Chapter Nine

Storm

What the fuck was I going to do now?

Staring at the paper in front of me, I still couldn't believe it.

A 99.9% match.

Harlow Campbell was my daughter.

I mean, I knew she was. She looked just like me, but now it was real. I had proof.

Fuck!

I was a dad.

"Don't matter how long you stare at that paper, Storm, it won't change the results." Silver smirked as she passed me a scotch. "The way I look at it is that little girl hit the jackpot."

"How so?"

"Cause her father is a bigger kid than she is."

"Not funny," I muttered, downing the shot, sighing when I felt the burn all the way down to my gut.

Turning the paper over, I rested my elbows on the bar and groaned. "Well, what in the hell am I going to do now?"

Pouring me another shot, Silver shook her head as Largo took a seat next to me. It was still odd seeing her back in the clubhouse, but I was happy she was back. She belonged here. She was one of us. Always had been, always would be.

"It's not brain surgery, Storm. So, you've got a kid. Montana, Vicious, Mercy, and Fury all have kids. You don't see them acting like it's the end of the world."

"They had time to prepare."

"Really?" Silver snarked, then laughed. "Do you not remember Tessa and York? Boss man lost his shit when he learned the truth. At least your kid is out of diapers."

I shivered at that.

She had a point.

"Look, right now, the only thing you need to worry about is Harlow getting better. Be there for her mother. From what I heard, Delany has had to do everything herself. Poor girl could use a damn break. So, give her one. Tess told me she never leaves the hospital."

"And do what? I know nothing about her."

"And that's the problem," Silver stated, leaning against the bar. "Look, Storm. Delany is the mother of your child. You two must have liked something about one another because you two did the mattress mambo. Most men know the mother of their children. They have some background, some kind of relationship. Yours is purely sexual. Try getting to know the mother of your child. Who knows, maybe you two have something in common besides Harlow."

"You want me to get to know her?" I frowned. "Why?"

"Because she is the mother of your daughter," Largo snarked, shaking her head, looking at Silver. "Is he even listening to us?"

"Doesn't look like it." Silver frowned. "I think he's still in shock."

"Well, Mercy will snap him out of it," Shame stated, walking over, holding a file up in front of him. "VP wants to see you. Now."

Getting to my feet, I followed Shame into Mercy's office. I didn't know why Mercy wanted to speak with me, but it wasn't what I expected.

"I'm sorry, Storm. It's the only way."

"What if I don't claim Harlow?"

"Look, man, you know the fucking rules. The club is clear. I've already talked to Montana about this. He's pretty fucking pissed off and is not budging. Hell, Storm, you yourself have a piece of the tower displayed in your office in remembrance to your father and all who died that day. You really want to align yourself with an outcast, because that's what she will be once this city learns who her father is. It's only a matter of time."

"She was barely five when 9/11 happened."

"Doesn't matter, Storm." Shame sighed. "Look, brother, I hate this. Delany seems like a really nice piece, and she's done an amazing job raising your kid. If I could change the past I would, but I can't. The fact is, Delany's father was under investigation for arson that got five of his firehouse brothers killed. The fire inspector had enough evidence to prosecute. They were waiting on the arrest warrant when Campbell up and left, taking his wife and kid with him."

"Then how in the hell did he end up working for another firehouse in Arizona? I was training to be a firefighter. You both know that. No way in fucking hell would another house hire a firestarter."

"Still looking into that, but it doesn't look good. After 9/11, everything was in chaos. This city lost so many, I may never know the truth, but the paper trail doesn't lie. David Campbell was responsible for killing five members of his own firehouse."

Shit!

I hadn't even given Delany any thought since I learned I fathered Harlow. All I cared about was saving my little girl.

I liked Delany. She seemed real and on the level. Just another hard-working single mom doing her best. That was something I could get behind. As for everything else, she was a complete stranger to me. Yeah, we shared a kid. Honestly, I didn't know if anything would come of us co-parenting.

I wasn't thinking that far ahead.

"Mercy, I can't let my kid die."

