Page 69 of Surrender
I guarantee it.
Snatching a beer from the cooler of ice, I bypassed my brothers hanging around on the deck, grilling and talking shit.Instead, I walked across the grass to the fire pit where my president was sitting by himself.
“Happy Birthday, old man,” I greeted, slapping Bishop on the back before sinking into the camping chair beside him. The fire was giving off plenty of heat, almost too much for the summer evening we were having, but it didn’t feel like a club party without the smell of burning wood and embers fluttering into the night sky. “How’s it feel to hit the big five zero?”
Bishop took a casual sip of his beer. “You mention that number again, and I’ll make sure you never find out.”
I raised my drink to him, but kept my mouth shut with a quiet smirk.
Like me, Bishop wasn’t one to enjoy attention for any reason, other than when he was organizing the club. That was his element, where he thrived.
But he was raised by Rook, so it wasn’t surprising.
Rook was the president before Bishop.
He was also the man who introduced me to the club and club life after I got myself locked up on the day of James’ funeral. When I was released, I lived rough for a while. A kid with nowhere to go, who was angry with the fucking world, and had just lost my best friend and the girl I loved. I really was wondering at that point what was left for me.
The old guy who owned Brawlers before the club bought it felt sorry for me and would let me use the showers and beat on a bag when I was feeling frustrated. Rook just happened to be there, meeting up with someone on one of those days, and the rest was history.
He helped me focus my anger into something productive.
Boxing.
And I won a bunch of fucking titles because of it during my first few years with the club.
He showed me the true meaning of family and gave me asecond chance at life. And a second chance to have the girl I loved. Because without him, I wouldn’t be here today, or the man I am—one who has fought hard to be worthy of a woman like Darcy.
“I can hear the cogs in your brain grinding around and around,” Bishop said, huffing out a laugh. “The hell has you thinking so damn hard?”
I snorted, swirling the beer bottle in my hand. “Was thinking about Rook actually.”
“Mmm…” He nodded, scratching at his beard. “You know, the old guy would be real proud of you and what you’re doing with Rafe and those other boys.”
“You think?” I relaxed back into the chair.
Bishop nodded slowly. “I do.”
“I wouldn’t be here if Rook hadn’t taken a chance on my stubborn, angry fucking ass,” I said, just speaking out loud. “He didn’t have to, but he did. I figure the least I can do is carry that on and hope maybe I can do the same for someone like me.”
Bishop leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, beer dangling from his fingers. “You don’t owe him that, you know. He would never expect you to do anything in his name.”
I nodded. “I know. But I owe someone. And if I can give Rafe or one of those kids what I got handed by Rook, maybe they’ll find some worth in it too.”
He didn’t say anything for a while. Just tipped his beer toward mine and clinked the bottles together.
“To Rook,” he finally said.
“To Rook,” I echoed.
“Hope I’m not interrupting,” Darcy said quietly as she wrapped her arms around my neck from behind.
I squeezed her arm gently and tilted my head back to look at her. “Never.”
She rounded my chair, and I gently pulled her into my lap.She didn’t hesitate, curling into me like we’d be doing this forever.
Bishop’s face softened, and he offered her a rare smile as he got to his feet. “I’m gonna go and see what the fuck is going on with this music.”
I turned my attention to Darcy as Bishop walked back toward the clubhouse. “You okay?”
