Chapter 3

Stone– Present

"Yo, Stone!" Tank's deep voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turn and arch a brow in the big guy's direction. "What's up?"

"Ace wants to talk to you." He gives me a look I can't decipher. "Did you fuck something up?"

I grin. "Me? I never fuck shit up. He probably wants to put me in charge of the whole damn thing." I laugh at the look Tank gives me that says he thinks I'm full of shit. "I'll be right there."

"Make it snappy, Viking."

I laugh and flip him the bird, rolling my eyes at the nickname the club whores and old ladies think I don't know about. I stamp out the cigarette in the ashtray and head inside, finding Ace in his office. I tap on the door and he turns, his smile fading as he motions me inside. "Come in, Stone."

Tank was right. This doesn't sound good. "What's up?"

Ace extends his arm in my direction, handing me his phone with the heavy-duty black case. "Call for you."

"For me?" I frown at the phone and then Ace because it doesn't make sense. "Who the fuck would call your phone for me?"

His serious expression shifts. "Take the damn phone and find out." He shoves it forward until I grab the phone. "Don't touch anything," he motions to his desk before leaving me alone in his office.

"Hello?"

"Stone." My father's deep voice sounds over the phone, and I freeze.

"Dad. This is a surprise. Everything all right?" Tension coils in my belly because the only thing I can think is that my dad is calling because something is wrong. "How's Ma?"

"She's good. Fine. As crazy as ever."

I let out a long exhale of relief. "Okay."

"It's safe, son. You can come home now. Back to Texas." The silence between us is heavy with expectation.

Adjusting my grip on the phone, I scoff. "Safe? Dad, when have I ever made my moves based on what's safe?" My voice drips with defiance. This is me he's talking to. Since when did I pick the easy path?

Dad's response is calm, unfazed by my pushback. "Stone, I get you. I do. More than you give me credit for. Yeah, you've carved out your spot in Angel Harbor, but Opey is calling you back. It's over. Finally."

I run a hand through my hair, my frustration tangling with curiosity. "Dad, I really appreciate all that. What you and Mom have done, but I didn't just find a parking spot here, Dad. I've laid down roots."

There's a patience in his voice that almost pisses me off more. "I'm aware, and I respect that. But family is family, and the mess that drove you away? It's been cleaned up."

"Cleaned up? All of it? I'm good now? Free?" The idea seems too good to be true. I left to escape trouble and find a slice of peace, something I wasn't sure I could have back home. And now Dad's suggesting I just throw in the towel on Angel Harbor.

"Yeah, Stone. It's over." His voice carries a certainty that's hard to ignore. "Time to come home, son. Your place at the table awaits. Time for a new chapter."

Leaning against the desk, I let those words sink in. "And if I'm not ready to turn the page?"

Dad lets out a weary sigh. "Then stay put. It's your life, Stone. But remember, you're my son. Texas, Angel Harbor, the moon—doesn't matter. You'll always be my son and have a home here."

That gets to me. More than I want to admit.

I take a deep, fortifying breath. My defiance begins to melt into something resembling acceptance. "All right, Dad. I'll head back. But give me a few days. I gotta get my head right."

Dad says, "Get with Ace. He'll make the arrangements to get you back here."

I blink, a bit thrown by the mention of Ace. "Arrangements? What, like a farewell tour?" There's a hint of my usual sarcasm, but it's tempered by curiosity now.

"No, son," Dad chuckles, the sound gruff but amused. "Logistics, you know? He's in the loop on this."

My eyebrows shoot up. Trust Dad to have things more organized than I expected. "In the loop, huh? And here I was thinking I'd just pack up and go."

"It's not that simple, and you know it. Talk to Ace. Get it sorted out."

I nod, even though he can't see me. "All right, I'll hit him up. See what kind of grand exit he's cooked up for me." Despite my reluctance to leave Angel Harbor, the thought of having a plan, a clear path laid out by those I trust, eases some of my tension.

"Good. And Stone?" Dad's voice softens, the warmth cutting through the miles between us. "I know this isn't easy. But it's the right move. You'll see."

