Page 25 of Drifter
I giggle, covering my mouth.
“But Sasha was too cute, even as a kid. When she saw how upset I was, she sat for hours trying to fix it. When I finally calmed down, we sat together and put it back together,” Simon says, then adds, looking directly at me, “It sits on my shelf in my office at the condo. It’s one of the few things I took from the house when I moved out.”
It melts my heart to know that Simon is still the sweet, good-natured brother I know him to be. He was the only thing keeping me sane in our crazy house.
I reach out and take my brother’s hand. “I love you, big brother. I don’t know how I would have survived if you weren’t with me. I didn’t realize how messed up our family was until I saw what a loving family was really like. When I went to school and heard the stories of daddies reading bedtime stories to their kids, or moms who bake cookies, I wished I lived with them. Mom could hardly stand up straight by noon, and I don’t know if she’s ever cooked a meal. And Dad, well, he’s just who he is.” I let out a wistful sigh.
“Mom drinks because it’s an escape. Before I left, I told her she needed to get help. She says she doesn’t have a problem and refuses to see her life for what it is. She’s Dad’s arm candy, and she likes the bling, the parties, and to this day blames me for her stretch mark. She only has one, yet it’s my fault,” Simon tells us. “We have to move on, Sash. We need to look after ourselves and leave them behind. If Mom ever comes to her senses and truly wants to make a change, we’ll be there, but for now, our lives come first.”
“I have a feeling that you protected me far more than what I already know,” I say, searching his face.
Simon shrugs. “It’s what brothers do, and I’d do it all again.” He glances at his watch. “This has been great, but I’ve got to get back to the office and a meeting with a prospective client. Dad’s going to be there.” He stands to leave, holding out his hand to Hawk and giving Etain a nod. “Good to meet you folks.” Then he extends his hand to Drifter. “I’ll get you what you need and call you.”
“Thanks, man. We’ll get through this,” Drifter assures him, and Simon grins. Drifter waits for Simon to leave.
Motown walks toward us, and Hawk says, “Make sure he gets back safe.” And just like that, Motown’s gone again. “We have to head back too. We’ve got work to do.”
Instead of dropping Etain back at the office, the guys drop us both off at my place. “Want some company?” Etain asks.
“I have about an hour’s worth of reading to get done, but after that, I’m all yours,” I tell her.
War is still working when we get back, and Drifter jumps in to help out, but not before kissing me on the mouth and telling me we’ll talk later.
Drifter
Hawk texted me as soon as he got back to the shop. He’s making calls to see which club presidents are willing to take a piece of the action with Simon’s company. Guard’s calling a meeting with his guys, and so are several other clubs that we’re close to.
The bigger question is, how are we going to be able to get the current shareholders to sell? Shareholders are listed, but we need more information than that. I hate asking for more favors from the Pride, but I’m going to need Orion on this. Hawk knows it, and it means that we’ll owe them. Guard doesn’t give a shit about that, but Hawk does.
Hawk wants our club to thrive on its own. He wants our club to be strong and independent. We’ve made some mistakes in the past, and it riles the club to know that a good man, Phantom, is doing time to save the other members. It should never have happened. And Hawk blames himself, but his hands were tied, and we all know it. Since then, the enemy has been eliminated. Mainly due to his own greed.
Phantom’s getting out soon. The guys are already planning a welcome home party. Every week, Hawk goes to see him. I or one of the others visit whenever Hawk’s pulled away, but that rarely happens. I know that Hawk brought Etain to see him as well. We keep Phantom up to date on the club. When we told him about the annihilation of the rival club that landed him in prison, he gave us a satisfied grin, and said, “Wish I was around to see it. Saves me the trouble of dealing with it myself.” Then he laughed, and in true Phantom form, he’s never mentioned it again.
I look forward to our brother’s homecoming. We could use him right about now. Phantom is a man who likes to live quiet. He’s an artist. Not in the typical sense, but a tattoo artist, and I swear that what he designs and etches as body art is extraordinary. That’s what he wants to do once he’s out of prison, and that’s what he’ll have when he comes home: a place of his own. Even though he was in the club for a while before being sent away, I still don’t have the story of how he became part of a special ops team in the military. What I do know is that he’s intelligent and dangerous, and I’m glad he’s on our side.
“Man, you with me, or what?” War grumbles, pulling me away from my thoughts.
“Sorry. Sorting shit out in my head,” I respond.
“Wanna talk about it?”
I quickly tell him our plan and our dilemma. “We’ve got some capital, but with the construction costs on the club and the setup of the tattoo shop, it’ll take some doing to get what we need. I’m sure you’ll hear more from Guard,” I tell him.
“Demon,” is his sole response.
I know Demon is a member of the Pride, but I don’t get the connection. I furrow my brow and give him a look asking for more.
“Demon has a shit ton of investments, thanks to his wife, Sofia. I’m sure Guard’s already on it, but if not, I’ll have a chat. Maddie and I are in too. If you think this Simon guy is solid and can make the company even more profitable than it is, then I trust your judgment,” he says. “Now, let’s get this done, because I have a long ride home and I miss my wife and kids.”
“Thanks, man,” I simply say, then concentrate on the job, so that War can get home to his family.
After a thorough tutorial on how to work the security system, Sasha invites War to dinner, but he wants to hit the road. Sasha being Sasha, no one leaves empty-handed. She puts together a care package that War takes with him.
When we finish dinner, I curl Sasha into my side as we cuddle on the sofa. It’s then that I tell her what we know about her father and his best friend. I knew this would be a blow to her, but the hurt in her eyes is killing me.
“You’re supposed to love and care for your children. I mean nothing to him. Nothing.” She gets up to pace the room, continuing her rant. “I did everything to try to make him proud of me. I got straight A’s in school. I never caused trouble. Went to all the boring parties and was paraded around like a prized pony, and never complained. Not once. And to him, I’m nothing. An expendable commodity to serve his own purposes. How dare he call himself my father?”
“You’re not nothing,” I declare, coming to my feet and moving toward her, taking her by the shoulders. “I don’t want to hear that again, Sasha. You’re not nothing! You’re everything. You’re my everything, baby.”
