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DC
The beeping of the gate alarm disengaging woke me. And then I heard my dad’s bike, but his wasn’t the only one pulling up to my front door. I heard at least four others.
I so didn’t feel like talking about business today, but they were here and there was no way I could avoid them or whatever they were here to discuss.
Pushing myself up from the couch I zombie-walked to the kitchen to turn on the kettle. Not for the men who would soon be taking up the air in my house, but for me. I could not do this without a strong cup of coffee. I had already dumped a good amount of ground coffee in the French Press when they trooped in. Doc, Tiny, Grizzly, Skelly, Rover and Shaka.
Shit.
This wasn’t good.
I had six of the club’s officers standing in my kitchen and none of them were smiling.
“I’m making coffee, anyone want some? There’s beer in the fridge if you want.” I ignored the unsmiling bastards and played the good host.
Skelly immediately moved to the fridge and started handing out beers.
“Make your coffee then get your ass in the lounge. We have shit to discuss.” Doc growled as he took the beer Skelly handed him.
Without another word they all walked out, leaving me standing in the kitchen with a million questions flying through my head. Shaking it off I poured a mug of coffee and got my ass to the lounge, as ordered. The men were spread out around the lounge but they had left one seat open. Right opposite Doc.
Doc started talking as soon as I sat down.
“You grew up in the club. You know bitches are never brought into club business unless it is unavoidable, and then they are only told what they need to know, nothing more. Even as my Crow you don’t know everything that goes down at the table and you never will.”
I nodded and sipped my coffee. I kept my face blank but inside I was shitting myself. The way he started this conversation wasn’t good.
“You gave up your time and dreams for your sister and the club. Don’t ever think I don’t know or appreciate what you gave up for me and my club. I do, as do every single brother who sits at the table. It was never my intention to turn you dark but because of my decisions that’s what happened. But, DC, even if I could turn back the clock and change my decision I wouldn’t. My decision made you a strong, self-confident badass who can take care of herself and her family. I know I have never said it but I am so fucking proud of you.”
I was stunned and could only nod, but he wasn’t done.
“I am proud you had the balls to walk into the Iron Dogz clubhouse and do what you did. Proud you took down that bitch and gave us blood and bone. Proud of who you have become and will always be.”
Tiny cleared his throat and I gave him a quick glance before looking back at my dad.
“You are my daughter and a very valuable part of my club. I had expectations of you taking the property patch of one of my brothers. It would have kept you close and safe. At one time I thought it would be Skel but it didn’t happen. So I started looking around to find a brother strong enough to stand beside you. I looked over the men at every single chapter and no one was good enough. And then shit went down and I found a man who might just be strong enough for you.”
What the hell? Was he really going to try and give me away as if I was some sort of present? I opened my mouth to let him have it but he didn’t give me a chance.
“I found him but I’m not fucking happy. I’m pissed as hell about it. I didn’t want him for you. I wasn’t going to give him a chance until he laid it out for me and my brothers. He wanted to see you with no interference from me or the club and he wanted my assurance that we would leave the decision up to you. I very fucking grudgingly gave it to him. The next move is up to you.”
I had a tight hold on my temper as I slowly leant forward and carefully placed my mug on the Road Warriors MC coaster on my coffee table.
“So, just to be clear. You have been looking for a man for me and now you think you have found him.”
He nodded and so did the other men. Fucking assholes. Skelly grinned evilly.
“So who is this paragon of manhood who has your approval?”
“Hawk Walker.”
I had been prepared to shoot down whatever name he was going to give me. Just not this one. I did not see it coming. Not at all. He had asked my dad’s permission?
Holy shit.
“Dad...”
But Skelly interrupted before I could continue.
“Stop the bullshit, DC. You are sitting there with his mark on your neck and we’ve all seen the chemistry between the two of you. He’s strong enough to take your shit, just as you’re strong enough to make him back off when it’s needed.” He suddenly grinned wide. “And it will be fun watching those clueless Dogz trying to handle you.”
The men burst out laughing but I didn’t find it funny at all.
“So if I say yes what happens to the Crow?”
It wasn’t my dad who answered but Shaka, the club’s security officer. His deep voice rolled through the silence after my question.
