Page 19 of Hawk's Cry

“Are you saying, he doesn’t want a baby?”

“Been thinking about it, Wiz. Been talking to Sam. If that was so, he’d have left Olivia behind. Christ knows, Sophie and Sam tried to persuade her.”

Wizard sighs. “Ollie’s a good woman wanting to stick with her man. It might have been better for her if she’d let him go alone. She didn’t ask for any of this. Now she’s been taken away from everything she’s known. Amy’s worried about her.”

“All the fuckin’ women are.”

“And it’s not just the old ladies. Wraith can’t settle to anything now she’s gone, a shepherd without all his flock.” Wizard drinks some more of his beer down. “Wanted to ask you something, Drummer. I’m without a fuckin’ VP now. Need someone to have my back in case shit goes down.”

“Of course you do.” I swallow down the pain that that should have been, had been, the role of my son. “Any thoughts who you’d want?” It would need to be a club vote, but the man in the hot seat can usually influence who he wants to be his right-hand man.

“No one comes to mind.” He grimaces. “Sure, I can name any number of men who’d be ready in time, but none who I think could step up immediately. Obviously there are some who just plain wouldn’t want it.”

The VP needs to be someone who can run the club if the prez isn’t around. He’s got to be someone who can lead and have the respect of the men so when he says jump, we all ask how high. He also needs to know he’ll probably never move into the top spot and be content to be second in command.

“Have you thought about moving Wraith back up the table? At least until you can shape someone else.”

“Wraith’s not in the right mindset right now. We both know that. He’s too cut up about Olivia.” Wizard scoffs. “Nah, but I have thought of one person. On a temporary basis as you suggest.” He pushes away from the workbench. “I don’t want to jump and put someone in for the sake of it. You know the risks we take every fuckin’ day when we ride. If something happens to me, I’ve gotta know the VP can handle the club.” His mouth curves down. “I thought I had that in Hawk. I was wrong.”

It hurts that my son turned out not to be the dependable man I’d always imagined him to be. Bowing my head, my hands toy with my beard.

“All my thoughts circle back to one man, Drum. You.”

What the fuck? “Wizard, you must be fuckin’ crazy, or my hearing’s gone. Thought you said you wanted me to be VP.”

“Nothing wrong with your fuckin’ ears, old man.” He chuckles. “Look, don’t dismiss it out of hand. It’s not permanent. Just to give me some breathing space while the club mends after losing Hawk. It’s affected everyone. I hear the talk. They wonder what’s gone wrong when someone like him walks away without glancing back. It’s a betrayal that’s gonna take strong leadership to keep anyone else from walking away. At the moment we’re, I’m, weak. We’ve got to show strength. What better way than for you to step up and be my VP?”

It’s the last thing I expected. But even I have to agree, he’s got a point. I might be old physically, but I’ve still got all my faculties about me. My eyes, with the aid of glasses, are as sharp as any man’s, and my hand’s still steady enough to fire a gun. My brain, well, that’s what he wants of me, and apart from forgetting shit like what I came into a room to find, that’s as clear as it’s ever been.

I know all the men trust me. Wizard and I would make a good team.

I glance at him wryly. “Thought I’d done my time.”

He doesn’t say a word, he doesn’t have to. If my son hadn’t made the decision he had, I’d have been allowed to enjoy my retirement.

I’ve given my life to this club. Everything I have I owe to the Satan’s Devils. If my club asks something of me, I have no choice other than to agree. Even if it makes my gut churn to think I’ll be sitting in the chair where my son should be.

I put my fingers to my face and pinch the bridge of my nose as I think things through. There’s only one thing I can do. Turning around, I offer my hand. “I accept. I’ll gladly serve as your VP.”

Wizard takes my hand, shakes it, then uses it to pull me forward so he can slap the other against my back. “Better get Sam sewing then.” He grins as he lets me go, and, reaching into his pocket, pulls out the VP patch.

I roll my eyes, but take it and raise my chin to him as he leaves. Seems I’m going to have to wait a little longer until I can just while out my days at the back of the pack with the other F.O.Gs.

Then without turning around, I say over my shoulder, “You can come out now.”

A rustling sound from the opposite side of the garage, and Sam stands, a wrench in her hand.

“You could have told me to leave.”

I raise my shoulders then lower them. “Would have, had he started discussing club business with me.”

“You’ve done the right thing, Drummer.” She loosens her hair, brushes it back, then wraps the tie around it again. “I hate the thought of you leading the club into danger again. Thought now you’d retired, I’d be able to breathe. But you’re not one to stand back when the club needs you.”

She walks around in front of me and nods down to what I’m still holding in my hand. “You want me to sew that on?”

I was prez when I met her. I sewed that damn patch on myself. I’m more than capable of sorting this one out too. I grin at her. “Think I trust you more with that wrench than I do a needle and thread. Anyway, I’ll have to wait until after it’s all made formal in church.” She smiles. That curve of her lips that’s never ceased making me catch my breath. Stepping forward, I curl my hand around the back of her neck, and lower my forehead to touch hers. “Fuckin’ love you, Sam.”

She relaxes into me as she’s done a hundred, a million times before, our bodies attuned to each other. As my cock hardens, I know if I wanted to find out, I’d find her wet.

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