by Ana Night
King was silent for two seconds, then he snorted out a laugh.
“At least it’s not my daughter. Her I would have killed you for.”
“So you’re not throwing me out?”
King shook his head. “My ole’ lady would kill me if I did.”
Joker snorted. “I knew there was a reason I liked her.”
Joker held out his hand and King took it reluctantly.
“I’m still gonna be hating you for a while,” King said.
“As long as I get to be with Gabe, I’ll live with it.”
King gave him a nod and let go of his hand. King walked to his bike, so Joker went in search of Gabe. He’d gone through the gate to the backyard, so he started there. He found Gabe and Zayne sitting in lawn chairs, their backs to him. He heard Gabe mumble something about stubborn, old bastards which made Zayne laugh. Joker’s lips quirked as he walked around the chairs to stand in front of Gabe.
Gabe glanced up at him, hope and curiosity in his eyes.
“I think we managed to get on the same page,” Joker said.
A relieved smile spread on Gabe’s face. Gabe stood and walked the two steps separating them, tilting his head to meet Joker’s gaze.
“The jury is still out on whether he’ll try to kill me in my sleep or not,” Joker said.
“He’ll have to go through me,” Gabe said with a grin.
He wrapped his arms around Gabe, pulling him close. “He’ll have to go through the both of us, then.”
He was still smiling as he took Gabe’s mouth in a deep kiss.
Chapter Nineteen
Gabe
HE WAS standing in the backyard at the club, wringing his hands while Nash was sitting in a lawn chair a few feet from him, enjoying the warmth from the sun. He was a fucking wreck. The patched members of the club were voting on his patching-in.
“Relax. You can’t do anything before you know the verdict anyway,” Nash said.
Gabe turned a glare Nash’s way, but Nash had his eyes closed.
“You don’t get it.”
Nash quirked an eye open. “Nope. Never claimed I did.”
Gabe let out a frustrated groan. He began pacing, not knowing what to do with himself. Joker’s old cut had been hanging in the closet since they’d returned from Emery’s and seeing Joker take it out that morning had been like a shock. Like he hadn’t actually realized that today was the day.
With everything that had happened, even though Stiletto thought he was ready, King had put it off with Joker and Gabe’s approval. He hadn’t been able to ride for a while because of the concussion and he’d wanted things to settle down between Joker and his father. He hadn’t expected it would take over a month. But during that time, he’d been doing actual prospect stuff. He’d been asked to do pretty much anything, and he’d done it gladly. He wanted to be a part of the club, a part of the family. He was actually glad he’d had the time to prove that he was worthy, to the others but also to himself.
The door opened and he whirled around only to see his mom walk outside. She gave him a sympathetic look and walked up to him.
“Sweetheart. Take a deep breath. You look like you’re about to pass out,” she said.
“I think I might,” Gabe said.
“Christ, boy, get a grip.”
Gabe could do nothing but laugh. His mom certainly had a way with words. It worked, too. He’d already calmed down a bit. Polly pulled him into a hug and he happily leaned against her, needing her support. She held him tightly as she said, “I can’t believe this is already happening.” She leaned back, holding him at arm’s length. “When the hell did you grow up?”
“If he still comes home to get you to do his laundry, he isn’t grown up,” Nash quipped from his chair.
Gabe flipped him off, making Nash smile up at him.
“Fuck you. One time. One. Because of a smudge I didn’t know how to get off.”
“Next time you can just go to Nash. Ain’t that right, Nash?” Polly asked him, batting her lashes and giving him a wide smile.
Nash never got to answer because the door slammed open and Grizz came jogging towards Gabe, wrapping him up in a bearhug and lifting him off the ground. Gabe wheezed and patted Grizz on his back to get him to put him down.
“That’s it, kiddo. You did it. You’re in,” Grizz yelled.
Gabe’s mouth fell open and all he could do was stare at Grizz. He was in? He was a King? He didn’t know what to do with himself. Happiness flooded him, nearly making him cry in relief. He actually did it.
