“I don’t discuss club business outside the club,” I tell Jenna.

  “We are a family and anything you have to say to me can be said in front of everyone here. They are all my family now as they are yours and I trust them all without question,” Jenna comes back.

  “The club as a whole will be discussing this matter but if you want to know what that meeting will be addressing then I can answer that,” I answer back.

  “That’s what I’m asking,” Jenna says.

  “The club is going to suggest a partnership with you running everything, but this way we get a cut of the profits, and you won’t need to buy the building. You put in the know-how and we put up the place,” I tell her as close to the truth as I can.

  “Then you will be talking to Ryder. Whiskey, Ryder, and I are in a partnership already but before we left our home, we discussed the thought of us owning a diner. We know where each of our strengths lie. Ryder is the brains at taking care of business and no one can drive a harder bargain than our boy. He’s taking on the business part. Whiskey and I are both strong on supplying the product or food in this venture, so we’ll be doing that together. My strongest point is people management. I will be handling the hiring and firing of the employees. Whiskey is a whiz at numbers and supplies. Whiskey will be looking over our books and keeping the stock up to date. Then we can help as we’re needed in other spots. We use our strengths to our advantage. We’ll hire a business attorney, an accountant, and a bookkeeper. I would also like to offer jobs to anyone in this house that would be willing to put in a good day of work for a good day’s pay. Each employee will be treated equally.” Jenna stops to take a breath. “You need to talk with Ryder. I expect that your brothers at the club will also be more willing to work with a man. Not that I think that’s right at all, but alpha men don’t like taking orders from a woman.” Jenna says it sweetly, but I see the look she’s giving me. I look at Ryder.

  “I will get with you this week on when the best time will be for the meeting. It will be at the clubhouse and the whole club will be there,” I tell Ryder and he is stuffing his mouth with food while nodding his head.

  “Ryder acts like he isn’t paying attention, but he has been taking in every word you’ve said, and your negotiation skills better be good because Ryder is good at what he does. He’s a perfectionist and backing down isn’t something he does,” Jenna warns. “Can we still see the diner today? Better to be prepared.”

  “We can do that,” I tell Jenna.

  “Mom, Lexi, Dixie, and I want to go to the mall. Who do I need to ask?” Whiskey looks at both Jenna and me.

  “It fine that the three of you go. The board I left your mom a note on yesterday is where we write down if you leave and everyone is gone. You and Ryder can take your brothers and sisters wherever as long as it is age-appropriate, and no alcohol or drugs are involved. The board is just so I know when you left and about what time you will be back. If you run late just text your mom or me. This is for your safety. Erase the board when you get home.” Whiskey is shaking her head.

  “Alright, but just for the record, Dad, I don’t do drugs and I only drink with Ryder. We’re on the buddy system. If I drink, he doesn’t, and vice versa. One of us is always sober and the designated driver.” That makes me feel better but not my point at all.

  “I was telling you that some of Lexi and Dixie’s friends drink and I’m guessing do drugs as well. Those friends they aren’t allowed to hang out with.” Both Lexi and Dixie look anywhere but at me. “They know who the friends are so just ask. You aren’t their babysitter, but I am giving you the warning. You don’t want anyone getting you into trouble.”

  “Understood,” Whiskey says.

  “Anyone else have plans?” I ask looking at the boys.

  “We’re going to hang out here and pitch the football around. I’m going to try and teach Liam how to drive a standard too,” Ryder says.

  “After I get to see Twizzle and Lurch,” Liam says.

  Family. That’s what we are becoming.

  21

  Grinder…

  Jenna is right. Ryder drove a hard bargain. The club wanted thirty percent of the profit from the diner and we’re getting ten. Ryder wouldn’t consider anything else. It was the only thing that he had reservations with our negotiations, but he did get us to kick in extra security when it was needed. The boy should go into business. I need to quit calling him a boy. He has proven that he’s a man, but I still call Max boy. They’ll always be my boys.

