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I smirked. “You buy it?”
“Of course, I fucking bought it.” He shook his head, but he was still grinning. I wasn’t surprised. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for Charlie, especially if she really wanted it. “You buy the ground yet?”
“Can’t until I make sure I have a permanent job.”
Ben nodded his head slowly and sat forward. “You should probably call the bank then and grab it before someone else does.”
I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees. “That mean I’m hired?”
“I’d be an idiot not to keep you on, so yeah, you’re hired.”
I grinned when a rush of relief washed over me. I hadn’t realized how nervous I’d been about keeping my job, but losing it would’ve meant starting over and not too many places were excited to hire an ex-convict.
“Appreciate you taking a chance on me.”
“Our past doesn’t define us, brother.” His expression became serious. “If it did, I wouldn’t have Charlie.”
“It may not define us, but it does stay with us,” I replied.
“It’s nothing more than something to learn from.” Ben leaned his elbows on the desk.
“Sounds like something your dad would say.”
“It is.” Ben laughed. “He says it all the damn time. Usually when he’s trying to get my mom to forgive him.”
Glancing at the clock behind his desk, I slapped my dusty ball cap against my knee and stood. “If we’re good here, I gotta get to the clubhouse for a meeting.”
Ben stood. “Hey, I always wondered something. Why the hell do MC’s call their meetings church?”
“Fuck if I know,” I admitted with a laugh, not bothering to correct him that this meeting wasn’t actually church, which was a meeting of the club’s officers. Tonight’s meeting was with all the members, which wasn’t exactly unusual, but it was odd that Bear called it so late in the day. He usually gave us more notice. “I never thought much about it and never asked Bear, who would know the history, considering he grew up in a club.” I gestured toward the door. “Gotta head out.”
Ben held out his hand, which I shook. “Let me know what you need when you buy that acre.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You offerin’ to help build it?”
“Just tell me when to be there.”
I nodded. “What’s it gonna cost me?”
“Pizza and beer.”
Chuckling, I turned and started toward the door. “Thanks, boss.”
“You got it,” Ben replied. “Oh, and Race.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Got a lot more overtime coming up if you’re interested. Sign-up will be posted tomorrow.”
“I’ll take all I can get.” I pulled open the door and walked out.
Jogging to my bike, I straddled it and started the engine. After sliding on my helmet, I pulled from the office parking lot onto the road. It wasn’t a long drive back to the clubhouse, but I was already a few minutes behind schedule, and I didn’t want to hold them up. We’d been dealing with a lot of shit from a rival club, the Widows, and I’d bet my bike they were the reason the meeting was called.
Turning onto the long stretch of road to the clubhouse, I left the town behind. Some people liked living in the hustle and bustle of Main Street, but I’d lived in those places before and now appreciated the quiet of the country. However, New Hope’s Main Street was nothing like the places I’d lived. And those places proved to be nothing but trouble for me.
I slowed when the clubhouse came into sight and grinned. I wasn’t sure this would be the place for me when I got here, but it’d been the best choice I’d made in my life. I’d met Tank one night when I was passing through a neighboring town, fresh out of prison and trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with my life. The one thing I knew was that I was never going back to prison. I’d do whatever the hell I had to do to make damn sure I never forgot the lessons I’d learned.
Parking, I jumped off my bike and dropped my helmet on the seat. I walked between the garage and the clubhouse to go in the side door and headed into the main bar area of the club. I was obviously the last one there, considering everyone already had a drink in their hand.
