Page 77 of Ruin

Talon lifted his head, and Blue asked, “We ridin’ out?”

“Yep,” Talon replied.

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“In-house dramas we can help you deal with. If Wolf’s family thinks they can fuck with him, they’re wrong. We’ll show our support by comin’ with you and standin’ at his back. Even if it was other shit goin’ down with the businesses, we’d help where we could. You guys aren’t alone, Ruin. We’ve got you.”

Christ. My chest expanded as the damn fluffy emotions filled my heart.

“You don’t have to,” I offered.

“Brother, you’re family. Prez said you’re claimin’ Wolf, then he’s a part of Hawks also,” Blue said.

Killer grunted and lifted his chin my way, also agreeing.

They started forward, moving by me with a grip to the shoulder. More emotion swirled inside me as I followed after them. We stopped at our rides to check them over. I didn’t need petrol or anything, and the others didn’t indicate they did either.

A door opened, and Dad stepped out, decked out in his ride gear. He held a bag at his side. He shot me a grin. “We’ll pick Vicious up on the way to the highway,” he told me.

My throat thickened. This was what family was about. Comradery. “You sure you’re up for a ride, old man?”

Dad shot me the finger. “Just try and keep up, Ruin.” He dropped the bag and opened it. Guns galore filled the space. “Take one. We’re goin’ in armed since we don’t know if words will get this uncle to back down.”

Grinning, I pulled my gun free. “Already got mine. Didn’t even think about the rest of you.”

“Aww. Stoke, your boy’s so worried about his man that he forgot about his brothers,” Blue teased with a wink. It was my turn to shoot the middle finger. The brothers chuckled, only to sober when we were all ready to ride out.

I’m coming, Taro.

And there was no way I’d leave his side again. We would deal with everything there was together and see where the future went.

* * *

Shock racedthrough me when we reached Melbourne and the Caroline Springs charter pulled in behind our group. My damn chest was packed to the brim with those cute feelings. I’d always been proud to call myself a member of the Hawks MC, but never more so than then. Their support for me and Taro floored me.

The gates opened to the family estate as soon as we pulled up to them, and I wondered if Ryo had been keeping an eye out. Must have, or else I doubted they would have allowed twenty bikers with rumbling Harleys through.

I stopped near the front doors and climbed off. I heard the door opening a moment before Katon raced out. He shot down the steps like he was a twentysomething in a marathon, and I was the finish line.

“Sir… Sorry, Ruin, it’s good to see you’re back.” Before I could say anything, he rushed on with “Master Ryo has instructed for me to take you to the meeting room.”

“It’s already started?” I made my way to the door with my brothers at my back.

Katon hurried after me. “They’ve only walked into the room.”

“All right.” I nodded.

I heard a few brothers comment on the place as we walked through the halls, but I didn’t take in what was said.

Katon stopped at the door. “In here,” he whispered just as a voice rose inside it.

“Thanks, stay out here,” I told him. I opened the door abruptly. It shot inward and banged into the wall behind it. I stepped through, the brothers following.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Akio bellowed.

Taro stood at the end of the long-arse table in shock. If he didn’t close his mouth soon, I would make good use of it. I caught Ryo smiling beside him and shot him a chin lift. It caused Taro to snap his mouth shut and glare at his friend.

As soon as I was close, though, his attention flashed back to me. “Josh.”

---