Tank Fallen Angel's MC 2 (15 page)

Bella looks from me to Cher but she just shrugs and shakes her head.

“You two are so weird.” Standing she makes her way into kitchen before I see Creed.

“Hey, I’m goin’ to check in.” Cher nods as I stand up smiling at her. Cher picks up a biscuit and throws it at me.

“STOP!” She squeals as I chuckle and walk up the stairs.

Heading into Creed’s office, my heart rate picks up. I saw the way he looked this morning so I know something’s up.

“Hey brother.” Creed looks up from some paperwork that he has on his desk.

“I don’t know what the fuck is goin’ on but we got five nomad transfer requests.”  Narrowing my eyes at him that is really strange.

“What the hell?” Walking closer I pick the papers up off the desk and flip through them.

“Since when does Reggie want to roll with us?” Reading off one of the names, I almost laugh.

“Fuck if I know. Brady I get but the other ones don’t make any sense.” Setting the paper back down, I look at him.

“You votin’ on it?” He nods his head before running his hand through his hair.

“Figured it would be easier. I can tell you no one is goin’ to vote Reggie in here.” Creed chuckles but I know he’s right. Reggie is a piece of work. Wherever he goes there is surely trouble to follow, trouble we don’t need.

“Damn right. We don’t need the extra shit around here anyways.” Nodding his head, I know he agrees with me.

“We know anythin’ else?” Creed scrubs his hand over his face once before looking directly at me.

“We’re pretty sure it came from Shadow’s. Jimmy kept watch, saw a truck leave there. Can’t say it’s the same truck but we don’t need to be fuckin’ geniuses either.” Nodding, I agree. I knew it came from that way and now my question is how I am going to deal with it.

“Whatever you have in that fucked up head of yours you might want to get it out.”  I don’t look at him this time.

Thoughts rush my head all at once and I’m just trying to sort through them when Joey comes in.

“Hey Pres. Benny just called in, said there was a lot of activity over at Griff’s.” My head snaps in Joey’s direction. I don’t like the sounds of that considering what I know.

“What kind of activity?” My pulse races and fire burns through me. If anyone fucks with Griff, I’m going to lose it.

“Don’t know Tank. Said there was a lot of cars.” He said cars not bikes. That means it isn’t club related, it’s personal.

Scrubbing my hand across my face, I look over at Creed as my stomach clenches. Bile rises in my throat as I try to calm the fire that burns into me.

“What do you know?”  Creed looks over at me before I look at Joey.

“Take a walk.”

             Chapter 41

I knew what it was before I ever said a word. My heart is falling in my chest. I’m losing him.

“Griff’s been fightin’ cancer for a long time. Last time I was out there he asked me to take care of his kid. Gave me a bank account number he’s been savin’ up for her.” Creed shakes his head before sitting down at his desk.

“That’s hard brother. I didn’t know it was gettin’ that bad.” I sit in the chair across from him nodding my head.

“Yeah, he didn’t look too good last time we were out there. Look Creed, I know we have a shitload goin’ on but I need to go over there.” Creed stands shaking his head. I knew he wasn’t going to like it but I don’t really give a shit.

Griff has been a rock in my life and there is no way in hell that I’m going to let him go without a final goodbye.

“Can’t let that happen brother.”  Standing up I slam my hands down on the desk.

“I respect you Creed. You know that but this shit is personal!” Watching his face soften he sighs before he looks up at me.

“I don’t like this Tank. What if Thomas comes after you instead?” I chuckle at that one. I’d love for his eyes to be on me and not one of my girls.

“Hell Creed, he comes at me I’m good.” I see the look on his face; he doesn’t think this is funny.

“I’ll take Torch. I’m goin’.” Making that final decision, he shakes his head.

“Fine. I’m ridin’ too.” I watch Creed as he closes up his files and makes his way towards me.

“What?” He stops in front of me while I smile at him.

“You don’t have to ride.” Creed looks at me like I’m an idiot before I laugh.

“Hey, I wanted to tell you somethin’ before we roll out.” Creed stops and stands in front of me waiting.

“Cher’s pregnant. I’m havin’ another kid.” My heart leaps when I say it and Creed’s face lights up. He is a good uncle to Bella and I have no doubts that he will be to this baby too.

“Holy shit! I’m so fuckin’ happy for you.” Creed pulls me into a hug and I couldn’t be happier.

“Thanks brother. I’m fuckin’ excited.” Pulling back, he grins. He can’t stop smiling either. He looks like me!

“Damn man. I can’t believe this.” Creed smiles as we walk back down to the main room.

“She tell anyone?” Shaking my head, he nods knowing to keep his mouth closed.

“Hey Bella, come here.” I watch as she climbs out of her seat and heads towards me.

“Hey baby girl. I need a favor.” Her eyes light up. I don’t usually ask a lot from her but it’s clear she likes when I do.

“What?”

“I need you to keep an eye on Cher. I gotta take this run. A good friend of mine’s sick.” She nods her head before she looks over at Cher. I don’t want to tell Bella that it’s Griff. She has enough shit in her life to worry about that too.

“She seems ok now. Is she?” I look over at where Cher sits talking to Jada with a smile on her face.

“She is but just in case.” Bella nods before she skips off back over to the other ladies.

“You haven’t told her yet?” I shake my head before facing him.

“Cher wants to talk to her about Thomas. I think it’ll be good for them. She wants to tell her about the baby too.” Saying it just sends shivers throughout my body.

“I think that’s good brother. Gives them somethin’ in common as shitty as it is. She can relate to her.” I nod thinking the exact same thing.