He turned to see more people walk out the door, his eyes ran over everyone until they landed on a steel-blue gaze. Joker was wearing a soft smile as he made his way towards Gabe. Joker wrapped his arms around Gabe, pulling him close.
“It was a unanimous ‘yay’,” Joker said into Gabe’s hair.
Gabe leaned back in Joker’s arms, a relieved but shocked smile finding his lips.
“You just need your road name,” Zayne said with a smirk.
Joker let go of him and he turned towards Zayne. It was a bit uncommon that he didn’t already have a road name. Usually, people prospected for over a year, leaving plenty of time for someone to come up with a stupid name that would just stick. But he’d been around the club his whole life and he’d always just been King’s kid to everyone. Gabe glanced around, his gaze landing on his father who looked like he was holding back a smile.
“We talked about just naming you ‘Kid’,” Jet said.
“No.” Gabe shook his head. “Fuck, no.”
Zayne burst into laughter and slapped Gabe on the back, saying, “He’s just messing with ya.”
“Scar suggested ‘Pretty Boy,” Reaper said.
Gabe turned a glare on her, but she just shrugged and said, “You are pretty.”
“That name’s already taken, anyway,” Zayne said and waggled his brows at Stiletto. “Ain’t that right?”
Stiletto flipped him off and Gabe had to laugh. She always went for the young and pretty and everyone knew Zayne was talking about Jordan. Now he was, in fact, pretty. He was also crushing on Stiletto hard and he didn’t do much to hide it. Gabe had bonded with him quite a bit as of late because Jordan was, more or less, going through the same thing with Stiletto as Gabe had with Joker.
“All right. Come on,” Gabe said.
King smiled and said, “Rex.”
He blinked at King, unsure of what to think.
“Joker suggested it,” King said.
Gabe turned to Joker who was smiling at him.
“Rex?” Gabe asked Joker with a raised brow.
“It means king, and you’ve always been one,” Joker said and turned to King who was holding a vest. King handed Joker it and when Joker turned back to Gabe, his gaze shot down to the vest. This was it. It was actually happening. He met Joker’s eyes and bit down on his lip. Joker put the vest on Gabe. He still hadn’t gotten over the fact that it was Joker’s old cut. It made him that much more proud of wearing it. With the cut in place, he turned around with a wide smile on his face. Some began cheering and yelling but all his focus was on the man in front of him.
“Thank you,” Gabe said in a low voice.
One of Joker’s eyebrows shot up. “For what?”
Gabe laid his hands on Joker’s chest and leaned closer.
“This never would’ve happened without you.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Rex,” Joker said.
Gabe shook his head. “I’m not. I would’ve left. If you hadn’t trusted me and believed in me, I think I would’ve given up.”
“Like hell, you would. You never gave up on me and I gave you plenty of reasons to.” Joker shook his head. “You’re a fighter, baby. Through and through.”
Gabe felt a smile tease his lips. “It’s a good thing I didn’t give up on you.”
Joker’s answer to that was lowering his head and brushing his lips over Gabe’s. Gabe grinned into the kiss, then grabbed onto Joker when he pulled Gabe against
his body. He was thrilled Joker felt comfortable enough to kiss him at the club. For someone who didn’t exactly like PDA’s, it was a pretty big deal.
He pulled back to catcalls and whistles. He felt heat fill his cheeks, but the embarrassment was short-lived because Joker took his hand and smiled at him. Gabe smiled back and then he was pulled away from Joker and into Nash’s arms. He chuckled as he hugged Nash.
“Congrats,” Nash said. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
He spent some time getting hugs, backslaps, and congratulations, but then King ordered everyone back inside so they could get the party started. As everyone filtered inside, Gabe told Joker to go ahead while he stayed with his parents.
King wrapped an arm around Polly, and they were both smiling at him.
“We’re so proud of you, sweetheart,” his mom said.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“We really are,” King said. “I’m sorry I made it so hard for you. It wasn’t my intention, but I see now where I went wrong and why. I was scared. Scared of letting you go, of having to share you with the club. Especially with Joker.”
Gabe’s lips quirked at the corners. He took a breath, turning serious.
