No other * compared.
Maybe it meant I was growing up, or else I'd just lost my damned mind. Regardless, I was dead set on doing right by my woman and my club. Taking the VP patch seriously meant the days of getting stinking drunk and fucking random sluts was behind me. They faded into smoke, almost as distant and unworldly as the ones I'd lived pushing shit into my veins.
“Brass.”
A hand fell on my shoulder and I turned, setting my empty beer glass on the bar. Blackjack stood behind me, decked out with a few more patches on his old cut.
“I've got something I need to give you, son. Come with me.”
I followed him down the long hall, passing several brothers with girls against the wall, their hands dipping between the bitches' legs. Loud rock drowned out almost all the sound, blasting through the clubhouse's sound system.
We stopped in front of the storage room. I gave him a dark look as he opened the huge door. The thing was slowly turning into a real storage room, changing from the dank and brutal dungeon it had been under Fang.
He walked me back to the end of two new shelves, and then grabbed a big black bag. “Right where I left it. Take it and get the hell out of here.”
It was awfully familiar. Heavy too. I looked inside and did a double take when I saw all the cash stuffed in there.
“What the fuck? This is Missy's old inheritance.” I looked up, meeting his eyes. “I thought this shit belonged to the club's coffers now?”
“Not anymore. A million in cash is what your girls deserve for their pain and suffering through all this.” He reached into his pocket, plucked out a cigarette, and gave it a light. “This club's got to get its sins right. I'd give you the rest, but it's already been deposited and spent, laundered through our legit operations.”
“It's plenty.”
“There'll be more for her if she wants to work the club's books. We need an accountant who can keep her mouth shut. Barrel decided to go down with Fang's ship, and I'm not sure about any other brothers keeping watch,” he said, talking about our old club treasurer. “Fucker had been skimming money off left and right for years. So did Fang. Fat lot of good it did them in the end.”
I nodded. Blackjack looked at me and waved his hand.
“Go on, Brass. Get lost. You deserve a little fun before we come home to our war tomorrow, and I know you won't find it here.”
“Thanks, Prez. You're the fucking best.”
I really meant it. I tucked the money carefully into my saddlebag and rode, fast and hard, taking off to the hotel where I had the girls while we waited to find something more permanent.
“Is Jackie home?” I asked, as soon as I pushed my way into the kitchen. I tucked the bag in the closet near the door, just out of view.
Missy ran toward me and gave me a kiss. My cock jerked fierce. Damn that woman had a gift for making me jump, no matter how tired or preoccupied I was with other shit. As soon as her lips landed on mine, there was one thing on my mind. It was hard as fuck to put sex on hold, but I needed to do this.
“She's doing homework. Why?”
“Get her in here right now. I got something for you girls. Both of you.”
She gave me an odd look, and then moved to the door joining our two rooms. I'd rented double, knowing we'd be here for at least a week or two.
One knock and the kid opened up. She came out, and both of them sat at the little table in the corner. I ripped the closet open and pulled it out.
It took my girl several seconds to realize what was coming down in front of her. Then her hand trembled, reaching for it cautiously.
“Present from Blackjack. The shit you were owed all along from your dad. It's not everything...but I think you'll agree it's plenty.”
Missy unzipped it and pushed her hands through crisp, fat stacks of cash. Jackie let out a squeal and jumped out of her chair, looking like she'd just run face first into one of those gawky boys she loved to listen to, signing about broken hearts or some shit.
“Use it wisely, girls, I know you will.”
Missy dropped the two wads of money she was holding back into the bag. It was her turn to freak out, jump into my arms, and wrap her legs around me. Big fucking mistake.
I couldn't resist kissing her hard, all while her little sis laughed and made a face.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You don't even know what this means...”
“Yeah, babe, actually I do,” I said. “Means you're gonna send the kid to college and finish school yourself. Then you're gonna do whatever the fuck you want with that money. It only took a drive through hell to bring it back where it belongs, right?”
“Right,” she agreed, pushing her smiling face into mine.
We'd spilled a lot of blood and suffered to turn everything upside down rightside up again. And now, it was all worth it, clear as the sun and laughter lighting up the room.
XI: Room to Love (Missy)