Ryker by Jeneveir Evans

Chapter 24

It is always darkest before the dawn.

~Dan Brown~

Ryker

October 24th, 1999

Looking around the room, I soaked in the sight that was in front of me. All of my children, but one, in the same room. They were talking, laughing, and having a good time as we played cards at the dining room table.

Bane and Kenzie both looked like they were finally rested. Trina and Bronte had been a godsend to them. They had eased the stress of having to deal with a newborn all alone.

I dreaded the morning. Tor and I should have left yesterday but I was having a hard time with the thought of leaving all my family behind. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want Trina or my younger children coming back with me, like Bane, that wasn’t the place for them. Instead, the problem was me. I didn’t want to leave.

I noticed Bane, Bronte and Taron kept glancing at me. I know they were trying to be subtle about it, yet I’d caught them several times over the last hour. I picked up my beer and took another drink. As bad as I hated to interrupt them, it was time to have a heart to heart with my kids.

I cleared my throat and they all twisted in their chairs so they were giving me their undivided attention.

“What’s up, Dad?” Bronte asked quietly.

“Need to talk to y’all.”

“Okay.”

“Bronte, Taron, Raiden, I need you to listen to me. I know you don’t want Tor and me to go back, but we have to. If King ever found out where we were, he’d do his best to try to hurt ARMC. This club is doing me a solid by allowing the four of you to stay here. Even though Bane is a member, they didn’t have to do that. They’ve even gone a step further than that. They’ve invited not only Tor and me to patch over but the guys who are loyal to me as well.

“You all need to understand that I need your asses to stay here. I need to know that you are safe. Do you get that? I have to know that my kids are protected and away from that shit. If I’m worried about you, then I could miss something that could cause me to fuck up. If I do that, not only am I putting Tor’s life in danger, but my men’s too.

“I know you worry about me. I get it, I do, because I worry about you too. But all of you have got to promise me right now that you won’t do something stupid like try to come back to the house. If King gets suspicious of me and you show up, he’s liable to grab one of you and hurt you in an attempt to control me.

“Do you understand what that would do to me? It would kill me. Literally kill me. So I want each one of you to promise me that you will not attempt to come back to South Dakota. If you won’t promise, I’m letting Dog know that you are not to be allowed off the compound until I get back. As it is, I’d rather you stay here unless you’re with Bane or a member of ARMC.

“Bronte?”

She sighed. “Fine, I promise.”

“Bronte.” I caught her gaze with mine. “I’m serious here. Your ass has to stay here.”

“Okay, okay, Dad. I promise I won’t go anywhere.”

I nodded at her.

“Taron?”

“Yeah, Dad. I promise to keep my ass right here. I know having to worry about us would take your mind off what you need to concentrate on. I’m not going to do anything stupid that would mess you up. I want you back here in one piece.”

“Thanks, son. That takes a weight off me.”

“Raiden?”

“I promise too, Dad. I’m not going to do anything that could possibly make dealing with that shit any worse than it’s going to be.”

“Thanks, Raid. Knowing you have my back here gives me some peace of mind.”

“Bane?”

“Yeah, Dad?”

“I’m leaving your siblings in your hands. Watch out and take care of them.”

“Dad, you don’t have to worry about it. I have your back, always will.”

“What I’m about to say goes no further than this table, understood?” I demanded.

All of my kids nodded.

“I’m not going to be doing this alone. I’m going to stay in contact with ARMC. Every bit of information I get, I’m giving to Viper. When we get enough info to make a firm plan, some of the Brothers of ARMC are driving up and going to help me out. I wanted to let you know that so you don’t sit and stress on it constantly.

“If you have any concerns at all, talk to Bane. If you start freaking out about things, go talk to Vip. You kids know him. You know he’s always had my back like I’ve had his. This is the best way to handle this situation. I can’t promise how long it’s going to take. It could be a week, a month, or a few months. I just don’t know. I’m praying it won’t take long but I’m not going to blow smoke up your asses and promise you a time frame that I can’t keep.”

“It makes me feel a lot better about everything knowing that the men here are going to come help you out, Dad,” Bronte remarked.

“That’s why I told you. I knew it would help. One other thing. Do not call anyone from back home. No one should call any of you since you all have burner phones. Those numbers shouldn’t be known. The only numbers on those phones are family, Vip and Dog. If anyone from HRMC tries to call you other than Tor or me, don’t answer it. Because there’s a possibility that they could trace the number of the disposable phone which could bring danger here. Let Bane know immediately if anyone does try to call that shouldn’t and he’ll take it to Vip. If Bane isn’t available, get to Vip or Dog. They will know what to do.

