Leather & Love. A True Biker Romance.

Chapter 9.

Chase’s POV.

Walking out the door, I know there is a chance of redemption. She didn’t hit me, throw hot coffee at me or attempt to stab me with a spoon. Shannon just needs to see that she still loves me and that I will do everything I can to keep her and our son here where they both belong.

I walk away and head back to the clubhouse with a small smile on my lips and step inside, hearing the laughter coming from inside and stop in my tracks seeing my son being chased by Stinger. I smile softly as I watch as my son dodges Stinger.

“Daddy, help me!” Stinger stops running and all eyes look at me, and my heart stops as I catch Chance in my arms and lift him. Looking at him before he giggles and hides his face in my neck.

“What is uncle Stinger doing, son?” I ask, choking on a sob and he giggles again. He called me daddy and I look at Stinger and Bear and they were smiling at me.

This kid holds my heart in his hands the same way his mother does.

“He said he was going to eat me up.” Chance says and I chuckle as he moves back to look at me. He tilts his head to the side and looks at me.

“I have your curly hair and eyes.” He says and I nod my head before he wriggles to get down so I place him on his feet and he holds his hand out to me, and I take it.

“Daddy, why is there no tree? Santa won’t come if there is no tree.” My son says sadly and I look around and see he is right. There are no decorations at all in the clubhouse. I know Ruby said it last night, but f**k that b***h.

I take his hand and walk to the booth and sit down and lift him onto my lap.

“Is it cos of grandma and grandpa and uncle Shane?” He asks sadly and I gulp down the lump in my throat.

“No, buddy, it isn’t. We just haven’t had time to decorate just yet, but we will do. I promise you.” I say to him and kiss his curly white-blonde head as he leans against my chest playing with my cut. I look up at Bear and Stinger, and they both nod their heads.

“Ok guys and girls, you heard our mini pres, let’s get this place Santa ready. Can’t have no presents on Christmas, can we?” Bear says, and everyone, even the sweet butts, says, aye.

“Can I help with the tree?” Chance asks hopefully and I hum.

“Of course, does mommy let you do that at home?” I ask, hating that I know nothing of their lives, but that will change.

“Yep, mommy always lets me help. She says I’m a good helper, and so do my teachers at daycare because I always help my friends.” He says and I smile at that. My son is kind-hearted, just like his momma.

“Well then, we better go and get a real big tree then. But I think we need to ask mommy first though ok.” I say, and he cheers and jumps down from my lap and runs to Katie and tells her excitedly about what we are going to do, and god love Katie she matches his excitement. When she has kids with Bear, she will be a great mom.

Maria, one of the sweet butts, walks over to the booth.

“Hunter, this is a good look for you. We never liked Ruby. We all saw it was Shannon you loved. Chance is a perfect combination of you and Shan. Don’t mess this up.” She says and I chuckle. Maria keeps the sweet butts in their place and is respected throughout the club.

“Planning on it. Can you dig out the decorations and make a list of the food, etc and get Dizzy Darren and Swifty to go and get them? I need to ask Shannon if it is ok to take Chance with me.” I ask Maria when the door opens and in walks Shannon looking pissed off. Oh, what did I do now?

“Shannon, oh sweetheart, are you ok?” Maria asks, moving to my woman and Shannon pulls Maria into a hug and shakes her head.

“No, I’m not.” Shannon says and I walk over to her and pull her away from Maria and she comes willingly.

“What happened?” I ask her because I only left her like twenty minutes ago.

“I need to go to the sheriffs office. They called the house and asked me to collect my dad’s, Shane’s and Lily’s personal belongings and I don’t have a car, and I don’t want Chance to be there when I go and see them, and I don’t know if I can do this, and I … I feel so goddamn lost.” She sobs and I lift her in my arms and her legs wrap around me and I hold her to my chest. I don’t think she has realised what she has done.

“It’s ok, take my car and I will come with you. I was coming to see you anyway to see if it would be ok to take Chance to pick out a tree so Santa can come.” I say, sounding lame as s**t, and she chuckles.

“No, you spend time with Chance. I’m sure Stinger or one of the brothers can come with me. You don’t need to ask to do anything with Chance. Even though this time of year hurts me, I have always celebrated it for Chance and I know my dad and brother would have wanted everyone to celebrate it even though they are gone. So don’t stop the tradition. It is a way to honour them.” She says and I nod my head at her words even though none of us have felt up to it, but with Chance being here we will pull through for him, for Shannon and for ourselves, because Shannon is right, Ranger, and Bloodhound wouldn’t have wanted us to not celebrate it.

“Stinger, can you take my truck and go with Shannon to see the sheriff and stay with her? Then I want us all to decorate for Christmas.” I shout to Stinger and he nods his head and I hand him my keys and he takes them.

“Even if you don’t feel up to celebrating right now, let’s keep as happy as we can for Chance and the other kids of the club. Then you can go back to hating me.” I say to her and she lifts her head and looks at me.

“I don’t hate you, Chase. I hate what you did, what you chose, but I don’t hate you because you gave me Chance. Please keep him safe and don’t be buying him too many sugary treats otherwise he will have a sugar high and then crash, trust me it isn’t pretty.” She says and I smile at her before I chuckle and I kiss her nose and stiffen instantly at what I have just done. I cough and place her back down, and she steps back, her cheeks flushed a gorgeous pink, and she looks at Stinger before she calls Chance over.

“Little man, I have to run some errands. Are you ok to stay with uncle Bear, aunt Katie, and your erm …”

“Daddy? Yeah, I’m good. You be good too, mommy, love you.” Chance kisses her cheek and runs off. I chuckle at the shock on my woman’s beautiful face.

“He called you daddy? Oh, f**k, I’m going to cry again.” She says when Chance runs back holding his hand out and we all chuckle at him.

Shannon reaches into her pocket and hands him a dollar bill and he chuckles, running off again.

“Swear jar.” Shannon and I both say together before she turns and walks out to find Stinger and I turn to find my son. I better make this Christmas the best it has been in years, even given the circumstances.