Speed

by Carson Mackenzie

  Wild Bill was a large barrel chested man who stood at least six foot five. Before I could answer his last question, I watched another large man walk toward the door. Had to be the brother, Reed. He took after Wild Bill in everything except the hair and eyes. I imagined the sandy blond hair and blue eyes were shared with his mother.

  They waited for me to speak. My intentions when I came were to meet her dad, giving Sami support if she needed it. She was supposed to talk with him, let him know about me being Ally’s dad. She hadn’t and when Wild Bill opened the door, he might have asked who I was but his eyes had told a different story before they went blank again. One of acknowledgment. He saw the resemblance like everyone else.

  So since he knew or suspected, I decided to verify it for him, and take care of the word ‘My’ once again—for him and the brother.

  “Yeah, and this is MY woman’s house and MY daughter’s.” The brother’s eyes narrowed, Sami turned pale, and when I looked at Wild Bill his face was blank, then he nodded his head and stepped back.

  “Come on, Speed, let’s go out back and have a beer and talk. Seems my dau…your woman was holding back some information.” He walked by Sami, “I’ll get that from her later.” I followed and as I passed Sami, I stopped and kissed her forehead, then continued behind Wild Bill, leaving her and Reed standing there.

  We stepped out the back and I was immediately hit by a tiny body. “Speed, yous came back. I missed yous at breakfast.” I bent down and hugged my daughter who had no issue letting anything out of the bag. The back door opened and Sami and Reed joined us.

  “Reed and I seem to be the last to know what’s going on. Imagine you know how that feels.” He looked at Carly while he spoke, probably because of the smirk on her face. “Sami, you girls go in the house and finish the rest of the stuff for dinner. Reed, Speed, and I will sit down here and watch the grill.” Sami glared at me but nodded to acknowledge her dad, then she took Ally’s hand and headed inside with Carly right behind them.

  Reed reached in the cooler, handed his dad and me a beer, and we sat in the chairs at the corner of the patio.

  “Let’s get right down to it.” I pointed with my beer for him to start. “Sami kept your name from us no matter how much I badgered her. But I could kick my own ass for not figuring it out. I knew your dad from the military, you look just like him, and my granddaughter is the splitting image of you both. Don’t know how I missed that shit. Anyway, I’m not going to ask how this happened because I’m a dad, we still like to imagine that our daughters don’t have sex and I like that little fantasy. You’ll understand that when Ally becomes a teen.” Reed laughed but it didn’t last. “Don’t laugh, the way you whore around I keep waiting for some woman to come by yelling about you being the baby’s daddy.” I had to bite the inside of mouth to keep my own self from laughing.

  “I don’t want to like you, but I think I’m going to. Any man that comes to the door of a woman’s house to confront her dad and brother without one thought to getting his ass kicked is a brave motherfucker or a stupid one. There is no in between. Since you’re wearing that Enforcer patch, I’m going with brave motherfucker.

  “That being said, what you need to remember is I am a bigger and meaner bastard. I will kill you and bury the body where no one will find it and if they do, they’ll have to put the pieces together to identify you. Now why don’t you tell me, what’s going on between you two. Ally isn’t calling you daddy so she doesn’t know, why is that?” The man never blinked while he spoke. Not once had he diverted his eyes away from me.

  “I’ve been getting to know my daughter. I’m letting Sami think she is getting her way. If I had known she existed, I would have left the military sooner. The only thing you need to know is she is mine and I protect what’s mine. Your daughter is a little more trickier, but I got that handled.” Reed shook his head.

  “Really, you got her handled. Even Prez over here,” he pointed his beer at Wild Bill, “had a hard time with that when she was growing up. She’s stubborn and sometimes if you push her too much, you end up with scars.” He lifted the hair off his forehead to show a scar at the hairline. “I walked in her room while she and Carly were having a sleepover. They were dancing and when she saw me, she threw a school book at me. Clocked my ass good before I could duck.”

