Justice"I swear to God, I will be fine. If we don't get these filed, we're in contempt," I remind my mom as I pack up the bag of shit I need to go file at the courthouse. Again their portal is down."Right now I'm willing to be in contempt, Justice. I think it's dangerous."I don't know what comes over me, but for the first time in my life, I explode. All the questions I've always had about why my parents and everyone else treat me and Harley differently comes rising to the surface and I can't push them back down. "Oh, screw you, would you be telling Harley you think it's dangerous?"She looks at me, her mouth agape. "No," I answer. "You'd send her on her way without even a 'Be careful'.""That's not true," she argues."Isn't it? Since the night of what happened with Travis, I've lived with all of you telling me to be careful all the time. Not to let myself get into a situation I can't get out of, and to take extra precautions. Recently, I started asking Harley if you said the same
JusticeJust as I'm closing out of the system, a loud buzzing signals over the intercom, and there's a commotion of people running. "What the hell's going on?" I ask, grabbing my documents up, trying to save them from whatever's happening.Judy yells from where she sits. "You have to get out of here! We can't let you back here with us."What does she mean she can't let me back there with them? It's then that gates start closing around the area they're in, leaving me out in the hallway. I run to the elevator, but it doesn't work. Has there been a fire? But then I start thinking, why would they be closed in if there were a fire. They would want to be kept out, instead of in. Which means there must be something happening inside the courthouse. My bag on my shoulder, I look around for a place to take refuge, but everything here is locked down tighter than the clubhouse.To the left I see the stairwell, and I decide it's probably better to move down, closer to the street-level, than it is
Caelin"Goddammit, Rooster, I want in there, and I want in there now," I tell the older member of our club. It's probably not the best thing for me to be doing, demanding an elder to bow down to me, but Justice is in there with a fucking deranged psycho. He's killed once, and who's to say he won't kill again."Look, I respect your feelings about this. But they're not allowing anyone in, and I don't think it's smart to fuck with the Feds."Glancing over at Drew, my eyes do their best to convey a silent message of let's fuck shit up. Harley comes to stand beside me. Her scared voice is louder than the rest of them. "We gotta figure out how to go in there and save her.""Maybe she doesn't need to be saved," my mom says as she comes to stand with our group. "Justice is strong. She's got a good head on her shoulders and she's been through a lot already. Maybe, just maybe, she can save herself and doesn't need all of you to get in her way."I want badly to believe what my mom is saying, but
DrewThe courthouse door opens and I nearly lose it as I see my daughter come out, flanked by cops and emergency personnel. She's holding the hand of the person who's on the stretcher. Must be the bailiff she's grown to be so fond of.Behind them, there's another stretcher, surrounded with even more police. It's the injured body of Alec Tinsdale.As soon as she comes out, Charity runs for her, wrapping her up in her arms. Then Caelin and Harley volley for their position with her.But when they're done, I step forward, crushing her into my arms, crying softly. This is the second time we've almost lost her, and I'm fucking getting sick of it."I'm okay, Daddy," she whispers, her grip holding me up from collapsing onto the sidewalk. "I'm okay. I made it.""You shoulda never been in that situation to begin with," I mumble."Life doesn't tell us what situations we're going to be given," she reminds me. Those are the words of ana intelligence far beyond her years."I hate to break this up,"
Caelin "So when we leave," I tell Will and Meri, "you two are going to have to let us know which puppies you're taking with you. The rest of them are going to be at the clubhouse, and you can't decide on one now and then after you see them at the clubhouse, decide to get another. This will be your final choice."They both look at me, extremely serious, nodding."So how are you going to do it?" Justice asks. "Play with them for a while? Pick on guy instinct?""How would you do it?" Meri asks her.Since everything that happened at the courthouse, Justice has become Meri's favorite person. She wants to be like her when she grows up, and she's been begging Addie to put her into Justice's class.I, overall, think it's a great idea, but I'm not sure I wanna see my niece hanging out where I came all over my thighs. Clearing my throat, I send a bemused grin over to Justice, who answers it with an inquisitive coming together of her eyebrows.Turning to Meri, she gives her her full attention an
