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ChapterOne
Griffin
Back in my street clothes, the Blackridge Falls prison gate clicks behind me.I’m finally a free man, and it feels so good to feel the breeze of the air hitting my face.It’s so different from being in the yard.Happy I am finally on the other side of the gate; I realize I hadn’t seen the outside world in nearly eight years.
In the distance, I see a black SUV parked up to the curb.I spot Foster behind the wheel.He was a prospect back when I was convicted.“Look what the cat dragged in,” he says with a goofy grin.
I slide into the passenger seat and ruffle his shaggy hair.“Full-fledge member now, huh?”
“Yep.Took me a year and a half.”
“Congrats.How’s everything at the club?”
“Good.Everything is good with Midnight Kings MC.Everyone’s waiting to congratulate you on your exoneration.And I have to say it’s been a long time coming,” he nods with a smile.
“It was.But I wasn’t going to cut a deal when I knew I was innocent of what they accused me of.Sadly, it was a case of mistaken identity and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.A man was murdered, and the cops thought it was me.Thank god for the Innocence Project.I never lost hope because I knew my truth.”I can’t help but be a little bitter about the whole thing.The system is corrupt.“At least I can put all this behind me,” I add.
“Damn right, brother.”Foster holds out his fist and bumps it with mine.He pulls into the club’s parking lot.“Everyone is here, too.”
Stepping out of the SUV, the exterior of the club remains how I remembered it.Across the way, a honey-blonde woman leans against the doorframe of an office to the left.From where I’m at, I don’t recognize her.Yet something seems so familiar about her.She doesn’t smile.Instead, she tilts her head ever so slightly at me, and I reciprocate the gesture before she disappears back inside.
Cutter, the Midnight Kings president, brings me out of my daze.“There’s the man of the hour,” he says, clapping a hand over my shoulder before he half hugs me, and we do our handshake.
“It’s good to be home.”
“Gotta be weird, though.”
I laugh halfheartedly.“Just something I need to get used to.”
Several of the guys, Rowan, Lock, and Hayden, all come over to say hi.Cutter places a bottle of beer in my hand, and I quickly take a sip while checking out the women in the club.
Cutter clinks his bottle with mine.“Take your pick.Anyone of them will be happy to give you a proper welcome home.”He smirks and adds a wink.
Shit, I haven’t been with a woman in eight years.I’d probably pop a nut in five seconds flat.“Who was the blonde in the office?”
Cutter laughs, “That’s Astera.You remember Logan’s ole lady, right?”
My head snaps to meet his eyes.“No way!Little, Astera?”
“The one and only.She’s been single ever since Logan passed.I think it’s eating her up inside.But she walks a tight line.She’s not like these girls here.But I’m sure she’d do me a favor if I asked,” he wiggles his eyebrows.
I shake my head.“Nah.I was just wondering who she was.I knew she looked familiar.She’s definitely grown up.”
“She’s been through a lot.But that’s for her to say or not to.”
Taking the last swig of my beer, I tell Cutter, “I get it.I’m going to grab another beer if you don’t mind.”
He cuts me off.“Lock, get this man another beer,” he orders.
“Thanks, man.”I take the beer from Lock.
“I’ll let you get re-acquainted with everyone.We can talk business later.If you need anything, just holler.”
“Thanks, bro.I appreciate that.”
Walking around the room, I hear Hayden, the Vice President of the club calling my name.I turn my head to hear what he has to say.“You can stay here in the clubhouse.There’s a room in the back that no one is using.”
“You sure?”
