Chapter 7

7

Sniper – One Week Later

I shake my head, tapping my finger on the oak table, the room tense. I don't look at the memorabilia, I don't look at the brothers; my fucking anger takes hold, because I knew something wasn't right over the years, but he always fucking asked me to let it go.

Fucker….

Right now, I should be with my woman and kid, looking around the daycare center, ensuring she knows I'm all in with her before I fucking drop the bomb on her that I'm a brother, but instead, I'm sitting in an emergency church meeting.

Tats wants to hand in his patch.

His woman, a woman we all went to school with, a fucking woman he was seeing in secret for two fucking years and married without any knowing, and who is fucking pregnant with his baby, was taken. Her uncle, who ran her parents off the road, hoping for a big payout, took her after finding out that she had a trust fund that she cannot access until she turns thirty. He fucking held her captive for weeks before we found her, and thought she had lost the baby.

It was only because she was taken that we found out how the older generation mistreated Tats because of who his birth mother was—a fucking clubwhore.

Right now, we're all in church to hear his story, a story we all refused to fucking listen to, to fucking pay attention to growing up.

All the signs were there; I and the brothers knew it.

He never came to the club unless he had to; his own father held his council patch back from him because he saw his birth mother talk in his ear. Tats doesn't even have a house on club land. He refused the lot given to him by my dad.

It turns out the fucker has been tattooing on his own time, saving enough money to buy his own plot of land, fucking acres of it. He's built his own home, including a tattoo studio.

He was only part of the club because he was forced, and made to sign a fucking contract that he had to be a part of the club and run the tattoo parlor. He didn't get the full pay until the last few years because of his father.

If he handed in his cut and quit, then he had to pay a hefty sum; it's the only reason why he stayed, and now that we've found Violet and confirmed she and their baby are doing okay, he's ready to fucking hand his cut in because the contract has nearly run out.

I look at the back of the room, and my anger takes hold. Those are the men I fucking looked up to, all looking guilty, knowing why we're in here, while the brothers, every single patched brother, stands around us in confusion, not realizing the horror our brother has gone through.

They normally don't come into this room. If every patched brother needs to be aware of something, then we will do it in the common room.

Tats sighs, and orders, "Alright, brothers, stop fucking staring, will y'all…."

Snake chuckles before banging the gavel. "Okay, let's get this meeting started. I know you're all wondering why we're in here and not the common room. Well, it's simple," he nods Tats' way, "fucker over there wants his woman close, and apparently down the hallway isn't close enough."

Every one of us nods in understanding.

If it were my girl, she'd be fucking sitting on my lap, so right now, he's keeping his shit together well.

I look at the old timers again and stand, taking over from my brother, not allowing those fuckers off easy. I state, "Right, we're here because those fuckers," I point toward the old timers, "treated our brother like shit growing up, all because of who his birth mother was, and we didn't pick up on that shit."

The brothers all flinch but don't back down. They know they fucked up.

Breaker stands next, stating, "We're all here because we know time is running out."

Tech stands and continues, "We know you want to hand in your patch. We all know you've had one foot out the door for years."

Doc stands next, and I see the moment Tats realizes what's going on; we're all uniting because like fuck are we losing him. He's our brother by heart, our fucking friend, our family.

Doc rasps, "We didn't know it until four or five years ago. If we'd known, we would have fought to make sure you held your patch with pride. You're our brother, our enforcer."

Smokey stands and says, "Our Violet, she's an amazing woman. Not only did she call Snake to inform him of your decision to leave the brotherhood, that the words you said weren't fucking heated in the moment, but she made you realize what love is; she helped you fucking see how much we," he spreads his arms out wide, "the brothers, fucking love you. She helped you see that we're your family." He slaps his arms down as Tats looks down.

His father stands next. "Finding out that a clubwhore potentially trapped me was fucking hard. I thought, along with us old timers," he gestures beside him to every old-timer who then steps forward with sorrow, and continues, "that abortion was best, because we knew Snatch would pull us down. She'd fucking destroy us and our livelihoods. When she refused, we knew we had to tread carefully around her. I took the DNA test first, and when you came back mine, I was fucking scared. I wasn't ready to be a father, and because of that, I failed you. When you were born, I struggled to be around you, and not because I didn't want you like you thought. I struggled to be around you because I had that instant connection with you, only for me to remember that I asked her to abort you."

