Chief

by Debra Kayn

  Life became a little more serious, and his middle son had always been quieter than the other two. He chalked Olin's need for independence onto maturity. He'd seen the other side of death's door. That scare made a man grow up.

  With business done for the day, he worked his way through the Brikken members and walked out the door. He continued along the wall of the building and rounded the corner, going between the clubhouse and the garage toward the creek.

  The fresh breeze hit him in the face. He inhaled deeply and peered out into the trees.

  Fifteen feet from the water, he heard Johanna yell. He stepped up on the wooden footbridge and stopped, taking in the sight before him.

  Johanna slowed to a walk seeing him. "Jackie, I told you, you have to wait until Chief reaches the yard."

  His gaze fell between them, searching the wild grass that grew between the yard and the bank of the creek and found the object of Johanna's attention.

  Jackie—named Jacqueline after his mother— stopped running, picked up a fallen leaf, and waved the foliage above her head at him as if she hadn't seen him three hours ago. Her long brown hair half dried from her bath already tangled, she laughed in her excitement.

  At four years old, his daughter brightened everyone's lives. After he'd built Johanna a new house across the creek last year, Jackie decided that every member of Brikken was her personal friend. Johanna was having a hard time keeping their daughter contained in the yard. More than once, they caught her sneaking away when she heard the rumble of the motorcycles.

  He crossed the footbridge, ending his daughter's torment. She lunged at him, and he swooped her up in his arms, taking the leaf from her hand that had slapped his face. Jackie grabbed his beard forcing his gaze away from Johanna, who stood smiling at them, shaking her head in amusement.

  Johanna had to share his beard now.

  "Will you play with me, Chief?" Jackie perched on his arm without any fear that he'd drop her.

  "In a bit, Jacqueline." He kissed her cheek. "We're going to go in the house, and I'm going to spend some time talking to your momma. Then, you've got me for an hour before it's time for you to go to sleep."

  "I already took my bath." Jackie pulled his beard making him look at her. "Can you play with me for an hour and another hour?"

  Unable to tell time, Jackie argued a good case for herself. He chuckled. "Sure."

  Knowing she fell asleep at seven o'clock, no matter what she was doing or where she was at, he felt safe giving in to her. His daughter played hard and slept hard.

  "Can you play with me for an hour and another hour and another hour?" asked Jackie.

  "Don't push me." He tickled her side and put her on her feet. "Run in the house before I get you."

  "Put your nightie on, so you're all ready," added Johanna.

  His daughter squealed and ran for the sliding door. He stepped over to Johanna and passed his daughter's maple leaf to her before leaning over to give her a kiss. "Hey, bug."

  "Done for the evening?" She slipped her hand into his, walking with him to the house, and stepped through the door Jackie had left open.

  "Yeah." He shucked off his vest and sat down in the wooden chair beside the door and unlaced his boots. "I talked to the boys. They'll be over tomorrow for dinner."

  "Oh, good." She hummed. "Do you think I should've invited Karla?"

  "What for?"

  She shrugged and looked away. He lowered his chin, working on his boots, to hide his face. His woman was going to burst if she didn't get to talk.

  Always aware of keeping communication open between them and Karla and his sons, she often went out of her way to make the two families merge, forgetting that his boys were older than her and needed their own lives.

  He toed off his boots, set them to the side, and stood. Johanna opened the fridge and then brought him a beer. He took the drink and guided her to the family room. All he needed was her.

  Sitting on the couch across from the rock fireplace, he pulled her on to his lap and shoved the can between the cushions for later.

  He patted her ass. "You haven't given me a kiss yet."

  She cupped his face, pulling his beard, and softly placed her lips on his. He opened her mouth and dipped his tongue, letting the tension from the club's business slip away. She gave him the ability to put away the leather once he stepped into the house and he could put Brikken and his men away while he relaxed at home.

  Johanna broke the kiss. "I have to tell you something," she said in a rush.

  He rubbed his hand between her breasts and hooked her tag necklace with his finger. She never took the piece of jewelry off. "I'm listening."

  "Are you?"

  He nodded. "Talk, bug."

  "Okay." She tucked her hair behind her ears and took a big breath. "I have big news."

  "Spill," he said, giving her all his attention.

  "I'm pregnant."

  He moved his hand to her stomach. If missing three months of her period wasn't a big enough sign, the little pouch above her pussy was a neon light to a man like him. Johanna had been caught up in taking care of Jackie and organizing Family Day at the clubhouse with the other women, she hadn't even figured out she was pregnant. But, he'd been watching.

  He pulled her down against his chest and cradled her. "Remember what I said?"

  "You'll get me pregnant as many times as I want." She tilted her head and caressed his beard. "I remember, but I think two will be enough. Don't you think?"

  He rubbed small circles on her stomach, letting her have her way. It didn't matter if they had two kids or ten, as long as he had her. Brikken was strong. He could protect his family.

  "You make me happy." He kissed the side of her head. "Another baby."

  She sighed in contentment. "Another baby."

  "Real happy, bug," he whispered, contentment rolling through him.

  "Me, too." She caught his hand and brought his fingers up to her lips, kissing his knuckles. "I hate that you'll be off on a ride tomorrow night."

