Hung (Selected Sinners MC #4)

by Scott Hildreth

  Having a little of her rub off on Kat would suit me just fine.

  I closed the door to the bedroom and allowed the room to vent out into the yard through the open windows. After cleaning up the paint supplies, I knelt down on the floor and began to assemble the furniture.

  Three and a half hours later, I cleaned up the mess, carried the furniture into the room, and moved it into place. I glanced around the room at the changes. A year prior, if someone would have brought up a baby being in my life, I would have laughed until I pissed myself. Now, looking around the room at the furniture and bright colors, I was excited, eager, and more than willing for the change.

  The reward, at least in my mind, was my knowing there wasn’t another man on this earth who was going to be as devoted to raising the child properly as me. A man has one chance to do what’s right in his being a father, and there’s no room for mistakes. As inexperienced as I was at being a father, I had years of exposure and a complete understanding of what not to do.

  I’m sure a man accepting another man’s child or children as his own is a far more difficult task than accepting his own children. In my current state of being, I was incapable of producing children, and as far as I was concerned, the baby wasn’t another man’s child.

  The child was mine.

  I had come to accept that what I shared with Kat could be nothing short of love, and if she and I loved one another - and I wasn’t able to produce children - God had done what he felt was necessary.

  His provision of a child wasn’t something I perceived as being a mistake, burden, or complication.

  To me, it was nothing short of what it truly was.

  An opportunity to right a lifetime of wrongs.

  A gift.

  And a blessing.

  As I heard Kat’s jeep rolling into the drive, I glanced around the room, making sure all of the evidence was cleaned up. I wanted the room to be a surprise, and I hoped to show it to her in a few days.

  As she rushed into the house and dropped her bags, she wrinkled her nose and stared.

  “Smells like paint,” she hissed.

  “Painted the room one last time,” I responded.

  “Last time?” she chuckled.

  “I’m thinkin’ so,” I grinned as I walked into the kitchen.

  “Look,” she said as she reached into one of the bags.

  Dangling from the end of her fingers was a Harley-Davidson shirt. White, orange, and black, it was suitable for a boy or a girl.

  I grinned and nodded my head, “It’s cute.”

  “Cute? Seems funny hearing you say that,” she responded.

  “I’ve got bags of stuff,” she said as she pointed to the bags sitting on the floor.

  I was time for both of us to get ready for the patch in party, but I couldn’t resist. After a good solid thirty minutes of going through each and every item one by one, we decided to shower together to save time, water, and satisfy our sexual needs.

  “Better hurry the hell up and decide, it’s going to be six thirty before you know it,” I said as I glanced in the room.

  “Do I look fat?” she asked as she twisted her hips in front of the mirror.

  She looked beautiful. Her hair flipped around in a circle behind her as she twisted back and forth. Although she really hadn’t begun to indicate she was pregnant from her appearance regarding weight or size, something about her had changed. She had a certain glow about her that was unmistakable and incapable of accurate description. It had to be seen to be believed.

  Whatever is was worked well for her, and reassured me that not only was I fortunate, but I was with the most beautiful woman in the world.

  “Tough for you to look fat, you’re skinny,” I shrugged.

  “These jeans look good?” she asked as she turned her ass toward the mirror and gazed over her shoulder.

  “Better’n any I’ve ever seen,” I responded.

  “Any?” she asked.

  “Any,” I responded.

  “Ready?” she asked as she reached for her purse.

  “Suppose so,” I sighed.

  “So what exactly is this again?” she asked.

  “Patch in party. A kid’s been prospecting for a year, and finally paid his dues. Tonight we eat, drink, and raise hell. It’s a party for him to celebrate his becoming a fully patched member of the club,” I said as we walked toward the garage.

  “Sam, Avery, and Sydney said they’re going too, so it’ll be fun for me,” she grinned.

  “Better get that hair tied up, or you’ll be spendin’ the night untanglin’ it,” I chuckled as we stepped into the garage.

