Crossroads (Beautiful Biker MC Romance Series) - DD Prince Page 0,151

the entrance. “Ma, Jonny, get Uncle Stu inside,” he barked.

His mother, brother, and Katie all walked Uncle Stu, who walked very slowly and with a cane, toward the entrance to Deke’s Roadhouse. Christian’s mother looked pale and regarded everything with a surprised look as bikers made a human wall blocking them and the other non-bikers that were here.

“Don’t worry. We’ve got lots of protection,” I told her.

The cake table had been underneath the canopy that was the usual smoker’s area, but bikers wheeled it inside.

Lots of bikers made fast work of getting the gifts and drinks inside, too. Four prospects (two of ours and two from Sioux Falls) stayed outside with Bronto and Nico, watching to make sure there was no other trouble. The only casualty of the gunshots was a keg of beer that had been outside.

The rest of us went inside and the party carried on from there.

***

There was the clanking of silverware against a glass.

My father was up on the band stage, which had been where all the shower gifts and the big box that I’d seen a whole lot of envelopes were dropped into sat.

“Everyone get a drink in yer hand so we can toast my daughter and my new son.”

I choked on tears. Oh shit. His new son. I tried to hold it back. Nope. Tears pricked my eyes. Christian’s arm went around me.

Dad smiled at us.

A minute later, Dad cleared his throat.

“Everyone ready? My little girl fancied herself ready to be a biker’s ol’ lady when she was about four and climbed into the lap of a brother called Goat who’s no longer with us. This brother had hair that’s as long as Fork’s and she sat and asked if she could play with it. The brother let her braid it for him and got her talkin’. She told him she liked men with long hair the most. I think that’s pretty obvious.”

Laughter filled the space.

“Goat asked her beyond long hair, what kinda man she wanted as a husband some day. She told him she was gonna marry a motorcycle man as soon as she could grow some knockers. Nobody look at my daughter’s knockers now, you hear?”

Christian’s finger scanned the room at large in warning.

I gasped and crossed my arms over my chest. The group laughed. Christian’s mouth touched the side of my head.

Dad continued. “Said she wanted a motorcycle ridin’ man big ‘n strong like her daddy. But with really long hair. And she meant it. She got herself a guy on a motorcycle. A really big guy that’s made a bigger impact on our club.” Dad took a breath. I put my arms around Christian’s middle and looked up at him. He was looking at Dad, not smiling but not frowning. He was ardently listening.

“The fork on a motorcycle connects the wheel to the frame of the machine. The fork is a necessity for that vehicle to be able to be steered. Chris “Fork” Forker is someone who has been the instrument responsible for helping steer our club in a direction we badly wanted.” Dad paused for effect and stared at my husband. My chest felt tight.

“And needed,” Dad went on. “He’s saved lives, he’s helped us reach some goals, and he’s become a good friend to us, a member of this family. We were relieved when he helped us avoid some disasters and then over the moon when he came to us with his ideas to take some bad fuckers down. I had the feeling at the time that he was not only out to help us but to audition us to see if we’d be a good fit for him. He later expressed his desire to be one of us. I’m glad we measured up. That’s why I’m fuckin’ thrilled to be able to welcome him as a member of this family, not just our extended family, but as the man who I entrust my baby to. Fork, Joelle, I wish you two a lifetime of happy. Coulda knocked me over with a fuckin’ feather when I found out you two were doin’ this. Sorry I bloodied your nose, brother. Cheers to a long and happy life together. I’d warn you about consequences if you don’t take good care of her. But I don’t need to. You’ve saved her life more than once and I know she’s in good hands. She’s gonna make you one happy sonofabitch and brother, from the bottom of my heart, gotta tell ya, you