Resurrecting Ghosts (MC Romance) (Kings of Chaos Book 4) (5 page)

Skull

“I don’t know what you said to your girl, but she’s on a warpath.”

I look up from the bar and grin at Shadow. “She over at your house bitching?”

“Yeah. Blue’s trying to talk her down. When Ruthie started glaring me at me like I was the enemy, I decided to get out while I still could.”

“You scared of that five foot five thing?” I ask.

“Look man, pregnant women are crazy. Trust me, I know from experience.”

“Well, you were dealing with Calla Strong, Satan’s bride. So I think I’m going to be okay. I can’t believe she and Blue have the same blood running through their veins.”

“Whatever you say, brother.”

“You want your usual?” I ask.

“Yep.” He sits down on a stool in front of me, and I pour him a pint of Guinness.

“She’s pissed because I told her I didn’t want her staying by herself. She wasn’t looking so hot last night when I left, and if I want to fix shit between us, I need to be there. Our hours are different and seeing her on the weekend isn’t going to cut it anymore.”

“Damn, look at you growing up and taking on responsibility.”

“You want to wear this or drink it?” I slam the chilled glass down in front of him.

He laughs. “She’s got your ass wound up, doesn’t she?”

“Pot meet kettle, brother. I could say the same for Blue.”

“Yeah, but we worked our shit out. You got a ways to go.”

“Trust me, I don’t need to be reminded,” I say.

“You’d better do it quick. You need to let Pres know and he’s going to ask for her background and your plans.”

It’s embarrassing how little I know about Ruthie. She comes from a broken home. Her parents split when she was younger and her dad was out of the picture and had been for a long time. Her mom was a real estate agent and her dad did some sort of writing. It left a lot to be desired when we’re joining our lives and about to raise a kid. Stone will grill both of us. I need to make sure we’re both ready. Right now, he’s paranoid and out for blood. Having a brother turn on his own club will do that. “I know.”

“Good, you better let her know the rules too. Assuming is what landed your ass in the doghouse in the first place. If she can’t handle it, you should figure it out before you label her your Old Lady and bring her into the fold. We got plenty of baby mamas who operate as outsiders. Make sure you’re thinking with your head too. Club can’t take anymore knocks right now.”

“I know. I wasn’t expecting to get so deep. Plus, if she was going to be betray the club, don’t you think she would’ve by now?”

“You should know from what Blue went through, it’s not always the person who’s plotting. It can be someone linked to them,” Shadow reminds me.

The thought is unsettling. Other than Blue, I have no clue who her friends are. I’ve never met her sister or her parents. “Damn, I been going about this ass backward.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Shadow sets down his glass. “And you better proceed with caution, cause if you make her hate you, any plans you thought you had are over. You can only push her so far. Ruthie is used to being independent as hell. All of this is new to her.”

“You like her, don’t you?” I ask.

“She’s always been there for Blue and my boy. You’re my brother, but I have a soft spot for that girl. I don’t let Bolt call just anyone Aunt, you know?”

“I got you, brother. I’m going to do right by her,” I promise. I rap my knuckles on the counter and move down to the bar to help with refills and new customers. This domestic shit makes my head hurt. The only successful relationship I saw up close and in person was between my grandparents. They were old school. Women took care of the home. The man provided, and they both treated each other with mutual respect. My grandfather doted on her. She was his queen, and it worked because she treated that man like a king. His breakfast, lunch, and dinner were made with care. He always had a fresh uniform waiting for him, the house was always clean, and welcoming.

Grandpa would say I needed to give in order to receive. He said their marriage was a team effort. I wrote it off as a fluke as I got older and saw the divorce rate rise. They were from a different time. Most people didn’t have that kind of loyalty and sticking power nowadays. Times like this, I missed them most. When I needed someone to go to for advice. My brothers are there for me through thick and thin, but talking about emotional shit isn’t something we generally do.

My mind turns to one of my Grandpa’s friends, Ray. Ten years younger, the man had been a surrogate paternal figure. It’s been a long time since I got out to the home to see him. I try not to go any less than once a month, but the club has had me hemmed up.
Tomorrow.

The bar picks up as the evening rolls in and I’m forced to focus on the organized chaos unfurling around me.

***

The Rest Home is one of the nicer ones in our area.
It’s the least Ray’s family can do, considering they never come to visit the man.
Originally from the Chicago area, he relocated after he lost his wife to work and eventually retired in a place that never got any snow. He said he’d spent enough time in miserable weather to last a lifetime. He and Grandpa met on the job at the small electrical company Grandpa worked for. I walk under the awning of the beige stucco building and wave at Beverly who’s working behind the desk.

In her late forties, the women with kind brown eyes, laugh lines, and a heart shaped face waves. “Hey, Skull long time no see.”

“Yeah, I’ve been out of town for work recently, Ms. Bev. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Is Ray up and about?”

“Yeah, he’s out in the garden. He actually has visitors.”

“Oh?” I ask instantly on alert. I keep him separate from my life, because he’d make an easy target.

“Grandkids in from Chicago.”

The tension bleeds from my body. “I bet he’s loving that.”

“I think so. They’ve been here since breakfast.”

“I’ll find them,” I say waving her to stay seated. I know how busy this place can be. She doesn’t need to expend extra energy on me when I know the drill. I lean down and sign my name in the visitor’s log.

I take the familiar route to the gardens scanning for the shock of salt and pepper hair that contrasts with Ray’s brown skin. I find him seated beneath a tree with a curvy woman with straight black hair and a man built like a linebacker. I can see the resemblance around their eyes and nose. I know Ray and his wife Agnes had one son, but he’d gotten heavy in to drugs and broke their hearts a million times over.

