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“You know, in the beginning, I thought you were making a mistake with the club. The Skulls has never been the kind of club to follow the rules. We’ve always made up the rules to suit our own needs.”
“The club would have died,” Lash said.
Tiny held his hand up. “Let me finish. You’ve done one hell of a transformation. You— I know this isn’t easy for you at times. Especially with everything that went down with Tabitha. I know it’s hard to keep that level head. You were one of the biggest hotheads around. Doing whatever the fuck you wanted, when you wanted.” Tiny laughed. “At times, you and your brother were giant pains in the ass. I thought it would be easier with two boys, but fuck me, it was hard.”
Lash looked at Anthony and Connor. He had to agree. Chloe was even worse. His little girl, his little baby, he didn’t even want to think about her dating. It was going to happen. He couldn’t kill the boys who came knocking on his door.
“I’ve never been good with words or knowing what shit to say, so I just want to tell you.” Tiny put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Nigel.” It was rare for Tiny to use his real name. He preferred to be called Lash. He hated his real name.
“And I know that if your parents were here, they would be damn fucking proud of you as well.”
Lash gritted his teeth, and Tiny gave his shoulder a squeeze.
His previous Prez stepped away and went to Eva and his family.
Lash looked at the carolers, at the club, and he had to take a moment. He tried not to think of his parents. Always kept that pain buried deep and never allowed it to rear its ugly head. It wasn’t a good feeling. It was never a good feeling.
He stepped into his office and moved toward the far wall, putting a hand flat on the surface and another on his heart. He took in deep breaths.
He should have known that she saw him. Angel was always watching him. Always alert. She wrapped her arms around him and held him.
“I’m fine, babe.”
“I know you’re fine, but I want to hold you.”
Lash turned, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close. He pressed his face against her head and breathed her in.
“What did Tiny say?”
“He told me that my parents would be proud of me.”
Angel pulled away and smiled up at him. “They would,” Angel said. “I know they would.”
“This is all because of you,” he said.
“No, this is all because of you, Lash. This is your club. This is your heart. This is everything. You’re a good man, and I know. I’m so proud of you.”
Chapter Ten
Christmas Eve
Angel was never going to admit to this being a bad idea. Having two club houses under one roof with all the kids was a good thing. At least, it had been before Adam came back from the long lines at the supermarket and unleashed a lot of candy.
Since then, it had been chaos. The kids were pretty much bouncing off the walls.
Angel knew some of the club was pissed at Adam, and that was her fault. She had taken him out of his depressed mood, and in doing so, he’d found his holiday spirit. Now the kids were just screaming, charging everywhere.
Fortunately, not all their children were too young. Daisy, Anthony, Miles, Rachel, and Markus were all helping. Sally and Darcy as well. There was so much activity, and then Adam had to suggest a game of hide and seek and everyone had to join in.
Angel made her way up to the loft to try to have a few moments away, and that was where she found Lash.
“Well, well, well, what do I have here,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in against me.
“You’re hiding up here?” she asked.
“No.”
She looked at him. “I haven’t seen you all morning. Not since Adam returned with the candy. You’re not playing hide and seek. You’re literally just hiding.”