  “I think I’ll just let it blow,” she said with a nod.

  “You sure?” I asked.

  She nodded her head and grinned, “I like it that way. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. But it just kind of makes me feel free. Like a bird or something, I just can’t really explain it, but I love how it makes me feel.”

  She turned to face me and shrugged her shoulders. I leaned forward and kissed her, something I was still getting used to, but enjoyed more than almost anything.

  “No need for explanation,” I said as our lips parted.

  I knew exactly what she meant.

  KAT

  I had always looked up to Avery. She was a year older than me in school, and one of the best volleyball players I had ever seen. Not admiring her for what she’d done for the team and what she’d done with her career would be difficult. It seemed she was a fierce as a legal assistant as she was on the volleyball court. Having her act now as my equal seemed strange, but I welcomed it; accepting the fact my life was slowly changing. As we stood in a circle talking, I turned almost giddy in excitement thinking about my future with the three women as my lifelong friends.

  “You can’t tell anyone, not yet. Dalton hasn’t told everyone, and I don’t know when he will. I think maybe Axton knows, but that’s it,” I glanced over my shoulder as I finished speaking, seeing where Dalton was.

  He stood with Otis, Axton, and a few others in a circle talking. As always, it seemed he was telling a story, and the others were listening to him.

  “Okay what is it?” Sam asked.

  She was as beautiful of a woman as I had ever seen. I gazed at her hoping when I was her age I could be half as beautiful as her. Her hair was long and blonde, and her body was phenomenal. I gazed down at her Chuck’s, and quickly noticed Sydney and Avery wore the same shoe. Aggravated I’d chosen to wear boots, I shifted my eyes to meet Sam’s and smiled.

  “I’m pregnant,” I whispered.

  “Oh dear God,” Sam gasped, “That’s so exciting.”

  Avery already knew, but I acted like she didn’t. Sydney stood back, grinned, and raised her finger to her lips. As she did, Avery turned toward her, placed her hands on her hips, and inhaled a deep breath. Sydney stood with her finger pressed to her lips and began to giggle.

  “You little bitch,” Avery blurted, “You little fucking bitch. You aren’t, are you?” Avery seethed.

  Sydney nodded her head as she lowered her hand, “Shhh. We haven’t told anyone. I mean no one. Not even his parents. We want to make sure everything goes good. I mean it, you can’t tell a soul.”

  Sam turned toward Sydney and started to softly cry. As she wiped her eyes, Sydney opened her arms and sighed.

  “What is it, Sam?” Sydney said.

  Sam shook her head, “I’m just happy for you two. It’s just…I don’t know. Otis and I split up over my wanting kids when we were twenty-one years old. I don’t want them anymore, I’ll settle for him. It’s just…when two people can have it to share, and they both want it…it’s special.”

  I nodded my head, “We’re both really happy.”

  “Cambio wants twins. He’s freaking crazy,” Sydney chuckled.

  “Twins,” I coughed, “Oh my God. That would be insane.”

  Sydney nodded her head, “I know. But he wants two at the same time so bad it’s like an obsession.”


  I shook my head, “I think I’d die.”

  “You fucking hooker, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Avery fumed.

  Sydney shrugged as a she twisted her mouth to the side. The thought of one of the other girls having a baby at roughly the same time as me was very exciting to me. As I stood and considered how much life was going to change, I was truly grateful it wasn’t going to change for me and me alone. Having Sydney go through the changes with me was something I welcomed with open arms.

  As we all stood and talked about men, kids, and life in general, the sound of Axton’s voice over the stereo reminded me this party wasn’t for us, but for someone else.

  “So, without further ado, we’ll get back to it. Todd Parker, known by the club as Cash, has fulfilled his requirement of prospecting for twelve months. All patched in Selected Sinners in favor of his advancement into the club and acceptance as a fully patched member respond in the form of aye,” Axton said.

  “Aye,” everyone wearing a Sinners cut screamed.