“No one can ever replace you, Pops. You’re my father.”
King nodded. “I know. Forgive an old man for being insecure?”
Polly snorted and said, “You’re not old. Otherwise, I’m old, too.”
Gabe laughed when his mom wrinkled her nose. He met King’s gaze.
“I forgive you.” A smile teased his lips. “After all, if it wasn’t for you, Joker and I might’ve never—”
“Don’t you dare,” King interjected, shaking his head wildly. “I don’t even wanna consider how I might’ve played into that.”
Gabe shared an amused look with his mom and they both burst into laughter. King glanced between them, crossing his arms and saying, “Assholes. Both of ya.”
Polly patted King’s chest. “You had it coming, Darlin’.”
“Whatever,” King huffed and turned his gaze on Gabe. “I’m proud of you. Proud that I get to call you my son and a King. But I don’t want to know anything about you and Joker. Though I’m getting to where I’ve accepted it.”
“Thank you, Pops,” Gabe said and wrapped his arms around him.
King grunted and complained, but he hugged Gabe back. He knew that with time, they’d be all right. So would King and Joker, if they worked through their problems, but he knew they were both committed.
Maya was still in the club, though King had sent Bones on what was now a month-long run out of town to give him some space from Maya. Bones certainly needed it, though he was committed to keeping up the ruse.
The two guys who’d tried to kill him were both dead. His father hadn’t admitted it, but Gabe was sure he’d pulled some strings to make it happen. Without them, there was no trial and he was all right with that. He still had some recovery to do but he was getting there, and with Joker at his side, he knew he’d be more than fine.
Joker
He clinked his bottle of Guinness with Zayne’s glass of whiskey. He took a big gulp then turned on his barstool, his eyes finding Gabe immediately.
“Did you ever think we’d get here?” Zayne asked.
Joker glanced at him with a raised brow. “Where?”
“Both settled down and living with someone we love.”
“I didn’t exactly plan on living with him,” Joker said with a pointed look.
“Gabe moved in with you way faster than Nash and I moved in together.”
Joker arched a brow at him and said, “He moved into the spare room, not in with me.”
Zayne shrugged. “Same thing. Besides, I doubt he stayed in my old room very long before he moved into your bed.”
Joker snapped his mouth shut. He wasn’t going to give Zayne more ammunition than he already had. He shook his head, a smile teasing his lips. He turned his eyes back on Gabe who immediately looked up, meeting Joker’s gaze.
Gabe and Nash walked up to them and Gabe was all smiles, the pride shining from him. Gabe stopped next to Joker, putting a hand on his thigh as he leaned over the bar to shout his order. Joker put a hand over Gabe’s to keep it there. He’d never been much for public displays of… anything, really, but if there was one thing he’d learned about himself the past month, it was that he loved those small touches and gestures between them. Kissing Gabe earlier had been more of a spur of the moment thing, though he couldn’t rule out that it would happen again. As long as King didn’t shoot him for it.
“How’s it feel, brother?” Zayne asked Gabe.
Gabe lit up in a bright smile. “Fucking fantastic.”
Jordan put Gabe’s bottle of beer on the bar top for him. Gabe thanked him and took a swig. Gabe turned and rested his arms on the bar, his gaze scanning across the people in the clubhouse.
“So when’s Hawk coming back? He’s been gone for over a month now,” Nash said.
“Don’t say you’re missing him,” Joker teased.
Zayne grunted. “Who the hell would miss his grumpy ass?”
Nash elbowed Zayne, making him yelp and curse him.
“He’s busy doing what he does best,” Joker said.
“Killing people?” Gabe suggested.
“Protecting them.”
“Don’t let him hear you say he protects people better than he kills them,” Zayne said.
Joker snorted and said, “I’ll take my chances,” making Gabe and Nash laugh.
They stayed by the bar, drinking and having fun for hours. He very much enjoyed seeing Gabe so happy and carefree. There were still a lot of unknowns in their lives but the one thing he knew with absolute certainty, was that Gabe was his and he was Gabe’s.