My dad steps forward and admits, "He felt guilty, son, and he couldn't handle it."

Doc's dad, Crow, steps forward next and offers, "Your dad, he flew off the handle, son; he turned to drink and drugs, not able to handle his guilt, and we brothers…." He pauses as pain enters his brown eyes. "Fuck, son, we took our anger out on you instead of being there for you, not willing to see you as an innocent child."

Eagle, Tech's dad, steps forward next and admits, "There was a chance you could have been mine." He swallows hard. "I was with my old lady then. It was the early stages of our relationship, and she told me she was pregnant. I gave her my patch only to find out she lied, so I ended up cheating on her as revenge—" Tech cuts in with a rasped, "Fuck, dad," but he continues, ignoring his son, "I was going to end things with Carol, but then she stated she was pregnant again, which was confirmed. Don't get me wrong, I love my woman, but I resented her, and when Snatch claimed to be pregnant, fuck, Carol made my life hell. I decided to blame you, an innocent child, for the treatment I had to deal with."

Tats winces and admits, "Carol was the main old lady who starved me when she was on Tats watch."

Fuck…. I suck in a breath as Tech kicks his chair over at his mother's actions, shaking his head.

I guess when you're forced to watch a child you thought could have been your husband's after he cheated, it could change you and turn you bitter, even to the innocent.

Dad continues, "We all failed you, son, for selfish reasons. We didn't see what the women of the club and Snatch were doing because we didn't want to see it, and I know we can't fix that. I know you spiraled in your younger years. I had the phone calls from my brother-in-law. I know you turned to drugs and alcohol. I know it wasn't just a little bit of weed, it was hardcore cocaine…." I look at Tats in shock, and Dad says, "We don't want to lose you, Jayden. You may not be family by blood, but you're my nephew by heart, and I fucking love you, son." My dad holds his arms out. "We all fucking love you, and I know we haven't shown it enough. We treated you like an enemy to the club, like a fucking traitor—fuck, your own father ensured you didn't take your rightful place as an enforcer for years because of Snatch."

Snake leans forward as Tats shows us his pain, his tears falling, and my big brother rasps, "We can't lose you, Jayden. I can't fucking lose you; you're my best friend. I know you were worried about the club and the women in it destroying your relationship. I know that's why you only wanted something casual with Violet, I know that's why you kept your three and a fucking half-year relationship quiet. I fucking know she's the main reason you want to move away from us, but haven't we proven that we've got your back? Haven't we proven how much we fucking love that girl?"

Tats sniffles and admits, "How can I let go of all the hurt?"

I look down, squeezing my hands into fists as his father rasps, "By letting us prove to you that we'll be there. By letting us help you and Violet through this difficult time. By fucking letting us show you how sorry we all are…."

"Please Jayden…don't fucking leave us," Crow whispers, and we all suck in a breath, waiting for Tats' decision.

Tats looks down, thinking for a few minutes, before looking up and making eye contact with all of us. Then he rasps, "I've made my decision?—"

Phil bangs on the door three times, the knock we came up with if there was a problem with Vi.

Tats knocks over his chair hastily, panic overriding all of us. Every brother rushes to the door behind Tats, allowing him to go out first.

An hour later, I'm standing near the bar watching Tats dote all over Violet, who's fallen asleep in his lap.

When we left church, Vi was in the middle of a panic attack. After being held for so long, she struggles being away from Tats; I think it's something we all understand.

They have a connection that all of us brothers wish for, a connection I'm gaining with my woman.

Tats and Vi started as friends, then friends with benefits, and then suddenly, he realized he loved her and didn't want to lose her, but he was scared, so he worked on himself while ensuring he was all she saw.

I smile, watching him place his nose on her head.

Suddenly, a figure stands beside me.

"He deserves all the happiness in the world," my dad says.

I nod and look at him, expecting his eyes to be on the happy couple, but instead, they are on me, and his blue eyes show concern.

I smile. "He does, and he's got it in Violet. Are you alright, Dad? You look worried."

My dad nods and replies, ignoring my question, "And what about you, son? Have you got happiness?"

I chuckle, not at all surprised. "Nothing gets past you, huh, Dad?"

