My lips turn up in a watery smile. “I understand.”
“Good. Now get the fuck gone.”
I slip out of his office and close the door behind me. The hallway seems brighter now that the weight I’ve been carrying feels a little lighter. I lean back against the wall and let out a shaky breath.
I did it. I’m leaving. I’m getting out of here.
Pushing off the wall, I head back toward the main room. The sounds of the clubhouse wash over me as I step through the doorway.
Bubbles is behind the bar, pouring drinks.
Bambi’s sitting on Dread’s lap, giggling at something he said.
Reign and two of the prospects are throwing darts.
I’m going to miss all of this.
CHAPTER ONE
“Morpheus, you ugly son of a bitch.”The words are out of my mouth before my boots even hit the ground in the parking lot of the Jacksonville Saints clubhouse.
My knees are stiff as hell from riding for the last hundred and fifty miles, and my ass feels like I’ve been sitting on concrete.
But seeing my old Army buddy standing with his arms crossed over his chest and that shit eating smirk on his face makes the whole damn ride worth it.
“Who you callin’ ugly, motherfucker?”
Klutch’s eyes bounce back and forth between us, a worried look taking up residence on his face.
Morpheus pushes off the wall he’s leaning against and strides toward me, a slow smile breaking out across his face.
“Were you worried?” I chuckle, glancing over at Klutch.
The SAA shrugs. “A little. Never can tell about you. You go from zero to ready to throw down without even batting an eye most of the time.”
“He ain’t wrong,” Morpheus chimes in, pulling my attention back to him.
Scoffing, I roll my eyes. “I’m not that bad.”
Morph’s eyes shift to Klutch, then to the little brunette riding bitch behind him. “He’s been full of shit for thirty years.”
When his eyes come back to me, he smirks. “Thought you’d be dead by now.”
I flip him off as I swing my leg over the seat of my Bagger, my lower back protesting from the movement.
Fifty-three years old, and every single one of them is making themselves known. “Keep talking shit and I’ll show you just how far from dead I am.”
Morpheus closes the distance between us and pulls me into a back-slapping hug. “Good to see you, brother.”
“You too, man.” I step back, taking in the compound around us. “Hell of a place you got here.”
“Not too shabby for a bunch of degenerates,” he agrees, then turns his attention to the others. “Klutch, good to see you again.”
The two shake hands before Morpheus’s eyes land on Demi. “This must be the little lady.”
Klutch helps Demi off his bike, his hand immediately going to the small of her back. “This is Demi. Baby, this is Morpheus. He’s the VP here.”
Demi smiles shyly, moving closer to her ol’ man. “It’s nice to meet you.”
