“Congratulations, Axle,” Maverick tells me. “I’ll have a cut made. Petit, if you organise food, we’ll party this weekend.”
“Pres,” I interrupted. “If Petit could order the food from Lala in the next town, I’d appreciate it. I’ll pay for it as it won’t come from our diner, but it’s because of her I found Angel again and I know she could do with the money.”
Maverick nods at Petit, “That’s fine with me.” Turning back to me he says, “Invite her to the party. She treated us with respect, and she called you and Roman her boys, so she’s already one of ours by default.”
Tipping my chin, I acknowledge his order. I’m not sure I’d be able to speak, anyway. My throat is clogged with emotion, and I’d hate to sound like a pussy.
“Any other business?” Maverick wants to know as he lifts the pipe that had been taken from the pump jack on the first well they’d ever found on the far side of the property. He uses it to hit the plough disc hanging on the wall next to his chair. Both are a nod to his history. He no longer ranched the property our club sat on, but they once used to.
When we stay silent Maverick taps the disc with the pipe and it rings out, ending church.
I wait until everyone leaves, and it’s only Roman, Maverick, Spook and me left behind.
“Was there something you needed, Axle?” Maverick wants to know.
“Yeah,” I admit, looking at Spook. “You know she gave our daughter up.” He nods.
I hesitate, because I’ve not had this conversation with Angel yet. I’m not sure how to bring it up.
“Can you find her? Make sure she’s not in danger? Nothing other than that.”
Surprise flickers across their faces. “You don’t want to meet her?” Spook asks.
A soft laugh leaves me, but I shake my head. “More than you know, but it broke Angel giving her up, and it still hurts her to this day. She had her foster father keep tabs until Honor was twenty-one. She doesn’t want to disrupt her life.”
“That’s her name?” Spook asks.
“Yeah, it’s a name we both chose when we had a conversation when we were teens. She asked the family that adopted our daughter to name her that. Her full name is Honor Hannah Gilbert, she’s twenty-eight. Her adoptive parents were called Hannah and Fred Gilbert. They lived in Maine when they adopted her. Not sure if they’re still there or not.”
“I’ll find her and let you know,” Spook assures me. “Although you know that Angel’s dad probably already knows this information.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “But I don’t know him and can’t exactly ask him to give me information on a daughter I knew nothing about until recently.”
“Fair enough,” Spook nods. “Give me a few days and I’ll get back to you and see what you both want to do.”
“Thanks VP, appreciate it.” Looking down at Roman, who’d been suspiciously quiet, I tap his shoulder. “Come on, I'll buy you a beer.”
That gets me a grin. I wonder what the fuck is up with him, it’s not like him to be so melancholy. The man is a regular Peter Pan.
We grab our things from our cubbies and join our brothers at the bar. The whores are out in force, flirting with brothers, sliding onto welcoming laps.
Jen slides up to Roman and slides an arm around his waist, smiling up at him. “You up for some company tonight handsome?”
Roman shakes his head,. “Not tonight, darling.” He presses his lips to her forehead, pats her ass and gently pushes her towards Rusty, who happily wraps an arm around her waist.
Jen looks surprised and confused. Guess he’d been serious when he mentioned he needed to grow up.
He’s not done though, “Jen,” when she looks at him, he continues. “Let the rest of the girls know I’m off the market.”
Jen’s mouth drops open in surprise before she snaps it shut with a snap and a nod. “Okay, Roman. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.”
He waves a hand. “It’s okay, darling.”
Message sent, he turns away and looks down into his glass of whiskey.
Concerned, I nudge his shoulder. “Everything okay, Roman?”
He nods. “It will be, making changes. Can’t woo a woman until I’ve come clean about everything. Went to the clinic this morning. I’ll be okay, brother.” He drains his glass and pushes it towards Muppet, who is manning the bar this evening.