He grins. "Of course not, son; I wasn't president for no reason." He looks toward where my momma is chatting away with my sister-in-law, Sarah, before looking back at me. "You are barely at the club; you haven't touched a clubwhore, who all by the way, have bitched and moaned that you're not coming around to them. You're never home, which your mother has noticed, especially when you love lighting the logs in the fireplace in the evenings when you're quieting down. She hasn't seen smoke from that chimney in a while…."

I grin as a picture of me sitting on my dark brown corner couch comes to mind, Autumn asleep in bed upstairs, and my girl laying against me as the fire burns in the fireplace of my log home.

"See," my dad snaps, and we lock eyes as he points at me. "Right there. You're smiling, no, no, you're fucking grinning…." He leans back a little, and his eyes widen. "Holy fucking shit, my son, the son who swore he'd never settle down, never wanted a family, preferred the single life, is fucking in love…."

I wince when I hear his words, knowing that was me…before Aurora. But after meeting Aurora, becoming a father figure to Autumn, and purposely integrating myself into their lives…I haven't even missed my old life.

I've cooked meals for them, watched Autumn in the evenings when Rory's working because she refuses my help. My girl is headstrong and independent, but I've fallen in love with her hard, even though she's not letting me all the way in.

She's yet to tell me anything about her past. I bring it up, she changes the subject, and if I even ask about Autumn's biological father, she shoots me down instantly.

Her only words are "not involved."

She won't explain why she's on her own or even where her family is, only that her momma is dead, that's it.

I have the urge to speak to Tech, knowing he could find anything within minutes, but I've already lied to her about who I am, and who I'm involved with; I can't break her trust any more than I already have.

I can't lose her or Autumn.

"Who is she?" my dad asks, bringing me out of my head, and I sigh.

"Dad…" I start, but he cuts me off.

"I get it. You don't want anyone to know, and I'll respect that, but the least you could do is tell me who she is."

I smirk at him. "Even though I don't want Momma knowing just yet?"

He freezes momentarily, his eyes going her way before returning to me. I can physically see the wheels turning, which makes me chuckle.

"Ye-yeah," he squeaks, making me laugh before he clears his throat. "Yes, I want to know."

"You're brave, Dad. You know she's close with the Untamed women and loves a good prank."

He winces at my words. The Untamed women started doing pranks after Slicer, their treasurer's little girl Lilah, moved to the club.

The little girl loves to prank people, and the women follow her lead, though their pranks are crazier than Lilah's. The old ladies are vicious. Where Lilah'll put pink hair dye in your shampoo bottle, they fucking sent dildos to all the clubs the Untamed affiliated with, as well as male strippers, with the help of our women.

It was wild.

My phone pings, and I quickly get it out and smile.

My Firecracker: She loves the daycare you found, and they are so cheap. I can't thank you enough for everything you're doing, but my car's not starting again. We're halfway home near the café where we met. Any chance you could come? Xx

Yeah, she's going to kick my ass when she realizes I've spoken to the daycare director about my paying three-quarters of the fee. Wonder if she'll murder me if I replace her car….

It's just another thing to add to the list of things she's going to skin me alive for.

"And there you go again, fucking grinning," my dad rasps in shock.

I smile at him and admit, "Her name is Aurora, and she has a two-year-old girl, Autumn, who you can count as your granddaughter. They are my everything." My dad's eyes widen, and I just chuckle and pat his shoulder. "If Momma asks, I got called on a breakdown. I've got my girls to go pick it up. Her car broke down again, and she's headstrong."

With that said, I turn on my heel and go outside, lifting my hand toward Tats, who raises a brow at me, knowing exactly where I'm off to. He's the only other brother to know about my girl.

I'm not keeping her from the club, I just, fuck, I need her to know who I am first—ease her into the club life without her killing me.

I get to my bike and climb on, quickly turning it on, then revving it, before spinning out of my spot.

I make it about a mile from the club before I pull over and remove my cut, placing it under my seat. I sigh, hating that I have to do this.

"Soon, fucking soon, I'll tell her, and have her and our girl under my roof," I mutter as I climb back on my bike, and speed down the road toward my girls and the shit-box I really need to convince her to get rid of.

Fucking soon….