“If for some reason a call shows it’s from Tor and me and when you answer it’s not either of us on the line, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, do what they might demand. If that should happen, you find Vip or Dog immediately and tell him exactly what was said to you. You get me? But under no circumstances are you to answer the phone unless it’s family, Vip, Dog, Tor or me,” I heavily stressed.

All three of them nodded. I looked over to the island where Trina was sitting drinking a cup of coffee and listening to me talk with the kids.

“Same goes with you too, Trin. Talk to no one. If you want to call your Ma, get with Bane. He knows how to get a call out that isn’t traceable.”

“Alright, Ryker. You don’t have to worry. I let Ma know that I wouldn’t be in contact for a few weeks.”

“Thanks, Trin.”

“Guys, I’m going to turn in. Tor and I are driving the Suburban back to Ma’s. We’ll leave it there and pick up our bikes before heading back toward the house.

“Bane, thanks for having the prospects take the motorcycle trailers back to U-Haul. That helped out a lot,” I added.

“Wasn’t nothing, Dad. It’s their job to do what is asked of them.”

I jerked my chin at him as I stood. Bronte jumped up and flung herself into my arms. I hugged her hard. I kissed the top of her head and murmured into her hair, “It will all work out, baby girl. You’ll see. Dad’s gonna get us out from under the quagmire that has been drawing us down for so long.”

“I know, Dad. I just worry,” she mumbled.

I glanced up to see Taron and Raiden standing behind her. I hugged each one of them and reassured them that I’d be okay. When I stepped away from them, I was met by Bane. He reached out with his hand and I drew him in for a one-armed hug.

He whispered in my ear, “You fucking better take care of yourself, old man. I haven’t had you long, not about to lose you now.”

“No worries, son. Not losing your ass either. We have way too much time to make up.”

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Bane.”

I took a few steps toward the stairs then turned to my crew. They were all looking at me.

“We’re going to leave at six, so if you want to see us off, be up.”

With echoes of good night ringing in my ears, I headed to bed. As I laid down, I asked the Man upstairs to be in my corner as I fought the evil one. I prayed for his help in destroying Beelzebub. Because that is what King was, a minion of Lucifer himself.

~*~

It had been hard on everyone when Tor and I left. I’m not sure there was a dry eye among us. I’d talked briefly with Vip before I went to sleep. We’d solidified our plans. I was beyond thankful to know that I had an experienced team from ARMC waiting to come help me out once we had a definitive plan in place. While it didn’t stop me worrying, the stress of feeling like I didn’t have enough men to take on King was gone.

We were almost to Ma’s when Tor sat up in his seat. He’d stayed up late spending more time with his brothers and sister. I knew why he did that and I prayed to God that his worry didn’t come true. I knew he was afraid that might be the last time he ever saw them.

“You okay?” I questioned.

“Yeah. You good?” he asked.

“Surprisingly, I am. We need to be very careful, Tor, but we both need to be listening for anything, absolutely anything, that can help us. Son, need you to bring whatever you find out to me. Even if you don’t think it’s important, it might be to me. There is so much history that has gone on between some of the members of the club and me that something could be said that you wouldn’t know that it had any relevance.”

“Alright, Dad.”

“Tor, don’t want you staying at the clubhouse. Want you home each night. Also don’t want you riding alone. I think we need to ride in pairs if at all possible.”

“I agree.”

“I’m not going to call everyone together yet. They all know to be listening. I’ll let them know we’re home, but I don’t want to do anything that might tip King off. I’m afraid he’s suspicious as it is. You can talk about visiting Bane. Wish now I’d never taken him to the clubhouse that night when he showed up at the bar. If I hadn’t, we’d have been able to keep any knowledge about him a secret, but I can’t worry about spilt milk now.

“If anyone asks for any information about him, lie your ass off. They want to know where he lives, say Alabama. They want to know his full name, say his name is Chase Long. Whatever you do, do not say he’s in an MC.”

“Gotcha, Dad.”

“This way we are on the same page in giving any info about him if we are asked.”

“Understood.”

“Tor,” I had to give myself a minute before I continued. I was scared shitless for my son. I wasn’t sure I could handle it if anything happened to him. “Watch your fucking back at all times. You got me? At all times.”

“I will, Dad. That’s a promise.”

I jerked my chin at his answer. Soon we were at Ma’s. We took our bikes out of Ma’s garage and I pulled the Suburban into it. Once on our bikes and before we pulled onto the road, Tor held out his left fist to me. I leaned over and tapped his with my right one. Then we hit the road and headed toward an uncertain future.

One where I hoped we all came out alive.

~***~