Page 6 of No Turning Back
“Mom, it’s at an MC clubhouse.” Maybe she’ll back off now.
“MC?”
“Motorcycle club.” I clarify.
“It’s not like Son’s. It’s just a bunch of guys hanging out. There is drinking and some girls, but nothing like on the television show.” Wrenn quickly defends.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, Wrenn.” I apologize because now I feel like I insulted her and her husband. I know they aren’t like that. Aries has only been nice, and if it wasn’t for his cut or his bike, I wouldn’t know he was the vice president of a motorcycle club.
“You should come and see.” Wrenn smiles at me and I know I’m stuck now. She just played me. I smile back and shake my head as the coffee pot beeps.
“Okay, fine.”
“I’ll be here to pick you up at eight.” She turns and walks out, leaving me with my mom.
“You need to move on, honey,” she pleads with me.
I reach over and take my daughter from her arms.
“I’ll never be able to move on, Mom. I need to take care of Mari and build a life for us.”
I take Mari with me to get dressed. I won’t ever forget what happened to me or what I had to do. I have the nightmares every night to remind me. No man would want that in his life. No man could love me when they find out about me.
Poseidon
* * *
I pull my bike up to the crowded clubhouse, all lit up for the New Year’s Eve party, and wish I had just kept riding. I can’t though, because my old man is still here and wants to spend time with me. I don’t even know why he came to visit me. Yeah, he loves me and is my father, but I know he’s disappointed in me. I was supposed to be a lifer in the Navy, just like him, but I punked out instead.
I rotate my shoulder, loosening up the tightness that always settles in when it’s left in the same position for too long. It’s why I have a job working on a construction crew. I need to keep it moving. It’s also why I couldn’t continue being a SEAL. I knew it would be sore after the ride, but I had to get away for the day. Away from the memories that are always there. The fact that there are families out there celebrating without their loved ones because of me. I failed my team. I failed those families. I hate the holidays.
Plus, my brother Zeus got in earlier today, so I’ll be able to visit with him. My younger brother Hades is still on an assignment.
What very few people know about the Drago Defiance MC is that it was formed by our president and originally included members of our clandestine unit, the Unknowns. We have a location here in Tennessee and another in Alaska. My biological brothers, who were also in the military, are a part of the unit too.
To keep our cover, we’ve allowed other men to join the club, but they aren’t part of the Unknowns.
I think my father, who has helped a couple of times, wants to be part of the group. I know Cronus would hire him, but none of my brothers or I want that. We lost our mom, and we don’t want to lose our dad too. We aren’t exactly always safe. Our latest assignment has us breaking into a human trafficking ring that is being protected by our government.
“About time you showed your sorry ass.” Aries’s deep voice cuts through the darkness.
“Why aren’t you up your wife’s ass?” I tease him.
I don’t mean it. There are so many days I wish I could have what he has. I wish I was worthy to love a woman like he does.
“She’s busy.” He chuckles and holds out his beer.
“Thanks, man.” I take a big swallow, almost downing the bottle.
“Shit, guess I shoulda brought two.”
“Woulda been nice.” I laugh as we make our way through the gate into the yard. Aries and I used to be on the same SEAL team until he left and came out here.
I take in all the people. Some are talking loudly, while others are in the dark corners making out and doing other things. I spot my father sitting at a table with Zeus, Typhon, Drea, Wrenn, and Sydney, the woman I’ve only caught a couple of glimpses of. And just like before, the ground feels like it’s rolling under my boots.
Sydney throws her head back, laughing as she takes a shot. Her long red hair falls in waves around her shoulders. The red catches the light above her and shines, making my breath hitch. I’m not a sappy kind of asshole, but whenever I see her, I want to pull her into me and lay claim to her. I don’t want any of the other unattached fuckers to even think they have a chance.
A movement beyond her catches my eye, and I watch as Apollo approaches and pulls Drea into his arms. Typhon laughs, and I want to punch one of my close friends for spending time with her. Sydney laughs when Wrenn urges her to take another shot, and Typhon tips his head back, taking two. Wrenn is at it again, challenging Typhon to a drinking contest, and she must have roped Sydney into it, seeing as she and Drea are both pregnant.
