“And I’m not. Like said, I wanna go Nomad. If I wanted to turn against the club I’d incriminate myself and I’d be gone away from her again. You have my word, that isn’t gonna happen.”
The rest of the brothers have been whispering between themselves but I don’t concentrate on what they’re saying, keeping my eyes trained on Pres’. He sighs and steeples his hands in front of him. “I said I owed you one-”
“Pres, I-”
“Let me talk,” he booms across at my pop.
My pop’s fists clench on the table but he shuts his mouth and stares daggers at me.
“I said I owed you one, but I think you’re making a really fuckin’ big mistake, Bear. You live and breathe this club, it won’t be easy to walk away from.”
“Sure it will, he doesn’t fuckin’ care about any of us anymore, as long as he has her,” Jacques states and glares at me.
“That’s not true, you know I’d do anything for my family.”
He shakes his head at me and Pres clears his throat. “I don’t think we need to vote on this, if this is what you want then who am I to stop you.” I blow out a breath.
Pop throws his chair back and points at me. “You’ll be back, you won’t last two minutes without the club. And all for a woman? If she won’t stand by your side as your Old Lady, she ain’t worth it.”
He walks out the room before I can say anything and I turn to Pres. “Can I have time to get my things?”
He nods and clears the room out, Jacques starts to walk out after everyone and I call his name. He stops and shakes his head. “You’re not patched in yet, you can come with me.”
His head snaps up and immediately his eyes seek out mine, looking scared. “No.”
I sigh. “Come on, Jacques. You could have the chance to go to college.”
His face changes to a sarcastic expression. “Don’t try pull me into your bullshit, I’m gonna get my cut and be a true brother.”
I stare after him as he walks out of the room and turn to Pres as he starts to speak.
“You keep her safe. It may not seem like I give a shit at all but I had all the best intentions when it came to her.”
“You have my word,” I say, wanting to get out of here instead of calling bullshit on him like I really want to.
He takes one look at me, shakes his head and leaves.
Well that was anti-climatic.
I make my way to my room and Smokey is standing outside, ready to help me pack up. He doesn’t say anything but I can see the questions swirling in his eyes.
Apart from my shoulder burning like fuck every time I pick something up, there’s no problems and we’re done in half an hour.
“You ever coming back?” Smokey finally asks, sliding my last bag into the truck bed.
I look back at the clubhouse, I had a look around before I left. My pops and Jacques weren’t there so I guess they’re not ready to talk to me. “Not to this shithole, but to the area? Maybe, I still got family back here.”
He sighs. “I wish you’d have fuckin’ told me before you announced it to the club.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Hell, I didn’t even know myself until I saw her again.”
He shakes his head. “I hope she’s worth it.”
“You know she is,” I state.
He huffs but pulls me in to clap me on the back. “Club might not be your home anymore, but you’re still my brother. Don’t forget me while you’re playing house.”
He waves me off while eyeing Connor, he knows I won’t be back but Smokey has always been a good friend so he’ll make sure I don’t forget his ass.
We arrive back at the diner and I stand and watch Keeley and Sam from outside. Their friendship looks like an easy one.
We both walk inside and I slide in the booth next to Keeley, she looks wary. “Everything alright?”
“No trouble if that’s what you mean,” I say.
“So, that’s it? They just let you leave?”
I shake my head. “Nah, you know that was never gonna happen. But I found a loophole.” She raises her brows. “I’ve gone Nomad.”
She looks at me intently before smiling at me and I scoop up some of her ice cream with my fingers.
“Get your own, this one’s taken!” She snaps.
I laugh. “No thanks, I’ve already got my own icy treat.” I wink at her and she screws up her face to say something, but I beat her to it. “You wanna get going? We still have to stop off at the cemetery.”
She looks down at her hands and nods. “You two not want something to eat first?”
I look at Connor and he shakes his head. “Nah, we’ll eat a little later. Let’s just get this over and done with.”
I could see she’s apprehensive about going, but the quicker we do this the better. Just like ripping off a band-aid.
We pull up outside the cemetery and I walk over to the truck to get Keeley.
“We’ll not be too long,” she says in a small voice to Sam and Connor, not sounding remotely like herself.
Sam waves her off. “Take all the time you need, Kee. We’ll be here when you’re ready to go.”
She hesitates, worrying her lip so I take her hand and bend close to her ear. “I’m here every step of the way.”
She nods resolutely and winds her arms around the back of my neck, ready for me to carry her. I’m glad she doesn’t protest this time and I kick the truck door shut.