permanently lives, sleeps, and eats in his workshop. But it doesn’t stop him being one hell of a guy when it comes to helping people in need. Fingers is like the father Abbey doesn’t have, and some days when I watch the pure happiness between them when she’s out here giving him a hand to fix things up, I wonder if he thinks of her the same way—as family.
I find Beefy exactly where Callum said he would be, eating on the back deck in the waning afternoon sun. He doesn’t acknowledge me as I pull up a plastic chair and sit beside him. I wait on the guy to finish his mouthful before I speak.
“Heard you’d like to talk to me.”
He nods. “How serious are you about this woman?”
“She’s carryin’ my kid.”
“Never stopped a man from walkin’ before.”
True that. “I’m serious, brother.”
He stares off across the backyard as he wipes his lips on a paper napkin. “If I back you, I need to know that she’s it. I’m not about to put my position, the brotherhood of this club, and our reputation on the line if you’re goin’ to decide in six months’ time you’d like to be stickin’ your dick elsewhere.”
“She’s it,” I reassure him. I look to my hands as I twist one of my rings around a finger. “Been thinking about makin’ it official once this is all sorted.”
That grabs his full attention. “You goin’ to ask her to be your old lady?” He stares at me, waiting on the answer.
I shake my head. “Nope. Marry me. Make us a proper family.”
“You realize she’s already married, right?” he asks dryly.
I nod again. “Doesn’t matter to me, man. I’ll do whatever it takes to annul that bullshit and set it right with my name.”
“She know?”
“Haven’t had a chance to talk it through with her,” I deadpan.
He smiles. “Right.”
“You have an idea, then?”
Beefy scratches his chest and clears his throat. “A few of us have managed to stall Apex bringing the table to vote on new officers.”
I glance over my shoulder at the doors that lead inside.
Beefy pats my shoulder. “You’re good. He’s gone out for a bit. Fuck knows where, actually. Wouldn’t say, as usual.”
I let out a sigh of relief and turn back to the big guy. “I heard you’re worried he’ll vote in his own supporters so he’ll have bomb-proof backing.”
“Yeah.” The chair creaks under Beefy’s weight as he leans back. “There are two positions vacant and three in situ. Four lifers who have the right to vote in crisis as well . . . if Apex decides to bring them in on it.” He laces his fingers over the swell of his stomach. “Of the three left at the table, you’ve got me and two others. One I have on side; he gave me his word he’d back me up. The other I’m unsure on. Don’t trust him, so haven’t spoken to him.”
“And the lifers?”
“Even split as well.”
Fuck it. The votes could swing either way. “Who is Apex proposing to vote in?”
“He hasn’t said.” Beefy checks the doors before leaning closer and continuing a little quieter. “But I get the feelin’ one is our impromptu visitor.”
I grunt at the thought. “I saw his bike in my spot.”
“That’s just Apex messin’ with your head. Ignore it.”
“Who is it? Fingers said he’s a new guy/old guy. Makes no sense.”
Beefy nods as he straightens up again. “He’s both, Fingers is right. Nomad. Been through the clubs like a roulette ball doin’ the rounds. Hence to say, not many people around here like the guy.”
“Apex say why he invited him here?”
Beefy stares at me, en eyebrow cocked. “What you think?”
“He’s an Ace, though?”
“For now.”
I shake my head, confused. “Who the fuck would keep lettin’ him back in if he’s a hopper?”
“Brick.” President of our Californian chapter.
“Jesus.”
“Even he won’t help this time,” Beefy says with a chuckle. “I’m puttin’ you up for Twig’s spot.”
He drops the news as if it’s nothing. VP—after all