A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow hard before I can speak. "Yeah, I know, Dad. I'll get it sorted with Ace. Then I'm Texas-bound."

"Looking forward to it, son. Be safe and see you soon."

"You got it, Dad. Is Mom around?"

"Thought you'd never ask. She's been staring at me since I got on the phone."

I hear him hand the phone over before my ma's voice puts a smile on my face.

"Stone, how's my baby boy?"

"Hardly a baby or boy anymore, Ma. But I'm good. How are you?" I leave the dim light of Ace's office and head outside, in need of fresh air after the news from my dad.

"I'm good, better now with the good news of your return to Texas," she answers easily, a clear smile in her voice. "Are you getting enough to eat, sweetheart?" Ma's voice is full of concern.

I chuckle as I step outside and stare at the sunny California skies. Same blue as in Texas. Same puffy white clouds. But the vibe is as different as can be. "Do you think I've been starving over here for the past five years, Ma?"

"Don't get smart with me, Stone." Her tone holds that warning I've missed since I left my home in Texas in the middle of the night.

"I wouldn't dream of it," I tease. "Yeah, Ma, I'm getting plenty to eat. The girls here keep us well-fed."

"Don't you mean the women?"

"That's what I said." I can't help the smile on my face because I miss sparring with my mom, more than I miss a lot of things. "That's not what you heard?"

"Are you dating anybody?"

"Ma," I groan. "Isn't there something else you need to be doing?"

"Nope. Who is she?"

Ma and I are close, but not the kind of close where I tell her how many different chicks I fuck each week between MC business. That's a little too close for my taste. "There is no she, Ma. At least not just one."

"I hope you've been covering your junk," she says with a laugh. "I don't want any pissed off grandbabies showing up twenty years from now."

"I'm not dating anyone, Ma. And I refuse to talk to you about my junk—covered or uncovered." That pulls a laugh from both of us.

"Damn, I miss you, Stone. I'm so ready for my baby boy to finally come home."

I smile. "I haven't been a baby in a long time." Maybe if I keep telling her I'm not a baby, she'll get the hint.

"You'll always be my baby. Wait until you have kids, and you'll understand."

I smile and shrug even though Ma can't see me. "Sounds good. Well, I guess I need to talk to Ace about this move. You know, I've been on my best behavior for you and Dad since I came to Angel Harbor. Now that I'm leaving, I'm a little conflicted about it."

"I understand, honey," Ma says. "You've built a life there. You're comfortable there. But just know we've been working hard to get you home. Took a while, but it's handled. And I miss you."

"Miss you too, Ma." It won't be easy to leave Angel Harbor. These guys are my friends. My brothers. California is cool. It's exactly what I needed after that shitshow five years ago. The weather is great, the weed is good, and the chicks are hot as fuck. But none of that is important enough to stay away, is it? Not when my rightful place—one day—is to lead the Reckless Bastards into the future. "All right, Ma. I'll be home soon."

"That's what I want to hear!" She claps her hands, and I can almost see her strutting around the kitchen in the big house. "I'm so happy to hear that, Stone."

"It'll be a little strange being back since I haven't been around for a few years, but I got this. How's everyone doing?"

"Well, everyone here is really good," she starts. "Gray was just patched in, making it official. Slayer is thrilled, of course, but I think Ellie Mae is just happy he's not leaving the nest yet."

"That's great." Other than Ivy, Gray was my best friend despite our two-year age difference. "Tell him congratulations from me."

"Griffin is driving now, and he's already talking about getting on two wheels, which scares Hazel to death. She doesn't know Saint's been teaching him how to ride for a few months now. And he's been teaching Lillie, too."

"Lillie?" I frown. "Isn't she still a kid?"

"Twelve going on twenty-seven," she answers with a laugh. "Oaklee is a beauty, Stone. She's going to cause Slayer and Ella Mae a lot of trouble, and I'm here for it!" Ma's laugh is loud and full of amusement. "Everyone is great. They miss you. I'm so excited to have you home."

"Me, too, Ma. I love you."

"Love you too, son. See you soon."

Ma ends the call, and the smile on my face refuses to go away. She's crazy as hell and always in my business, but I miss her most of all.

I'm going home.