  We did the vote on all the ol’ ladies and all were voted in. Our club is growing. Ryder was also voted in to be a prospect. After the business deal he made with us, we all come to the same conclusion that we needed to bring him into the fold and send him to school so he could become our business manager. He’s willing and it was voted on. He’ll be enrolled in the next semester. That doesn’t get him out of doing other prospect duties though.

  When the custody case went through the court so fast, Candy put herself in a drug rehab. It seems that Candy had formed an addiction to oxy. Now she can get the help she needs. D.D. has changed a lot since Lexi and Liam moved into my home. She’s trying to make amends to Liam and to Lexi. Max doesn’t talk to his mom much. Jenna gave D.D. a job at the diner. I think they are even trying at a friendship. I love Jenna more each day. She may have made me miss time with two of my children, but she gave me back my family.

  We have eyes on Sid, and he’s being watched closely, but our inside guy has gone quiet. That’s put us all on edge.

  That brings us to the cookout at the clubhouse today. We’re all sitting outside drinking beer and waiting for the brisket to be done. We’ve had the smoker going since last night. Jenna is inside organizing what the ol’ ladies brought and adding what’s missing. It’s a very good day.

  The brothers are relaxed, and everyone is having an enjoyable time as one big family.

  “Ryder, Liam, Trace, and Max have gone to the store to get more ice. They just left but when they get back, it should be time to eat.” Jenna bends down beside me, but I easily move her into my lap.

  “Sounds great. I’m starving. How about you Trapper?” I kiss Jenna’s cheek.

  “I’ve been starving all morning. I don’t have a woman at home to feed me.” Trapper laughs.

  “Where are the girls?” I ask Jenna.

  “Whiskey is with Seal. I think they went to his room to get something. Lexi and Dixie are doing each other’s hair in your room.” Last year those two weren’t even speaking to each other. That’s when I hear the first ping. I know that sound. No!

  “Everyone, get in the clubhouse.” I see Dom trying to lift his woman in his arms and there is blood coming from her. I lift Jenna up and hand her to Trapper. “Get her to safety.” The pings are rapid, and I hear screams of agony. I turn to see where I’m needed and when I turn back Trapper is gone. The back is secured by a fence and woods that are grown up next to it. They must be in the trees. I see Dom go down and I run to him.

  “Get her out of here!” Dom yells. I watch around us. We are sitting ducks. I see a flash from a treetop and I shoot at it. Someone falls to the ground. I pick up Dom’s woman and I run for the back door. It’s open and Jenna is standing there. I find a place to lay Tinsley.

  “Call for an ambulance. She’s hit and unconscious.” I lay her down. I see Trapper run into the room with two assault rifles in his hands and he throws me one.

  “Chipper and Seal are upstairs, and they are returning fire from the windows. Whoever it is has been firing from the treetops on the other side of the fence,” Trapper tells me.

  “Dom and Eagle are both hit and down.” That’s when I hear a roar in the back. That’s a truck motor. I run back outside. I see Dom is dragging himself and I fire into the trees and then take off for Dom. I see Ryder’s big truck speeding directly for the trees with Whiskey’s behind it. My heart freezes. I get Dom in the clubhouse and Trapper has made it back with Eagle. I turn to run back out, but I am no more outside, and I feel a burning in my leg and then everything goes black.

  22

  Jenna…

  The hard chairs are wearing on my body, but I refuse to leave. I said I wasn’t leaving until Eli opened his eyes and I won’t. I have been here for three days and two nights in this waiting room. Some of the club brothers and the family are here. The clubhouse is on lockdown for everyone else, whatever that is. If any of us leave the waiting room area we are accompanied by a club member.