  “I won’t waste your time with bullshit. Sami is mine and so is Ally. By next week they will be on the Black Hawk compound, living in my house. They’ve got two families right now, Black Hawk and Haven. You know as well as I know any enemies get wind of that and it will be used against both clubs. We know you are having issues internally, Stroker told me to tell you to call him. Our clubs may not have seen eye to eye before but we have a reason to work toward that now.

  “Since the next time you come they will be at the compound, I want to extend the invite to you that you’re welcome there. I know Sami and Ally would like it. I’m not going to tell you what’s going on as far as Sami goes, because I haven’t told her. Once I do, I’m sure she will let you know.” I finished my beer while Wild Bill cocked his head at me. When he straightened he smiled.

  “I am going to like you. I like what I see in you.” The door opened and Sami stepped out and looked between us.

  “Food is done.” Reed finished pulling the meat off the grill and started for the house, Wild Bill stood.

  “You joining us?” Sami asked me and I shook my head.

  “No, babe. Going to let you and Ally visit with your dad and brother. I got to get back.”

  “Okay.” Wild Bill watched the play, I knew he was evaluating us together. I also knew Sami was banking that I wouldn’t put her on the spot with her dad there. Her eyes informed me I was right when they flashed fire as I stepped up and kissed her forehead.

  “Forty-eight hours, babe. Don’t forget.” I shook Wild Bill’s hand, went through the house, hugged my daughter bye and told her I would see her soon.

  I looked over my shoulder as I drove down the street, Sami stood in the doorway watching. I’d go back to the compound and I would stay away from her. She’d either come to me willingly or I would come back and get her. Made no difference, the clock was ticking down, I wanted my family, together.

  Sami

  When I closed the front door I felt him behind me. I turned and fell into his open arms, resting my cheek on his chest.

  “God, Dad, he confuses me.”

  “Do you love him, baby? Not because of Ally, because of you.”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what’s the problem, Sami?”

  “I don’t know if he does, not for me, but because I’m Ally’s mother. I need it to be for me, Dad.”

  “Know what I see?” He moved me back so he could look in my eyes.

  “What?”

  “A man who sees what he wants and is going to have it, no matter what. Don’t protest, I’m not done. I also saw how he looked at you, which I imagine it is the same way I looked at your mother. When you look at him, it’s the same way your mother looked at me. You need to tell Ally, Sami. She needs to know. Her heart is already his. I’ve never seen her look so happy until he walked outside earlier. You make your own mind up, but don’t keep her from him. Now, anyone else going to stop by that’s going to hold my dinner up?”

  I chuckled at his lame attempt to lightening the mood and put my arm around his waist and led us to the kitchen.

  “What was the forty-eight hour business?”

  My dad listened as I explained the ultimate given and told him I didn’t know if I was going to ignore or not. He laughed and squeezed me.

  “Totally like him. If he can get you to do what he wants, I will dance at your wedding.”

  “Seriously, you laughed at a man steamrolling over your daughter. Some father you are.” I pulled away and acted indignant at him. He pulled me back into his arms.

  “Please, you wouldn’t even let something like that bother you. But you’re bothered. Tells me, next time I visit will be at the Black Hawk
compound.” He squeezed me and stepped away to sit at the table by Ally, leaving me standing there with no idea what to do.

  There was plenty of time, I decided, and sat down at the table. I’d enjoy the rest of the visit with my dad and brother, then after they were gone I’d think about what to do about Speed, not like he would really come and haul us to the compound.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Speed

  “You know this is fucked up, Speed?”

  “You agreed, so shut up, Flirt.”

  “‘Cause you told our dads. What are you, five?” I smirked at Crusher as I opened the door to the building and he flipped me off.

  “Jesus, I didn’t like coming in here when I had to.”

  “Devil, you’re just afraid they’re going to realize they are smarter than you.” That earned me another finger.