“You were born a Road Warrior and will always be a part of our club. We will always have your back, no matter what. Like Doc, I would have preferred a Road Warrior as your old man. But he’s right, there aren’t any brothers in the Road Warriors MC besides Skel who can give you the position you deserve. No one who can support, take care of and protect you like Hawk Walker and his club.”
His smile flashed white before his face settled back into its usual ebony mask. The word inscrutable had been invented for Shaka.
“If you choose Hawk and become his old lady, I won’t lie, there will be repercussions. But before it happens there will be a meeting at National, and they will determine what happens to the Crow.”
Grizzly snorted. “National aren’t the ones who will decide, Shaka.”
“We won’t let them take it away from you, not unless that’s what you want, squirt.” Grizzly said softly. “You have given your youth to this club, to your father and all the brothers. We just celebrated your thirty first birthday and I’m afraid that if you continue down this road you will be forty before you know it and still alone. Like has been said, we had hoped you would choose one of the brothers as your man, but you started working as the Crow and it became very important to you. Maybe the dark path of the Crow kept you from settling down, we’ll never know. Right now you are standing at another crossroads, and sweetheart, I want you to take a chance. I want you to take a chance and see where this thing between you and Hawk goes. I love you like you’re my very own and I fucking hate to say this, but the man will be good for you and to you. Give him a shot, squirt.”
I had not seen this coming, at all. I was hovering between shock and disbelief at the support shown to Hawk Walker by my dad, Grizzly and Skel. Shaka was an absolute stickler for the rules and his views weren’t a surprise at all. Tiny and Rover were the only ones who hadn’t said a word. I sort of knew where Rover stood with the Hawk situation but had no idea as to Tiny’s thoughts.
And I didn’t have long to wait to find out.
“I agree with Grizz, you have done more than enough for this club. It is now our turn to do something for you. For years I have watched as you sank deeper and deeper into the dark. You smile, you laugh, you’ve taken a few lovers but no one reached your soul. Your eyes have been cold and emotionless for far longer than I’ve been comfortable with. But not anymore, now there’s fire burning behind those beautiful eyes. A fire Hawk Walker put there.” Tiny smiled. “Do this one thing for you and no one else. See where it goes. If it doesn’t work out, so what? You will always have us, your family, waiting to pick you up should you fall. No fear, sweetheart. We’ve got your back.”
I was stunned and speechless as I looked around at the men watching me. Taking a deep breath I tried to settle the out of control thoughts scrolling through my head. I tried to make sense of it for them and for me.
“I didn’t expect it or want it. I knew he wanted me, he was pretty damn obvious about it, but I had no idea it was a serious interest. Until he came here last night and explained he was laying claim to me. But I’ve been there before, had men say shit they regretted the next day or week, so I shrugged it off. Put it aside to think about later.”
Skel’s laugh pissed me off and I scowled at him before continuing.
“Now you walk into my house and tell me he’s serious. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a president from one club approaching the president of another to ask for permission to claim his daughter. Shit like that just never happens. Relationships between adversaries almost always end in blood.”
It was as if the air in the lounge had suddenly been sucked out and into another dimension. That’s how suddenly the atmosphere changed. Doc’s body had turned to stone, the same with Grizzly and Tiny.
What the hell?
“What’s wrong, Dad?”
There was a long moment of silence before those cold eyes met mine and he spoke, his voice cold, hard and rough, so very rough.
“I never wanted you to know. Maybe I was wrong, maybe you should have been told from the very beginning, I don’t know. I wanted to spare you. But it’s a part of our history and something you should have been told. What I do know is that I can’t be the one who tells you. I vowed those names wouldn’t cross my lips ever again, not in this lifetime. And it fucking won’t. Not fucking ever.” Doc stood and clasped a hand over the back of his neck, staring down at the wooden floor.
Then he looked up and the pain in his eyes nearly gutted me. So much pain, so much suffering it had tears burning in my eyes. He saw my tears and a sad little smile tipped one side of his mouth.
“Take a chance on finding love, sweetheart. Do it for me. Let me know your decision, DC. Soon.”
Then he walked out of my house with Skelly, Rover and Shaka silently following him.
