Page 78 of The Originals
“Club business.” Jack chugged the remainder of his coffee and turned, placing the mug in the sink. “Which makes it none of yours. Not a member, kid.”
“Not yet,” Kase blurted.
Jack controlled a smile and looked back at both his boys. They were on the verge of manhood. Different paths, though. Kase had been wanting to join the club for as long as he could remember. Everything about the Ghosttown Riders had fascinated him for as long as Jack could remember.
Jack lifted his chin to Caden. “When are you heading out?”
“Drake’s mom is picking me up in two hours.”
His youngest was different from him and Kase. Caden loved riding but didn’t show much interest in the club. He had his sights set on playing football and possibly going to college. He’d be the first in their family.That would be something to see.Jacknever pushed either way. But he was still holding out hope that one day he’d have both his boys riding beside him, wearing the patch.
“How long is the camp again?” Jack asked.
Caden snorted. “Football training not camp. I’ll be gone for two weeks. Probably something you should know, Pop.”
True.
“Well, now I fucking know.” Jack smirked. “You got what you need?”
Caden hesitated, and the corner of his mouth curled. “Not gonna turn down some extra cash, if you’re offering.”
“I didn’t pay enough for that fucking camp?” Jack snapped, but pulled out his wallet and tossed three twenty-dollar bills on the kitchen table.
“Me, Saint, and Roman are going to the music festival in Virginia. Can I get some cash?” Kase said.
“No.” Jack cocked his brow. “But youcanget a fucking job.”
Kase rolled his eyes. “That’s real fucking fair, Pop.”
“Life ain’t fucking fair, Kase. Better you find that out now.” Jack rounded the table. “When will you be back?”
Kase glared at Jack. “Gonna stay up there and do the ride through the mountains. Camp for a few days. Probably spend the rest of the time at Saint’s house.” Kase smirked. “Be back in two weeks. Now can I get some fucking cash?”
Little fucking prick.
Jack reached into his wallet, pulling out his last fifty. He held up the bill, and when Kase went to take it, he snatched it back. “You pay your own way at Saint’s. You ain’t their kid, they shouldn’t be paying for you. Respect them.” He handed the money to Kase.
For all his flaws, he had no doubt Kase would show respect. The Monroes saw Kase as one of their own. Same as how Jack saw Saint and Roman.
“Check in,” Jack said, and walked out of the kitchen and to the stairs. It was going to be a quiet house for the next two weeks.
He welcomed the peace.
****
“Christ Coll, how many fucking times I gotta ask?”
Colleen drew in a breath, grabbed a bottle of beer from the cooler, and rushed to the other end of the bar. Usually the prospects served as back up at the bar, but tonight it was all her. She should’ve had help, but Lyssa was currently involved in a threesome in the back room. One that included Mack and Dunn,her man. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the claim. For all outward appearances, she was with Dunn, but not in the sense of forever. Dunn only claimed Colleen when someone else showed interest.
It hadn’t always been that way.
Years ago when she’d started hanging around the club, she’d been with plenty of the brothers and not tied down to anyone. The good ol’ days. Always a wild and free-spirit, Colleen found her place with the Ghosttown Riders MC.Club whore extraordinaire.Some people looked down on the term. Colleen embraced it. After all, she was having fun. It was amazing to be around people who believed in living off the grid, no judgement, and free love. When she first started hanging around the club, her sexual freedom meter was on one hundred. Zero inhibitions and enjoying life and all the men in it. She’d experienced things most people never would in their lifetime.
But all good things must come to an end.And it did.
Colleen had made a lot of mistakes, and Dunn was one of her biggest. He’d seemed so nice and different at the beginning. But that shifted somewhere over the years. He’d gotten possessive over her. Initially she saw it more as protective, which was a draw for her. It wasn’t until she moved in with him that Dunnshowed his true colors. He had a mean side he kept hidden from everyone else.
Dunn being with Lyssa was meant to be her punishment, along with the swollen cheekbone she was sporting. Double standards were nothing new with Dunn. He continued to be with other women while expecting Colleen to be exclusive with him. She wasn’t his old lady. She was just his personal club whore. Colleen was happy with the reprieve, being away from him for at least a few hours, maybe more.