Chapter Five

Stryker

TODAY IS ONE of the hardest days I think we'll ever go through in our lives as parents. You spend years raising your kids and teaching them how to be the best version of themselves they can be. I've taught my son how to be a man and my daughters to not take any shit from anyone trying to come into their lives. Now, it's time for the second child to leave the house and I'm not ready for it. None of us are ready for our sons to leave home and move to Pine View to be with Vault and Valor. Natalia, my oldest daughter, is off at college and living her best life. She calls us daily to check in and make sure I know she's doing good. Nat might not be my biological daughter, but she's mine in all the ways that count. I've loved her since the first second I laid eyes on her and wished so many times her dad was still alive and in her life. It would mean I wasn't with my wife and that we didn't have our children, but my girl was sad for so long and I know she misses her dad even though she never got the chance to meet him.

Natalia is a few hours away at college taking criminal justice. She wants to become a lawyer to put assholes like the man who took her dad from her behind bars for the rest of their lives. At first, she wanted to be a cop and we made arrangements for her to shadow a police officer for the day. Natalia loved going out and seeing what an officer does on a daily basis, but it's not what she was looking to do with her life. So, she sat down and researched everything in the criminal justice field until she finally settled on becoming a lawyer. I know she's going to make a damn good one too. Our girl can fucking argue about anything and she's stubborn as fuck. Natalia won't back down and will stand her ground to fight for what's right. She will uphold the law and not let assholes buy her off so she throws a case or anything like that. We're so fucking proud of her.

Kaden didn't have the best start to life thanks to a man named Chrome who wanted what we refused to give. No, not the Chrome from our Nomad chapter. This asshole was the President of a club and thought we would let him run drugs through our territory because it's what he wanted to happen. Our Chrome didn't even join the club until after that incident and we didn't know of his road name until the first time we met him at a rally. It took some getting used to, but we all managed to because of the man he is. Sally was the first person to accept him and it's not surprising because she has such a huge heart. My Sally was taken and hurt while she carried Kaden. I almost lost my wife and son because of a selfish, greedy fuck who thought we would roll over and give him what he wanted.

Over the years, we thought we were going to have more problems with Kaden. The doctors told us there could be developmental delays and that he'd be smaller than other kids his age. They told us so many things to prepare us for the worst case scenario of what could potentially happen as he got older and started to learn new things. If he had problems, our boy overcame the obstacles thrown in his path and fucking demolished them. He's put on muscle and is one of the taller boys in our extended family. Kaden didn't let a fucking thing stand in his way and I know without a doubt he's going to continue to demolish everything in his path that tries to hold him back and will never hesitate to fight for what he wants with every ounce of strength he possesses. Kaden's pure determination has caused so many happy tears to fall from Sally over the years as he conquered everything and I held her while trying to be strong for my wife and son.

Emmie, our youngest daughter, will still be home. But, it won't be long before she's graduating high school and leaving us behind as well. Our girl wants to be a doctor and she's never once wavered in her decision. Emmie wants to save the world and make sure people get the best treatment she can provide for them. Growing up, she was always ‘healing' her stuffed animals, rescuing injured animals, and spent days following Doc around whenever any of us were hurt so she could see what she'd be getting herself into. Doc didn't have a problem and he gave her the chance to give me stitches the last time I needed them. It was an experience for both of us because my baby girl didn't want to hurt me more than I already was, but she got over those feelings and pushed through to give me ten stitches from a cut I got while working on my bike. She's going to go so far in the world and I'll be there every step of the way with Sally at my side as we watch our children follow their dreams and achieve every single goal they set for themselves.

As I walk through the house, taking in all the pictures of my family over the years, I can't stop smiling as each picture shows a memory we created as a family. I watch our kids grow once again as we all captured them through the lens of a camera. My favorite one is a group picture of all the kids with our bikes and clubhouse behind them. We all tried to stay out of the picture but the kids all wanted Slim and Shy with them. Our kids love those two and didn't stop begging until the couple agreed and sat in the very back of the picture with them. It's a fond memory and we all have the same picture in our home because the ol' ladies wanted us to all remember what a great day it was. I never simply walk past this picture without stopping and thinking of the day and smiling.

I get to Kaden's room and look in the open door to find my son sitting on the edge of his bed as he looks around his empty room. There are still things he'll be leaving behind and we'll keep for him, but it's empty of everything that gave this room life. Natalia's room is the same and it breaks my fucking heart knowing they won't just be down the hall when I want to check in on them. Now it's through FaceTime or some kind of video chat if I want to physically see my daughter and I know it will be the same for Kaden in a few short days. Tapping on the frame of his door, I get his attention before walking in to see where his head's at. We haven't had a chance to talk about everything and I want to make sure he's making the move for the right reasons.