JusticeChristmas Eve"Do you think we should tell them today?" Caelin asks as the two of us are getting ready for the big clubhouse shindig.Lots of things have changed over the past few months. One of the biggest things? The necklace I wear around my neck. It's been a life-changer. No one ever thought to ask me and Caelin about them when we showed up wearing them.In fact, the only person who looked twice was Meredith, but then she never brought up the subject. I kinda thought she would, but she surprised me. No one in our families even thought anything weird about our weekend trip to Gatlinburg.And absolutely no one knows we came back married.For two months we've kept the secret, enjoying our time together, and loving the fact we've pulled one over on them. After our trip to the dog park, we knew we wanted to get married, but we also knew we didn't want a big wedding. In fact, we just wanted it to be us, and Joanie.She was our necklace holder. In some weird way it was like havi
HarleyMy hands shake as I shut the door to the bathroom. Last night was crazy, people are sleeping everywhere at the clubhouse, and I venture to say I'm the only one who isn't going to wake up with a hangover. Acting like I was drinking, when I really wasn't, was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I don't think I've ever realized how much people pay attention to refilling your glass. Pretty sure I killed a spot of grass out on the back yard, where I casually dumped all the alcohol I was given. But, I couldn't, in good conscience, drink. Not when I hold this test in my hand. Not when I already know the answer in my heart.Opening the bathroom door, I take a look at Bishop laying in the bed we share at the clubhouse. He's dead to the world, not knowing what the hell I'm doing. I haven't told him my suspicions, because I'm scared to death.We've been so careful.Except for that one night.Now here I am. Eighteen and about to face the biggest change in my life by myself. I wish I
HarleyPregnant. Continuing the Walker bloodline.It's staggering to realize this is actually going to happen. The monumental change our lives is going to undergo is almost enough to drop me to my knees. So much responsibility, but pride at the same time. I always thought it would be Justice. She's so much more settled in her life, has her shit together, and isn't living in sin like me.It's pressure.So much fucking pressure, but I'm excited and I don't recognize who I even am right now. It's not like I had this grand plan of what my life was going to be like, but in my wildest dreams, it wouldn't have been this. "Where were you this morning?" Dad asks as I walk into the office at the garage. "Thought I was going to have to send out a search party.""Coulda asked Bishop." I roll my eyes. "He woke up right next to me."If I'm not mistaken, Drew Walker's jaw twitches as he grinds his back molars together. With a salute, he takes off out the door and toward the bays. Good. That oughta
William Walker Jr., 85 of Bowling Green, died peacefully in his sleep at his residence. The Warren County native was the son of the late William Walker Sr. and Lauren Walker. He was the husband of Denise Walker, who survives.He was the owner of Walker's Wheels.His legacy will be carried on through the members of the Heaven Hill MC, Bowling Green Chapter, and the numerous friends who became family. Liam, as he was known to everyone who cared for him, had a gift of taking people who had given up on themselves or had no direction, and showing them they were worth putting work into. Over the years many have found themselves under his tutelage. Hundreds have called him friend, and others have called him family. He took great pride in who he was, and what he did. The loss of him is a hole that won't be filled - ever.He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Denise. Son Drew (Charity), daughters Mandy (Dalton), and Tatum (Remy), sister Sharon (Rooster), nephew Carter (Storm), numer
HarleyFifteen Years Later "Are you sure you want me to teach you, and not your dad?" I question Erick, looking up at him, because he's now taller than me. He grins, the one so much like his dad I have to do a double-take. "No matter how good he is on the back of a bike, I think everyone knows you're better." "I wouldn't say that. He can hold his own, but I've been riding longer than him." "Exactly," he runs a hand through his shoulder-length hair. "He can show me how to do all the mechanic shit, but I want you to teach me how to ride." I should reprimand him for the curse word, but he hears it so often with the group we hang around. It'd be like telling him not to breathe. "Okay," I nod. "The first thing I want you to know is you're going to be wearing a helmet until you're eighteen and can make your own decision about what you want to do." "Mom," he groans. "Don't mom me. It's what's going to happen. It's a right of passage, and you're go
Harley"He looks like us, doesn't he?" I whisper to Justice as we sit on the screened-in back porch at Grandma and Gramps' house. "He does," she coos. "Those eyes and the set of his chin are one-hundred percent Walker. His little wisp of blonde hair. Are you going to let yours go back to blonde?" She asks, lifting up a lock of my still-dark hair. "I don't know, I kinda like it. Not that I want to be different than you, but it sets us apart." "It does and I understand. You should do whatever you want. "His lips are Bishop's, though. Full and plump, always ready for a smirk or a smile. I think he's got his forehead too." Grandma walks in. "Give me that baby. He looks so much like Drew did when he was his age." I roll my eyes. "Don't give Dad any more bragging rights than he already has. He's been almost unbearable to put up with. You'd think he pushed this kid out of his vagina." "He doesn't have one," Justice points out. "Exactly."
