by Jayne Blue
We all waited and looked at each other. I hadn’t wanted this. I didn’t lobby for this. But as I sat here, I knew that I’d prepared for it. Deep down, I knew that even before that bullet hit Bear, he was grooming me, training me, making sure I know all the things he did for The MC.
“All in favor of Shep Bullock as the next Prez of The Dark Saints say Aye.”
“AYE!” It was a low and loud and the hairs on my arms stood up.
“Congratulations, Prez.”
Bear struggled a bit but got up out of his chair. Shit, I didn’t know how to feel about it. It was his chair.
“You need to handle your first order of business.”
Bear handed me the gavel and then hugged me tight.
“You will do right by this club. I know it, son. I’m proud of you.”
Bear wasn’t one to dole out praise or encouragement. I nearly fell over hearing it.
I stood at the head of the table and they all knocked their fists on it.
“To Shep!”
I nodded. I didn’t know what to say. So I got to business.
“The first order of business, we need a V.P. I nominate Axle.”
“Second!” This time Bear chimed in with the second.
“I’m a voting member, man, I got to protect my interests,” Bear said with a smile.
There were no dissenters, no other candidates.
“All in favor?”
“Aye!”
I looked at the gavel. It felt heavy in my hand, but it fit.
“By order of The Dark Saints, Axle is now Veep.”
The fists knocked on the table again.
I hit the table with a solid whack of the gavel.
I was the Prez of The Dark Saints.
God help me.
I walked into the club and there were a lot of fist bumps, and congratulations. But the person I needed to be okay with this was probably the least clued into on what it meant.
I made my way through and found JJ and Mama Bear sitting on bar stools, deep in conversation.
“How are you feeling, babe?” And I kissed her on the top of her head.
“Fine, just fine.” But I knew she had to be tired. This was a big outing for someone who still didn’t want to laugh because it hurt.
“She’s healing great,” Mama Bear said, then added, “So, do I have to call you Mr. President now?”
“You heard?”
“Yep.”
“I’m proud of you son, it’s good for the MC. You stepped up the last few days when Bear couldn’t and you brought us through a war.”
“I fucked up a lot too. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“You’re not alone. You’ve got your Brothers, me, Bear, and JJ.”
“Yeah, true. But you’re not in the meetings.”
Mama Bear lowered her voice. “Why do you think I was in that kitchen all those years?”
I remembered how well we heard Kade in our meeting room when we were standing in the kitchen. Standing where my Mama always did making our food.
“You were listening?” I was damn shocked, and at the same time not.
“Not one vote, argument, plan, nothing, has gone on at that table where I wasn’t listening. The Prez needs a good old lady and to be a good old lady to the Prez you have to know what’s going down.”
“Wow,” I said.
“Why do you think I gave JJ my recipes for everything? You’re not going to have to do this alone.”
Mama Bear stood up and gave me a hug.
Shit. She was fucking crafty. My mother was the ultimate Old Lady. I believed JJ could be too, but I wasn’t sure if she wanted to be.
“Are you okay with this?” I asked her.
“Okay? I’m proud of you. You’re going to do great.”
A handful of my brothers came over and wanted to buy a round.
“I was just getting my old lady home,” I protested to the group. Though I realized it was probably futile.
“Machop, take her home. JJ, you don’t mind, I hope? We’re all doing a shot with the new Prez. It’s a tradition,” Kade explained.
“Since when?”
“Since fucking now,” Kade said.
JJ laughed, and Machop did as he was told and took her arm.
JJ wasn’t mad, or jealous, or even crazy enough to try to keep up with this crew when it came to doing shots.
Somehow, my Mom had known all along, that if I was going to be Prez, someone like JJ was going to be vital.
Mama Bear was always right.
19
JJ
* * *
Shep tried to make me promise to stay home, but after two weeks I wasn’t in pain and the deep purple multi-color on my face had faded to yellow.
I covered what I could and walked to the MC without checking in with Shep. He was pissed. And I didn’t care. I needed to be useful. I needed to be needed and there was always someone in the MC clubhouse with a dilemma at the least or a full-blown crisis on the regular.
Machop and Toby, two Probies I’d grown attached to, had my ear at the moment while I put some freshly cleaned glasses on the shelf.
“I’m just not as good at picking up women as he is.”
Machop was a huge man, though he still had the look of a puppy. Toby was wiry.
“Toby, you’re the smooth talker, that’s it, right?”
“I’m just handsome as hell, they flock to me,” Toby said and Machop shook his head. Toby was handsome, but Machop was too.
“Machop, you’re just as good looking as Toby. Thing is, you don’t believe it about yourself.”
“That’s right, he’s swagger game is for shit,” Toby agreed.
“Where are you going to pick up these women?” I asked.
“Woody’s sometimes. Digby’s too,” Machop said.
“Here’s what you do. Go to Cups,” I said.
“Isn’t that mostly fraternity douche bags?” Toby said.