"Looks a lot fuckin' different in here," I state the obvious as I take in the posters left on the walls and the bed that's been stripped of all blankets. There's nothing else left but a few trophies from Kaden's football days growing up.

"Yeah it does. I was just sittin' here thinkin' of all the hours I spent in here and how it's always been my room. Now I'm gonna have a new room in a new city where I only know the guys from here. It's not gonna be the same as walkin' to the livin' room or goin' to the clubhouse to find you if I need to talk about somethin'," Kaden says, looking up at me and letting me see him in one of his vulnerable moments.

Kaden is a lot of things, but he tries so fucking hard not to let many people see him weak or vulnerable. I can count on one hand the number of people he's let in like that over the years. Other than his sisters, Mom, and me, Colton is the only other one my son has let in. Colton is his best friend and has been there through everything with my son. Every obstacle, differing path choices, and every other hard as fuck decision Kaden has had to make over the years, Colton has been right at his side and helped him any way he could.

"I get it, Son. We've all been there one way or another over the years. You've overcome so much since the day you were born and I have no doubt you'll get past any lingering fear or doubts you have about movin' away from Benton Falls. My only question is if this is a decision you truly want to make? Are you movin' away from Benton Falls because it's what you wanna do or because Colton and the rest of the guys are movin' to Pine View? Because if you wanna stay here, I'll go unpack your shit from the truck myself," I tell my son, looking at him as he thinks about the decision and how to give me an answer. "Don't tell me what you think I want to hear, Kaden. I want to know your honest opinion and how you feel about movin' away."

I don't pressure my boy to answer me as he gives himself a few minutes to truly think about what he wants in his life and if this is the move he should be making moving forward. Sitting in silence, I give my son the time he needs to figure out what he wants to say and about the decision he wants to make moving forward. Sometimes we all need a few minutes to figure out what to say or do and this is one of those times for Kaden.

"Dad, I want to go to Pine View. There's a lot of reasons why I want to go there, but there's also reasons for me to want to stay home. I mean, this is the only home I've ever known and I can admit it's scary to move to a new city where you don't know another person besides those you've grown up with. It's a huge change and one I think I'm ready for. That doesn't mean I can't be worried about it though. This isn't because Colton is movin' to Pine View either, Dad. Yeah, he's my best friend and we do everythin' together. We have our entire lives. This is truly somethin' I need to do for me.

"If I were to stay here in Benton Falls, I would be surrounded by my family. And that's a good thing. You know I love you all and love bein' here with everyone in the club. However, I would always be stuck in your shadow. You're the Sergeant at Arms here in Benton Falls. If you step down, I would more than likely get that position because everyone knows you've been teachin' me everythin' from the time I was old enough to understand your role within the club and what it means. No matter how different I do things or anythin' else, I would be compared to you and that's not somethin' I can deal with. I'm already compared to you by everyone. I'm not complainin' about bein' compared to you, Dad. You're great at your role in the club and have done it for a long time. But, I want to forge my own path in life. I need to make my own way in the world and I can't do that here," Kaden finally says, determination lacing his voice as he keeps his eyes locked on me as he lets me process his words.

"I get that shit. We all want to prove to everyone that we're our own person and shit. If anyone can understand that, it's me and your mom. Look at where she started in the Wild Kings and who she is now. I just want to make sure you're makin' this move for the right reasons and not because it's somethin' you feel you have to do because everyone else is movin'. We will accept you here in this chapter without hesitation if you decide to stay," I tell my son, leaning forward so I can turn my head and look at him better.

"I know you would, Dad. That's kind of the problem. All of you would be happy if we were to stay here and take over for you guys in Benton Falls. Deep down, I'm sure most of us wouldn't have a problem doin' that either. But, I think Vault was onto somethin' when he made the decision to leave town so he could find himself after losin' Hound. I might not know everythin', but we've all heard you guys talkin' over the years and know enough about the situation to understand that we have to find our way in the world without any restraints or holdin' back because we want you all to remain proud of us as we take over this chapter of the club from you," Kaden states, showing me once again he's fucking smart as hell and has really given this the thought it needs before he just jumped without looking to make sure he'd be caught.

I will always catch all of my kids when they fall and need me the most. There's never been a question about that and I've proven it more than once over the years. That's honestly the easy fucking part if you ask me. The hard part is knowing it's time to step back and let your child fly on his or her own without you right there to catch them when they fall. And it's not a question of if they'll fall—they will make mistakes and fall so many times as they find their way in the world. We all make mistakes and need to learn from them. It's simply part of growing up and becoming who you're meant to be.

"You're right. We all hate that Vault left the way he did. He was so fuckin' lost for so long and made mistakes every fuckin' day. But, he got himself out of the hole he dug and then found the path he was meant to be on. From what I hear, he won't touch a drop of alcohol all these years later. We're all proud of the man he's become and how hard he fought to come back to us when none of us were sure if it would happen. Valor too. Both of them came out stronger after losin' their dad. I want you to know that you can always call me, Kaden. I'm never gonna disappear on you and will be in Pine View in a heartbeat if that's what you need from me. I love you, Son," I tell him, looking at my son as he leans forward and hugs me like he used to when he was a little boy.

