Page 79 of Bleed Me

Her head to my shoulder, Justice touched her tiny cheek. “I knew I would adore her, but...” she patted her chest, “I didn’t know she’d be in here with you.”

“Fuck. Babe. Kiss me right now.”

The c-section actually gave Justice and me time to bond with Grace. Our days passed in harmony. True bliss. I mean, we were fucking exhausted; the kid didn’t think when the sun went down it was time for some shut-eye, but yeah, she was the impeccable addition to our imperfect relationship of three parents.

In fact, it was so hard to leave, we kissed Grace over and over until her mama kicked us out. Once we got back to the club, we drank whiskey and showed everyone the three-thousand pictures we took of Grace. I pointed to my cell. “There she is suckin’ on a bottle. There she is halfway through the bottle. Here she is almost done with the bottle—”

“I need another shot of whiskey,” someone complained.

“Asshole.” I showed them the next picture. “Oh, here she is when she has a dirty diaper…”

“I’m on it,” laughed Elle as everyone held up their empty shot glass.

“… and here she is farting. The kid is impressive. I shit you not. Here she is with her eyes open. Have you ever seen such a color of blue? Oh, here she is with her eyes closed. Shit, can you believe I got a picture of her sucking on her finger? Here she is…”

One year later

Just coming back from a run, I knuckle-knocked Prez’s open office door. “May I come in?”

Lynx set down his pen. “Have a seat, Giver. How’d it go?” Resting his hands behind his head, he leaned back in his chair.

Enjoying him offering me more responsibility, I sat in front of his desk to report. “He tried to work me on the price. You’re right. I think someone else is bringing shit in.”

“Motherfucker. I knew it.” He rested his elbows on the desk. “They’re probably not offering primo shit, but my turf is my turf.”

I eyed all of Justice’s computers on a large desk behind him. Her chair empty. “Dagger is already digging for info.”

“Just what I like to hear.” After sitting in silence for a few moments, he asked, “Somethin’ else on your mind?”

“Yeah. I, uh, read an article about bikers who help protect victims who have to go to court. Like, child victims.”

He licked his teeth. “Yep. I’ve heard of this.”

Insecure that he’d think I was a pussy, I tugged on my longer beard. “Do you think that, uh, maybe someday I could do this? Like, help out some kids? Make them, uh, feel a little safer?”

“Giver… I don’t have one doubt that if you were in the courtroom for some kid, they wouldn’t feel safer.” He shrugged. “I feel safer knowing you’re on my side.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

“Torque was telling me the other day that you keep getting better and better. That you’re one of the best shooters we have now.”

“Really? Damn.” I wiped my palms on my jeans. “That’s a lot, coming from him.”

“Sure the fuck is, kid.”

“Guns feel like an extension of my hands. Make sense?”

“Yep! Glad to hear it.” He chuckled, already knowing the answer. “Where’s my Road Captain?”

She rode straight to Saph’s after our run. “Spoilin’ my kid.”

He beamed. “She loves Grace more than she loves you!”

“Fucked up, right? But so damn true.”

“Those tiny chubby legs, dude. Your kid makes me all sappy and shit.”

Not one of my brothers had any luck with their man card when that kid visited the clubhouse. All spines and balls melted away when she smiled, getting anything she wanted.