Chapter 5

Stone

Since talking to my dad, all I can think about is going back to Texas. To life on Hardtail Ranch. I get it. Things have changed since I've been away. I was born on Hardtail Ranch but haven't lived there as an adult, so there are things I'll have to get used to.

But, goddamn, am I looking forward to going home? You bet your ass I am. At least as much as I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to the guys here in Opey.

And with that thought, I mutter, "Fuck." I look around my room, the place where I've laid my head, fucked, and licked my wounds from battles in here. Had my first legal drink with Ace and Coop and the rest of the MC.

"Stone!" Ace's voice booms on the other side of the door along with the heavy pounding of his fist. "Stop jerking off in there and come on out. I wanna talk to you."

I hear the smile in his voice, and I push off my chair, unfolding my long legs and shaking them out. "Great, now your voice is in my head when I'm about to nut." I hear him groan and open the door with a smile. "What's up?"

"Come on." He nods to the right, and we head toward the back patio area and the picnic tables where I've spent countless hours smoking cigarettes, shooting the shit with Lucky or Tank or Ollie, maybe even getting a blow job or two. Okay, definitely a blow job or two…dozen. "You've been a big help around here since you got here, Stone."

"Yeah, thanks."

"I mean it." He stops, turning to me with a serious expression. "You stepped in and helped like you were one of us. You treated my men like they were your brothers. That shit means somethin' to me."

I shrug off his gratitude. "At this point, they are brothers to me. And we both know I got more out of staying here than you did."

"I wouldn't be so sure. That damn mayor, Reggie Song, might still be a problem if not for you."

"Yeah, thankfully, he's not still a problem."

"No," he sighs. "He's not a problem because of you. And you kept Banger safe when he was recovering at the clinic." He grins. "You gonna make me list every fucking solid you did while you were here, or you just gonna say thanks for having me, Ace, it's been a pleasure?"

I grin and stroke my chin. "I don't know. I'm getting a kick out of watching you squirm, trying to say this shit. But I'm happy this worked out for both of us. Thanks."

"Not a problem, man." He claps me on the back and lets out a bark of laughter. "Back to the land of cow shit and barbecue, brother."

Ace's words loosen the last bit of tension gripping my chest. That's what I was missing, his easy acceptance of my impending departure. We both knew it would happen eventually, and he's making it easy for me. Don't think I don't appreciate it.

Ace has more. "Don't forget cowgirls in tight jeans," he says, winking. "Don't beat California girls" skimpy dresses, but cowgirls know how to ride." The more I talk to Ace about home, the more excited I am to go back to Texas to see my family. And to claim what's mine.

Ace smiles and shakes his head at me, which pretty much sums up our relationship. "I need a drink. You want a drink?"

"I could go for a drink," I say and look at the door behind him. "Aren't we going outside?"

"Nah, let's just get a drink." We turn around and head toward my favorite part of the Reckless Souls clubhouse, the bar. It has tables, bar games, and, most of all, shelves upon shelves of booze. No tips required.

I follow Ace back down the hall, and that's when I hear the music and sounds of conversation. Not that it's strange to hear. This place is a nonstop party house, so to speak, but it's the middle of the fuckin' morning. The door opens, and everyone is here. Correction, everyone and their old ladies are inside. "What. The. Fuck."

Ace laughs. "It's called a party. Don't you have them in Texas?"

"Funny."

"We couldn't send you off without a proper goodbye, man. You're one of us." The smile on his face is so genuine, so out of character from his usual scowl, that I'm speechless for a moment.

I flash a smile and spread my arms wide, my gaze dancing around the room to all the people who have been my friends and my brothers these past five years.

Ace spreads his arms wide and shouts, "Let the party begin, fuckers!"

Banger shoves a whiskey neat in my hand, flashing a smile. "First drink is on me. Thanks for keeping an eye on me while Tank knocked up Sophie."

"Fuck you," Tank growls, a wide smile on his face and one beefy arm wrapped around Sophie.

Aria saunters over to me on the highest, pinkest heels I've ever seen with Lucky at her side, both of them wearing big-ass smiles. "Stone, I hope you'll come back for the wedding?"

