Chapter 15

Merigold
3 weeks later
I'm sitting at the clubhouse bar waiting on Viper and talking to the Prospect on duty. We are talking about the latest design I have on my tablet. I have been coming around pretty frequently getting used to everyone Sometimes I come by myself and other times I bring the boys. Jace and Jax love coming here to hang out with their uncles or going to the playroom. The guys seem to like having the boys around. And it is fun to watch the badass bikers turn to big kids when the boys visit.
I have had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting a few of the club bunnies. And by meeting I mean they glare at me and walk away with their noses in the air. And make snide comments when they think I can’t hear them. They don't know who I am or what I am to the club and that's the way I like it. I don’t want people to be nice to me just to get to Viper or any of the other ranked members.
Only a few know who I am but don't say anything. Viper agreed to leave it up to me when I was ready to let others know. I don't know everything about what goes on around here but I feel like I got the gist of it so far. And the bunnies will use anything they can to get in good with the ranked members. They are after the power and prestige of being with the higher-ups.
I'm learning a lot about my father from Ace and Anna. I think Anna and Raider had something going on by the way she talks about him sometimes. But the common thing I have noticed is he was well respected and loved.Ace explained how he and my dad started the club shortly after getting out of the service. How they became friends during basic training and stuck together since. Ace was there when Viper was born and helped my dad take care of Viper after his mom dies when he was six. They even dug up some pictures for me to have. Some of Raider and Ace. Some with Raider and the rest of the club. There was even one with Raider with the club in the back and younger versions of Brick, Viper, and Thor in the front. Some with Raider and Viper when he was a kid. Viper’s high school graduation the entire club went to. Vipers graduation from basic training. Raider was at all of it. Baseball games, birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving he was there for all of it. Just a big happy family.
Two things stuck out in all the pictures. Raider was a handsome guy. And Ace is right I do have a lot of his features. The hair and eyes for starters. He even had a pale complexion like me as well. And the other thing that stood out was that in every picture I saw even when he got sick he was always smiling. Part of my heart hurts that I never got to meet him but the other part is happy that I can see what he looks like and hear the stories. I miss Alaric, Mac, and the rest of the guys but I also like it here. I’m not sure when I will go back to Alabama I just know that I need to spend more time here. I need more time with my brother. I need to hear more stories about Raider. But I know Alaric and the guys understand. You can’t make up twenty-three years in a month. They told me to take all the time I need.
" You. You don't belong here." I look to my left and see one of the club bunnies looking at me. I can tell she is a club bunny by her serious lack of clothes and way too much makeup. I have seen clowns wear less makeup than she is. She is wearing a tank top that barely covers her boobs and a pair of daisy duke shorts that leaves nothing to the imagination. And four-inch heels. I mean really. I’m so glad my boys aren’t here to see this. I ignore her and continue to work on my design. I want to finish it soon for my client because I have an idea for a memorial tattoo of Raider I want to get started on. “ Hey, bitch. I’m talking to you. I said you don’t belong here. I guess ignoring her isn’t going to get her to shut up. I swivel the stool to look at her. " Excuse me," I say. " You heard me. I said you don't belong here," she says. I cross my arms over my chest " And why should I care what you have to say?" " Because this is my club and I say you need to go back to wherever the hell ugly fatso’s like you belong."