Page 31 of DOG Part 2
Epilogue
Kim
Ilifted the curtains, revealing the twinkling lights from across the street. Even though my dad had been president of the Rugged Angels when I was born, it hadn’t been until three weeks ago that I’d first set foot in the clubhouse.
Three weeks. Three weeks ago had been when Kane had struck the deal with DiEmanuele. That was when everything settled down; when life had begun to go back to its relative quietude. I’d started classes again, but hadn’t spent a night yet in my apartment. Kane had been reluctant to let me stay there, still fearful that a dissenting Arroyos Bandidos, or one of DiEmanuele’s men, might take it in their mind to attack me.
I hadn’t been worried, but I’d bent, packing my stuff up and moving into the clubhouse temporarily, as well as allowing Kane to drive me to all my classes.
Each day, when I would get out of school, he was there, leaning against his motorcycle and waiting for me. It felt weird to have such a careful and observant boyfriend, but it was also amazing. To know that I had someone to count on. Someone who was always there, watching my back. The solace that came from that was irreplaceable.
I’d started spending time with my dad, making it an incremental process. The first visit to Mom’s grave we made together, and though the idea of the trip had caused me an extreme amount of anxiety, being there with Dad also felt right in a way. No matter what had happened over the years, the three of us were still family. Nothing could change that.
The clubhouse was nicer than I had expected it to be. And so were its members. They were average men, often with families and day jobs, and the activities the club was involved in were turning out to not be as shocking as I had expected them to be.
That’s not to say I was totally used to it all. Or one hundred percent in agreement with the lifestyle. But it was the life all the Rugged Angels had chosen. The life my dad had chosen. The life Kane had chosen.
We all have our own paths to take, I guess.
The door opened and closed as Kane walked into the office. My whole body jerked slightly at the sight of him. Even after three weeks of spending every night in his bed my desire for him hadn’t been quelled in the least bit. He had on a tight white shirt and the clean smell wafting off of him said that he had just gotten out of the shower.
“How’s the homework going?” he asked, going to the bar and pouring us both drinks.
“I’ve been distracted.”
“With what?”
“With wondering when you were going to be done.”
He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me over his shoulder. I batted my lashes, putting on my best innocent face.
“Don’t you have a lot of catching up to do?” he pressed.
“Maybe. But schoolwork isn’t the only thing I need to get to.”
“Hmmm, really? What else is on your plate?”
“It’s been three weeks since your surgery, President Angelo, and you need to get checked up.”
“Oh really?” he purred, crossing the room in a few steps and landing an inch from me. The heat from his breath kissed my cheek as he pushed the tumbler of whiskey into my hand.
“Um, really,” I stuttered, suddenly losing all cool as his close presence made me come undone.
“So,” I started, taking a hearty sip of my drink.
“So?”
“What’s happening? What happened at the meeting tonight?”
“Ah.” He nodded and went to sit in the easy chair. “I thought you were referring to my needing to get checked up. This is what’s happening. Chavez’s number two is going to become my number five. All of my other men are getting promoted. Skate is going to be my number one, and so forth. That’s basically it. For now. DiEmanuele seems to be being good, so there haven’t been any stirrups. Here’s hoping it stays that way.” He took a sip of whiskey and tossed his legs over the arm of the chair, looking more relaxed than I had ever seen him.
“I can see that you’re happy with the circumstances.”
“Well why wouldn’t I be?” His eyes twinkled at me, the heated look instantly flushing my cheeks. “I have more than I could have ever asked for.”
“Hmmm, really,” I cooed, setting my drink down on the coffee table so that I could climb into the chair and straddle his lap. His hands went instantly to my hips, his fingers running little circles in the space between my shirt and jeans.
“Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”
