Page 60 of A New Era

“I’m proud to be here and see you wed, Leo. I’ll ride the fuck outta the road on the way home and I’ll happily give my patch to the next brother. It’s not all bad.”

I hold my hand out and he shakes it. Times are always changing, and the trick is never to be stuck behind.

* * *

I enjoy the silence of the road compared to the chaos back at the club as I ride out to meet Luca. The mess with the Southern Chapter can wait until the Mercy Chapter arrives and we can all sit down at the table. The news about JP sucks horseshit but like everything else, we’ll ride it through. He’s got his old lady covered but she will always have help from the club if she needs it. It makes me feel lucky to have all that I have. The wedding plans are all going smoothly. My daughter is thriving. Effie is being dealt with. The sheriff is keeping her distance. With everything compartmentalised, the building headache I was getting earlier fades away.

Once again, Luca is the first to arrive and he’s too busy on his phone to even look up at me. No doubt on the phone to Victoria.

“You’re late,” he grumbles once I’ve killed my engine.

“Am I fuck. You’re early,” I retort. “How’s Victoria?”

The corner of his mouth turns up. “She’s fuckin’ glowing, brother. Motherhood is hot on her.”

“How’s my nephew?”

When and if Holly gets pregnant, I’m hoping for a boy this time. A son to call my own and maybe one day follow in my footsteps.

Again, a grin breaks through. “I always knew I’d create perfection but he’s more than perfect.”

“Glad to hear it. So what was so important you wanted to meet tonight?” I ask, getting to the reason we’re here in the middle of the night when we could both be home with our families.

“Effie’s ordered me and the brothers to head out on a run this Sunday. I’ll get the details an hour before we’re due to leave.”

This is good… or could be a trap.

“I see it on your face that you think it’s a trap,” he calls out in seconds. “If it is, we’ll be prepared. She said I’d be meeting up with her and her European supplier and then making sure her shipment reaches its destination. Once I’m back, I’ll catch you up.”

“Watch your back, Luc. I’m not entirely comfortable with you going alone.”

He snorts. “I’m not alone, I’ll have my brothers with me. Besides, this is what we wanted to happen.”

“I know, it’s just hard to swallow. I won't be there with you if shit goes down.”

“Don’t worry about me, big brother, worry for them if they try to trap me,” he says with a smirk that could shoot bullets. This is the shit that gets my brother excited.

“Make them pay if they do.”

“That I can promise.”

“Good. Mom wanted me to make sure you and Victoria will be at the wedding.”

He frowns. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Cause of the play we’re living,” I remind him, though I shouldn’t have to.

“Oh, that. Effie actually asked me about that. I told her mom asked me personally and as she’s ill I couldn’t refuse. Family is still family.”

“Fuckin’ hell, Luc. You told her mom is sick?”

“I had to tell her something.” He shrugs. “I wouldn’t miss my brother’s wedding. It is what it is.”

It is what it is? Trust Luca to be flippant about using such a lie.

“You best hope mom doesn’t get sick, or she’ll think you put it in her universe or some shit.”

He laughs and says, “I’ll deal with it if it comes to it.”

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