Page 21 of Amy's Santa

“Aidan’s riding his own bike. Dad won’t let me get one.”

I grin as she walks off. Any of the women have a fight on their hands when it comes to getting their own bikes. I was surprised when Becca wanted her own and even more so when Rock allowed her. I expect he’ll give into Rose in the end, though. I know it won’t just be that motorcycles are dangerous, it will be the thought of his sweet little girl riding alone.

“Amy!”

“Allie.” I stand and give her a warm smile. “How are you and Truck doing? How’s Hope? I haven’t had a chance to talk to her properly yet.”

Allie rolls her eyes. “She’s currently trying to persuade Uncle Drum to take her on the ride on his bike.”

“Will she succeed?”

Another look up then down. “Probably. It will be strange though. The first Christmas ride he won’t be heading the pack.”

Yeah, it was only a few months back that Wizard took his place as president, but I’ve noticed Drummer’s more relaxed since he stepped down. Last night it looked like he was having fun.

“You going with Truck?”

“Of course. You coming?”

“No, I’m staying here with Xander.”

It’s then we hear the sound of engines revving outside. Allie gives me a wave and runs off.

I might not be in the mood for going along, or being close enough to a man to put my arms around him, but I go to the front of the clubhouse to see them off. It’s always a sight watching them go on their Christmas run. Many of the bikes have been decorated with tinsel, and some of the bikers are wearing Santa hats.

“Amy.”

“Dad?” At the sound of his voice, I turn, nervous.

“Come here, kid.” I take the step needed to get to him and am enveloped in his strong arms. “Amy, it’s going to be okay.”

“Xander’s told you.” It’s obvious.

“Everything,” he murmurs and the tension I feel in his body warns me he might be saying the right platitudes, but what he’s heard is not settling easy with him.

Shit.

He pushes me back slightly, holding me at arm’s length. Then his hand brushes against my face, a gesture which sends me straight back to when I was a child. “Amy, you’ll always be my little girl, but I know you’ve got your own life. What hurts most is that you’re hurting, and I wasn’t there to put it right. As for everything else? I know and I don’t give a damn what you get up to in your spare time. You’re a grown fuckin’ woman. You can do naked pole dancing…” he breaks off, studies me carefully, then asks, “What?”

I’ve gone bright red. Yeah, I might have done exactly that.

“Shit! I did not need that visual in my mind.” He shakes his head, but it’s not with disapproval.

“You can’t have that visual, last time you saw me naked I was about four years old.”

“Jeez.” He lowers his forehead to rest against mine. Then says more seriously, “You’ve got a problem, sweetheart. We’re going to sort it. Then you won’t be scared all the time. You’ll be able to start moving on, okay?”

“I don’t know. Flint’s one problem, Dad, but the rest of it is mine.”

He raises his chin at someone behind me. “Look, I’d like to stay here and thrash this out, but I’ve got to go on the ride. We’ll talk when I get back, okay?” Then, with a gentle kiss to my forehead he goes to his bike and starts his engine.

I feel someone come up from my rear. Spinning fast, my heart rate slows down when I see it’s Xander. “That’s some sight.” His head jerks toward the bikes.

Relieved that it’s him, I turn back to watch. He’s not wrong, it’s impressive to see all the club, their old ladies and the women with their own bikes ride out together. The sound is deafening, music to my ears, shooting me straight back to my childhood.

Throttles are twisted, engines revved, even the electric bikes make an artificial roar, then Wizard circles his hand over his head and they start to move off. Hawk and Hound falling in behind their Prez, Dollar and Throttle close on their heels. Then in deference to their previous roles, it’s Drummer and Wraith, Peg and Blade, Heart then… I lose track of them. But there at the back, their bikes adorned with rainbow flags are Lady with Maya up behind him, and lastly Joker as road captain bringing up the rear.

Chapter Six

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