“I . . . I think I need to go lay down,” my ma mutters as she rises and walks off toward her bedroom. I start to say something, but Jada comes over and motions with her hand for me to stop, so I don’t say a thing.
“She hasn’t taken a moment to rest since this morning. Let her go lay down. Whether she’s going to cry or sleep, just let her have a few minutes alone.”
I nod, understanding what she’s getting at.
My phone buzzes and I take it out to see a new message in the group chat for the club.
From: Zane
Church in 15.
We haven’t had church in a few days now and given everythin’ we’ve discovered about the General and the Commander, it’s about damn time we meet up and see what’s goin’ on.
I stand up from the couch and look right at Jada. “Sorry to do this, but I need to go for a bit. I’ll be back as soon as I can, though, okay?”
Jada doesn’t understand much about the club life, but she’s tryin’ her best. I overheard her talkin’ down about the club lifestyle and the life I live earlier. Shiloh not only came to my defense, but the Reapers Rejects’ as well.
“Okay, it’s probably good you take a break from things here anyway,” Jada tells me, heading back into the kitchen. Shiloh passes her and I notice the way her eyes fixate on my sister. She comes right up to me and takes my hand.
“Everything okay?”
I give her a nod, but I don’t know if everything’s alright. “We need to head back to the club for a bit. Zane’s callin’ church, but we’ll come back after.”
“I can stay here. Jada . . . I don’t want to leave her alone. I think she’s putting on a brave front, Hammer, but something doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Okay, you’re gonna be good staying here?”
“I will. Don’t be surprised if I text you with some things to get from the store, though. I don’t want your momma to be worrying about anything.” This right here is how I know I’ve ended up with a magnificent woman. All she cares about is makin’ sure the people around her are taken care of, and it only adds to the list of reasons I’ll cherish her until the end of my days, the same way my dad did to my ma.
I give Shiloh a sweet kiss on the lips and go grab my keys from the hook. Without lookin’ back, I walk out the door and head over to my bike, hoping whatever we need to talk about doesn’t take up too much time. The sooner I’m back here, the better I’ll feel.
Chapter Twenty
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory
~ Dr. Suess
Shiloh
“Fuck, you did it, boy!” Blackjack cheers as Dex comes in through the clubhouse doors, cap and gown in tow.
Ashley smiles like any doting mother would. If you were a stranger, you’d never know she’s not his biological mom. Sure, she’s a bit on the younger side, but with the pride she has in this kid, anyone would think she birthed him.
Every single person in the clubhouse is smiling widely, so happy for Dex. He’s the eldest of all the kids to graduate from high school, and soon enough, Sydney will be right behind him. Then I think it’s Jordyn and Nova . . . and then a large line up of Reapers Rejects kids.
“C’mon over here and have a drink with me, I think you’ve earned it,” Axel hollers from the bar, getting a nasty look from Ashley. “Oh c’mon, Ash. It’s not like he won’t be drinkin’ underage at that fancy-ass school he got accepted into.”
He has a good point, but no way am I going to get in the middle of this. I simply walk up to Dex and bring him in for a hug. It’s been a whirlwind watching this geeky little boy grow up into a young man—a respectable young man at that. “I know you won’t be leaving for a few months, but Hammer and I leave tomorrow, so I want to say this to you now. You, Dexter, are an incredible, smart, witty boy. A boy who’s going to be a man very soon and I can speak for everyone here when I say we’re so proud of the man you’re becoming. Even though I’m moving to Los Angeles with Hammer, I want you to know I’m still your Auntie Shi and I’m only a phone call away if you need me. Any time of day or night. Okay?”
Dex smiles and nods his head once. “I’m sad to see you go, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy.” Dex looks past me to where Hammer is sitting by Bama on the couch.
“I haven’t been this happy before,” I admit.
“I’m glad Hammer’s bein’ so good to you. I . . . for a long time, I watched you put people at the club above your own needs, and I’m glad you found someone who puts you first. You deserve it.” Dex’s words hit me like a ton of bricks right in the heart and tears well in my eyes.
“Oh shit, I didn’t mean to make you emotional.”
I wave my hand brushing him off. “It’s okay. You’re
