Claiming the Knights (4 page)

             
“I want her to go to college. I want her to live in a big fuckin' house, and have babies if she wants. I want her to have the career she wants. I want nothing but the best for her. You get me, you little fuck?” he boomed at Joe, staring a whole through him. “You think you can do all that, and make her happy all the fuckin' time?”

             
In Joe's head, he was thinking that if Pres only knew just how fuckin' happy she had been on several occasions, he would probably come across the table, and finish what he had started in the bedroom that day.

             
“I will do whatever it takes to keep her the happiest woman alive,” he said, finally giving into Megs smile, and flashing her a quick one back, hoping that Pres wouldn't flip on him.

             
“Here are your conditions to claim my daughter, so listen the fuck up. Number one, when I can fight again, you and I are still going rounds in the ring. Gloves on, so I don't kill your stupid ass. Two, if she ever comes crying to me over something you did, you are as good as dead. And three, where ever she goes to college, you are going with her. For protection, and because I want her to go where ever she wants, without having to worry about where your stupid ass is. You get me?”

             
“Yeah Pres, I get you. I will take what’s comin' to me. I will treat her like a queen, and I will follow her, and keep her safe,” Joe said, all in one breath again.

             
Scooter felt defeated, but he knew that despite him, these two were going to be together. He would rather it be with his rules, than forcing them to sneak around. One year earlier, he would have locked her up and tossed the key and run this little fucker outta town.

             
Scooter looked over at Meg. She was all smiles. He gestured his hand for her to come over to him. She quickly got up, and gave her dad a big hug.

             
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you so much. Thank you for giving Joe a chance.” She caught Joe’s eyes, and smiled at him, while she hugged her dad.

             
“He gives you one ounce of grief, you tell me about it and he will be done,” Scooter told her, as he let go of the hug.              

             
“I know Daddy. He has been nothing but great to me. He makes me so happy.” She was all smiles and excited that they could be a couple out in front of everyone. No more sneaking around.

             
“Ok, everybody OUT!” Scooter bellowed, and then looked at Nikki. “Except you Sunshine, I want you in here with me.”

             
They all left Scooter and Nikki sitting at the big table together. Meagan was bouncing out, she was so happy. She immediately grabbed Joe's hand, and went through the door. Scooter found his instincts kicking in, and wanted to stop them. He really had to figure out how to squelch that feeling.

             
That is where his Sunshine came into play. As soon as the door closed, he grabbed her hand and pulled her over to him. Scooting his chair out, he patted his lap, and she sat.

             
“I just need you close right now, babe.” He buried his face into her hair, taking in how amazing she smelled. “This is killing me. That is my baby and she just left with another man. I know that sounds fucked up but...”

             
Nikki cut him off. “Not at all. You are her daddy and she is growing up. I think this is perfectly normal. You want to protect her.” She kissed his cheek. “You are the best dad ever.”

             
He just hugged her tightly and tears ran down his face. She kissed his forehead, and let him cry.

              Meagan couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She was holding his hand, and everyone could see it. She couldn't even remember how she got from the meeting room to the club shop. Joe was showing her the progress that they were making on her dad's new bike. The whole club was in on it. Joe worked on it every chance he got.

             
The bike was beautiful, and almost done. They were just waiting for the upholstery to be done for the seat. Nikki had made it clear that her seat needed to be more comfortable than the last bike. The guys and Nikki, were planning the reveal for the following day.

             
Joe looked at Meg, and pulled her into a hug. They were both so happy. Joe was going to have a cut made for her. Finally, he was going to get to claim her. No more club whores, just his Meagan.

Chapter 2             

              Charlie was in the shop office talking to Nikki about a car he needed to tow back to the shop for repairs. Charlie was one of the club brothers, but worked mainly as the tow truck driver for JD's Auto Repair. He still did occasional club business, but had to be on call most of the time for shop emergencies, like this breakdown.

             
After getting the address, he grabbed the keys off the rack, and headed for the tow truck. He got in and went to start the engine, when a voice caught his attention. It was Joel's voice.

              Joel was one of the mechanics at JD's. He was a great mechanic, but kept to himself, did his job, and went home, never getting social with anyone. He was a loner, and no one questioned that... just how he wanted it.

              Charlie leaned his head out the window to listen. Joel must have been on the other side of the club van that was parked close.

             
“Mr. Dalton, you have put me in a real fuckin' pickle over here. I had no idea the hit was my boss.” There was a pause as Joel was listening to the other end of the conversation. “Yeah, well you don't know me, we never talked, and don't call me again! You understand? If this comes back on either of us, we are both dead. Have a nice life and destroy your phone right now.”

             
Charlie could hear Joel throw his phone in the gravel, and then stomp on it.

             
Charlie waited for Joel to make his way back into the shop and he started the tow truck and left.