  "Is that why you wanted dinner with everybody?" He rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip.

  "I wanted to tell everyone the news together." She turned her head. "I think I'll call Karla on Monday and share the baby news with her. I don't want her to think we're leaving her out of our business. We're finally back to having a relationship, and I don't want to lose what we've built."

  He yawned. "Tell her Monday."

  "You're tired." She shifted on his lap and brought his head down to her chest.

  He closed his eyes and snuggled his head between her breasts. These were the days he liked best. The normal schedule, no emergencies with the club, his family close to him.

  "Chief! Are you done with my momma yet?" shouted Jackie.

  His pillow jiggled with Johanna's amusement. He lifted his head and kissed her. "Our daughter is calling me. She has about as much patience as you."

  "You better go play with her before she falls asleep in the doorway of her bedroom waiting for you." Johanna stood from his lap. "I'll heat your dinner up, so it's ready."

  He walked down the hallway to his daughter's room—a flash of purple and teal. "What's it going to be tonight, Chutes and Ladders or...dolls?"

  Her attention span lasted about ten minutes if he was lucky.

  She held up a deck of cards. "War."

  He chuckled. She was growing up too fast.

  Jett had tried to teach her the card game, but she couldn't remember what the jack, queen, king, and ace represented. Half the time, she couldn't figure out if four came before or after five, so mainly they flipped cards and slapped each other's hand on the growing pile.

  "War it'll be." He lowered himself to the floor, his lower back protesting.

  Damn, he was getting old.

  At fifty-five years old, he'd lived a hard life. Those years of beating his body had caught up to him. Though he still could kick anyone's ass if needed.

  For the next ten minutes, Jackie giggled herself silly, until s
he could barely keep her eyes open. She reminded him of Johanna in so many ways. Except, Jackie had the confidence and love at an early age that she never feared anyone leaving her life. For that, he was thankful.

  "All right, time for bed. Jump up and crawl in." He pushed himself to his feet, already stiff from sitting on the floor.

  Jackie refused to move, only lifting her arms in the air. He picked her up. She monkey-hugged him. He cupped the back of her head, his heart full. "I love you. Remember that.

  "I love you, too." His daughter kissed his cheek.

  He tucked her into bed, shut off the light, and closed her door until only a crack of the hallway light shined in her room. Walking into the kitchen, he stopped at the entrance. His balls ached in pleasure at the beautiful woman in his life.

  Johanna stood at the sink with her hand on her lower stomach and a sweet smile on her face as she looked at the windowsill. He folded his arms on his chest and swallowed hard. She'd kept the maple leaf their daughter had picked up outside and put the leaf in a glass of water.

  If anyone could make it grow into a tree, it'd be Johanna.

  She was the strength and determination behind everything he was and everything he'd be. He hoped she remembered.

  Dear Readers —

  THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING CHIEF, A Brikken Motorcycle Club saga...my 50th published novel.

  Readers of my past books are probably reading this letter to find out the purpose of why I wrote Chief—because I'm big on having a purpose. But, Chief has no lesson hidden between the pages, no view into a different world, no look into a darker side of life. I simply love reading sagas and wanted to mix two genres (romance and sagas) and come up with a book that encompasses a complete love story, from childhood to fifty-five years old.

  I'm excited to announce that Jett's saga will release next. If you loved Chief's story, hold on, because his boys are going to grab your hearts.

  Please feel free to like my page on Facebook to keep up to date on releases and the random bits about my life.

  LOVE,

  Debra

  Author Bio

  Debra Kayn is published by Grand Central Publishing, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Carina Press - Harlequin Enterprises Limited, and repped by agent, Stephany Evans of FinePrint Literary Management. She has well over forty contemporary novels available worldwide where heroes and heroines come from the most unlikely characters.

  She lives with her family in the Bitterroot Mountains of beautiful Northern Idaho where she enjoys the outdoors, the four seasons, and small-town living.

