Never Forever (BlackPath MC Book 1) (9 page)

What
a clusterfuck this night has become. How can I run a damn club when I can’t
even control my own damn daughter? I should have kept her away from this club
and found a woman to help raise her better. Ma did her best when she was still
alive, but by that time Callie was already a tomboy and could do everything Ty
did and do it better at times. She’s learned too much, too fast. Now she’ll
have to pay the price of me not thinking ahead to this. It’s been a long night
and I have come up with nothing to head off what is coming tomorrow. More like
tonight. Might as well do this and then sleep. Maybe then an answer will come
in my sleep. Ma always said our ancestors come to us in our dreams. What I
wouldn’t give for her to slap me upside the head with her wisdom right about
now.

Callie
and I will be having some words over the shit her and her friends pulled
tonight. That girl needs to learn to stay put. When will she learn? I do have
to say, she did me proud by calling when she thought she was over her head. She
knew she would be in trouble but she called anyway. She had her protection on
her, at least she learned that lesson.

 As
I walk through the club I see the kids have taken over the couch. They look
like they could use some sleep but that’ll have to wait. Looks like all the
patch members are here. Not happy at this hour, but here. Time to get this
started.

“Church
now!” I yell out and head towards the room at the end of the hall where we have
made every important decision since my uncle was the President of the BlackPath
MC. We enter that door and everything gets intense. Zman is at the door, as our
SAA he takes all phones and weapons. I head to the front of the table but stop
and look for Ty outside the room. He’s still a prospect and not allowed inside
during church, he can be my eyes outside until we call everyone in.

“Ty,
keep an eye on Steel and Devil until we call them in. Keep them away from your
sister. If you need help get Woody.” With that I return to the room and my
place at the head of the table.

Everyone
is seated at the table and Zman closes the door and I look out at my brothers
and get ready to put this big clusterfuck at their feet. All of them know what
was coming tomorrow and we have voted on it but I hate having to do this at
three o’clock in the morning.

“Everyone
quiet down and I will try to get this over with fast so you can get back to
bed.” I hesitate and then proceed, “Callie has gotten herself into a bit of a
mess tonight. Her and her friends snuck away from the prospects on guard and
were shot at coming out of a club a little while ago.” I look to see who is
grumbling and it is Trent, my VP and blood brother.

“Told
you to send her to boarding school. Kid always getting up to something.” Trent
grouches out.

“Shut
up Trent, you spoil her worse than anyone.” I tell him and he can’t argue with
me. He helped me raise her and she has had him wrapped around her little finger
since she was born. Way before she ever lived with us.

“Is
it still a go ahead for tomorrow? Are you still laying it at Callie’s feet? I
still think that is too much for such a young kid! Too much responsibility!”
Hambone lets his opinion be known again.

“Me
too.” Sinner lets me know as well.

“My
daughter, we voted, and that’s final.” I let them know the subject is closed.
“We are going to hear Steel and Devil out about what went down at club, as
briefly as possible. Then the kids and everyone else can leave. Then Steel,
Devil, Trent, and I will lay it out for Callie. After that, I am going to sleep
for a while and let Callie take it all in. Today is Saturday, so Monday
morning, first thing, we will sit down and hash it out and see where we go from
there.” I look around at all the concerned looks. I know they are all worried
about baby girl. She is our princess with a warrior’s heart and when she hurts
we all do. These hard ass bikers all have a soft spot for her and that is what
family is all about. “Ok, let’s do this.” I motion for Zman to let the other
two men in.

Finally,
we are summoned to go before all the patched members. This should be fun. We
have nothing to hide, so it shouldn’t take long. Then we can get down to why we
came here. We walk into the room and two chairs are set away from their table
but close to Chief. Zman stands behind us, as if we would try anything here.

“Ok,
tell us what happened outside the club and we will come back to the rest
afterwards. I want details. No run around bullshit.” Chief looks at me but he
will get the answers from dad. Chief already has a hate for me and I am trying
to show some patience. We’ll see how long that last.

“We
followed your girl and her friends out the front door. Callie stood over to the
side of the door as she stepped out into the night, I’m guessing to let her
eyes adjust, but it probably saved some of our lives. The van barreled down on
us and we would have been in the open if she would have taken off into the
parking lot. She threw herself over her friends and Devil threw himself over
her. After the initial attack, a second vehicle with shooters approached, we
shot back, your girl pulled her gun, and shot out the windshield. Don’t know if
we got any of them. It was dark and some security lights were out. After that
Callie saw the connection between Tito and Devil and it spooked her so she
called for back-up. The rest you know.” Dad finished the last part slowly
letting them know he wasn’t exactly happy because we were caught by Callie.