"Then you know what you have to do," Mercy said, sliding the legal documents towards me. "Virginia had them drawn up. All you have to do is sign them and she will get a judge to sign off. The second she does, she will contact CPS, and they will inform Delany that you were given temporary permanent custody of your daughter, and she is to leave the hospital immediately. She will have no contact with Harlow."

"This feels wrong, Mercy," I said, looking at the documents. "Delany's a good mom. What if the report is a mistake?"

"You willing to take that chance? Everything you've worked for, built back up, every charity, your father's legacy, will come tumbling down because of this woman if you don't protect yourself. Is one piece really worth it losing it all?"

Getting to my feet, I shook my head. "I'm telling you. Something isn't right here. I can feel it, and one thing my father drilled into me from birth was if something didn't feel right, then it probably wasn't. I need to speak to my mom about this."

"I'll give you twenty-four hours, Storm. But let me be very clear, if you forgo signing, this club will not protect you from what is to come. We all have businesses that rely on this city. This shit doesn't just affect you. It affects all of us."

"What are you saying? If I don't sign, the club will take my mark?"

Mercy sat stone faced. "Will take more than that. You knew what would happen before you accepted the brand."

"Don't fucking threaten me, Mercy. Just remember one thing. I was a businessman long before the brand. I know where all the money is hidden."

His silence spoke volumes.

I was on my own.

Snatching the documents, I left Mercy's office and the clubhouse.

I needed to think, and I couldn't do it at the clubhouse with my brothers breathing down my neck. I knew it wouldn't be long before they all knew what was going on. I didn't want to have them choose sides. It would be better if I stayed away until I knew what I was going to do.

But first, I needed to speak to my mom.

Half an hour later, I walked into my family's Bar & Grill to find my mom behind the bar, talking with the chief of Fire Station 43. Gale Stevens was a good man. Hard and trustworthy. He took over the local firehouse after my cousin Shane Calloway died of complications from lung cancer. A lot of the firefighters that survived 9/11 had gotten sick because of the dust and air they inhaled that day, trying to save as many lives as they could.

I thought it funny that, even from the grave, the survivors still battled the events of 9/11 until the day they died. All heroes in my book. Immortalized forever because of their dedication and actions that day... never forgotten.

"Hey, Jason." My mom smiled as I walked into the bar. "Thought you'd be at work today. What brings you by?"

"Need to talk, Mom. Got a minute?"

"Sure." My mom frowned, turning back to Gale. "We can pick this up later, Gale. I'll stop by the firehouse tomorrow morning."

"Sure thing, Stacy." The older man winked, before leaving.

Watching as the man left, I heard my mom ask, "What's wrong?"

"Need to talk in private."

Laying a towel on the bar, my mom waved Brendon over. "Watch the bar."

Following my mom to her office, I closed and locked the door behind us. Taking a seat, my mom did the same, waiting for me to begin. I wanted to blurt everything out, just to get it out in the open, but for the life of me, I couldn't find the right words. What I was about to say was going to open up old wounds and possibly create new ones. My mom had been through so much over the years. I really hated laying this at her feet, but I didn't know what else to do.

She was the only one I trusted besides my club brothers, and, thanks to Mercy, I knew the club's position.

"Spit it out, Jason. What's going on?"

"I'm in trouble, Mom, and I don't know what to do."

"Trouble is relative. Need to be more specific than that, Jason."

"Almost three years ago, I met a woman at this bar. Took her home, had sex and left. I thought that was it. I found out yesterday that I had fathered a child. A little girl. And before you say get a paternity test, I did. She's mine."

"I'm a grandmother?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"And where is my granddaughter?"

"At St. John's Presbyterian Hospital. She's sick, Mom."

My mother leaned forward and glared at me. "Tell me you are not Harlow's father? Tell me you didn't sleep with your sister's friend, Jason."

Taking a deep breath, I looked my mom square in the eyes and spoke, "I'm Harlow's father."

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph." My mom sighed, sitting back in her chair. "I always wondered you know. Watched Harlow grow over the years. She's a sweet girl. Looked just like you did at her age. Have you told Robin?"

"Not yet."

"See that you do. Your sister is funny when it comes to her friends. So, what's the real problem? Because I know my granddaughter isn't it."