  Axton nodded his head and waved at the crowd.

  “Requires a one hundred percent vote to be a Sinner, any opposed respond in the form of nay,” he said into the microphone.

  I glanced out into the crowd at the one they called Cash. He was hugging his wife and preparing to walk toward Axton.

  “Well, it appears…” Axton started to say

  “Nay!” someone shouted from the crowd.

  “Oh dear God,” Sam gasped.

  “What?” Avery asked.

  “Otis. He’s opposed. Oh dear God,” Sam shrieked.

  “Do I have one opposed?” Axton shouted.

  Otis nodded his head and waved at Axton.

  I shifted my eyes toward Cash. He released his wife and began to run toward Otis.

  “Yes you do. My vote is nay,” Otis screamed.

  Within five seconds, and as Sam began to walk toward Otis, Cash got in front of Otis and started screaming. Otis swung one punch and knocked him flat on his back. Dalton, Axton, and Toad walked toward them both and helped Cash up to his feet.

  Axton walked Cash into the house.

  “Holy shit. Guess he didn’t make it,” Avery said, “Axton didn’t like him anyway.”

  “But he did his part or whatever, right?” I asked.

  “Not that easy,” Avery said as she shook her head, “It takes a one hundred percent vote. Otis must have had a reason for not wanting him in the club. This is a tight knit bunch of guys, you’ll learn that. And to call them brothers wouldn’t even come close to describe the bond.”

  I nodded my head, “I see.”

  Cash’s wife began screaming out the back door of the house toward Otis. Almost immediately, Otis, Dalton, Toad, and Axton ran into the house. Sydney turned toward me and shrugged her shoulders.

  “Haven’t you ever had a friend that one day you decided wasn’t such a good friend?” Avery asked.

  I nodded my head, “Yeah.”

  “Well, imagine if you were stuck with your friends forever because you made some silly pact or blood oath. That’s what these guys do when they accept someone. They’re in for life. So, they’ve got to be careful about who they choose. You’re Biscuit’s Ol’ Lady, his brothers are your brothers. Be proud that your brothers are the best of the best,” she said.

  “I nodded my head and grinned, “I will be. I mean I am.”

  Avery nodded her head and grinned as she turned toward the house. Dalton walked out the door, turned, and began walking our direction. His head hung low, as if he was upset about something.

  “We’re gonna need to get out of here. Cops will be here pretty quick. Cash offed himself,” he said.

  “Huh?” I said, confused at the phrase he’d said.

  He shook his head, “He killed himself, Kat. Right in the kitchen in front of his wife.”

  “Oh my God,” I gasped.

  He shook his head.

  “Cambio?” Sydney screeched.

  “Everyone’s fine. They’re covering up the body and talkin’ to his wife - it ain’t nothin’ you wanna see,” Dalton explained as he reached for Sydney’s shoulder and hugged her.

  “I’m sorry,” I sighed.

  Dalton shook his head, “Far as I’m concerned, just proves he was too weak for the club. Good call on Otis’ part.”

  I thought about the suicide, and what someone must be feeling to commit the act. Kyle’s suicide was no doubt a result of his guilt and grief for what he’d done. Cash’s was probably because he felt incompetent, or worthless. Maybe, the more I thought about it, Kyle felt worthless as well.

  As he should have.

  I stared down at the ground, closed my eyes, and said a small prayer.

  Bless them anyway, Lord.

  They were your children.

  KAT

  I sat nervously in the courtroom, waiting for the judge to enter. Dalton sat beside the court appointed attorney in the front of the courtroom, looking rather dapper in the clothes I had bought for him. Although he refused to wear slacks, he allowed me to buy him a pair of new jeans, a button-down shirt, and a pair of black boots. With is freshly waxed beard, slightly trimmed hair, and perfectly waxed eyebrows, he looked fabulous.

  “All rise,” the bailiff howled.

