“Baby, I have a surprise for you,” Hammer’s voice comes from the left of me and I rise up to see him sitting in the armchair by the window, smiling from ear to ear, which only means he’s planned something magnificent. “And before you say anything, we’re doing it.” Well, there goes me shooting it down the drain.
I end up letting Hammer talk me into this. We pack up our small duffle bags and change into some comfortable clothes, and while I thought about it, I texted my brother and caught up with him. He was, of course, worried about me after last night, but even he knew I was in the safest place I could be, with a man who would take care of me. He ended up telling me that even while he didn’t get into an in-depth conversation with Hammer, he liked him.
Hammer and I rode out of Salt Lake City and he ended up pulling off into the town of Coalville. I didn’t know what’s going on, and I still don’t. Right now, we’re parked out of some sort of small café called Denise’s Home Plate.
Hammer and I walk inside and I don’t realize who’s in the booth until he rises and looks directly into my eyes, smiling so wide I think he could blind me. I turn to look at Hammer, not sure how he did this. How did he do this in so little time?
He managed to arrange for me to see my uncle Chris.
“God, I thought you’d be halfway across the world by now,” my uncle mutters, wiping his hand over his mouth, staring at me in complete awe.
I haven’t seen him since I was a child, since he tried to help me. “I . . . I’m sorry, I’m just so . . . I’m in such shock right now,” I mumble, in complete disbelief. Tears threaten to spill, but I try my best to not allow it to happen.
“It’s alright. When this guy called me and said his name was Hammer . . . I thought this was gonna be some sort of sick joke. I didn’t think you’d actually be here.” Uncle Chris laughs hard, causing me to join in as well.
Hammer’s phone begins to ring and he excuses himself, walks toward the door of the café and I take a seat across from my uncle, catching up on how he’s been and how life has treated him over the years.
Going to Salt Lake City may not have been the best idea, but I believe in balance and while I experienced something quite horrid last night, seeing my uncle is making up for it. He’s the kind of dad I wish I could’ve had. The kind I would’ve prayed for as a little girl. He did everything he could to try and keep me safe, even if others wouldn’t listen.
Chapter Fourteen
With the right person you don’t have to work hard to be happy, it just happens
~ Weird People Rock
Hammer
It’s been a week since the ordeal in Salt Lake City. The club’s been keeping busy, and so has my little sister. She’s arranged for us to have dinner in my father’s room at the hospital tonight and after the last family dinner Shiloh attended, I don’t know if she’ll be too keen on attending mine, but I want her there. If I’ve learned anything through this experience with my father being in the hospital, it’s that we need to let people know how much we care about them.
Yesterday Jada called me and we spoke about a few things. I’d asked her what she’s been up to and what not and while most in her life hasn’t changed when she asked about mine, I told her about Shiloh. It was only a matter of minutes before my mother called to see if what Jada told her was true, and of course, I was blunt. With my ma, there isn’t a woman who’s good enough for me. No one will treat me the way I deserve in her eyes, but I’ll be the first to tell her Shiloh isn’t just a girlfriend. Nope, she’s my fuckin’ queen, my ol’ lady, and I’ll shout it from the damn rooftops. I’m gonna end up speakin’ to Zane about getting a cut made for her. I can’t fuckin’ wait to see ‘Property of Hammer’ on her. Whether it’s the cut or her getting ink. I know back in the day, the old tradition for the Reapers Rejects was to get it tatted on too, but I don’t think many have done it recently.
“Hey, I’ve been meanin’ to check in with you,” Blackjack says as he flags me down in the clubhouse. I stop on my trek to find Shiloh and ask her if she’d come to the hospital with me.
“Hey, VP. What’s goin’ on?” I hadn’t heard Blackjack wanted to get in touch with me, which makes me concerned.
“Nothin’, man. Wanted to see how your pops is doing. I hadn’t heard any up
dates lately.”
Shit. This is why I love the club life, especially this club. While my brothers here might not be blood, you’d never know it. They’re just as concerned for my biological family too. “He’s hangin’ in there. Infection isn’t leavin’ his body, and the doctors are workin’ really hard to get him back on the right track.” I’m as positive as I can be with him, but Blackjack sees right through my bullshit.
“He’s been sick since the procedure, hasn’t he?”
I give him a curt nod. “Yeah.”
“Has anyone been honest with you, brother?” Blackjack’s question would blindside any other man, but not me. I’ve known him for
