Page 54 of Trip

King pointed a finger at Cameron, the beginnings of a retort forming on his lips, but the sound of laughter from the others broke the tension. The room was alive with the camaraderie of shared amusement, even if it was at King’s expense.

Taking a deep breath, King straightened up. “Fine. But don’t think this is over. Oh, and the name isDadto you.”

“Not when you’re acting like a douche!” the little shit snarked as he marched out of the clubhouse, head held high, and Scribe spit his beer across the bar, laughing his ass off.

Sitting at a table with C.C. and Banks, she asked no one in particular, “Is it always like this in the clubhouse?”

Gunner smirked. “Oh yeah. King thinks he’s in charge, but ever since Cameron showed up, we all know who really runs this place.”

“My little buddy is a born leader.” Frank nodded.

“He’s a pain in the ass,” Banks muttered.

“Will you leave that boy alone, Nikoli,” Laurel, Banks wife, chastised as she walked past. “He’s only mimicking you assholes. So you only have yourselves to blame.”

“I didn’t do shit, woman!” Banks snarked, walking after her. “I’m innocent as the driven snow!”

“Yeah. Yellow snow.”

The laughter echoed through the clubhouse as Laurel disappeared down the hallway, her sarcastic jab leaving Banks muttering under his breath. Gunner leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening as he sipped his drink. “You know, for someone who’s always ‘innocent,’ Banks does tend to find himself in the doghouse a lot.”

Frank chuckled, shaking his head. “That man’s middle name might as well be Trouble.”

“Did you say something, old man?” Banks yelled from the other side of the room, his voice carrying a playful edge.

Laurel’s voice shot back before Frank could reply. “Stop yelling and actually do something useful, like fixing that squeaky door I’ve been complaining about for weeks!”

The room erupted in laughter again, and King shook his head, muttering, “This place is a madhouse.” He turned to Gunner, his voice low but still laced with humor. “And you wonder why I hide in my office all the time?”

Gunner grinned. “Welcome to our world, C.C. It’s chaos, but it’s our chaos.”

I watched the lively scene unfold, my woman’s gaze lingering on the group of misfits who somehow made this strange, boisterous world feel like home. For all the snark, the jabs, and the chaos, there was an undeniable bond here—a family forged not by blood but by choice.

Grabbing her hand, I leaned over and whispered, “Wanna get out of here for a bit and go for a drive?”

Smiling, she too leaned forward and asked, “Who’s driving?”

Driving through the Shenandoah Mountains in the middle of winter was an experience I wanted C.C. to see. The Shenandoah Mountains, with their snow-capped peaks, were a stunning sight. I couldn’t wait to show her the town I fell in love with, the beauty of this place, the quiet majesty of nature—a stark contrast to the lively city of New Orleans.

The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the snow-capped peaks that surrounded us. I led C.C. to my bike, a sense of pride swelling in my chest as I anticipated her reaction to my sleek, powerful machine.

She ran a gloved hand over the chrome, her breath forming clouds in the cold air. “She’s a beauty,” C.C. murmured. “You know I love my cars, but this...” She trailed off, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

I swung a leg over the seat, the familiar thrill of the bike coursing through me. “Hop on,” I said, my voice rough with anticipation.

“Isn’t it unsafe to ride a motorcycle in the winter?”

“It’s definitely colder, that’s for sure, but this area has gotten no snow yet. So the roads are clear.”

“Trip, I can see snow on the mountain peaks.”

“Higher elevation, baby,” I said, leaning against my gas tank. “Didn’t think you’d chicken out so soon.”

“I’m not scared of anything,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I challenged.

C.C. narrowed her eyes, then gracefully hopped on behind me.

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