Never Forever (BlackPath MC Book 1) (13 page)

“It’s
ok Callie. I just want you to be sure. You know it is hard to let go of control
over your children, especially a daughter.” Dad does understand he is just
having problems letting go.

“Ok,
I am taking that nap now and notifying my friends.” I turn and walk back to my
room. I shoot Sarah and Felix a text, they both understand and will call later.
I undress and find an old jersey of Mason’s in my drawer and put it on. I know
it will be the last time I wear it, I just couldn’t stop myself. Right now I
need its comfort, if that even makes sense. I go to my bed and yank the covers
back and crawl in and wait for the darkness to take me to nothingness. To feel
nothing, to think about nothing, and to not have to be an adult for right now.  

Damn,
I always knew that girl would be the death of me. Ty and Callie have always
been the best part of me. Ty is all me. His old man made over. But Callie is
soft with a heart as big as Texas. She has grown into a beautiful woman. I have
to be able to let her go, but I will protect her until my dying day.

I
look over the club and all I feel is tired. I have to find the gun men from
last night and who sent them. All I want to do is put them to ground, but I
have to be smart. I cleaned this club up. At one time the BlackPath MC was into
everything, gun running, drugs, pimping women, and we had a chop shop in the
back. All we do now are protection runs, we have a motorcycle and car shop that
is the best at what they do, and we have a strip club and one restaurant.

We
also have a wrecker service and we volunteer in the community. We’ve had to
work hard for the respect we’ve earned, and I don’t want to wash it all down
the drain and it all be for nothing but I will protect my family.

The
decisions I have laid on Callie are wrong, but I have to let her decide for
herself. I loved Tommy. He was as much my brother as Tren,t but the day he was
killed Callie lost so much. When she finds out the things I have kept from her,
I hope she can forgive me. This decision, I could not make for her. If someone
had taken any of my family away, I would want that decision to be mine. I just
hope she can survive her decisions. I hope that I can too.

I
have other things and other people to take care of, too. I need to get this
done. “Trent, call lock down. All ol’ ladies and children will be staying
inside the clubhouse until further notice. They only go out with escorts. All
club girls are gone, unless a member is going to be responsible for their
actions.  Mandatory meeting in two hours. Vote on membership of Ty and Woody.
We need three new recruits. Not like the ones I sent packing. I will be in my
office on the phone. I have to set up a meeting with Steel and Devil after the
vote. Be ready to ride with me. If all the club girls are gone, then the ol’
ladies will be in charge of keeping shit straight. Tell Hambone to inform
Kelsey and you tell Laurie, they’ll be in charge. Callie can help, she’s
sleeping right now. It’ll be tight here, but we can make do for a few days
until we make sure it is safe.” I turn towards my office.

“Is
Callie ok? What do you think she is going to do?” Trent asks.

“Hell
if I know. I can’t bribe with a ride on my bike anymore, she keeps everything
to herself.” And I just keep walking to my office.

“Everyone
heard the Prez. Let’s get it done.” Trent downs his drink and makes sure
everyone is scattering.

I
wake and it doesn’t feel like I have been asleep long. I can tell by the way
the sun is coming through the curtains it is well into the afternoon. I
couldn’t get to sleep for a while, and then it wasn’t a restful sleep. Too many
ifs, ands, and buts. I am a man that likes cut and dry, black and white. No
gray areas, those drive me crazy. I can’t believe my whole plan relies on a young
woman I barely know. Sure I’ve tried to put pressure on her and I will do what
I have to do. I will get what I want if I have to start a war to get it. No one
tells me what I can or can’t have. Doing this the hard way is dad’s idea. His
friendship with Chief stands in our way.

Callie
is definitely different than the women I’m used to. She’s young, too young for
me. Too good for the likes of me. She’s beautiful and she still has a soft
goodness inside her. She’s seen some bad shit, you can see it in her eyes, but
she has something that radiates from within. She’s every man’s dream with her
dangerous curves and long hair. I can see why that Mason guy would try to keep
her, but he won’t get her back. She will be with me and he will only be a
memory for her. She has spunk and she don’t back down. She wants honesty and
that will play in my favor. I need to get back home and get us some living
arrangements made. Mom and Kim are going to love her. Of course, my baby sister
is not going to like the attention Callie takes away from her. She’ll get used
to it. Yes, Callie will fit in just fine.

