Page 48 of Hawk's Cry

“Sam.” The first genuine smile I’ve worn for hours comes to my face.

“I’ve missed you, Drummer.”

“Me too, darlin’. Me too.” This is where she belongs, in my arms and by my side.

Though it seems she’s not going to be there long. “Nathan collected us from the airport. He dropped me here and then went to take Sophie straight down to Eli and Olivia’s house. I’ve just come back to get my bike before heading down there myself. Have there been any developments?”

I jerk my head in a backward direction. “They’re voting now on whether Eli can come home.”

“If he doesn’t, I’m moving in with them. Ollie will need someone, and she’s in no condition to be there for Eli.”

“I’ll be there too.” I’m starting to think Eli’s house will get pretty crowded, as Sophie and Wraith will want to be close by as well. Best all-around if they can come back. I’ve done all I can do to engineer that result, it’s up to the brothers now.

“Are you coming later?” she asks.

“Yeah, just let me finish up here.” I’m hoping I’ll be going back with good news, but I’m not entirely optimistic. “You need me to bring anything with me?”

“I’ll text you. If Wraith and Sophie are staying, there won’t be much room, but if we are needed, I’ll want an overnight bag.” She doesn’t question whether I’ll be there with her. She knows that I will.

Leaning forward, I kiss her. “Just let me know.”

She prods me in the chest. “Stop worrying, Drummer. I know you. It was nothing you or I did, okay? Or even if it was, we can’t go back and change it. All we can do is deal with the cards we’ve been dealt. We will help Eli. He’s not alone anymore.”

My lips curve. Sam’s been my rock over the past two and a half decades more than she’ll ever know. Always managing to find a way to show me how to come back when I stray from the path and get lost. She’s right. The past is written in stone, it’s the future we can influence.

“Fuck, I love you, woman.”

She responds in the same way, then, with one quick kiss she’s gone.

I beckon to Butcher. “Rascal’s on bar duty—”

He grins as he interrupts me. “You want me to follow Sam wherever she’s going?”

He’s right. I do. Can’t have my old lady riding alone at night, even if it is just down into Tucson. Sam, well, she’s not going to take a cage when it’s a nice night. Fully understanding, I wouldn’t ask her to.

Butcher goes, Rascal comes in. Time ticks by. Tommy shuffles in slowly, using a stick to help him along. His legs seem to worsen daily now, and soon we’ll need to encourage him to use his mobility scooter inside the clubhouse instead of parking it outside with the rest of the bikes. It’s one which is shaped like a Harley, and even as worried as I am, I half smile as I recall his pleasure when we presented him with it.

Wearing the prospect cut he was given twenty years ago, Tommy slowly makes his way past. He gives me a salute, rubbing his tummy with his free hand. “Prez. Tommy hungry.”

Doesn’t matter how many times we tell him Wiz now has that title, Tommy hangs onto an idea once he’s got hold of it. I raise my chin to acknowledge he’s going to raid the kitchen.

“Prez want something?”

“Nah, I’m good, Prospect.”

Tommy grins as I give him his title which never seems to grow old.

Then he’s gone, and I’m left alone with my thoughts once more.

Is it a good sign church hasn’t yet ended? Are they arguing on Eli’s behalf or against? My fingers tap impatiently on the table as I try to remember if I’ve ever before been excluded from saying aye or nay to a proposal. The answer is negative, I have not. But then, nothing has ever been so personal before.

After far too long, I hear the sound of heavy soles meeting the wooden floor. I resist the urge to turn and try to read the expressions my brothers are wearing, knowing Wizard won’t keep me hanging around for long.

Indeed, a tap on my shoulder gets my head twisting. When he meets my eyes, Wizard’s head jerks back in the direction of his office.

I stand, keeping my head down wanting to hear it from him first, and follow him.

Closing the door behind me, I watch him take the seat that was, for so many years, mine, and at his gesture, take a chair in front of his desk.

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