Page 33 of Paladin's Hell

Suddenly he stands, so fast his chair rocks. His hands clench and open again, then repeat the action once more. “I can’t get my head around the man I thought was my grandfather, was my father and a rapist to boot. I carry his fuckin’ blood, Hell.”

I also get to my feet. “Boy, look at me.” I use the tone I probably haven’t resorted to since he was a teenager. “You’ve just said you admire me. Well, I’m of the same blood. Whatever bad our father carried died with him. You hear me?”

He stops pacing. He stares at me. He hadn’t looked at things that way. I might not have sired him, but we’ve got a strong link just the same.

Suddenly he laughs, and points at my whisky. As I get out another glass and top both of them up, he retakes his seat. “Man, this is fucked up. One good thing, I don’t need to change what I call you, Brother.”

That makes me chuckle as well.

“Should we tell anyone?”

I give it a moment’s thought. “Bomber knows, he’d always suspected, but he doesn’t think anything should change. Not unless you want it too.”

“Rusty?”

“Don’t know, but it’s possible he put two and two together back in the day, but we’ve never discussed it.”

He nods, slowly, a gentle rise and fall of his head. “The old members didn’t die easy; things were hard back in those days. You, Bomb and Rust were lucky to survive. The members who aren’t the originals know of it, but didn’t live the history of this club. They’ve heard of Blackie, but only as the deceased founder. Don’t see the point in telling them of his crime, upsetting the equilibrium in that way.”

“I’m thinking of stepping down.” I know I’m springing it on him, but it’s been going over and over in my mind these past twenty-four hours.

“What the fuck?”

“I’ve hurt you, Demon. Didn’t mean to. But now you have to face up to the fact I’ve been lying to you all your life. Can you still trust me?”

“Got any other secrets?”

“None,” I reply earnestly. “But the club is built on trust. If you, as VP, have any doubts in your head, then I can’t continue as Prez.”

He grimaces. “Not sure I’m ready to sit in your chair.”

“Truth, Brother? There’s something going on with Moira. Club’s made me neglect her, need to have some space to find out what it is. Invested thirty-six years of my life in that woman, it’s about time she came first.”

“She thinks you’re cheating on her.”

I feel my eyebrows rise.

Demon shrugs. “She asks me all the time. Not my place to tell her one thing or the other.”

Now it’s my turn to speak through gritted teeth. “I have never cheated on her. Never would, never will. Never even think about it.”

He gives a half-smile. “Think you’re tellin’ that to the wrong person.”

He’s right. I am. “She’s worried, Demon. First you’ve got to get the air cleared with her. She’s worried sick you’ll blame her…”

“She did nothing wrong. I couldn’t have asked for a better mom. You’ve both been amazing parents to me, Kennedy and Sam. Never gave me a clue I had another dad, or was conceived in such circumstances.”

I stand, pick up my keys. “Ready to go see her?”

He grins and follows my lead. “You bet.”

As I go to the door, I turn. “I was serious, Demon. Think about taking on the reins of the club. Bout time I handed them over.”

“Would need a club vote.”

“You think of anyone who’d challenge you?” I can’t, I’d brought him up right.

Demon’s quiet for a moment. Then he raises his chin. “I’ll think on it. But only because I agree Mom could do with more of your attention, not because I’ve lost faith in you as president of the club.” He pauses before opening the door. “Hell, we’ve cleared the air, but fuck. This is a hell of a thing to get my head around. And you passing the gavel over? Not sure I’m in the right headspace to give that any serious thought.”

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I wait until his eyes are on mine. “Hate that you’re hurting, Brother. Don’t bottle shit up. You want to talk? I’m here. Where it matters,” I place my hand over my heart, “you’re my son.”

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