I always thought Ray moved away after Agnes passed of an aneurism to escape the toxic loop his son, Brian had placed him in.

“There’s my boy,” Ray says waving to me as he spots me.

“Hey Ray. I see you have some visitors today.”

“These are my grandkids here on vacation. This is Tinley and her older brother, Tyson. This here is my grandson from another family, Skull.”

The two exchange a look.

I smile. “Yep, Ray took me under his wing after my Grandfather passed some years ago. He helps me keep this hard head of mine on straight.”

Tyson stands and offers his hand. “It’s good to meet you. We appreciate you taking care of him. We’ve been looking at relocating soon.”

“I know he’ll be glad for the company,” I reply taking in the man’s firm grip and steady gaze. I’d be having him looked into as soon as I got back to the club. I owe Ray that much. I turn to the woman.

She seems almost skittish as she shifts from side to side on her coltish legs bared in her short black shorts.

Then again, I make most people nervous. I hold my hand out and take her hand. “Nice to meet you, Tinley.”

“You too,” she whispers softly.

“We’ve taken up enough of your time, Grandpa,” Tyson says. “I promised Tin I’d take her to a beach and Disneyland while we’re here. We’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Good, if you come at lunch you’ll be in time for Bingo,” Ray says.

“Then, lunch it’ll be,” Tinley says offering up a sweet smile.

I watch them as they slip away. “That’s a new development.”

“Recent. They started writing me this year, looking for a connection with someone not drug addled. They mentioned coming here to see me, but I never figured they’d really do it. I thought it was one of those things you say to someone old and past their prime.”

“Do they have the same last name as you?” I ask.

“You planning on looking into them, son?”

“Damn straight.”

He shakes his head. “Yes, they’re Hawkins.”

I nod and sit down next to him.

“How’ve you been?” he asks.

“Busy. Sorry I haven’t been by recently. We had a lock down situation.”

“I figured as much. You’re like clockwork with your visits.”

“I need your advice, Ray. I fucked up.”

“With Ruthie?”

“Yeah, she caught me fooling around with someone. Not live, but a picture.”

Ray sighs. “Why? Didn’t she give you everything she wanted?”

“Yeah. Thing is…she’s pregnant.”

“Boy, when you fuck up, you do it royally, don’t you?”

“Apparently so.”

“You going to do right by her?” Ray asks.

“I want to, but right now she is not open to making that happen anytime soon.”

“Can’t say I blame her, boy.”

“Yeah.” I glance down, ashamed.

“Everyone makes mistakes. It’s what you do afterward that counts. You got to show her you’re in this for the long run and for the right reasons. She’s going to be thinking you’re trying to change your stripes because of that babe she’s carrying. I’ve never met her, but from what you tell me she’s strong, independent, and sassy. She won’t be a consolation prize.”

“She isn’t one.”

“How are you going to show her that?” Ray asks.

“I don’t know, Ray. That’s why I’m here to see you.”

“Romance her. Be steady, consistent, and patient. Be willing to bend a little. It’s a concept you’re not used to in that world you live in. Real love requires us to meet in the middle.”

“It sounds like you’re telling me I’m her bitch, Ray.”

He laughed. “Hey, we all are for someone.”

“That ain’t happening, old man. Not in this lifetime.”

“I’m not saying become another person. Do this in your own way
for
her. You know her, use everything you’ve learned to sway her. Show her you’re capable of being what she needs.”

“I don’t know the first thing about being what somebody needs. Look at how it ended for my father.”

“Look at how it ended for your grandparents,” Ray reminds me. “Happy until the end. You focus so much on the darkness, you can’t see the light.”

“Easier to stay sane and avoid disappointment that way.”

“You lost your chance to stay aloof when you made a baby and fell in love,” Ray says.

“No one said anything about love.” The four letter label makes me uncomfortable.

“You think not saying it, makes it less true?” he asks as he peers over his glasses.

“I’m not going there with you.”

“Ain’t me you need to be worried about, now is it? Think on what I said. You have to find the way you communicate the way you feel. Why don’t you tell me your plan?”

“I’m going to move in with her.”

“She agreed to that? Maybe she’s not as upset as you think?”

“Not exactly.” I look away, embarrassed about my heavy handed behavior in front of Ray. Here, I’m not Skull.

“What did you do, Tritt?”

The use of my given name turns me back into a boy. “I told her I didn’t want her living alone anymore and I’d be moving my stuff in today.”

“Lord, you are a clueless fool. You can’t treat her like those prospects of yours.” He scowls.

“I’m not—”

“It’s exactly what you’re doing.”

“You want me to sit on my thumb and twirl instead?” I ask.

“Fast isn’t better. You might make into her home, but will she resent you more for it?”

“Maybe at first?” I answer.

“Resentment is a slow moving poison hard to get rid of,” Ray says.

“So eat my words?” I ask already hating the taste of crow.

“How about you change a demand into a question and a request, instead?”

I sigh and crack my neck. “This is damn stressful.”

“Get used to it. You’re about to enter the world of parenthood. Ain’t nothing harder or more rewarding than that.”

“You’re all heart, Ray.”

“Honestly son, I’m glad this happened. Otherwise, you’d spend the rest of your life keeping everyone at a distance. I know why. We all got our reasons for doing the things we do. I never judged you. But somewhere inside of you, I think a part of you always wanted more. It’s why you let Ruthie see the real you under that biker persona you wear like a second skin. You can’t go back now. You have to keep moving forward. That’s going to make for some pain. But you’re no stranger to that.”