue to be the one who had to take care of these drug deals. It seemed to me that the two ideas conflicted entirely, and each time I went out on one of these assignments, I was surprised when I managed to get out of it entirely unscathed.

If I did manage that anyway.

I had already been shot more than once. I’d been in more fights than I could count and many of those included weapons. My body was scarred, and I would forever watch my back every time I had to face away from the door. This club had changed me, and I didn’t know if I had the power to change it in return.

But, as long as I kept the desire to change in mind, I had hope things could be better. At least, that’s what I would continue to tell myself.

I zoned out as I thought about the phone call I’d had with my brother practically on my way to meet Tad. He had been straightforward with what he thought about things, and I’d done my best to satisfy his curiosity without saying much at all.

I wondered if he was in a similar situation in his own MC, but then there was a part of me that couldn’t care about that. I had to figure out how I would handle things here, and with the way Tad was talking, it didn’t seem that would be any easy feat.

“Earth to Abe, you with us?” Glenn asked as he shoved a basket of nachos in my direction.

“Yes, sorry. I was just thinking more about what Tad had said with the upcoming meeting. I want things to go smoothly, that’s all,” I said.

“Which is why I know you’re the man for the job. The men for the job,” Tad looked around the table, making eye contact with several of the other men who were present.

I said nothing as I ate quickly. I was getting in deeper and deeper with each passing day, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I knew it wasn’t safe, but I also felt trapped. I didn’t know how I’d get out of this, that was for damn sure.

But, I would do my best to keep up my end of the bargain that was made with my brothers. I would look for a way to reform this MC, and I would stick to my guns in the process.

At the same time, I would constantly question how I would get out of what was being asked of me, because it did go directly against what I stood for.

With a sigh, I drained the rest of my margarita, listening to Glenn kiss ass to Tad.

I’d let him do the dirty work there. Tad wasn’t easily manipulated, and Glenn could use all the help he could get. I’d stay out of that one, that’s for sure.

I rose from my chair, and Glenn followed.

He was still talking to Tad, but I merely gave our president a nod before leaving.

There was a lot on my mind, and I didn’t have time to sit and chat with the rest of the guys about nothing in particular. I had things to figure out.

And the sooner I could solve some of those problems, the better.

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