  Website: www.debrakayn.com

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/DebraKayn

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/DebraKaynFanPage

  Debra Kayn's Backlist

  A Brikken Motorcycle Club Saga series

  Chief

  Notus Motorcycle Club series

  Hard Reality

  Hard Mistake

  Hard Drifter

  Hard Escape

  Hard Proof

  The Higher You Fly

  Ronacks Motorcycle Club series

  ...or something

  Don't Say It

  Rather Be Wrong

  Can't Stop Fate

  Red Light: Silver Girls series

  Blow Softly

  Touch Slowly

  Fall Gently

  Moroad Motorcycle Club series

  Wrapped Around Him

  For Life

  His Crime

  Time Owed

  Falling For Crazy

  Chasing Down Changes

  Bantorus Motorcycle Club series

  Breathing His Air

  Aching To Exhale

  Soothing His Madness

  Grasping for Freedom

  Fighting To Ride

  Struggling For Justice

  Starving For Vengeance

  Living A Beautiful War

  Melt My Heart - Anthology

  Laying Down His Colors – Bantorus Motorcycle Club

  A Hard Body Novel series

  Archer

  Weston

  The Chromes and Wheels Gang series

  Biker Babe in Black

  Ride Free

  Healing Trace

  Playing For Hearts series

  Wildly

  Seductively

  Conveniently

  Secretly

  Surprisingly

  Modern Love – Anthology

  The Sisters of McDougal Ranch series

  Chantilly's Cowboy

  Val's Rancher

  Margot's Lawman

  Florentine's Hero

  Suite Cowboy

  Hijinks

  Resurrecting Charlie's Girl

  Betraying the Prince

  Love Rescued Me

  Double Agent

  Breaking Fire Code

  Sneak Peek

  ***

  Hard Proof

  Notus Motorcycle Club series, book 1

  Chapter 1

  THE ST. JOHN'S BRIDGE overhead blocked the sun from heating Wayne Shaw's back. The short ride from Port Loaders, where he worked on the dock parking new cars onto the ships destined for the east coast and other countries, dried the days' worth of sweat from his T-shirt. He toed the kickstand and let his legs relax. Any minute, Glen, Chuck, and Thad would ride under the bridge and they'd all head toward Vavoom's, a local bar, for a couple of beers to relax after work.

  Wayne had caught sight of his three friends slacking behind at work as he'd punched out. Too hot, too tired, too pissed off at his foreman to wait around, he'd jumped on his motorcycle and lit out. The other men knew where to find him.

  There were five of them who'd run the streets of St. John's together since they were six years old. He and Thad had lived across the street from one another. Glen and Chuck lived on the back street behind his house. Rich lived next door. By third grade, they had a worn path in the grass through one backyard, over the fence, and through the next yard.

  They'd grown up together, dated the same girls, got drunk for the first time on the beer they'd stolen from Thad's dad, smoked their first cigarette behind the garage, and swore they'd always be friends by spitting and shaking hands. Wayne pulled off the piece of leather tying his hair at the base of his neck and let the wind coming off the Willamette River cool him down. For two years when he was twenty years old, they'd all gone their separate ways and tested their friendship.

  That was the night Thad's sister, Thalia, went missing and was later found dead down on Marine Drive. The traumatic event was more than they could handle as a group. They all had to digest the change in their lives in their own way.

  Thad mourned his sister and started partying hard. Chuck went quiet, staying away from everyone. Glen got angry, blaming everyone for changing. He leaned forward and put his forearms on the handles of his motorcycle. Rich...well, Rich had left St. John's one night without a word and never returned. Never called. Never contacted any of them, not even his parents.

  The only thing Wayne could do was move on with his life, and he was the first one of them to get a job with Port Loaders. Eventually, Chuck, Thad, and Glen joined him, and for the last twenty-two years, they'd been trying to track down Rich. They had no idea if he was alive or dead.

  Wayne caught sight of a band of riders headed his way and straightened his bike, started the engine, and made a U-turn underneath the bridge. He accelerated as they passed him and followed behind Glen, Chuck, and Thad through town.

  Each of them had their own reasons for how they lived, and somehow, no one took responsibility for what had developed when they were only boys, they'd formed Notus Motorcycle Club.

  Five members.

  Five brothers.

  A pledge of loyalty.

  It was through an unconditional bond grown over time, they learned the true sense of brotherhood.

  By obvious conclusion, Wayne became President of Notus Motorcycle Club, as the one who'd walked across the street and asked Thad if he wanted to play all those ye
ars ago. Down the chain of friendship, Thad became the vice president, Glen swore in as treasurer, Chuck pledged in as secretary. Rich, an honorary member until he decided to return.

  Many men had asked to ride with Notus Motorcycle Club. None were accepted.

  Their loyalty never weakened by someone with fewer years invested.

  Wayne pulled into the parking lot of Vavoom's Bar. A single-story building with a faulty neon sign that blinked out more than it flashed. He cut the engine and put down the kickstand. The whole in the wall bar had been their go-to place to grab a bar whenever they wanted to tip a few drinks back.

  Thad walked toward him, removing his sunglasses, and slipped the earpiece under the front of his shirt and let them hang on his chest. "What was up McCormick's ass when you clocked out at work?"

  Wayne removed his Notus vest from his saddle bag and shrugged his arms in the holes. "The foreman was bitchin' about me refusing to fill out the cries."

  Every time he parked a car on the ship, McCormick wanted him to log on to the computer in the office, input the VIN numbers, and initial off. They expected him to complete thirty loads and undercoat the cars prior to parking each day.

  He'd been on the job for over twenty years without touching a damn computer or doing paperwork, he had no plans to change when his job description stayed the same. They paid him to stack cars, not to fucking do computer work.

  "Did you tell him you're dyslexic?" Thad slipped his arms into his vest and stepped toward the door.

  "None of their business if I am. They hired me to drive cars onto the ship. I'm doing my job. If McCormick wants me to do a different job than they hired me on for, he can take it up with the Union." Wayne pushed through the front door.

  All he wanted to do was get inside the air-conditioned building, drink a cold beer, and get off his feet. There was no sense in bringing up his problems with reading and writing to the foreman at Port Loaders because that's not what they were paying him to do.

  "Damn," muttered Chuck behind him. "What the hell happened in here?"