“Women,” I responded, my lips tipped, and his chuckle could be heard throughout the airport. It took my mom a few beats to pull herself together, and when she pulled back, her hands came to the sides of my face as she lifted on her toes and kissed my cheek.
“Don’t start that shit,” she fired back. It was my turn to smile. My mom took no shit. Even from my father who was a force to be reckoned with, she held her ground. It used to eat at me. I didn’t see what they had. I didn’t understand it. What I saw was this strong woman who held her own against anyone and everyone … except him. I felt like my mom gave everything to my dad who just tossed her to the side. I saw it all so differently now. My mom, she’s the strongest woman I know. In the lifestyle they led, she was absolutely where she wanted to be. My dad, he knew his woman through and through. Which meant he never crossed lines because she wouldn’t take his shit, and he knew it. Only as a boy, I didn’t see the connection between them, so I twisted everything up. She also happens to be the only person I think strong enough to be a real partner to a man like my father. Forever and always.
I saw it all clearly now like never before.
Then it started.
Clapping.
I had no idea who started it, but once it got going, I had to pull away from Mom because the entire airport erupted in it. Loud and boisterous. Whistles started and grunts.
From the Ravage family and complete strangers in the airport alike, the cheering continued. It was a welcome home that nowhere in my mind did I expect. Nor did I deserve it from these people. I’d done them wrong, yet here they were, and not one scowl in place. I take that back, Jacks had one, but I had tried to get his woman, so it was expected.
My father pulled me in for a one-handed hug as nods from the brothers and their women started. It was surreal because never in a million years did I think this group of people would be here, happy I was home. I’d thought they’d want me six-feet under. Hell who knows, they probably still did. It would really suck ass to go through everything I have to come home and get killed so quickly, but we never knew when our end was coming. I would face it all, even death because now I simply knew.
Cruz stepped up. Even though he clapped, his expression was stern. The features in his face almost locked tight, but there was this glint to his eyes … contained fury. Honestly, he had every right in the world to be. I single-handedly turned his world upside down. I left town knowing I held everything in my hands, so to speak. Instead of facing Cruz man to man, I sent the information home to my father. I didn’t give the man the respect he deserved, and I allowed my father to drop the bomb to the entire club. The moment Cruz learned he had a grown son was the same moment the entire Ravage MC learned their Rebellion charter president, Crow, was more than family by the club. No, he was Cruz’s blood. For months I held the information close to my chest, and yet I didn’t share. Instead, I took off to build my life in the Marines and left my dad and the entire club to take care of the fallout.
No explanation.
No more discussion.
Nothing.
There was no doubt in my mind that there would be a day of reckoning. He had a lot of questions, and it was my job to answer them. Or at least try to.
It had been four years ago, and the things I thought were important back then frankly didn’t mean shit today. Would he understand? Could he understand? Time would tell.
He held out his hand, and I took it. His grip was hard, but so was mine. My body had changed over the years, and I didn’t get pushed around very easily. I wasn’t the little boy who left Sumner all those years ago. Not only had my mind grown, my body did as well, toning itself to a well-oiled fighting machine. I didn’t need a gun to kill. My hands did the job just fine. So much training went into me becoming the man I am. The United States Marine Corps made me into a weapon, and with that inside of me, I stood proud against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That was my new reality.
Cruz pulled me in and patted me on the back. Quietly, but firmly, he issued the command. “Tomorrow. Noon at the clubhouse. Don’t make me come find you.”
“Yes, sir.” The answer was automatic. It had become second nature. This was more than that, though. He deserved the respect that I’d never given him. He was the President. He earned that position, and for me not to give him that respect would go against everything I’d learned being a Marine. Not to mention he was a fellow Marine. He served in the Corps too.
Didn’t mean I’d like what happened tomorrow, but no use in sitting around wondering when the ball was going to drop. Get in, and get it done. Whatever the consequences would be. That was how we worked our missions. We planned, went in, did the job and got the fuck out, trying to come out unscathed. This meeting, though, I would be scathed in some way. I had to pay a penance, atone for the storm I’d brought down. That was a given. I’d be stupid to think they were going to allow me into the fold and forget everything my kid mouth ran off.
“Today we celebrate in your honor.” He shocked me once again as he pulled away, and his features relaxed.
“What?”
“Family. We’re eatin’ and welcoming you home the right way.” Cruz completely and utterly baffled me. Cruz, more than anyone else here, had to hate me. Why would he want to have a party for me? The fact that everyone was here, and dare I say happy to see me, was enough to make me wonder if I was dreaming, but a Ravage welcoming party… Never in my drunkest moment could I have seen this coming.
“You sure about that?”
“Yes.” His eyes turned dark, but he didn’t scare me. Not anymore. He’d been a Marine. He’d know exactly the training I’d had. It was one connection he and I had together now. But that stare told me he didn’t forget a damn thing. He was just putting it aside to welcome a brother’s kid home.
I understood that. They were all here because Tug was Ravage; therefore, Ravage would do anything for him—that included letting a shithead such as myself get the welcoming my father had earned with his cut.
“Yes, sir,” I answered as he stepped away.
Handshakes were given with several, ‘thank you for your service’ comments made.
There were also several threats about getting what was coming to me. These came from GT, Cooper, Breaker and Rhys. Had to admit, if anyone were to actually make me tremble, it would be Rhys, but I held my own. They were livid, and just because they were here seeing me home, didn’t mean they had forgotten a damn thing I did. Whatever they planned to dish out, I was prepared to take. My mind was as strong as my body. I would endure.
As Emery approached, I swore Jacks growled. I tried not to smirk at his jealousy, but it was there all the same. She slapped Jacks playfully on the arm. “Knock it off. He just got home.”
Emery’s arms opened wide to me, but one glance in Jacks’ direction told me he wasn’t happy. I grabbed Emery’s hands and clasped them in front of us. This was another way to show Jacks respect, and I wasn’t here to go after his woman. That boat had sailed. I knew my place, and I wasn’t about to cross those lines. “Thanks for comin’. Maybe in due time I’ll get that hug.”
A tear welled in her eye as she nodded. “Yeah. So glad to have you home.”
“Me too.”
Releasing her, she made her way over to Jacks who lifted his chin. While I didn’t expect it, I nodded back to him. It would be a hard one gaining his respect, but I hadn’t backed down from anything difficult in four years. Not about to stop now.