“So,
Callie had your number. She caught on that you, Steel, had a tail on my girl. 
For how long? Chief said with a proud fatherly tone.

“That’s
our girl!” Trent chimes in.

“You
said tonight first. We will get to the other in time.” Dad says without any
emotion.

“Were
they after you?” Chief glares in our direction.

“Could
be T-Bone or could be Diamondback. The first would be more after Callie than
us. The second would just be checking, but you can never guess.” My dad finally
dropped the name that took all the air out of Chief. “Would any of your enemies
be after you, through Callie?

“We
have somebody on that.” Chief says but you can tell his mind is a million miles
away. “Anything else?”

“No,
that’s it.” Dad says.

“I
put Tito on Callie’s friend, Sarah. I wanted to know more about Callie before I
met her again. Then when he told me she was sneaking out and losing your lousy
choices for prospects, I knew I needed to keep her safe.” I looked right at
Chief but I could see his pain along with a more than healthy dose of hatred
toward me.

“I
can take care of my daughter.” At that he turned toward Zman, “Bring in the
kids.” I guess he didn’t like my answers.

My
dad leans over to me and whispers, “Take it easy, he’s on edge.” I knew this
was going to be a delicate balancing act going in.

I
see Callie and her friends enter the room. They look like they could use some
sleep. Felix and Sarah both have their heads down and eyes to the floor. Not
Callie, she is holding her head high and looking her dad straight in the eye.
She hasn’t been broken yet tonight. The other two stand back but Callie walks
straight up to her dad, “Dad this is all my fault. We snuck out so I could race
at the strip tonight and then we went to the club. All my idea and all my
fault. If we are in trouble, I need to take responsibility.” She looks Chief
straight in the eyes and stiffened her backbone and waited for his reply.

This
woman has a backbone and my admiration for her has grown even more. This cannot
stand in my way of getting what I want. The other men look at her and all they
see is the little girl she used to be and all I see is the beautiful woman she
has grown into. Everything balances on her and that’s a lot of responsibility
for her. From what she has shown me, she can handle it. I feel pride as I look
at her, damn I have to shut that down.

My
dad hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I came in the door. I know I
disappointed him tonight. That hurts. I don’t know what I thought I was doing.
I just wanted to race and then all hell broke loose on us. I know I have to take
my punishment and face dad head on. That’s what I was taught, to stand up and
say when I’m wrong and take my punishment like I should. I already told Felix
and Sarah to let me take responsibility and for them just to answer what is
asked of them and no smart talk. None of that is tolerated inside these doors.

“What
do you mean, “IF”, you’re in trouble. I put men on you for a damn reason and
you snuck out. Racing? What in the hell do you think your trying to do girl?
Put me in a grave?” My dad looks disgusted with me. I have let him down. I
stiffen and spit out what is on my mind.

“Sir,
I’m not going to say I’m sorry for racing. I am good at it. You taught me and I
learned well. I am sorry for worrying you. I am sorry for what happened later.
I should have known better than to go to the club. I am ready to take my
punishment and I will try to refrain from racing the remaining time I have at
home. I am sorry I disappointed you,” I look around at the other men at the
table, “I am ready to take my punishment.”

I
hear Trent say under his breath, “She’s taking responsibility like we’ve taught
her.”

My
dad looks to my two friends, “Do you two have anything to add?” I’m praying
these two keep their mouths shut but Felix can’t help himself from telling
everything.

“After
Callie won and we got back to my house she got bad news from Mason and we
trying to cheer her up.” Damn, why did he have to tell this in front of
everyone?

 I
was hoping this could wait until tomorrow, or never.

“Callie?”
that’s all dad has to say. He has almost a softness in his eyes but it is
quickly masked by the President’s mask.

 I
steel myself and look at him and my eyes never leave his, “We broke up.” If he
wants more he will have to ask.

“Do
you think you could elaborate on that?” I knew this was coming but wasn’t sure
I would be able to tell them.

“Mason
cheated on me not once but twice. He thought the night of my graduation was the
night to ease his conscious by sharing. We’re done. End of story.” The tears are
in my eyes but I will not let them fall. I left the only tears he would get
from me in Felix’s bedroom and bathroom drain. I have put my broken heart and
those memories in my box of things locked away in my soul. Things I will never
get back. Things I will not face again as long as I can keep that chain locked
on that overflowing box. I lift my chin and meet the looks of pity and sorrow
in all these tough bikers that are my family. I hate it and I swear it will be
the last time any of them have to give me these looks.

“Damn!
What the hell? Did he call and tell you that shit?” Hambone curses out.

“Skyped
me.” I keep my answer direct and short.

My
dad reaches over and takes my hand but says nothing.