“Yeah, there are a lot of those fraternity douche bags at Cups. And so the sorority hot chicks are stuck with a very limited selection. They’d be very interested in a tatted-up biker. Maybe one who’s a little mysterious who noticed their dress or lipstick or hilarious personality?” I had Toby and Machop listening intently.
“They’re sick of the frat d-bags too!” Machop said and a light bulb went off.
“Thanks JJ,” said Toby.
“Go get ‘em, gentlemen.”
The two moved on to make mating plans and I finished stacking my glasses.
“Pretty masterful.” Deacon had a big smile on his face.
“Yeah? I’ve worked in a lot of bars and helped a lot of clueless people connect. They’ll be fine.”
“You have that same thing,” Deacon said.
“What’s that, cluelessness?”
“No, you have that same thing Mama Bear has. The Probies treat you like we treat Mama Bear.”
“Thank you. That’s a major compliment to be compared to her. You know I didn’t have a family… well, the one I had, as you know, was a complete horror show. I always dreamed about being part of a proper one.”
“And look here, you are. I can see why Mama Bear chose you,” Deacon said.
“And I’d thought Shep had something to do with it.”
“She hired you, right?”
“She did actually, my Uncle said through some work release thing.”
“She knew, see? This life is tough; you know that. But our MC is different, better, because of the heart of Mama. You’re bringing that now. It’s amazing.”
“What’s amazing is how popular you are if you pour the shots.”
I shook a bottle of vodka to emphasize my point.
“That too.”
The door opened, and it was Shep and Kade.
“How’d it go?”
“JJ, we’ve got them all back, more or less. We’ve got them on board ‘cause they know the fucking Hawks have been run out and we’re the best bet,” Shep said. He and Kade ha
d been working on restoring some trust between the town and the MC. I thought it would take time but Shep worked fast.
“I’m out of here! One of Harlow’s mutts is about to drop this litter and she texted me with a list of shit she needs. Maybe you two need a puppy?” Kade looked at Shep and me, as though sizing us up.
I ran my fingers through my hair thinking. Maybe…
“Move along, Kade” Shep interrupted. “Let’s go, babe. You feel up to riding?”
“Are you kidding? You’ve been treating me like I was made out of crystal! I am SO ready to ride with you.”
“Good, I want to show you something.”
Rufus, the club dog, scampered up to us and I scratched him behind the ears.
“No, stop. You’re warming up to the idea of a dog. I can see it. Get on.”
Shep helped me but I was feeling pretty damn good. My ribs only had a little lingering soreness and Mama Josie said I was healing just fine.
“Where we headed?” I asked but it didn’t really matter. Wherever Shep wanted to go was good with me. I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his scent. It was like a drug to me. It felt right, holding onto him, putting my head on his shoulder.
He started the engine. I knew he was babying it, me, and driving slowly. Instead of heading down the drive to the road, he turned toward the dirt paths that ran through the compound that the club owned.
I supposed he was just showing me around. Which was fine by me.
We passed Bear and Mama Josie’s place, which the Probies were in the midst of demolishing. It was too expensive to fix, so they’d decided to knock it down. Bear and Mama Josie had decided to live permanently at the Lake and were shopping for a smaller condo in town.
Bear said it was a good way to let Shep take control without the old Prez hovering over him at the MC.
We kept rolling.
Just as we passed the edge of the land that was cleared and headed into a more wooded section, Shep stopped and cut the engine.
He put out a hand to help me off and I brushed it away.
“We’re done with you treating me like that, got it? I’m fine.”
Shep shrugged.
“Come on then, toughie.”
I followed Shep through a clearing of trees. I could see why we were walking. The path was no longer big enough for his Harley.
It opened up to a beautiful view of the Texas prairie. The sun was setting, so the sky was a combination of pink and orange. It was awesome looking.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s damn near perfect. Is this MC land?”
“No, well, it was. It’s ours now, if you want it, that is.”
“What?”
“I want to build you a house here. Well, I mean Bo is going to actually do it. I’ll be carrying his water.”
I was floored. Shep wasn’t the domestic type. I didn’t think I was either but the idea of a house here… I could already see it. I tried not to cry.
“You don’t have to do anything like that. I mean, I love living in the little house with you and the kitchen at the MC is huge enough and…”
“Joan Jett Hollins. I want to marry you. And I want to be far enough away from the MC that when you want to make those sounds you make, no one at the club can hear it.”
He stepped closer and pulled me into his arms. I was sure there was a pink blush underneath my yellow bruises about now. I caught Shep grinning.
“Stop it, I can’t help it, that’s what happens.”
“I know. I love that. So, what do you say?”
“Okay, yes, let’s get married.”
Shep leaned down and kissed me, it was slow and gentle. He’d been so gentle with me the last two weeks; I was starting to worry a bit. Maybe our hot and heavy history hadn’t survived the drama we’d been through.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“One more thing. You know what I come with, right? That you’re essentially adopting dozens of nasty bikers.”
“I know. I love that. They’re your family. All of them.”
“They’re your family, too.”
Family, it was a new concept to me. Someone to lean on, people to cheer for, cry with, all of it.
