Tex (Hell's Ankhor #5) - Aiden Bates Page 0,18
I thought too hard about everyone coming out to surprise me, and welcome me back, I’d start crying for real. And that was no way to restart my life with Hell’s Ankhor.
“Jasper, I don’t have a whole hell of a lot to say,” Blade said with his beer raised. “Only—welcome home. We’ve all missed you a hell of a lot.” Maybe I imagined it, but I thought Tex’s grip on my shoulder might’ve tightened a little. “For this next part, well, I would’ve done it earlier—it was certainly deserved earlier—but I wanted Jasper to be here. You all know Tex, our most impressively bearded enforcer.”
“The only bearded enforcer!” Siren corrected.
“I could grow a better one!” Coop said.
“He’s stepped up these past few months,” Blade said, ignoring the heckling. “He’s proven himself to be an impressive enforcer, and a steady foundation during some crazy fucking shit. So, for that reason.” Blade reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and withdrew a small patch. “You’re promoted, boss.”
Tex dropped his arm from my shoulder and gaped dumbly at Blade. I laughed and pushed him forward. “Say something!”
Tex stepped up to Blade and took the patch, turning it over in his hands. It was small, just big enough to sew onto his jacket above his heart, and it said ROAD CAPTAIN.
“You earned it, Tex,” Blade said. He hopped off the chair and wrapped Tex into a rough hug. “Keep up the good work.”
Tex got his own round of congratulations, back-claps, and hoots of celebration. Eventually, we ended up on Ballast’s small back porch. I needed the fresh air—it was a lot of activity in there, and I wasn’t used to the boisterous crowds anymore, nor all the touching. In the joint, a group as rowdy and loud as those guys would’ve ended with some violent intervention from the guards. I still felt a little jolt of nerves when someone shouted too loud, or pushed too roughly.
I inhaled the cold night air and leaned heavily back against Ballast’s brick exterior. I looked over at Tex. He had the patch in hand and was running his thumb over the neat white stitching.
“What do you think?” I asked. “Up for the job?”
“Course I’m up for it,” he said. “Just—wasn’t expecting it.”
“Not a surprise to me.” I tipped my head back and looked up at the light-polluted night sky. “You’ve always been a good enforcer. Can only imagine you’ve gotten better without me around to distract you.”
Tex knocked his shoulder against mine. “’Better’ isn’t the word I’d use, but I’ve picked up more shifts.”
“See?” I looked over and grinned at him. “Put in the work, reap the reward.”
Tex’s sharp green eyes softened when his gaze met mine. “Thanks. Kinda shitty for Blade to use your welcome home party to do it, though. Tonight was supposed to be about you.”
“Nah,” I said. “He knew I’d want to see your reaction.”
Besides, I appreciated having some of the attention diverted from me. And, of course, it warmed me to see Tex so shocked and proud—he’d earned the new title, clearly, from the supportive cheers of the club members and the nods of agreement at Blade’s speech. In my absence, he’d become a hell of an enforcer. Road captain was the obvious next step. He’d answer to Gunnar and Blade, but now he’d be able to lead crews for jobs on the edges or outside of the territory, and he’d have the authority to call the shots.
There wasn’t a man I trusted more to do that job.
“Proud of you, Tex.” I didn’t know how to say just how proud I was.
I’d hurt him so badly, and while he was dealing with all of that, he’d still managed to become a leader in this club. After what I’d done, I hardly felt like I deserved to be at his side at all. But regardless of what I deserved, or didn’t deserve, all I knew was that I wasn’t going to take his friendship for granted. And I wasn’t going to let my own feelings sabotage it anymore, either. I’d be here with him for as long as he’d have me, and help see him through this next phase, and all the ones that came after.
“Tell me that after my first gig,” Tex answered gruffly.
Ballast’s back door opened and Blade stepped onto the patio. “Hey, guys,” he said. “Needed a break?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I stepped a pace away, making space for Blade to stand on the porch with us. I hadn’t realized how close