  When the bullets stopped, Eagle had a wound to his shoulder and Dom had one to his leg. Neither were life-threatening but they’ll be out of commission for a while. Tinsley was shot in her upper thigh. She didn’t lose the baby, but they have her on a monitor for a few days while she recovers from the gunshot. There were a few others that had cuts and wounds from ricochets. Fortunately, Bull Frog’s children were all inside. Dixie and Lexi locked themselves in Eli’s room. Whiskey was with Seal until Seal heard the commotion and then he locked her in his room and took the key with him, so she couldn’t get out and get in any trouble. Whiskey wasn’t amused. She felt Ryder needed her and she was fit to be tied when she was let out and she wouldn’t calm down until Ryder was in front of her.

  Ryder and the boys had gone to town, or were on their way when they got the text from me that we were under fire. Max wanted to drive Whiskey’s truck and she had let him. When they received my text, they came back. They dropped Trace and Liam off. Bogie and Buckshot jumped in the back of the trucks and they went hunting for the cowards in the trees. Every one of ours that went were fine but there was plenty from the other side lying on the ground. The trucks were a total loss, not that we care. They can be replaced, people can’t.

  The only one that hasn’t woken from the dark is Eli. I stand to pace some more, but a man in scrubs walks in the door. “Jenna Taylor?” he asks.

  “That’s me,” I answer. The man smiles at me.

  “I need you to follow me. There is one upset biker that is bellowing to see you. I have called his doctor to come back in from lunch but the only way that man said he would calm down is to see his woman. Since your name was at the nurse’s station, I figured that was you. Would you follow me, please?”

  “Just me or can someone accompany me?” The man looks around at the full room.

  “One person can go with you but when the doctor gets back, then you both come back out here until we tell you to come back in.” I see the man’s name is Kurt.

  “Thank you, Kurt.” I look at Max, but Trapper comes over to me.

  “I need to talk to Eli first.” I stare at Trapper.

  “Max and I will be going in to see Eli first. Tell Max whatever it is that Eli needs to know. He’s a member of your club and his son; Max will be going with me.” I dare Trapper with my eyes to challenge me. Trapper doesn’t say anything else to me, but he motions Max and they have a few short words.

  “We’re ready, Kurt.” Max comes over and takes me by the arm gently and leads me behind Kurt. We walk into a hallway and Max bends down as we’re walking. “You may have intimidated Trapper a little. His pride is taking a blow right now. Don’t forget that because he won’t.” I nod my head. Kurt pushes open a room door and I see the most beautiful eyes open and looking at me. I run to Eli’s side and carefully hug him. I thought he would have so many more tubes and wires. I see his leg is wrapped where he took a bullet. His covers are pushed down like he was hot or something.

  “Why is your leg uncovered?” I ask.

  “They said that at each shift change the wound needs examining and the shift just changed. Now quit fretting over me and let me get a kiss.” That’s fine with me. I kiss my man. He grabs my hand when I try to back away from him. “I love you darlin’ and when I get out of here, we are going to make this a legal thing. I want you to be my wife.” I won’t hold him to his word. He’s doped up on the drugs they’ve given him. “I want you to agree now.” Eli is being demanding. “Don’t argue with me.” I decide it’s better to just agree.

  “I agree. I’ll be your wife.” I want to be his wife. I want it all with Eli.

  “I’ll remind you of this as soon as I am out of here and I won’t let you go back on your word. You better plan now because within twenty-fours hours of my discharge papers, we will be married.” He’s serious.

  “Okay,” I say.

  “Our sons can be the best men and our daughters the bridesmaids. Tanker is ordained and he’ll marry us,” Eli goes on.

  “Were you in a coma or were you taking some time out and planning our wedding?” I ask with a laugh.

  “I could have lost you all. I could have lost everything, and I won’t let that happen. I will never take another day for granted in my life. I love you and you are going to be my wife, a real wife.” Eli has touched my heart, again.

  “Damn, Dad, that was almost poetic. True love shit.” Max smiles but I see the relief. “I’m just going to say that we have Sid and we have security footage that proves he’s the one that hired the men that attacked us that day. The money envelope went from Sid’s hands to the man in charge, today. We don’t have any names yet on the men hired. Trapper also said that we have a shitstorm coming in our direction. I don’t know anything else. I think Trapper is pissed at Jenna for letting me see you before him.” Eli looks at me.