I
hear dad moving around in his room next door and I know he will be pounding on
my door shortly. I guess it is time to hit the shower and then find some food
and coffee. No, coffee first. Hot and strong.

I
stretch and push the covers back and then head into the shower. This is going
to be another long day. I turn the hot water on and put just enough cold on so
I can stand it, then get in and let it run over my head. Just trying to let the
water and steam take away the aches from my body from the last two days, and
all the stress. I love riding my bike, but the ride from Oklahoma made me
stiff. It’s only the worry. After tomorrow it will all either be over and
settled, or all hell will break loose. I’m hoping for the first, but I have to
be prepared for the last.

I
hear dad banging on my bathroom door but I ignore it for a few minutes just
enjoying the hot water.

“Boy
we had a phone call and we need to talk.” Always something. I bend down and
turn the water off and pick up the towel to dry off and I put my jeans on and
step out the door.

“What
the hell are you yelling about old man?” I laugh out. Knowing this always gets
him.

“I
may be an old man but I’m still your president, so get your ass dressed and
meet me across the street at the diner. Chief called. You are going to be
paying more money to a lawyer. Hurry your ass up!”  He turns and leaves.

Something
is definitely up with him. More money to the lawyer. I have spent more money on
this woman than any other woman I’ve ever known. Except for mom.

I
hurry and get dressed and run across to the diner. I see dad at the back away
from everyone, and make my way to the booth and sit across from him. I see he
is worried. He’s not going to be easy to get along with.

The
waitress takes our order and brings our coffee. Then Dad starts, “Chief wants
us at the clubhouse around noon. We are going to have to pay that lawyer some
more money, but Chief either won’t or can’t tell me why. Callie has made up her
mind but she will tell everyone together. She hasn’t shared with Chief or so he
says.” He takes a drink of his coffee and eyes me skeptically, “You ok with the
payment? You usually don’t spend money on females.” I know he doesn’t like
lawyers.

“What’s
eating at you, dad? You’re not yourself.” I ask my dad hoping he will give me
some reason for his bad mood.

“I
just don’t know about this son. Callie is a good girl. Chief is a good friend.
I don’t like involving lawyers. I hate lawyers.” Dad keeps watching me and I
know something else is bothering him.

“What
else dad? Something else is bothering you.” I hope he will just tell me. He
always plays things too close to the vest.

“I
have a bad feeling about all this. I just want it over.  Chief is coming to
talk to us any time now. Him and Trent. Be ready and stay sharp.” I know when
my dad has a feeling to pay attention, so I finish up my food and raise my cup
for more coffee as I see Chief walk through the door with Trent following close
behind.

Their
faces give nothing away. They walk straight toward our booth and I motion for
the waitress. Before Chief gets to the table he stops her and tells her two
black coffees. I see Chief turning and watching the waitress walk away. Guess
there is a story there. When she is out of sight he continues our way. Chief
and Trent drop on the other side of the booth. Chief looks like he needs more
sleep. Don’t we all?

“Ok
Chief, give it to us straight. I feel like we are being jerked around here.
First we are supposed to pay a damn lawyer a retainer, now he wants more money
and we are just supposed to fork it over. You want us at your clubhouse at six
tomorrow night and now its tomorrow afternoon. Give us some straight damn
answers.” Dad growls out obviously at the end of his patience.

“Look
Steel, we gave the reins over to Callie and she is running this show. She
talked with Cross this afternoon, and he is doing paperwork for her and taking
care of some stuff at the courthouse. She says it all has to do with this.
Cross is meeting with us tomorrow. That’s all I know, because she is telling no
one nothing.” Chief informs us of everything that has been going on since last
night.

 I
don’t know what could be going through that woman’s head. A lawyer and the
courthouse. Legal papers. What could she be up to?

“She
is taking this to heart and thinking it through. She went to Tommy’s grave this
afternoon before she met with the suit. She always talks things out there when
she is trying to think things out.” Trent puts in his thoughts

Maybe
she is taking it seriously. I still have to use my insurance just to make sure,
so I have to make time to talk to her alone before she gives her answer.

