“You’ve always done what’s best for the club. You are not only a brother by name, but by oath and action,” Morris adds.
“This is my family too,” I remind them, remembering how lost I felt after I left the military and somehow found myself prospecting for the MC.
I’ve always prided myself on my loyalty and being a man of my word. If it weren’t for Tamara, I’d probably have spent my life within the MC, eventually landing an old lady and raising my kids around a group of men who’d always have my back.
“This is not a free pass. You understand what I’m saying?” Tiny studies my face.
I nod.
“If we need you, when we call, you’ll do what’s asked. Your freedom only extends as far as we’ll allow it to reach.”
“Got it.” I lean back in the chair, stretching my legs. “Once a Disciple, always a Disciple.”
“I hate to see you go,” Tiny says, breaking with his usual tough-as-nails bullshit. “I understand why you’re going but doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.”
“I know,” I tell him, trying not to get sentimental.
I had so many good times here.
Hell, great times, even. But there’s a time when every man must move on, and my time is now.
“I found something too good to let slip through my fingers.”
Tiny sighs. “Figured it would happen sooner or later. I was just hoping it was with one of our girls.”
Morris shakes his head. “He needed someone who was going to challenge him, and the women around here are not that,” Morris adds. “His girl, the one sitting out there giving shit to Eagle, she was made for him. Can’t deny the connection. I saw it the moment they met. I knew then as much as I do now, she would take him away.”
Tiny grunts. “Stay the night to celebrate with us, yeah?”
“Of course,” I tell them, not feeling like getting back in the car with Tamara for a silent ride home. “I wasn’t planning on packing until tomorrow.”
A shadow passes across Morris’s face as he inhales, letting the reality settle over him.
I am really leaving, and there isn’t anything that will change that.
I go to stand, but Tiny motions for me stay put, and I place my ass back in the seat, knowing we aren’t done.
“One more thing,” Tiny says, placing his arms on the table, flattening his palms against the wood. “We want to talk to you about the garage.”
“The garage stays legit,” I tell him, pointing a finger at him. “It’s going to be Tamara’s business as well as mine, and I can’t have the MC interfering or fucking that up.”
Tiny scrubs a hand down his face, cursing into his palm. “We’ll find another way to do what we need to do.”
“Want to clue me in?”
Tiny shakes his head. “Not yet. Once we have more information, we’ll fill you in. You’re now on a need-to-know basis.”
I don’t say another word. I’m surprisingly okay with it. I’m more than okay. I feel at peace, not having to worry about their next scheme to make money and trying to figure out how to run the operation while staying under the radar of the Feds.
“I want this shit thought out. I’m not leaving here, going to the other coast, just to have my ass land in jail for something stupid.”
“It’ll be worth it,” Morris tells me, eyes pinned on mine.
“No amount of money is worth a stint in prison, Morris. None.”
“Everyone has a price,” Tiny adds, resting his tattooed hand over his mouth. “Even you.”
I shake my head. “I got a good thing going and an even better future planned. Whatever you two are cooking up better be solid and low risk. I’m not going down for stupid shit. I have enough money saved to last me more than a few years, and with the shop opening and eventually that income rolling in, I don’t need whatever you’re going to offer.”
“Never say never.” Morris smiles. “Your woman likes to live a certain way. She also likes pretty things. Can’t keep her in that life if you’re piss-poor broke, struggling to launch a business.”
I laugh. “Tamara has her own money. She doesn’t need me to buy her expensive things. She’s the first woman I’ve ever been with who doesn’t want anything other than my time.”
“Fuckin’ Gallos,” Morris mutters, shaking his head.
“Now, are we done?” I raise an eyebrow, staring at the two men I spent too many nights raising hell with over the last handful of years.
“We’re done,” Tiny announces, pushing back from the table and rising to his feet. “For now.”
I nod, standing too. “I’ll be gone tomorrow.”
Morris stalks toward me, stopping a foot away, and places his hand on my shoulder. “There’s no need to rush. We’re not clocking you or keeping track of your time. Leave when you want to leave. Stay if you want to stay. Just know you’re always welcome, always a Disciple.”
We have an uncomfortable moment where Morris stares at me, swallowing down something he wants to say but doesn’t, before his hand drops down and he walks away without another word.
“Shit’s changing. Always changing,” Tiny mumbles before walking out right behind Morris.
I stand there for a moment, staring around the room I’ve spent countless hours in over the years.
Time spent planning things I never thought I’d get involved with but somehow did.
Time spent planning a future that never came to fruition.
Time wasted, but somehow not.
Without all the moments between these walls, I never would’ve met the spitfire waiting for me outside the door, no doubt still giving Eagle shit and loving every second of it too.
Without my time here, I never would’ve had a future.
5
Tamara
I blink, staring at Mammoth, not believing the words coming out of his sexy mouth. “Say it again,” I say softly, scared if I talk any louder, his response will change.
“I’ve been given the go-ahead to move. We can finally start our life together.”
My mouth opens and closes as I process what he’s telling me, but I’m not able to believe it. “Why now?”
He smiles, brushing his fingers against my face. “Bum shoulder and my inability to ride aren’t really qualities an MC looks for in a brother.”
“Really?” I gawk at him, still not believing what he’s telling me. “This isn’t anything to joke about, Mammoth.”
If he’s pulling my leg, I’ll be so pissed. He wouldn’t do that to me, though, would he?
“Look at my face, princess. Does it look like I’m joking?”
I study his face as he stands in front of me, touching my cheek. All I see is joy and relief etched across his beautiful features. “You’re not shitting me?”
“No.” He laughs, smiling down at me. “I’m not shitting you.”
I leap up, throwing my arms around his shoulders and peppering his cheeks with kisses. “This is the best news ever, baby.” I squeeze him so damn tight.