BishopCarrying my son out for the members of Heaven Hill to meet him is one of the proudest moments of my life. There are still remnants of tears below my eyes and I can't be bothered to wipe them away. This is one of those moments I don't mind showing my emotions. The doors open and there they all are, standing and waiting. "Hey." I smile up at them over his head. "How's Harley?" Justice asks immediately. "She's good. They're sewing her up and then she'll be okay for visitors. She told me to tell you not to leave, she wants to see you." Immediately, her shoulders relax. It must've been hard for her to be out here knowing her twin was going through everything inside those doors. "I'd like you all to meet Erick Walker." There's a murmur of confusion as everyone questions his last name. Drew puts his hand on my shoulder. "Bishop came to me a little while ago and asked if he could take my last name. He and Harley plan on getting married at some p
HarleyAfter sex with Bishop, I fell into the best sleep I've had in what seems to be months. When I'm jolted awake by a pain stretching across my abdomen and a gush of wetness between my legs, I'm more surprised than anything. I gasp loudly. "Lee, you okay?" His voice is sleepy and I don't want to disturb him if I don't have to, but as another pain stretches across my abdomen and then goes down into my back, I know I need to. "I think my water broke." I gasp as the pain keeps going. "How far apart are they?" We went to the classes they offer but, truth be told, I'm blanking on everything they told us right now. So much for paying attention. "I just woke up so I haven't been able to time them, but I know if my water's broken we need to get to the hospital." "Your bag is here, isn't it?" "Yeah I have one here, at the shop, at home. Just in case." I grimace as I try to sit up, but this has been hell on my core muscles. "Give me a minute and I'll
Bishop"If you roll over one more time, you're going to roll off this bed." "I can't get comfortable," she grumbles. "My belly's too big. I can't sleep and I just wanna be able to lie on my stomach. I haven't been able to do it in months. I wish you could feel this. It's annoying," she complains, turning over so that she's cuddled up against the body pillow she's taken to sleeping with. "Do you want me to shove a pillow under my shirt? Put a watermelon around my waist?" I think this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but whatever it takes to put her at ease, I'll do. "That's a great idea. There's a cantaloupe in the kitchen, why don't you go grab it?" She's absolutely not kidding. The tone of her voice isn't playing around. I squeak out. "Right now?" "Why not? If I can't sleep, why should you?" She says with an evil laugh. "Alright, if I'm getting up, so are you." "Easy buddy, I'm already awake." She reaches out, without words, ask
Harley"Get out of here." I shoo Will's hand away. "We're gonna eat in less than an hour.""I've watched you, you keep eating," he complains."I am heavily pregnant," I argue with him. "It's fucking hot and my ankles are swollen, do not argue with me."Bishop grabs Will's hand. "C'mon, little man, let's go play some Call of Duty with Caelin.""Gladly." He sticks his tongue out at me."You've got to be nicer to him," Mom admonishes me.Justice interrupts. "She's got to be nicer to everybody.""You try carrying around a watermelon on the front of your body and see how you feel," I retort. "I'm fucking uncomfortable.""It gets better," Grandma says as she comes over to rub my shoulders. "I know it's hard to think it's going to, but it will. I promise.""I'm so sick of people saying it's going to get better," I grumble. "Every time I go and they make me spread my legs, I dread it. She did this thing called scraping my membranes this week. I mean, what the fuck? It hurt so bad. Like, do I
BishopI'm nervous as I watch Drew across the bays. This is something I never thought I would do and since we talked about how Liam wasn't his biological father, I've gone back and forth, wondering if this was the right decision. In the end, I know it is. He catches me looking, narrowing his eyes in a what the fuck way. Putting my hands in my jeans pockets, I walk over to him. "You mind if we talk?" Immediately, he looks worried. "Is everything okay?" "Harley's fine, but what I want to speak to you about has to do with her." "Okay, wanna go behind the shop?" "I wanna ask her to marry me." I hold up my hand. "But I have a request for you. I wanna take the Walker last name." He opens his mouth, then shuts it, before opening it again. My stomach drops and my heart pounds. The silence stretches on between us and I'm worried about what I've just requested. "I'm sorry, you don't have to say anything." He reaches out, holding on tightly t
Harley"Eight more weeks and it's looking like he might come early. You're carrying low. He's a good weight, though, so as long as we can keep him in four to six more, you're good," Doctor Simmons says as she checks me. "Have you been having any pain or anything?" "No." I shake my head then think better about it. "Actually, yeah I did. Bishop and I were..." I stop, not sure how to proceed without being crass. "Being intimate and I felt some pressure." "Was there bleeding afterward?" "No, it just got uncomfortable very quick. To the point where I had to ask Bishop to stop. I've never done that before, not since we had sex for the first time." My face flames as I tell this woman more than I ever expected to. "It's okay," she explains. "You're going to be feeling more pressure the closer you get to him coming. Like I said, you're already carrying low. The lower he gets, the worse it's going to be for you. Your hips are widening and preparing for you to give birth,