  “I made the decision and I stick by it. You have three daughters and three sons still waiting to see you. They are all worried out of their heads and I won’t apologize,” I state and I mean every word. The doctor walks in the room.

  “I need to examine my patient, everyone out,” the doctor says without looking at us.

  “Doc, if you want to walk out of this room alive, I suggest that you apologize to my family now.” Eli is going to need some recovery time, but he is going to be just fine. The doctor looks at Eli and then he sees Max in his cut, and he swallows hard.

  “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day and it’s not half gone yet for me. I forgot my manners,” the doctor says. I nod at him and Max looks at the man.

  “I love you Eli. When they let visitors back in, I will send Ryder and Trapper in.” That makes Eli quit frowning.

  “Love you too, babe, plan that wedding.” I move closer to Eli and give him a quick kiss and then I walk out of the room smiling. Max stands outside the door, but I keep walking up the hall.

  I could have stayed and argued to get Eli’s prognosis. They hadn’t updated us but twice since we had been there. We know there is no paralysis. I know Eli is going to be fine, we won’t accept anything less. I’m planning our wedding with our big family.

  Epilogue

  Grinder…

  I healed up just fine. It hurts being shot a hell of a lot more now than when I was in my twenties. I move slower and the recovery is longer. I kept my promise to Jenna, and we were married five days after I got out of the hospital. I promised her seven days, but I was impatient and made it five. I’m one lucky man. I have the big family I always wanted and a strong woman standing beside me.

  Our children are just as flawed as we are but with flaws bring strength.

  Max is thriving in the club and he’s a damn good brother and I am proud of him.

  Liam thought I would turn away from him because he’s gay. I love my son just the way he is but the chip he had on his shoulder was his insecurities. I’m just glad we have worked through them all. He is enrolled to start college in the fall, and he’s even talked about prospecting for the club. I won’t force the issue. He’ll come to his own decision.

  Ryder is prospecting for the club and going to business classes next semester. He also runs the business end of the diner.

  Trace is happy just being a teenager. He’s very close to Ryder and Jenna.

  Whiskey is wrapped up in Seal and they have a healthy relationship. He’s not pushing her and they both show their love for each other every day even if they aren’t labeling it yet.

  Lexi has been quiet and that isn’t my Lexi. I’m watching her and so is Jenna. She’s grown close to both Whiskey and Dixie.

  Dixie is three months pregnant. She hasn’t made any decisions about the baby. We’re not pressing the issue and we have her in counseling. She’s working with Jenna part-time. She’s very close to Whiskey and Lexi but she clings to Jenna. No complaints on that part. I think she just misses Candy.

  Candy is back in another rehab. The first one she went into was voluntary and when she couldn’t smoke in the facility, she left. Then she was busted on a drug charge and the court sent her to a place in Montana. It’s a lockdown facility and she won’t be getting out for at least nine months.

  D.D. seems lost with no appearances to keep up anymore. She sold the big house and downsized. Jenna did give her a job and now she’s just like everyday people. D.D. and Jenna have become friends and she hasn’t stepped out of line with me one time.

  Buzzard was found dead in his cell a week after he arrived. When Dixie was told, she didn’t react.

  Sid did orchestrate the hit on our clubhouse. We had to make an example out of him, and we did as a club. Sid gave us information before he died, and we have enemies that we thought were friends. He gave us the proof or the location of it. It was all there just like he said. We have ghosts breathing down our necks. The Deacons of Peril MC is in a war that we never knew about. We won’t lose. Our club is strong. Our family is strong. We’re going to get our hands dirty in this.

  The end until 2020.

  Also by Vera Quinn

  BlackPath MC

  1. Never Forever

  2. Catching Forever

  3. Holding Out Forever

  4. Making My Forever

  Feral Steel MC

  1. Beginning of the Inevitable

  2. Beginning to Breathe, Again

  3. Beginning of the Reckoning