"Send me an invite, and you know I'll be there." Aria surprises me when she steps in closer and wraps me in a hug.

"Be safe. Don't get trampled by a bull."

I laugh loudly and squeeze her back. "I'll do my best, but I think those weapons on your feet are far more dangerous than any bull."

Lucky grins. "All right, that's enough." Then he goes about the business of separating me and Aria.

Once everyone arrives, the booze flows as freely as the goodbyes. My throat starts to tighten as it gets fucking emotional. When I left Opey, it was literally the middle of the night. I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, so this shit is getting to me. I walk up to the bar. "Another, please, Trudy."

She nods and pours another drink, sliding it into my palm with a half-sad smile. "Take care of yourself, Stone."

"You do the same, Trudy. Good luck." I turn and nearly run over Maven. "Whoa. My favorite cake lady."

She grins. "I have a cake for you too." She takes my arm and leads me to one of the tables where the food is testing the durability of the wood. "Everyone has offered up farewells and gratitude, and I need to add my praise to the chorus." She opens the box, and I bark out a laugh.

"Is that a Viking?"

Her cheeks turn pink as she nods. "It's what I thought you were when I saw you in my garage when we first met. A big ass Viking."

"You mean when you called me rude?"

She smirks. "Among other things."

"You sure did." I laugh and run my finger through the frosting, sucking it off with a groan. "You can call me anything you want if you bake me treats, Maven. Thank you." I wrap my arms around her, dwarfing the sweetheart baker.

"Take care of yourself, Stone."

"Always. And you can send me any baked goods you want. I'll happily test them out for you."

She gives me a playful shove. "Go charm someone else, Viking."

"Yeah, yeah." I kiss her cheek and take the cake with me, finding a table to savor the sugar and the booze.

Eventually, the party winds down because these guys have work to do, and Ace stops in front of me. "Time to go."

My brows dip. "Go where?"

Shades laughs. "You do realize this was a going away party, don't you? Back to Texas."

"Now?"

Wild Man nods. "Now. I got you a fake ID just to be on the safe side. The ticket is booked in this name. Come on."

I smile and get to my feet. It's just me and the guys now, and fuck, if this isn't some bittersweet shit right here. I'm ready to go, but I'm reluctant as fuck to leave. "Let me grab my stuff."

"I'm driving," Tank says, swirling a key ring around his finger. "Unless you wanna hold me as we cruise up the freeway?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Thought so."

I jog back to my room and grab what little I own and toss it into the van.

The ride to LAX, the big airport in Los Angeles, is surreal. It's quiet except for the roar of the bikes surrounding the van. I'm deep in thought, remembering how worried and scared I was when I first got here. And now I'm having the same thoughts about home.

Saying goodbye to these men at the airport is a gut-fucking punch. They aren't just my protectors, not just the people who kept me from diving off the deep end when I was away from my family and friends. These men are my best friends, my brothers-in-arms, and in blood. We've fought together, bled together, and killed together. We're fucking family.

"Thanks for the ride," I tell Tank. "And the friendship," I say to Olly.

"No thanks necessary, brother. Just don't forget about us when you're covered in cow shit," Olly laughs.

I let out a bark of laughter and shake my head as I pull him in for a bro hug. I go down the line, hugging each of the Reckless Souls until I'm in front of Ace.

"Don't thank me. You belong here. Anytime you want to come back, our doors are wide open." He smacks a box against my chest. "We got this for you, but don't make a big deal out of it, okay?"

I open the box and smile. "A patch. For me?" It's the Reckless Souls patch with Viking stitched on the top and ‘honorary badass' on the bottom. "Fuck y'all. This shit is…fuck."

Dix laughs first. "Not only are we gonna make him cry, but we finally got a fucking y'all!" He whoops with more laughter, and the rest of us join in, lightening the mood a bit.

"Thank you. All of you, for everything." I give them one last look and walk into the airport with my head held high, my shoulders squared, and a big-ass grin on my face.

Texas, here I come.