... and Forever (Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds 1)

“Dean, you’re not a kid anymore and you’re a patched-in club member. You do something to bring heat, we’ll deal with it,” Devil said. “That patch has to stay earned. Don’t make me regret bringing you in.” Devil told him Tabby’s address. “That’s where she’s living. I’m guessing you don’t have a key.”

“That’s right,” Simon said.

“If she keeps you locked out, come back home. Don’t cause any trouble.” Devil turned on his heel and walked away. Something was going on. Simon didn’t know what but he intended to find out.

“So the whole patched-in member thing?” Dean asked. “What exactly does he mean?”

“You’ve got to put the club before your own pettiness. Any kind of shit you wanted to take out on your parents, you’ve got to run it by the club first. They will vote on if it’s good or not. Anything you do with the intention of causing shit, the club will deal with you.” Simon paused on his way out. “As your patched-in member status, surely you know that.”

“Kiss my ass, Si.”

“Nah, I know where it has been.”

He left the clubhouse and made his way out to find Dick once again meditating on a patch of cold earth, beneath the stars. His wife wasn’t with him, which was odd as she normally joined him at the clubhouse. She was probably home.

“What are you staring at, boy?” Dick asked. One of his eyes was open, looking right at him.

“Nothing. I wanted to say thank you.”

“You don’t need to.”

“Why do you do this?” Simon asked, coming to stand in front of him. “You weren’t the kind of guy to meditate nor do yoga.”

“I also wasn’t the kind of guy to be counted on. I lived with my head in a drug-infused state. I got clean for the club and for my woman, and I will remain that way.” He lifted his hands up in a circle, drawing them together and bringing them down to his chest. “I do this as it gives me peace. It allows me to think of everything I’ve got in the world. I remind myself multiple times a day, every single day, and I will never fall back.”

“Why did you do this for Tabby?”

“She needed time. Her head was filled with darkness. I know what that’s like. I’ve had my share of darkness. Most of it brought on by myself by being the biggest dick alive. She didn’t deserve the pain. I didn’t know if it would work, but she smiled. I helped to bring her peace.” Dick released a final breath. “You’ve got a good woman there, strong. Don’t screw it up.”

“I’ve got a lot of people telling me not to screw it up.”

“Good. I also wanted to warn you, a few of The Skulls are dropping by. That’s the only heads up you’re getting from me.”

“Is trouble coming?”

“You tell me, Simon,” Dick said. “You will be the judge of what’s to come and what is not.” Dick got to his feet. “Now I’m ready to fuck. Excuse me.”

Simon stood still.

Dick, out of everyone was … an asshole.

Shaking his head, he turned to his van and climbed on inside. He’d need to get his bike down at the clubhouse soon.

Driving out of the gate, he took off to where Tabby lived. The streets all blurred as he focused on his woman.

There was a small parking lot to the side of the large apartment block.

After locking his door, he made his way over to the unit, trying the door.

“Fuck!”

It was late and he’d hoped to avoid arguing with Tabby. She might not let him up, especially with Dean meddling. People needed to learn to stay out of their business. He and Tabby would work their stuff out, one day.

Pressing her name, he waited.

“Hello,” she said, sounding tired.

“Tabby, it’s me.”

“Devil didn’t give you the code?”

“No, no code.”

She let out a chuckle. “What’s the magic word?”

“Really?”

“Come on, it’s fun.”

He glanced around at the night. “Fine, unicorn.”

“Ugh, you’re an ass.”

The door buzzed and he smiled. Letting himself inside, he went to the stairs and walked up to the floor he needed.

Tabby was already at the door. The bolt slid into place. “That wasn’t funny.”

“You always think of the exact same kind of magic word. You need to become more original.”

“Fine, magic words?”

“You’re an ass.”

He raised his brow, hand on hip, waiting.

“I will let you in but I was thinking you were a fucking ass.”

He chuckled. “And here I was thinking you’d be playing it safe because of Nathan.”

“He’s in bed. He didn’t want to go to sleep.” Tabby stepped away from the door. She wore a large nightshirt with, of all things, a unicorn on the front.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. He wanted to see you before he went to sleep. He’s been talking about you all day.”

His stomach growled and Tabby chuckled.