“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Said I should bring Rachel to The Crossroads, and he’d meet us here once he had Rylee.”
Grim didn’t answer but ticked his chin toward Rael. “Go. Take Shadow and Exorcist.”
“You got it, Pres.” Rael strode from the room without a glance in our direction.
Grim cleared his throat. “This is Lockjaw’s son, Crypt.”
Members stood around the room, some of them staring at me with surprise, others dipped their chins with respect for the loss that not only the club suffered, but also Lockjaw’s only biological son. My sister Michelle and I were his only children.
Grim ticked his chin toward the chapel. “We need to talk, Crypt.”
I figured as much. Nodding, I turned to Rachel. “I’ll be back soon.”
She blinked, wide-eyed. “Crypt.”
I wasn’t sure how many of the club members she’d met over the years, but I sensed she was uncomfortable. It was bold, but I decided to stake my claim on Rachel and let the club know she was mine.
My head lowered, and I slipped my arm around her lower back, pressing her close as I captured her lips. I held the kiss as long as I dared with Grim waiting, then released her. It boosted my ego to see she looked a bit dazed. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
Grim had walked across the bar to a door that had to be the chapel while he waited, arms folded across his chest. He appeared impatient. “Get in here, Crypt.”
I picked up the pace, joining him before he shut the door. As I glanced around the space, I saw a wooden table with the Graven Bastards MC logo etched into the surface and a giant metal Grim Reaper hanging on one wall. Framed cuts also lined the wall space, and I stopped when I saw Lockjaw on one of the patches.
“It’s been here since he died,” Grim informed me. “But I think it’s been waiting for you, son.”
Now, I wasn’t a kid. Hell, I was over thirty, but compared to Grim, I was much younger. I didn’t take offense.
“He loved the club,” I replied. “I saw the letters he wrote my mom. Even kept a few journals. No club secrets,” I assured Grim, “but observations about his life, marriage, and his children. He couldn’t wait to teach me to ride or watch me patch into the Graven Bastards.” I almost choked up and had to stop talking.
Grim squeezed my shoulder. “Yeah, Lockjaw was always sitting with a notepad and doodling shit or writing in it. He’s got a whole box full of them. I kept them in storage. He requested I give them to you if you ever wanted to ride with the club.”
Wow. I didn’t know that. “Can I see them?”
“Yeah, but we’ve got to make this official tonight. In front of the club. It’s your turn to take the Devil’s Ride. You do that, andeverything in Lockjaw’s journals is gonna make a hell of a lot more sense.”
“I can’t leave Rachel. I gave Hannibal my word.”
“Fair enough. We ride once Hannibal returns.”
“I appreciate that, Grim, err, Pres.” I wasn’t sure which to call him yet.
“Grim for now. pres once you’ve survived the Devil’s Ride.”
“Survived?”
He chuckled. “You’ll see.”
“What about Rachel?”
“She’s Hannibal’s daughter. Every member in the club already knows who she is and will protect her.”
“And if I want her as my ol’ lady?”
He snorted. “You gotta take that up with Hannibal.”
Yeah, I thought so.
From the looks I had already gotten from him, I didn’t think he was too keen on me dating or claiming his daughter. But this wasn’t his decision. That belonged to Rachel.
Hannibal would have to accept it.
