Page 47 of Forgiveness
Hawk nodded, and Flux glanced around and saw that they were the only two still left. He looked down and then back up again. He had a sinking suspicion that shit was about to get real between them. But anyone would be a fucking fool not to notice the signs of the siren’s call working its way through his bloodstream, the lifestyle flaring back to the forefront of his brain.
“You know, you can only fuckin’ deny it for so long, bro.” Hawk’s penetrating stare bored into him. “Eventually all that shit you got buried will eat you alive if you let it.”
Flux grunted.
“I know going nomad was good for you.” Hawk took a gulp of beer. “Is all that shit inside you still fuckin’ with you?”
“Yeah, but it’s not as strong as it was.”
“Good to hear that. You needed a fuckin’ break, but we need you back as an active member. Seems like being on the road’s helped you deal with all that tragic bullshit that went down with your family.”
Again, Flux grunted, knowing that only one thing had helped him.Maggie.
“Think on it. It’ll be good for you to be back with your MC and riding with us.”
“Yeah.” Being back for just a few hours showed Flux how much he missed the camaraderie and belonging to something so real and so loyal.
The rattle of glass against metal jarred him, and he looked up as Hawk turned away from the trash can.
“You staying the night?”
Flux shrugged. “Maybe.”
“I’m heading out. I have to pick up my kids from day camp.”
“How’re they doing? And how’s your old lady?”
Hawk chuckled. “The kids are ornery as fuck, and Cara’s busting at the seams with our third kid.”
Flux heard the love and pride in the vice president’s voice, and for a split second, he regretted his nomad life, but he pushed down the feelings and smiled. “When’s the due date?”
“In a month.”
“Congratulations. You gonna have a boy or girl?”
“Boy.” Hawk walked toward the door. “I’ll see you in the morning. If you go back tonight, lay low and watch your fuckin’ back.” With a lift of his chin, Hawk walked out of the room.
Flux stared out the window at the Rocky Mountains, remembering how many times he’d ridden around the back roads with Alicia pressed against him. Then Maggie’s face filled his mind and he wished like hell she was with him now so he could take her on a ride to Crystal Lake and they could screw under the tall fir trees. Maggie was slowly chiseling away at the armor around his heart. She was patching up the leak that created the nightmares from the past in his brain. A part of him mourned the dissipation of pain because it had been his way of life for so long, but another part rejoiced in the freedom of letting it go.
Duchess, I fuckin’ miss you.
Flux walked into the main room and joined Rags, Smokey, Tank, Animal, and Hubcap at the bar. Without asking, the prospect placed a bottle of beer and a shot of Jack in front of him. He picked up the shot, clinked glasses with his brothers, and let the liquid slide down his throat.
