Chapter Nine

Banks

Dinner was a quiet affair. No one really said anything. All eyes were on Nash, wondering if he would behave or start spewing shit again. As it was, the kid looked ready to collapse on the floor. From what I could see, he could barely keep his eyes open.

I still couldn’t believe I had a sixteen-year-old son.

Talk about a nut punch!

Laurel and I were only thirty-one.

We were still technically kids ourselves.

Well, I knew I was. She seemed to have her shit together.

Definitely didn’t need a DNA test to prove shit. That angry teen was mine, right down to his snarky attitude.

“Nash, would you like more mashed potatoes?” Sugar kindly asked.

“No thank you,” he muttered.

Looking at King, my Prez nodded as he leaned back in his chair.

“Laurel, if you agree, I think it’s best if Nash stays at the clubhouse for the time being. While he’s here, we can all monitor his schooling.”

My woman looked over at King, then at Nash, who gripped his fork hard in his hand, but stayed quiet.

“I agree, babe,” I said, reaching for her hand.

“I’ve never been away from him,” she muttered.

“Don’t need you to babysit me,” Nash whispered as all eyes turned to him.

“Nash, that’s not what I meant, honey. It just won’t be the same without you at the house. I’ll miss you.”

“You’ve got your perfect son to keep you company,” Nash sneered, getting up from the table. “I’m tired. Where is my room?”

“Come on, Nash,” Hawk said, getting to his feet. “I’ll show you.”

The second Nash left, Kai looked at his mother and asked, “Did I do something wrong, Mom?”

Hugging the small boy, she muttered, “No, baby. You didn’t. Nash is just angry at me right now.”

“Why don’t you boys go into the rec room and play,” King offered as Cameron’s eyes twinkled with mischief, only for the little shit to moan when King added, “Yes, you two are still grounded. This is only a one-time pass and yes, you still have to do chores. Now get out of here.”

Cameron narrowed his eyes and snarked, “Come on, boys, let’s go before he changes his mind.”

The second the boys left, Laurel raked her hands through her hair. “He hates me.”

“He’s an angry teenage boy,” Bailey said. “He hates everyone.”

“Bails is right, Laurel,” Scribe piped up. “We’ve all been where Nash is. It’s just how things are.”

“I wasn’t angry,” Laurel countered.

“That’s because you were too damn tired from raising a newborn and trying to get through high school,” King stated. “Look, Laurel, none of us here think you are a bad mother. You’ve done everything right, but you have a lot on your plate right now with your mother’s wedding, the store opening, and raising Kai. Whatever is going on with Nash is no reflection on you. You can’t fix what you don’t know.”

“I’m his mother, King. I should know.”

“You’re not a mind reader, babe,” I said. “Boys are different from girls. We keep our feelings and shit to ourselves, and if Nash is anything like me, which I suspect he is, he doesn’t want to burden you with his shit because he knows you already do everything.”

“Banks is right, sweet girl,” Mrs. Steiner said. “My Georgie and Frankie were totally different growing up. Georgie was the angry one. Hated that he had to live with me after his parents died. He always felt he was too good for everything.”

“Wasn’t that bad, Granny.” Georgie huffed.

“No, you were worse,” Mrs. Steiner clipped. “You were hell on wheels, drinking, whoring around town and getting into so much trouble, I actually considered sending you to military school.”

We all chuckled.

“Now, my Frankie was a lot like your Kai. Sweet, kind, and eager to help, but even Frankie had a bout of rebellion in him when he up and joined the military. I was so mad at him, I didn’t speak to him for an entire year. But it all worked out in the end. Georgie is a board-certified doctor in three specialties, and Frankie is—”

“Happy being a stay-at-home dad.” Frank smiled.

“And thank God for that.” Claudia grinned, kissing her husband’s cheek.

“Mrs. Steiner is right, Laurel.” King sighed. “Every brother here has been where Nash is right now. We know what it’s like to be a teenage boy. Times may be different, but the fact remains that Nash needs a firm hand, or he will get so out of control that no one will be able to save him.”

