Page 75 of Gunner
He pressed his lips harder to mine and returned, “I love you.”
The sounds of the compound coming to life filtered into the air, and one by one, the brothers began to make their way to the clubhouse. Kade stood and set me on my feet before kissing me again. I groaned into the embrace, and he smirked before adjusting his length and walking toward the clubhouse, leaving me wanting and needy.
I checked on Jacob and walked to the kitchen to start breakfast for the men, finding Piper and Lilly already busy preparing a simple meal. I pulled them each into a hug and jumped in beside them, needing to keep my hands busy.
“I found a letter from Smokey last night,” Piper remarked, and I looked at her, hoping she would elaborate. “He told me if anything ever happened to him, Kade was the best choice for president.”
I was shocked that he had thought that far ahead, but maybe he knew the bad decisions he made would end up costing him in the end. A good leader planned for every possibility, and I feared I might have judged him too harshly over the last few months.
Time would tell which way the club would head, but I knew with Gunner at the head of the table, they couldn’t go anywhere but up.
Chapter 31
Kade
2016
We buried Bear at Sadie’s‘spot’ near the lake last month. She still spent time staring out at the water, finding peace in the solitude. Bear used to join her on her walks until his hips became too painful to make the trips, so she would sit with him on the steps of our house and tell him all about her day. I don’t know who loved the time more, her or him. He was a loyal companion who helped my family and me through the hardest times of our lives, so saying goodbye to him was a heart-wrenching experience.
Jacob was a teenager, and he took the loss harder than anyone. Bear became his best friend over the last five years of us living at the compound. The entire club followed us to the lake and stood by while we showed our final respects to the best dog anyone could ask for.
Smokey and Bullet’s final appeal was rejected last week, and I went to meet with Smokey at the state penitentiary. Seeing him in an orange jumpsuit always punched me in the gut, but from behind bars, he was still maneuvering the club’s power.
“I put another hundred on your books, and Piper said she’ll be up this weekend to see you,” I explained as he sat across from me at the metal table in the family visiting room.
“Any word on the mad man’s plans?” he asked, speaking cryptically about Callahan.
His company sold some software to the government, and he had mentioned he was going to see about using his connections and back channels to help Smokey and Bullet. There was no guarantee that he could help, but if there was any way to reduce their sentences, the club would forever be in debt.
I asked him shortly after they were sentenced about what happened. It turns out his nephew had gotten involved with the Diablos on accident, and Smokey was trading a shipment of guns in exchange for his nephew’s freedom. The feds caught the hand-off on camera, and they took a fall. His actions weren’t honorable, but they were understandable.
“He’s still working things from his end. No word yet, but if anyone can do it, it’s his crazy ass.”
“Is the mad man still watching that girl?” He chuckled, and I nodded with a smile. “He needs to man up and claim his woman before someone else does.”
“Skid said he has her set up in the apartment below his but still hasn’t made a move yet.”