Shep took off his jacket and laid it down on the grass.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m being fucking chivalrous.”
He kissed me again, and it wasn’t gentle. Shep’s tongue met mine and he held my face in his hands. This was what I’d been missing for days.
Shep trailed kisses down my face to my neck. He pulled off my leather jacket and then got to work on the buttons of my shirt.
“I need to feel you,” he whispered, and I felt a heat build inside of me.
His lips found my breasts and his hands worked on getting the buttons of my jeans undone. It took less than thirty seconds and I was almost naked in his arms. He was devouring me like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
He pulled us down onto the grass and positioned me on top of his lap.
“I need to know I’m not hurting you.”
I straddled him, and he kissed me on the collarbone.
“I missed this. So much,” I said and he nibbled my ear.
“I need you to tell me if anything hurts,” he repeated, though I was more focused on getting his zipper handled.
“Really? I’d be more worried about you.”
I grabbed a lock of his hair and pulled his head back. I ran my tongue across the stubble on his chin. And I lowered myself right where I wanted to be.
“Be as loud as you want, Prez.”
My biker held me tight and growled into my ear.
20
Josie
* * *
Mother of the Groom. That was a new one. I’d been called wife, old lady, friend, mama, nurse, First Lieutenant, even crazy bitch a time or two. But that was when Bear really pissed me off or I had a school conference to go to for Shep.
Today, I was Mother of the Groom.
Tracy, Maddox, and Sarge had opened their home for the Bullocks today, and it was so lovely. The reception was in a big tent in the back, with the water as a backdrop.
“Tracy, you’ve outdone yourself with this place.”
And it was true. If the MC’s guts were at the club, the beauty was here.
“She sure did. You should see Maddox walking around here with vases of her flowers.”
“He's ridiculous about this pregnancy situation, he won’t let me carry anything.”
“He’s allowed,” Sarge said.
Tracy was blooming right now. I was so glad. It had taken a while for her to get pregnant, but soon, Sarge, Maddox, and Tracy would welcome a baby girl who they planned to name Olivia. Maddox joined our little circle.
“She’s not trying to move tables, is she? Because I’ve fucking had it with…”
“Watch the language, son, this is a classy event Tracy’s put together,” Sarge said to his son.
Maddox looked to me for some sort of rescue, but I could only shrug. It was a pretty classy affair Tracy had helped put together for my boy. She’d become close with JJ, and it had all fallen into glorious place.
It made me so happy to know that Tracy’s dreams were coming true too, that she’d brought life back to this old house, and that when I was traveling with Bear, she could handle the medical disasters that seemed to come with being in the MC.
The wedding itself was over, and my son was somewhere posing for a million pictures with JJ. Bear and I had been released from the photo session to mingle before the official start of the festivities.
I was determined to have a quick moment with all my boys and their old lady’s today. Events like this come once or twice in a lifetime, and it is so easy for the day to go so fast you miss it. But before I got too far away, I circled back to Bear, putting a light hand on his shoulder as he sat, trying to be comfortable in the tuxedo he sported.
I smiled down at him and tried to keep my
face even so he wouldn’t see my medic training ticking away under the surface. His color looked good. I felt a strong, steady pulse as I leaned down and pressed my cheek to his temple.
“Quit hovering, woman,” he said, his voice gruff.
“Oh, stuff it. I’ll hover as much as I want. It was in our vows, remember? Will you love, honor and submit to wifely hovering without bitching? You said ‘I do’.”
He laughed. “I must’ve been shit-faced.”
“Oh, you were, but you knew what you were getting into.”
He reached up and touched my cheek. His eyes glinted with love for an instant, then darkened to something more wicked. He reached around and grabbed my ass, giving me a firm pinch. I squealed but tried to cover with a cough. Just the same, Bear’s touch stirred me just as it always did. With one look, one touch, he could make me feel like we were newlyweds.
“Behave,” I whispered. “The kids are everywhere.”
No sooner had I said it than little Zach darted between the tables and dodged behind me. His Daddy, Zig, was doing his monster routine, chasing after him with outstretched hands.
“Stand your ground, Zag!” Bear growled.
Zig gave him a look. Ever since Zachary was born, the rest of the crew had taken to calling him Zag as a play on his Dad’s road name. I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. As much as Zig tried to fight it, his son’s nickname was going to stick.
Zag had black hair, just like his father. He was a troublemaker like him too. It made my heart soar watching him. Zig’s wife Gina yelled at him from her table. She had their two-year-old daughter Zoe on her lap, trying to rock her to sleep. Zoe had a shock of dark curls, and her fat cheeks were flushed bright red. Ten minutes ago she’d been running just as hard as her brother.
“Come here, you!” I reached down and tossed Zag over my shoulder. His legs flailed as I walked him over to his mother. Gina was struggling to hold Zoe in one arm and fix the lid of Zag’s sippy cup with the other. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her shoulders sank with relief as I gave Zag his juice.
“Here you go, Mommy,” I said. I leaned down and kissed Zoe’s head. She stirred and popped a thumb in her mouth.