Page 70 of The Riders’ Reign

“Vani, how come there aren’t many pictures of your mom around?”

Her face falls and her mouth tightens. “Dad never got over it, you know? It was traumatic. A horrific accident, and he blames himself.” She rubs her nose as if it’s itching. “Still, I guess, in some ways, that’s easier for you, right?” Then she slaps her hand over her mouth dramatically. “Oh, God, that sounded bitchy, and I genuinely didn’t mean it that way. Just that it would be weird with pics of Mom all over the place.”

I consider her words for a long moment. “Actually, no. I don’t think it’s healthy he doesn’t have some up, and I’d never, ever want him to forget your mother. Maybe you could pick out two or three pictures of the three of you, and I can get them framed?”

Her eyes widen. “You’d do that?”

“Yes, of course. I don’t want to erase his past, Vani.”

She pulls me into her arms for another hug, and we squeeze one another tight.

“Let’s never fall out like that again,” I say.

We head into the living room, and I laugh as I see Saint perched on the couch, watching the game with his nose wrinkled and lip curled, as if he’s in hell.

There’s a pounding at the door. Jesus, they don’t need to break it down!

I go to answer it. Phoenix is waiting on the porch, in jeans and a tight, faded t-shirt, cut in a way that shows off his bulging biceps.

“Hey, what’s up?” I ask.

“I brought over some pain stuff that might help Jack. It’s natural things like tiger balm and magnesium.” He shrugs. “I get pain sometimes, and they can help on the days when it’s not so bad that I need to crack open the hard meds.”

Vani and Saint wander into the hallway.

“We’re going to get going,” Vani says. She lifts her gaze beyond me, and her eyes light up.

“Phoenix!” she cries.

She knows him from growing up in her father’s first chapter, which Phoenix was a big part of.

“Hey, there, Vani.” He grins at her.

They hug, and Saint gives Phoenix a once over. “Merde, what did you do? You have all these muscles now.”

“He’s always had muscles,” Vani says, looking puzzled.

“Yes, but with also some fat, no?”

I bite back my shocked gasp. If Saint didn’t have that French accent, I swear he’d get punched way more than he does. It somehow lends his insults a kind of charming air.

“Nice to see you too, Saint.” Phoenix just rolls his eyes. “I upped the gym sessions, after I got too soft. Need to be able to take fuckers like you down.”

Saint clicks his tongue against his teeth. “Ah, my friend, I am a lover, not a fighter.”

“On that note, you cheesy bastard, let’s go.” Vani tugs on Saint’s sleeve.

She pauses at the door and hugs me again, and I feel the old warmth there.

Maybe things really will be okay after all.

31

JACK

It's finally time for me to get the hell out of this hospital, and this day couldn't come soon enough. I’m relieved to be back in my regular clothes of jeans, a white t-shirt, boots, and my cut. I hope I never have to see that goddamned hospital gown again. The nurses seem happy to see me go, too. They’re probably sick to death of their ward being filled with giant bikers.

I’ve insisted on riding my motorcycle back to the compound. It was a little beaten up, much like me, after the accident, but it’s been fixed. Zoo brought it in the back of the truck. Of course, I won’t be riding alone. Big Mike, Saul, and Becker are riding their bikes in convoy back to the compound with me.