“That
boy gets home and I will teach him some damn manners.” Uncle Trent says from
his chair.

“We’ll
all have hand in that. He disrespected one of ours and we will teach him what
happens when we get disrespected.” Zman says from behind Devil and Steel. Guess
they still aren’t trusted. I know it will do no good to argue with them now and
inside here it is not tolerated so I keep quiet.

“Why
were you with Devil and Steel and what does his man Tito have to do with any of
this?” Dad gets back on track with the questioning.

“We
were at the club having a good time and Cru London came in and was trying to
get me to listen to Mason’s explanations. I wasn’t interested. Things got
heated and Devil stepped in between us. Cru was just taking up for Mason and
said some things that made me go off.” I tried to make it sound lighter than it
actually was. No one here would like what Cru said to me. “After that we were
leaving and Sarah’s friend, a.k.a. Tito, was going to bring us home because
Hanna took Cru home and she was our ride.” Oops left that out earlier.

“So,
Hanna was with you three, too?” Dad asked and I nodded at him.

“Yes, she was our ride to the club, but since she is Cru’s cousin when he got
upset she had to give him a ride home. We rode to the club with Hanna. Cru, I
guess, got dropped off by someone.” I could only guess how Cru got there.

“Anyway,
when we went out the doors I slid over, like I always do and let my eyes adjust
to the dark so I could see and the van came out of nowhere. Devil and Steel
were coming out after us and when I made sure Sarah and Felix were down I felt
Devil fall over me and roll. I thought it was over until I saw the dark car
come towards us really fast and I drew my gun and shot at the windshield in the
vicinity of the driver and then it was over. Shots came from the van and the
car, from Steel and Tito. Devil was trying to keep us down.”

I
take a breath, “Then Devil told Tito to get his car and I saw in their eyes the
connection. Tito took the orders too easily, like he was used to doing it and I
knew I needed back-up. Steel had put his gun away and Tito had gone to the
parking lot to get his car, so I knew I had to do it then. I covered them and
had Felix watch for Tito and Sarah call you. Then I talked to you and gave you
all the information you would have needed to find us if they took us. After I
hung up with you the three of us returned to the club and I went to a bouncer
and told them who you were and asked for help and they put us in a room until
Trent came in and got us.” I thought I had it all out but then I remembered,
“also I looked for a tag but there was none and the parking lot had security
lights out and I don’t remember them being that way when we entered and that’s
everything.” I finally had it all out and I wish I could just roll up in a ball
and go to sleep and forget all about this night.

“Are
you sure that is everything?” Dad asks me.

“Yes
sir, everything I can remember.” I just want to go home and to my bed.

“Felix,
Sarah do either of you have anything else to say?” my dad asks. They both shake
their heads. “Ok, Zman will you get Ty or Woody?” Zman steps to the door and
opens it and motions Ty, who is standing guard outside in, “Ty take Felix and
Sarah to Callie’s room and make sure no one bothers them.” Then my dad looks at
them, “Go on and get some sleep, but your both on clean up duties. That means
my yard and shop at home. Are we clear?” they know not to argue and follow Ty
out.

“Now,
baby girl.” My night just keeps getting longer. All I want to do is go to
sleep, but that is not happening for a while. “It seems you have had an
eventful night.” Dad looks at the men at the table. “I want everyone to put
their ears to the ground and talk to everyone to find out who is responsible
for the shootings tonight. Everyone be aware of your surroundings. I’m not
calling lock down, yet, but keep your loved ones close. Hambone call some other
clubs and see if they have heard anything. Get our intel guy on the night club’s
security cameras on the parking lot. It’s pretty secluded so not many would be
out there but it is unusual for a club’s parking lot to be that empty at
closing time. Find out why exactly that was. Now everyone but Trent go home get
some shut eye for a couple hours and then find me something.” Dad sounds more
like a grizzly bear than a man. I know he is worried and tired. I hate I did
this to him and the whole club.

All
the guys are filing out. Picking up their phones and guns from Zman and Hambone
stops by and wraps me up in a big old hug.

“That
boy was never good enough for our Princess anyway. You keep that chin up
girlie.” This may be more than I can take. The kindness and love my family
shows me. Unconditional. I would do anything for them. Hambone makes his way
out and Zman comes back and gives me a sideways hug and a kiss on the side of
my head.

“So,
did you win the race? Did you put Rabbit in his place?” he asks only loud
enough for me to hear.

I
wink at him and lean in and kiss his cheek and whisper, “beat him by a nose.”
Then I hear a growl from the other side of the room, it had come from Devil and
he had Zman fixed in a death glare. Don’t know what that is about, but it
amuses Zman.