Closing my eyes, I take in this moment with my son. I don't give a fuck how old Kaden is, he will always be my baby boy because he's my first born son. There's nothing I won't do for him and a conversation that will ever be too difficult to have if he's going through something.

"Did you get told we're not leavin' tomorrow?" Kaden asks me, as he pulls away from me and sits back on his bed once again.

"Yeah. I can't fuckin' believe Killer is really gonna let go of Hope so she can move to Pine View with the rest of you," I state, shaking my head because I've known Killer a long time and he's always kept his girls close to him.

Hope and Faith have never been able to have the freedom the rest of us have given our kids as they grew up. We all told him multiple times it was gonna bite him in the ass one day and I have a feeling he just had that day with one of his daughters. I love both girls as if they were my very own. Watching them grow up, you could tell the difference in the girls the second you saw them. Hope has always been the one that's more daring and willing to push back against her dad's rules and demands. Faith has only gone along with her sister because she didn't want her to get hurt or in trouble alone. If it weren't for that, Faith is the most content when she's in the house or reading somewhere alone. It's her way and she's happy with her decisions. Hope hasn't been happy for a long time and we've all seen it. Now, everyone is delayed in leaving because Hope needs to pack her things and we're all going to give her the time she needs to move with everyone else instead of leaving on her own.

"Yeah. Um, Hope told her dad she hated him and wanted to get away from him and all of his rules and demands because she hasn't ever been given a chance to discover who she is as a person. It was a huge fight and she ran from the house in tears. Killer had to learn where she was hidin' from Carson and he wasn't happy about that shit. But, they talked and he relented. Killer doesn't want his girls to hate him. He loves them so much and is overprotective because that's who he is as a man. We're all gonna watch out for Hope in Pine View, but I have a feelin' Carson isn't gonna let us close to her once we're all settled in," my son informs me as I look at him because we're gossiping about Killer and if he finds out, we're both gonna get our asses beat.

"You think Carson's gonna take that step with Hope? He's had plenty of time and has been one of the biggest manwhores this club has seen in a while. No matter how much time has passed, I'm not sure Killer can get past that aspect of Carson's life," I tell my son as I think of how we all used to be when we were closer in age to them. "I mean, we've all been there and have had our fair share of women over the years until we found our women. I've never kept that aspect of my life hidden from you. The girls, yes. You, not so much. It's not because I feel there should be different standards for girls and boys, it's because I don't want your sisters to know the guy I was when I was younger. I think if Carson is gonna stand a chance with Killer, he's gonna have to man up and have a serious conversation with him," I tell Kaden knowing this is something he's going to have to do in the future when he finally finds the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

"I think it might take somethin' big to make Carson step up to the plate so he's willin' to take that step with Hope. Both of them are actin' like they don't like the other one but we all know the truth of the situation. If Carson doesn't pull his head out of his ass, Hope is gonna move on from him and he'll lose her for good," Kaden tells me, his voice barely above a whisper as Emmie's door opens further down the hallway.

"So, what are you thinkin' about findin' a girl of your own, Kaden?" I ask my boy with a smile on my face because this is a conversation Kaden always tries to avoid if he can. Tonight I'm not gonna let him get away with it.

"I don't know, Dad. Colton and I are havin' a good time sharin' girls between us for now. That might change one day, but for now, I have to say that I'm happy with how things are goin'. Am I gonna miss the chance to meet a girl who might not want to be shared between Colton and me? No, I don't think I will. I mean, if I find my own, then I have to follow my gut and try to make it work. Colton and I have already talked about the possibility of us not sharin' an ol' lady. I can't say it's somethin' we wanna do, but we both know that's a chance we have to take when it comes to the girl we're meant to be with," my son tells me, his voice still just above a whisper as we listen for Emmie to make her way down the hall toward the kitchen where I know Sally almost has our dinner ready.

"Okay. Well, I'll be here if you ever need to talk about things. For now, let's go eat dinner before your mom comes in here and beats our asses for not bein' at the table for one last family meal before you leave," I state, standing from Kaden's bed as he follows my lead.

After sharing one last hug, my son and I make our way to the dining room where Sally and Emmie are waiting for us. Sally hugs her son and holds him close before letting him take his seat. Together we eat our dinner and talk about everything except for Kaden moving to Pine View. That's a conversation we've had too many times and there's nothing left to say because it's all been said and I've checked in with Kaden to make sure he's made the right decision. My son is smart and will make sure he makes the best decisions in his life he possibly can. It's something Sally and I have both instilled in our children the best we can over the years.