In my world rank is earned by respect. You don’t just wake up one morning and decide this is where you are going to be placed. You got to bleed for your brothers, you got to put it all on the line for us knowing without a doubt that we got your back.
You got to understand that we are your family by choice. That when the world chooses everyone else we will always choose you.
It has been a long road these past thirteen weeks since the night I was given the title of President for the Kanla chapter of The Satan Snipers.
Storm has been my biggest challenge since becoming President but even he has come around.
There has been an enemy in our midst. People in Kanla, women especially are getting murdered right under our noses.
The Satan Snipers have vowed to protect this town and we will.
But today isn’t that day. Today I’m spending time with Jo, at the back of the Clubhouse by the lake.
She’s licking her chocolate flavored ice-cream, double scoop or nothing my girl always says. Yes, she is my girl, my kid now.
My relationship with Jo is something special. She is the only piece of Hannah I got.
While it isn’t the piece I wanted, it’s pretty fucking special.
Since my night with Hannah, I have lived with regret.
Why? I can’t fucking say.
Since then I have tried talking to her but she runs the other way. I knew I hurt her that day but fuck since my night with Venus my balls are blue.
I haven’t taken another woman in my bed since the morning I woke up with Venus naked next to me. After that, it was like an obsession for Hannah grew. I spent weeks spying on her until I had to buckle up and finally be the President.
Finding Beggar and the club has been my priority since then and when I’m not doing that I have been spending time with Jo and boy is the kid a talker.
“The fare is tomorrow, can we go?” Jo asks me and I mentally check my plans for tomorrow.
“Yeah, sure, why not.” I pull the end of her hair as she sucks on a small blob of ice cream that fell on to her hand.
“Can we take momma with us too?” She looks up at me with a goofy smile on her chocolate smothered face. That shit is all over her face and teeth.
“Yeah, your momma is definitely coming tomorrow.”
I don’t inform her that her mother will be coming in another way too. I just stare out toward the lake. At peace just to have the kid next to me and my brother’s at the back.
There is only one thing missing now. Well, two if you think about Beggar.
The other is a grey-eyed feisty woman that I haven’t really gotten to know besides a glimpse of what she was, is.
But that was all I needed to become this man who is obsessed with her. The man who wants to kill every mother fucker for just looking at her.
The sun begins to set when Jo and I make it back to her house. Hannah as always is sitting on the stairs, a bud light in her hand.
She has since changed into tight fitted jeans and a blue tee that does wonders for her tits. Hannah spots us jumping out of the truck I borrowed from Texas and gets up walking toward us. Jo rushes off the minute I open the door and meets Hannah halfway, giving her an ear full.
I watch the two of them for a minute. Both animated in their storytelling. They are so much alike it’s shocking. Her kid took after her mother which meant the father was a puss.
He better never step foot in my territory because I will end him. These are mine now. I just got to convince Hannah.
They both turn toward the house when Hannah stops and flings her head around to face me, “Aren’t you coming?”
I give her a chin dip, “Just enjoying the view for a bit.”
She rolls her eyes as Jo giggles and walks into the house. After a minute I look around the area for anything suspicious and also signal Spade, who has been watching Hannah’s place from my spare bedroom for weeks.
Once everything is clear I head on inside Hannah’s place.
Remembering my manners, I look around the house, to say something nice, but there is nothing.
It’s falling apart.
The skirting boards are almost out. The walls are fucked and going to have to be plastered. There is no use fixing it up.
Why the fuck would she buy such a crappy place? I don’t say that though because I know just as fast as I was invited, I would be out. So I bite my fucking tongue and follow Jo’s voice.
“… to the fair momma.”
“Jo I’m sure River has a lot of better things to do than go to a fair,” Hannah informs Jo who is sitting on the yellow kitchen counter that is as old as my great grandmother.
“No, I don’t,” I say on entry with a big smile painting my lips.
Hannah glares at me and if looks could kill.
Fuck
“This is between me and Jo, butt out of it.”
“Momma that’s rude,” Jo says.
“Just tell her.” I chuckle when Hannah gives me another one of her death glares.
“Jo, go and wash up so you can eat. River and momma need to have a conversation.”
Jo jumps down and rushes off. I lean against the wall, cross my arms over my chest, and place one foot in front of the other.
“I’m waiting,” I say this because if there is one thing I’ve learned about Hannah is the woman got attitude.
“So, you not with Lauren?”
My eyes shoot up at the question. I didn’t see that one coming. Then It hits me, why she would think that.
“Why don’t you kiss me first and then ask me that again.”
“Kiss you, I haven’t seen you River, you had a chance and you didn’t even want to take it. Now I know you and Jo are close and I can respect that but you and I are never happening again.”
Her voice is so calm as she says those words that it is like she has accepted it. I don’t like it, not one bit.
People don’t accept things without regret, need, longing.
People don’t just decide that they are going to take one path without at least testing another. I look into her eyes and I’m blinded by the hurt in them.
“I’m not with Lauren, she was for Jake. I left that life a long time ago. I became River, a man that needs a keeper. And Lauren ain’t it Hannah, now I found my keeper in a little girl. Names Jo, and I’m pretty sure it’s a package deal. I ain’t saying we going to work woman but at least give me a fucking chance.”
She stares long and hard, and I stare back. I ain’t going to hide shit from her now. I need her to see that I want this.
It takes forever before she sighs.
“One date, and that’s the fair. You screw it up and I’m done River.”
I smile and stand up straight,
“Yes ma’am.”
“And go wash up for dinner.”