  “Damn, was everything always so fucking small?”

  “That’s a bad word, Jag.” He laughed but still flipped me off.

  “Speed, you’re going to owe us big for this shit.”

  “Keep thinking that, Coast, if it helps you get through it.” Double fingers. I felt the love as we stopped in front of the door.

  “Get ready, brothers, you may never be the same when this is over.” I opened the door to the big room and walked in with my brothers following behind.

  When we entered, heads turned and a few eyes got big, not every day did six huge tattooed bikers walk into a classroom. Mrs. Elderman greeted us and pointed to the table where we would be.

  She was the first one I saw as she sat with her back to us. I’d called to check the time the day before and had a nice discussion with Mrs. Elderman. She’d informed me that Ally wouldn’t be the only child there without a daddy, some were single parents and the moms couldn’t attend because they had to work, then others whose fathers couldn’t take off. So yeah, I steamrolled my brothers.

  I hadn’t been back to see Sami since I went by to meet her dad. I couldn’t go without talking with her though, so I called her each night. That’s how I knew she wouldn’t be here today. Ally told her last night she didn’t want to go to the party but Sami wouldn’t let her back out of it. She told Ally you didn’t let anyone dictate what you could do just because things weren’t tied up in a nice little bow. If my daughter took after her mother, she’ll be a strong woman able to stand on her own if need be. Like that would ever happen.

  Sami’s time was up tomorrow and I needed her to come on her own to me. I’d never needed someone like I needed her. I’d realized too late the ultimatum I set would crush me too if she blew me off. I’m banking on what I’d seen in her eyes when she looked at me.

  We were almost to the table when a little girl across from us leaned in, that’s when Allie raised her head and saw us, the smile that followed was worth the shit I heard from the others yesterday when I mentioned this. They came anyway, it was what brothers did, they’d always have my back. We reached her table and she jumped in my arms when I opened them to her.

  “You came.” She hugged me tight and then I sat her down. “You all came.” She smiled at them, her eyes glistened just the slightest and when I looked at my brothers, I’d remember this moment forever. I’d remind them of the day one little girl had stolen their hearts, just like she’d done mine.

  We made our introductions and each took a seat by a kid. I shook my head when I noticed Flirt sat with the only boy at the table. He looked at us and smirked. The kids had been shy at first but it only took Ally informing me what I was doing wrong to have the other kids doing the same.

  “Not like that, Speed. Yous got to put a little glue, then press the noodle in it.”

  “Sure thing, darlin’.”

  Crusher chuckled beside me until the little girl he sat by chimed in. “At least your daddy fill-in (the nickname they deemed us with) can use the scissors.”

  “If they made the da…” Ally looked over at Crusher and he smiled, “dang things weren’t made to fit big hands.”

  “Please, me and Aaron here didn’t have any trouble cutting ours out.” Flirt patted the kid on the back and got a smile for his effort. I had to admit it looked good. Instead of folded out dolls, they did a motorcycle.

  “How come you didn’t cut me out a bike? I don’t like dolls,” Ally told me and the others hadn’t dared to look at me but I’d heard their snickers.

  “Next time, okay?” When she got quiet I looked down at her. “What?”

  “Yous going to be here for my next daddy party?” The kids continued to talk but my brothers looked at me, my brows cocked, they hadn’t had to say a word. It was time to tell her, but not in a classroom full of parents and kids.

  “I will be there for your party or any other time you need me. Always.” She didn’t answer, she just sighed and leaned into me, placing her head on my arm.

  We’d made faces on paper plates with noodles, cut construction paper to fan out into dolls but it was the kids who made the experience enjoyable.

  After crafts we ate lunch with them and had cake. Overall the time had ended on a good note. Parents hugged their kids goodbye and filed out of the classroom. The kids who’d sat with my brothers gave them hugs and told them bye. I wished I had my phone out to take pictures of their faces when the kids had done that. It would have been great entertain at the next Church.