“Let me go tell her bye.” Nodding to Cher I walk away from Creed and straight to her.

“Come with me a minute.” Cher smiles up at me before she stands and wraps her arms around my waist.

“You told him didn’t you?” Looking down at her, I’m confused until I follow her gaze over to Creed.

The dumb fuck stands there smiling at us like a fool.

“I couldn’t help it.” Kissing her neck, I pull her against me.

“You can’t shut up about it can you?” I lead her towards the back before I stop pushing her against the wall.

“I fuckin’ love you and I love this baby.” With my hand on her stomach, I lean in and kiss her roughly.

“I love you.”

“I need to go on a run. Shouldn’t take but a few days. I think it will be good for you to talk to Bella.” Cher’s eyes shoot to mine and I can tell how nervous she is. She doesn’t it like it but I need to go see him.

“I know what you’re thinkin’. Creed and Torch are ridin’ too. We got this place locked down. No one will get in here.” A tear slides down her cheek before I drag her into the room.

“Look Cher. My friends dyin’. He has cancer and shits lookin’ bad. I need to go see him. I don’t like leavin’ you right now but this might be my last chance.” A new understanding sparks in her eyes.

“Then you go see him.” Leaning up she brushes her lips over mine reminding me again of how much I love her.

             Chapter 42

We left the women in Piper’s hands and I hope he can handle them.

The ride out to Griff’s doesn’t feel right. My chest wants to explode with all the dread I feel inside.

Pulling into Griff’s I can feel myself tense up. I don’t do well with death when it’s someone in my family.

“You ok brother?” I nod at Creed before I make my way towards the door.

Stepping inside I don’t really know what I feel. My mind darts all over the place and my chest is tight.

“Why didn’t you call me Zane?” I see that little fucker sitting off to the side with a beer in his hand. Poor kid looks like hell.

“Thought they did. I’m sorry brother.” He stands and makes his way towards me before I pull him into a hug.

Griff was well known to a lot of guys. Different clubs and different ways of life, but we all seemed to congregate to Griff.

“He looks bad man.” Zane pulls back looking up at me. I can see the pain in his eyes.

“I know. Where is he?” Zane nods towards the hallway before I start that way.

Chills race up and down my spine just knowing why I’m here. I hate it, I hate it a lot.

I hear Creed and Zane talking as I make my way towards the back. I hate this feeling I have racing through me.

I stop at the last door when one of the other guys from the club steps out.

“Hey. Doc said not much longer. He’s asked about you Tank.” My throat feels so damn dry. It feels like it’s squeezing closed. I’m suffocating.

“Thanks brother.” I step into the room and close the door behind me.

My stomach bottoms out when I see his pale limp body lying on the bed.

“Fuck!” Whispering to myself, I see Griff’s head turn to see me standing there.

“Don’t you go gettin’ all fuckin’ girly on me brother.” The slight chuckle that leaves his throat makes me smile.

“I won’t do that Griff.” Walking over I sit down on the edge of the bed. He looks so fragile.

“This is it huh?” Griff nods slightly before I blow out a breath.

“Look brother. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I’ve known you all these years. My life was rough for a long time and you played a big role in me gettin’ better. I needed to come tell you that to your face. You kept my secrets about Bella brother and it meant the world to me.” Griff smiles slightly as he looks up at me.

“You didn’t need to come all the way here man but I appreciate that. You’ve been a good friend Tank. I always thought of you as a son. I know all my secrets are safe with you.” And that was the truth. I knew things that would blow a lot of people out of the water but I respect Griff far too much to let it out.

“I did need to come. I got some news I thought you might like. My old lady Cher is pregnant.” Griff’s face glows with happiness. Griff was always a sucker for kids. He loved everyone’s like they were his own.

“God damn brother. I always wanted you to find a good woman. I’m glad you finally did. Bella deserves to have a good family.”  His eyes droop and he seems out of breath.

“I love you brother. I just need you to know that. You are a solid rock in  my life. You always made me want to be better. I can’t tell you what that means to me.” A tear slides from Griff’s eye. I’ve never in all the years I’ve known him seen him cry.

“I love you brother. You go on now. Make me proud of you. Raise that family right.” As much as I don’t want to do it, I stand and walk towards the door.

I stop and turn around to say goodbye to someone that has meant the world to me for so many years.

“I’ll see you again brother.” I know he didn’t hear me and that wasn’t the point. I know in my heart that I will see him again one day.

I take a step outside when I see his daughter Ally, walking towards us. I don’t want to get in the middle of her family so I step aside with only a nod.

Walking back out into the main room, I see Creed over at the bar with Torch.

I make my way over with a heavy heart.

“You good brother?” I shake my head as I sit down and drop my head. A beer slides in front of me but I don’t grab it.

“I need to get Thomas Creed. If that’s the last fuckin’ thing I do in my life. I need to make that motherfucker pay for what he did to my girls.” Creed’s hand lands on my shoulder before I look over with tears in my eyes.

“You will brother. I will make sure of it.”

               Chapter 43

As much as I wanted to stick around for Griff’s funeral I knew there was something bigger at hand. Thomas sent people to my house. My safe haven.

He hurt the two most important women in my life and I will for damn sure make sure that he pays for what he did.

Standing outside his clubhouse one last time Ally walks over to me.

“He loved you. He talked about you a lot.” With a slight smile, I nod my head.

“Loved you too darlin’. Your daddy was a good man with a heart of gold. You touched a lot of people. He wanted to make sure you go this.” Pulling the paper he gave me a while ago out of my pocket I pass it to her.