"The club found out about Delany's dad."

My mom stared blankly at me before looking down at her hands. "What about him?"

"Mom, help me out here. Shame found documents about an investigation. Tell me he didn't do it?"

"I can't do that, Jason."

Sighing, I raked my hands down my face. "So, he's guilty then?"

"Didn't say that either," my mom replied cryptically.

Groaning, I leaned forward and said, "Mom, give me something because if you don't, the club has been clear with me."

"What's the club have to do with Delany and Harlow?"

"They won't allow Delany's relations to tarnish the club. You know better than anyone how much the club donates yearly to the families. The Fireman Charity alone brings in millions. Several brothers have business relations with members of this city who all lost someone that day."

"Delany is innocent. She had nothing to do with it."

"I know that. You know that. The fucking club knows that, but it's her father, Mom. When this city learns who her father is, and you know damn well they will make the connection, everything all of us have worked for, bled for, will be for nothing. While I'm willing to risk myself, I can't risk everyone else, and that includes you and this bar. It's your livelihood."

"It's just a bar, Jason," she muttered. "What is the club asking you to do?"

"File for permanent custody of Harlow and sever visitation. They want me to cut Delany completely out."

"You can't do that, Jason. Delany loves that little girl. Everything she's ever done was to ensure Harlow had the best life."

"I know that, Mom. That's why I am here. You were alive back then and remember more than I do. Tell me what you know, because I promise you, I will protect the club and my brothers at all costs, even if taking my daughter away from her mother sours my stomach."

"Everything was a mess back then, Jason. We'd all lost so much, some more than others. Many of the firehouses were vacant. Sat empty like haunted houses because there was no one to man them. Those who survived were working twenty-four seven and even that wasn't enough. Back then, everyone volunteered. Wanted to help. We'd all been affected and suffered tremendously. The country was in mourning. David Campbell was one of the survivors. He and your cousin Shane were close back then. Together they gathered as many volunteers as possible, gave them a crash course in firefighting and sent them out on calls. It was the only way until everything calmed down and they could train new recruits properly.

"David got word that something was wrong shortly after the funerals. That's when the first house fire took the life of a family. Not just any family, either, Jason. The family of a firefighter who died in Tower Two. Made the front page of the Times. Just when this city had made it through the funerals, we had to hold another.

"Tensions were high back then to find the culprit when it was determined that the fire was arson. Used thermite as the incendiary. The family never had a chance. To make matters worse, the fire inspector found evidence that the doors and windows were jammed shut. Even if the family wanted to escape, they couldn't.

"For the next five months, families perished. All families of fallen firefighters. Word spread like wildfire that someone was killing off our own and the fire community grew suspicious of everyone. No one was talking to anyone. Brothers were fighting. Families were terrified of going to bed at night. It was a mess. David and Shane worked hard to quell any rumors, but this city and, more importantly, the fire community, wanted blood.

"David and his engine were out on a call when the fire inspector pulled him aside. According to those who were there that day, David and the inspector got into a shouting match. Words were said and both men had to be separated. The next thing anyone knows, David's transferred to a station in Arizona and the fires stopped. No one was ever arrested or convicted."

"Mom," I whispered, sitting up straighter. "David died in a house fire, along with his wife, Donna."

"I know," my mom said, looking at me. "That's why I don't believe what that report says. David was a good man. I knew him. Knew Donna. David loved the department. He gave up so much after 9/11. No way did he set those fires."

"What do you mean? What did he give up?"

"David was up for Battalion Chief. Man was that good. He wanted to change the way the firehouses responded to calls. Work with the police instead of against them to save lives. Back then, everyone had their own way of doing things. It was a mess. David wanted to install a new set of rules and regulations that not only benefited the firehouses but ensured that police were trained and able to assist as first responders. He wanted to create a joint task force, where police and firefighters worked together as one. A team."

"He wanted to dual train them."

"Yep." My mom nodded. "A lot of the firefighters and police liked the idea. They were all for it, especially after 9/11. But then the fires happened, and everything stopped."

"Mom, do you believe David Campbell started those fires?"

"No."