              Joel was remaining calm on the outside, but inside he was losing his shit. Shortly after Meagan's kidnapping and rescue, Joel had received a call from a man asking for a hit. Joel was a middle man in the hit business. He never looked at any of the info that was exchanged. He just forwarded it, and collected his share. When the man on the other end started to tell him any details, he had stopped him, like he had with so many others. Email me the details, wire me the money, and I will get it done. Within a day, he had cash in hand, and had set it up. As always, without seeing any details or names, he went about his business.

             
Then he heard about Scooter getting into an accident up North. Since he hadn't seen the details, and his guy had not contacted him about any issues, he never had any reason to think that the two went together.

             
That was until Mr. Dalton had been blowing up his phone and email about his failed hit, and he either wanted his money back, or Scooter fuckin' dead. Joel was pretty sure his heart had stopped for a few seconds. He finally had a moment to call him back from in between a few cars in the lot. He'd gone out to grab his next job in the lot, and made a quick call, and then destroyed his phone. He never had a real cell phone, they were all burners... use it for a job, destroy, and start again.

             
Joel had already called his guy up North to see what happened, and got a woman. Assuming it was some one night stand, he asked for him, and found out he was in fact, talking with the sister. The man was in a car accident that involved a motorcycle, and the man's truck. His guy had been beat up pretty good in the accident, and she was there helping him. The guys jaw was wired shut, so he couldn't talk.

             
Joel knew if this got back to the club, he was as good as dead. He started looking for another job, right away. He was finding it hard to do his job at JD's, because for the last several days, he kept waiting for the club to come down on him.

              Charlie returned with the tow job. After unhooking the car, he headed straight for the club. He noticed that Drifter's bike was there, that is who he went to. He knew that going to Pres wouldn't be smart right now. Pres was pretty wrapped up in Meg and Joe, oh, and then that whole healing up from the accident.

             
Charlie entered the club house and Drifter was sitting at the bar chatting with Anne, the bartender/cook/custodian. Drifter looked up, and gave Charlie a quick head nod. Charlie ignored it, and made his way to him.

             
“Hey, Anne. How you doin' darlin'?” Charlie said, smiling at her, as she was drying a few glasses and putting them away.

             
“I'm doin' just fine Charles, how 'bout you?”

             
“Just need to have a chat in private, with Drifter here,” Charlie told her, as his gaze switched over to Drifter. “Somewhere we can talk in private?” he said to Drifter.

             
Drifter led him down the hall, to his room.

             
“What's up, Charlie?” Drifter asked, after locking the big door behind them.

             
Charlie knew the info he was about to spew was going to cause a huge shit storm. After everything that had just happened, and watching the club take a breath for a minute, he knew it was about to blow up again.

             
“Well, I just overheard a phone conversation that I don't think I was supposed to,” Charlie started, trying to draw it out as long as he could.

             
“Look old man, I don't have time for a fuckin' fairy tale. Get to the God damned point, so I can go out, and finish my beer,” Drifter growled.

             
“Ok.. I just heard Joel talking in the lot. He was between a few vehicles and I am sure he thought he was alone. It sounded like he was talking to a Mr. Dalton. That's Nik's last name. And then I heard him say that he didn't know the hit was on his boss and they both needed to forget everything or they would both be as good as dead.” Charlie spilled it all. It was out. He couldn't take it back if he had wanted to. He took a big breath, in and out.

             
Drifter just stood there. Stood there looking at Charlie, dumbfounded. How the fuck had he missed this? Mr. Dalton must have been Sam's father. So Sam's dad had put a hit on Scooter and Joel was somehow involved? What the fuck. How the fuck is Joel involved? This would explain the accident. It wasn't an accident at all. It was an attempted hit on his pres by some stupid, fuckin' civilian. He was going to get to the bottom of this before he brought Pres into it.

             
Finally, after a few minutes of mulling it over in his head, Drifter spoke.

             
“We are going to keep this to ourselves, for now. You go back to work. I have got some sniffin' around to do on ol' Joel, the fuckin' mechanic,” Drifter said. “I am going to find me a hit man, and see if the trail leads me to Joel's door.”

             
“Ok, boss,” Charlie said. “I am here if you need me.” He walked out of the room, and out of the club house, to resume working.

              Drifter returned to the bar. Anne had kept his beer in the fridge for him, so she pulled it out, and put it on the bar in front of him.

             
Anne was so great at taking care of all of the guys. Her favorite brother to take care of was Dean. They had been seeing each other for years, but he wouldn't commit to her, and make her an ol' lady. He told her it was because he shouldn't mix the club biz with personal biz, since she worked for the club. They all knew he was basically stringing her along. She was a good woman and she didn't deserve the bullshit Dean put her through, but it wasn't Drifters business, just his opinion.

             
Dean was a good friend to Drifter, showing him the ropes of being the Sergeant at Arms for the club. Dean had been the previous SaA, and gladly stepped down for Drifter to take it.