Page 23 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

“Shoot. I didn’t mean to,” she whispers back. “Maybe I should ride with Marcus instead.”

“The hell you will. Climb on, babe. My bike’s the only one I ever want to see you on.”

I don’t miss her grin as she slides on behind me.

***

Marcus—

We pull into the clubhouse lot, and Cole and Crash take a moment to talk with their daughters. Crash digs in his pocket and holds out a set of keys to Harley, nodding to the club van. Cole kisses Melissa’s forehead, then steps away and emits a sharp whistle, grabbing the other patched members' attention. “Church. Now!”

The MC brothers head inside—I suspect to discuss the new problem with the Death Heads, though I doubt they’ll let us prospects know shit until they need us to do something.

Once they disappear through the door, Melissa says something to Harley, then walks up to Billy, who’s digging a pack of smokes out of his vest. He dips his head to light one, then blows a plume toward the purple sky. The last traces of the day streak across the western horizon.

“Can I talk to you a minute, Billy?” Melissa asks softly, stopping a couple feet away from him.

His cigarette hangs from his mouth, and he squints at her through the smoke before reaching up and clamping it between two fingers to pull it away, exhaling. He glances to the closed clubhouse door before answering.

“Yeah, sure.”

I watch the two of them walk about twenty yards away before stopping. I can’t hear what is said, but Melissa’s hands slip to his waist, and she takes a step toward Billy, looking up into his face.

Billy had better be careful with that one, or he’ll never get that patch on his back.

I feel a tap on my bicep and turn to see TJ holding out a can of beer to me. He grins as he sips his own. Harley stands next to him, sipping on her own can.

“Where’d you two get these?” I ask.

Harley holds up the van keys. “There’s a cooler in the back.”

I pop the top. TJ reaches out to clink his can to mine. “Cheers. You did good today, Marcus. No lie. I know what you were planning if that had been Death Heads.”

“Do you? I was kind of thinking on the fly. Just knew I had to do something. I was the only one with nobody ridin’ bitch.”

“You can play it down, but it was brave,” Harley says, a serious look in her eyes.

I down a good portion of beer, choosing not to reply.

After today, and thinking I might have had to lay down my life for this club, I can’t help but reevaluate some things. I’m not even a brother yet, and I could have died today. They say you find out what’s important to you in your final moments. The only thing I thought about was Brandy.

I want this day to be over so I can go see her. I need something or someone to relieve my stress, and I know Brandy is just what the doctor ordered.

A few minutes later, Billy walks the girls to the van, confiscating the beer, he says for their own good.

We stand and watch the van roll out of sight.

I’m sure I’m not the only one ready for this day to end.

When the meeting finally breaks up, Crash walks toward us.

He lifts his chin. “Listen up. Club’s operating on high alert.”

“We goin’ on lockdown?” TJ asks.

Crash shakes his head. “Not until we know more. You boys keep your eyes open, understand?”

“Yes, sir,” we all murmur.

---