  We all stood as the judge walked into the room. I had asked Dalton to tell the club about his court date, but he refused. I felt having Avery with me would ease my mind, but he insisted that she not know of the hearing either. As I stood on shaking legs, the judge reached his seat and sat down.

  “You may be seated,” the judge said.

  I sat down and pressed my palms onto my shaking knees. After looking on the internet at the severity of the charges, I learned Dalton could very well spend five years in prison for beating the men he beat in jail. Hopefully the judge would see that he wasn’t a troublemaker, and although he’d been arrested several times, he’d never been tried and convicted of a felony or a violent crime.

  “Will the defendant please rise,” the judge said.

  I stared at Dalton as he stood, wondering what the procedure would be. I suspected no differently than on television, people would give their testimony, Dalton would give his, and the jury or the judge would decide the case. Maybe after hearing what everyone had to say, I would feel better about the entire situation.

  I gazed blankly across the courtroom with unfocused eyes. The thought of losing Dalton was something I chose to deny as even being a possibility. Raising our baby without him would be extremely difficult, and thinking about it made me cry. Even after Dalton gave me keys to the house, instructions on operating the pool equipment, and the combination to the safe, I refused to accept his incarceration as being even a slight probability.

  A hand lightly touched my shoulder, startling me. I turned to my right and glanced upward.

  Dad?

  “It’s getting ready to start,” I whispered.

  He raised his index finger to his lips and whispered his response, “It’s getting ready to end. It’ll be over before you know it.”

  Huh?

  I wrinkled my nose, shrugged my shoulders, and stared. He grinned. I slid to my left and patted the wooden bench beside me. He shook his head lightly, winked, and mouthed the words I love you as he reached for the door beside him.

  Before I could respond, he opened the door, slipped into the hall, and walked away.

  That was weird.

  I turned toward the courtroom and blinked my eyes a few times as I tried to focus on the judge’s statement.

  “…therefore, considering the electronic files were damaged while in evidence, rendering them useless and leaving the court without video, we would be required to rely solely on the testimony of the plaintiff’s to prosecute this case. As fate would have it, both plaintiffs have no recollection of the events on the day in question,” the judge paused and peered over the top of his glasses.

  After a moment, he reached up, removed his glasses, and studied Dalton.

>   “Considering your plea of innocence has been maintained, Mr. Biskette, it saddens me greatly to announce the county has no ability to prosecute this case. In the matter of Sedgwick County versus Biskette, the case has been dropped by the county due to lack of evidence,” he hesitated, pounded his gavel onto the wooden block and shook his head.

  “Mr. Biskette, you are free to go,” he sighed.

  Oh my God.

  I clapped my hands silently and stood. Dalton turned around and winked. I gazed at him for a moment, turned toward the door my father had walked through, and stared.

  With my gaze frozen on the door, I mouthed the words.

  I love you, too.

  KAT

  I couldn’t believe the time had come for us to find out the sex of our baby. As I scrambled to get my hair finished, Dalton stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips. He seemed excited, but by no means as excited as I was. I couldn’t seem to contain myself. Finally, I shook my head from side to side, let my hair fall slightly into my face, and settled for the loose ponytail I was wearing.

  “I’m almost ready,” I said as I ducked under his arm, ran past him, and into the bedroom.

  The room looked great in the new colors, but I had my doubts how long they’d last. The baby’s room was better than great, and I was so in love with it I brought my mother and father both over to see it. Seeing my father get along with Dalton, considering he was a cop and Dalton was an outlaw seemed almost too good to be true.

  They sure seemed to get along well, and my father laughed at his stories and jokes as he told them. Dalton never said one cross word about my father since the day he said my father stopped by to visit him. It was almost as if they’d somehow made peace with each other on that day.

  I pulled my shoes onto my feet and cocked my head slightly to the side.

  “Is the bike running?” I asked.

  He rubbed his beard in the palm of his hand his hand as he nodded his head, “Yep.”

  “Sorry,” I sighed.

  “Ready,” I shouted as I sprung to my feet.