“We’re
on lockdown until further notice. I just want to make sure with the shooting
last night. I will not take a chance with any of my family members. I’d rather
be safe than sorry. Have you heard anything from your guy, Steel?” Chief
informs us of his clubs actions. Something has changed. A few hours ago Chief
was breathing fire and now he talks like we are just having coffee.

“What
changed Chief? A few hours ago you didn’t want to talk to us.” Just then the
waitress brings the two coffees over so I stop midsentence and wait for her to
leave. Chief and Trent both sit back in the booth so she can set their coffees
down, and she refills ours while she is there, then she is gone. I look around
and start back up, “So, what gives?”

“I
want the information. I agreed to let Callie decide and if I know my daughter
the way I think I do, she is going to want it, too. That being what it is, if
my daughter gets hurt in any way I will end you. Period! I want you to know
that now. Both of you.” He looks at my dad and my dad shakes his head as if
they are speaking in code. “I will hold you both responsible for her.”

“I
will also hold you both responsible.” Trent adds

[A4]
 
I decide it is time to drop my little bomb.
“As long as Callie makes the right decision, she won’t find out that you know
who her biological dad really is from us.” I watch Chief take it in and I think
I see relief in his eyes. The waitress sets our orders down in front of us and
walks away. You could feel the tension between Chief and the waitress. “You
have a problem with the waitress? Tension between you two?” of course I don’t
think for a second he’ll share.

“That’s
none of your business. Callie never needs to know who her biological dad is.
Her mom hurt her enough. That man is a ruthless killer and I want him nowhere
near her. I have only been trying to protect her. Steel, I thought you as a
family man would understand that. Your boy is in your club, your VP and he
calls you Dad. Only a man who understands family would allow that. Most men
would understand that. He would only find that as a weakness. He would destroy
her. Everything he touches he destroys.” Chief is stating his case. Trying to
use his friendship with my dad to get to us. I know Callie’s biological dad is
a bastard and as cold and calculating as they come. I will try my best to
protect her. The little I know of he,r I know she is good and she doesn’t
deserve his kind of cruel.

 “We
get it, Chief. We will protect her to the best of our ability. I will protect
her with my life.” I assure Chief and Trent. They both seem to be sizing me up.
They are trying to see through me but there is nothing to see.

“Ok
Devil, I will hold you to that.” He then does something I never expected. He
puts his hand out to shake my hand. I take his hand and shake it.

“Can
I ask a small favor?” I ask Chief.

“Ok.”
He simply says.

“Can
I speak to Callie for just a few minutes alone tomorrow, before we all talk
together?” Chief eyes me skeptically.

“As
long as she agrees and it’s within the club. Be there a little early.” He
agrees. Maybe we can get this settled without bloodshed.

Chief
and Trent leave and I can finally breathe a little easier.

“You
know you better make it count. It’ll be the only chance you get.” My dad tells
me.

“Don’t
I know it.” I finish my meal without another word. “When I finish I am going
back to my room to make phone calls and then get some more sleep. Tomorrow I
need to be on my toes and I need to be up early.” I leave money on the table
for our food and a tip. I’m dead on my feet and I need plenty of sleep.

“That
sounds good son. I am going to check in at home and I am going to do the same.
Everything rides on tomorrow. We both need to be sharp.”  We head back to our
rooms with a lot on our minds and hoping sleep will help.

As
soon as I am in bed I know sleep is not going to come easy. Everything that has
happened since we got to Texas is playing back in my head. I still have not
figured out who could have shot at us. I don’t believe in coincidences. This
has to have something to do with our being here.

I
finally feel the day fading away. Sleep is going to take me under and I hear
the ping to give me notice that I have a text. Damn this better be good. I
reach for my phone and flip it open and it’s from him. He’s making sure our
plan is progressing and to see if we got the message he sent. I knew he had
something to do with it. It was the only thing that made sense. I typed my dad
a quick text to update him and then I turn over to try for sleep again.

My
mind wanders to Callie. She could have been hurt and it would have been my
fault. Mine and her dad’s. I know I need to protect her and I swear I will.
Then my mind wanders to Brianne. The first woman I ever loved. Bri and Callie
are a lot alike. Both are full of sass. Thing is, Bri could never accept my
life the way it is and my loyalty to the club. Tomorrow I have to step up my
action to get Callie, one way or another.