Chapter 12
1053 Words
As I stood on the porch with Blade and Michael standing in a protective stance in front of me. I felt someone come up behind me and I turned around to see Anna and Mary. The other club members had made their way around the side of the house. I wasn't sure who was here, but whoever it was needed to speak fast.
"Hey, Jackal. Wasn't expecting you to show up." Blade said with disdain.
"Well, why wouldn't I have shown up? He was my only family." Jackal said with a snare.
"Family, that's funny; coming from you. How many family members have we lost because of your decisions?" Blade said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"My decision, I wasn't the one who turned my back." Jackal said as venom dripped off every word.
I never knew my dad had a brother. What happened between them, to cause such a rift in the family? I saw suspicion on quite a few of the members' faces as they listened to him talk.
"You can believe what you want, but you're not welcome here." Blade takes a step forward as the other members do the same.
"Why, don't you let my niece decide that for herself." All eyes turned to me. The tension was so think you could cut it with a knife. So I said the only thing I could.
"If Blade says you're not welcome here, then you're not welcome here. I think you should leave." As I finished talking, Jackal's eyes hardened.
"If that's how you feel, then we'll go, but just know you'll regret this."
We all stand in silence as he and his friends start their bikes and drive off. I turn to Blade, who gives me a slight nod and walks down the stairs and joins the other club members on the side of the house.
"What am I missing? Why did I never know my dad had a brother?" I said as Michael turned around.
"Well, there was something that happened years ago that caused a problem within the club. Some felt Pop was turning soft and they wanted him out. Spyder and my dad stood behind Pop and instead of turning into a blood bath, Jackal and his friends left and never came back." Michael gave me a sad look.
I rubbed my hands across my face, everything was so messed up. "Well, hopefully we won't see him anymore. I'm going to head inside and get something to drink."
Everyone went back to what they were doing before Jackal showed up, but an uneasy feeling was left in their wake. Michael opened the door for me as I went inside.
"I'm sure we'll figure out why he showed up now. He's been out of the club for too long. I don't think he'd be welcome in the clubhouse to begin with," Michael said as we walked into the kitchen.
Mary and the other women kept cooking. I remember my mom doing this a lot when there was a problem. It makes me miss her even more. "Well, you would know about that stuff better than I do. What about what he said before he left that we'll regret this?"
Michael stopped me as I got to the fridge. "He could have just been running his mouth, but I'm sure my dad and the club will take care of it."
"Yeah, but its not like we don't have enough to deal with already." I said as I closed the fridge with two sodas in hand.
Mary was the one to speak this time and the other women stopped talking as she spoke. "Dont worry okay, honey. Blade and the rest of the guys will take care of it, you just need to focus on yourself right now. We have everything else taken care of." The women nodded their heads as she finished talking.
"I know, and I don't know how to thank you all enough." I said as my tears threatened to fall again.
"There's no thanks needed. This is what we do when our family needs help." She gives me a squeeze as she ushers us back toward the family room. I sink into the couch and pick Pepper up for some loving. Michael joins me and we sit in silence, not sure what to say. I can't believe that it hasn't even been a day since my dad died.
"Do you know who's coming in for the wake and funeral?" I asked Michael as I reached for the TV remote.
"I think our sister chapters will be coming, plus friends. Though it will mostly consist of the club and family," Michael says as he shifts closer to me.
"Hey, you two. I talked to mom and she said, You can stay with us, or we can stay here with you." Anna said as she took a seat next to me.
"Really, that's great. I didn't really want to be here alone. What am I going to do with this place?" I asked as I looked around the room.
Anna took my hand before she started talking. "I'm sure mom can help you with that. You'll have a place to live though."
"I guess, but when you leave for college I'm going with you, so I won't need it." I said without thinking.
Michael froze beside me before turning his intense gaze in my direction. "Wait, you're going. I thought you weren't going!?"
My chest tightens as he speaks, this isn't going to go well. I see that now. "Well, now I can go. I'm sorry but I can't stay here." I said, hoping he'd understand.
"What happened to being stuck here together?" He starts to stand as I grab his hand to stop him, my chest aches as his words slice through me.
"Michael, I..." He doesn't allow me to finish speaking before he cuts me off. "No, this is bull. You are both leaving me here alone." He yanks his hand out of mine as he turns and storms out. All I can do is let the tears fall. I thought I didn't have anymore, but I guess for Michael I did.
"He'll come around. I'm really sorry, he shouldn't have done that here." Anna said as she gave me a hug.
- Writer