They were still looking for the guy who’d disappeared from the warehouse. They’d gotten a picture of his face from Sean’s security footage and Sean and Auggie were working together to find him. He wasn’t too worried, though. The guy was alone. Why would he come after them? Hell, he probably didn’t know who they were. Besides, everyone Wade had ever worked with was being investigated or arrested. No, he wasn’t worried. If the guy valued his life, he’d run and hide.
Gabe grabbed his hand and tugged him off of his stool, backing away from the bar.
“Where are we going?” Joker asked with a cocked brow.
A playful smile spread on Gabe’s lips.
“Home.”
Joker’s brows shot up and then he was the one pulling Gabe towards the door. He thought maybe they were getting away without anyone noticing but just before they reached the door, he heard a loud whistle. He groaned and turned to flip off Stiletto who was standing by one of the couches, wagging her brows at them. Gabe chuckled and towed Joker out of the door in the midst of catcalls from several of their brothers.
He followed Gabe to their bikes. Gabe grabbed Joker’s helmet and handed it to him. Joker stood with it in his hand as he watched Gabe get onto his bike. That was a sight he was looking forward to seeing every day. A confident Gabe wearing Joker’s old cut. He loved that it’d been his but now it was very much Gabe’s. Like it’d been made for him.
“You ready?” Gabe asked.
Joker nodded and pulled on his helmet. “I’m ready, Rex.”
Gabe snorted. “I’m gonna need some time to get used to that.”
“I know, but don’t worry, you’ll always be Gabe to me,” Joker said.
“As long as you don’t call me ‘kid’, I think I’ll be fine,” Gabe said with a chuckle.
Joker shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. He got on his bike and started it, driving out onto the road with Gabe right behind him.
The second they made it through the door of their apartment, Gabe’s mouth was on his. Joker cupped Gabe’s face and tried to get his boots off while kissing him. He stumbled, chuckling against Gabe’s lips, feeling Gabe smile into the kiss. He pulled back. Gabe shook his head at him, chuckling as he bent to
pull his own boots off.
Once they were both sans boots, Gabe grabbed him by his vest and pulled him into a searing hot kiss. Gabe’s tongue licked along the seams of his lips and he opened for him with a groan. He slid his hands down Gabe’s back to grab his ass and jerk him closer. Gabe’s erection pressed against Joker’s thigh and Gabe thrust against him.
He pushed Gabe against the wall, taking his mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. Their tongues tangled, fighting for control. Gabe might be pushy, but Joker knew he was always in control. Gabe had no problem letting him take the reins. Because of Gabe’s dislocated shoulder, they hadn’t been able to use any form of restraints, but he’d quickly found that he didn’t need them with Gabe. He trusted the man explicitly. He knew without a doubt that Gabe would never judge him or break his thrust.
Gabe got a hand between them, rubbing over Joker’s hard length through his jeans. Joker gasped into his mouth and pulled back, resting his hands on the wall on either side of Gabe’s head. He met Gabe’s heated gaze. Gabe sucked his bottom lip between his teeth and reached for Joker’s zipper. Joker stood still as Gabe opened his jeans and pushed them down his thighs along with his boxers. Gabe wrapped his fingers around Joker’s cock, squeezing just right as he stroked him. A shiver ran through Joker’s body, making him gasp and thrust into Gabe’s hand.
“Fuck,” he breathed.
The twinkle in Gabe’s eyes made him lower his head to take Gabe’s mouth in a rough kiss.
“Clothes off. Now,” Joker said and took a step back.
Gabe shrugged out of his cut and handed it to Joker. Heat burned through him as he looked down at the piece of leather. He glanced up, meeting Gabe’s gaze.
“One day I’m gonna fuck you only wearing this,” he said.
Gabe made a strangled sound and began pulling at his own clothes faster. Joker stepped out of his pants and hung up Gabe’s cut, then took his own off to hang it right next to Gabe’s. He reached behind his head to pull his shirt off and tossed it onto the floor. Hands wrapped around him from behind, lips brushing against the side of his neck.