“I understand that, but what I don’t understand is why you all want to help. I barely know all of you.”

“Because you are my woman,” I said, taking her hand. “I know I’ve said this before and I will keep saying it until it sinks in, babe. I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to do this alone anymore. Nash is my son too. He needs to know that I’m not going anywhere. Whatever he dishes out, I can handle. Remember, babe, I was a lot like Nash at his age.”

Laurel sighed. “Alright. Nash can stay here. I don’t like it, but I understand this is what he needs right now.”

Standing on the steps watching Laurel and Kai leave the compound, I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

What did I know about raising and molding a teenage boy?

I barely survived my teens and had to learn some hard lessons along the way. I never knew my mother or my father, and from what I’d been told, my father was a complete bastard who lived his life one bullet at a time in the Russian Bratva, until he died by the code he lived. I had foster parents, people who tried to give me what I needed, but they were just paid caregivers, only doing their jobs.

Nash wasn’t a job. He was my son, and I didn’t want him going down the same road I went.

I spent my later teen years drifting from one place to another, doing whatever the hell I wanted. I even had a few run-ins with the law that could have gone badly if it weren’t for my WITSEC handlers.

The fact was, I was a problem child. I hated everything about my life before I came to Rosewood. I never really felt like I belonged anywhere until I met King. I was just a snot- nosed punk with a major chip on my shoulder when I started prospecting for the Sons of Hell. There were a few times I actually thought King would kick me from the club. Looking back, I knew I pushed a lot of King’s buttons, but in the end, I woke the fuck up and with King’s help, I became the man I was today.

“You really my dad?”

Turning, I saw Nash leaning against the doorway, looking right at me. Nodding, I said, “Yeah, I am.”

“Where the fuck have you been?”

“It’s a long story and I will tell you sometime, but know it wasn’t your fault or my choice. I never wanted to leave your mom.”

Nash shook his head and huffed, “Whatever,” as he walked back inside and up the stairs. Never glancing back once.

He was so fucking angry.

Heading back inside, I spotted King standing near the bar.

“We need to talk.”

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and followed him into his office to find Scribe already there, waiting.

Taking a seat, I waited, wondering what the problem was now.

“How are you dealing with all this?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “About as well as I can, I suspect.”

“Banks,” King began. “I’m gonna have to bring the club up to speed about you. Everyone is already asking questions.”

“I figured as much. Laurel keeps calling me Nikoli.”

“Speaking of which. How does she know your real name?” Scribe asked.

“I knew she was mine from the moment I laid eyes on her. I didn’t want to lie to her. So I didn’t.”

“But your handlers would have given you another name.”

“When I met Laurel, my name was Nick. I told her it was short for Nikoli. She loved the name and refused to call me anything else. She was the only person besides her mother who called me Nikoli,” I informed them, then groaned, rubbing my hands down my face. “Maybe it’s for the best. I always hated hiding who I was. I’m tired of it. I just want to be me. Now that I have Laurel, I don’t want to pretend anymore, and I refuse to lie to my son.”

“We go down this road, Banks, and there is no turning back. Once the truth about you is out there, you will need to be extra vigilant. No more joking around and thinking you are safe. I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears low to the ground regarding your past, and while I’m happy to tell you that the old Bratva is no longer in power, there are men still out there who remember. Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah. I’m sure. No more secrets.”

King sighed. “Alright. I will inform the brothers in church tomorrow.”

“No.” I shook my head. “We tell them all. They all need to know. Plus, I don’t want to keep repeating myself.”

“Then we need to hold a club meeting and get Mike up here as well,” Scribe suggested.

“You set it up, Scribe,” King instructed, then looked back at me. “Now, about Nash. You have one very angry son, Banks.”

“I know and I think I just piled on to whatever is bothering him.”

“I’ve got an idea on how to bring him to heel. That is, if you are willing to go down that road. Plus, it will mean all the brothers will have a hand in helping him.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I make him a prospect for the club.”