visit to the cave.
Alone with the participants in the cave, he took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
Working with a child made him uncomfortable. While those above him in the organization never divulged the purpose of the Alpha Bio Project to him, he grew weary of their intent.
It was one thing to put grown men through the training process. The physical abuse, the mental breakthroughs, the questionable drug use, along with the brainwashing, had killed many men. There were even fewer men who advanced through each phase and succeeded, making it to membership within the motorcycle club.
No child deserved that kind of life.
"You're a fucking chomo," shouted Four.
He closed his eyes briefly, put on his glasses, and approached the first cell. Four had given him problems from the start. Every concoction of drugs had failed to make him submissive.
"I'll kill you, motherfucking chomo." Four charged the door, banging against the bars. "I'll rip your fucking throat out."
Picking up the shock baton, he switched it on. Four shrank away from the front of the cell and sat at the back of the wall.
He left the baton on while he was alone in the cave with the participants. The cells kept them locked up and out of reach, but they were trained killers.
He wouldn't stand a chance if one of them got out.
Chapter One
The door of the Avery Falls Motorcycle Club clubhouse flew open, and Johnny bounded down the steps. Speeder toed the kickstand of the Harley. It'd been a long afternoon in the cave. All he wanted to do was grab a beer, check-in with Prez, and go home and be there when Trina got out of school.
Since the school year started, Trina had made it a habit of taking her dinner up to her room and refused to eat with him at the table. He took it as a personal goal to get her to eat with him. That's how Trip and Bonnie had a meal with their kids.
He had taken many cues from his MC brother and how he parented Bonnie's kids. Without the help, he'd fail as a father.
"Don't get off." Johnny stopped in front of him. "The secretary from the school is looking for you. She's been calling all around town."
"Why?"
Johnny shrugged. "Probably something to do with Trina."
"Yeah, but why call me?"
"You're her dad." Johnny stepped over to his motorcycle. "Take care of business, brother."
He started his Harley and rode away from the clubhouse. Riding through town and over the St. Joe River via the bridge, he took the first right and pulled into the small parking lot in front of the two-story brick school.
Trina handled coming and going to school herself. She completed her homework without asking him for help. She made her lunch and only asked him for money when she needed supplies.
She also had teachers that were supposed to watch over her until three in the afternoon. There was no reason for the school to call him.
While she was busy in school, he used that time to fulfill his work for the club and spend extra time on his fitness routine. His training had taken a hit ever since the state officials arrived in Avery Falls last spring and announced he had a daughter he wasn't even aware of having.
The last year had proven challenging being a single father.
He parked and walked to the front doors of the school. Going inside, he headed straight to the office. While he checked the main doors three times a week as part of his rounds to secure the town for the club, he'd only entered the building once when he'd signed Trina up for classes.
He strolled into the office. Maxi James, who also delivered the mail around town on Saturdays, looked up from the desk.
"Mr. Brown is in his office." Maxi smiled and pointed. "Go ahead and go in."
He dipped his chin and strode forward. Opening the door, he took in the principal and scarred wooden desk.
"Afternoon, Mr. Klein." Mr. Brown stood and held out his hand.
Speeder shook. "Call me Speeder."
Nobody called him Steve Klein, and if they had, he'd probably ignore them. While it was his given name, he couldn't remember a time when he used the name.
"Sure." Mr. Brown motioned for him to sit. "I called you in to talk about Trina."
He pressed his back against the chair. "What about my daughter?"
"She's been tardy three times in the last three weeks." Mr. Brown shuffled through the stack of files on his desk and