  “See ya, darlin’.” I stood back up from hugging Ally.

  “Yous doing a sleepover tonight with Momma?”

  “Not tonight, Ally. Soon, okay?”

  “‘K.” She sat back in her chair, sighed, and touched the doll we cut out. I knew how she wanted, I wanted the same thing.

  By the time I got outside the guys were standing by their bikes, all but Coast. While I walked toward the others I searched the parking lot and found him talking with one of the men who had been at the party. The man looked familiar but I couldn’t place him.

  “Whose Coast talking to?”

  I received shrugs as we watched Coast as he walked toward us and got on his bike.

  “Who was that, he looked familiar?” Coast chuckled.

  “Bert Samson.”

  “The mayor’s son?” Devil asked.

  “And Benji’s dad. I asked Mari, the little girl I sat with to point Benji out. So when I walked out and was waiting on you guys I saw Bert come out. Thought I’d have a little talk with him.” Coast revved his bike ready to leave.

  “And?” I asked.

  “Told him to teach his kid that males were to be nice to girls. And added that the next time Benji said ugly shit to Ally, as his dad he would be the one taught how to treat a woman by Ally’s dad and uncles.”

  We laughed and pulled out of the parking lot.

  Sami

  I paced and worried so much at the club that Tank and Perry teamed up on me. They volunteered to stay past their shifts and close Soft Tails if I would just go home. It seemed I had gotten on their nerves. Whatever.

  When I dropped Ally off today for school and her party she asked again if she could just go to Mrs. Mayson’s house. I wanted to let her do it but I couldn’t let her think that it was okay to be excluded because you were different. Still I checked with Mrs. Elderman and Ally wouldn’t be the only one without a parent there. Ally gave in and went to her seat and I went to work.

  She spotted me when she was brought out with the other car riders. The smile plastered on her face told me she was happy to see me. The bouncing in the back seat told me the day hadn’t been so bad.

  “He came, Momma. They all came. We made faces on plates and cut out dolls and he said next time we’d do a bike like Aaron got to do and he’d come to my parties.”

  When she stopped to breathe, I asked, “Who, sweetie?”

  “Speed and his friends, they all came and we didn’t haves to sit by ourselves and make our things. We called them the fill-in daddies.” I imagined the six big bikers had been a hit and didn’t even know it.

  I looked in the rearview mirror, she was so happy as she ran
her hand over the face she’d made on the plate.

  “Whens Daddy going to live with us all the times?”

  “What?”

  “Speed, he’s my daddy, whens will we all lives together?” When I looked back in the mirror she was looking at me.

  “You know Speed’s your daddy?” Everyone had been careful not say anything in front of her until we’d figure out how to go about it.

  “Yes.” No pause, no hesitation from her.

  “How?”

  “He has my face.” Well, wasn’t that simple.

  “Yes, he does.”

  Speed

  I’d closed the door to the room the guys had help me finish when I heard the car pull up. When I made it downstairs and opened the front door arms wrapped around my legs and neck.

  “What’s wrong?” My daughter was attached to my legs and her mother had me around the neck and my chest tightened on what it could mean.

  “You went to the school. You had your friends go too. You made a doll out of paper and promised a bike next time.” I looked down into Sami’s eyes when she stepped back.

  “Okay, and you drove out here to tell me that. I was there.” Tears filled her eyes and if she hadn’t smiled I would have panicked.

  “I know, I know, I’m rambling. She told me about her day with you, she made it simple, it had all been so simple.”

  “Babe, you got to give me a clue here.”

  Ally let go of my legs and looked up at me, “Daddy, it’s because yous got my face.” Then she walked in the house like she’d been there before. And her mother was right—it was that simple.

  “Did she just call me—”

  “Daddy. She’d known, Kane. I guess she waited for us to catch up.”

  “You know you aren’t leaving here, right? You came here and now you can’t leave.”