Page 109 of Jackass

Mimic jumped from his seat. “Only a selfish mother puts herself at risk. A good mom doesn’t take a chance with her life, leaving her kid to grow up alone.”

“MIMIC!” King bellowed. “Sit your ass down, boy.”

Mimic immediately dropped back into his chair.

I looked at my president. His nostrils flared and the muscle in his jaw ticked. Something was going on.

Turning back to Mimic, I could see he was angry. More than he should be.

“Mimic,” I called, waiting for him to look up and acknowledge me. He knew when an officer addressed you, your only action was to listen. He slowly brought his eyes up to mine.

“Sammy didn’t tell me you said it. In fact, she wasn’t planning on telling me at all. She was muttering to herself, feeling guiltyabout what I told her about Carrie. When I asked her to repeat herself, she refused. When I asked her who said it, she refused to tell me. And do you know why?”

I stood there for a moment and looked around the room. One day, chances were good that many of these men would find an old lady. Someone that meant everything to them.

“She told me that she wanted to earn the respect of my brothers. She said she knew that tattling wouldn’t earn her that respect. So, she refused to tell me. Wouldn’t tell me who was too chickenshit to talk to me, and instead, attacked my woman.”

“Jack,” Shotgun warned.

“Shut the fuck up. I’m not finished,” I hissed.

“She knew what she did was wrong. I fucking forgave her!” I shouted. “What she did, gave me a daughter. I will never hold that against her. Everything she did after that was to protect MY FUCKING DAUGHTER!” I yelled, hitting my chest with the palm of my hand.

“That alone should earn her respect.” I took a breath before continuing, “The morning after I found out about Charlie, Tank handed me my ass. Told me Sammy was my daughter’s mother and deserved my fucking respect. He was right.”

I looked over at Tank sitting quietly at the table. I looked him in the eye. “Thank you, brother.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, nodding.

I scrubbed my hand over my face.

“This shit ends, now. Sammy will be my old lady. I’m not asking for a fucking vote. I damn sure ain’t asking for your permission. I will buy her a fucking cut myself if I have to, because I will not have the woman I love not be safe in my clubhouse. And I damn sure won’t leave her at home. I forgave her. It’s time you all did too!”

I slammed myself into my seat.

“Jack is right,” King said. “I know a lot of us felt we had the right to be angry on Jack’s behalf, but given everything we’ve learned—” he paused and speared everyone around the table with a stare “—her only crime was using Jack to get pregnant.”

My head snapped up.

King held his hand up to me so he could continue.

“Jack has forgiven her for that, so everyone else needs to as well. And he’s right. Had she not done it, we wouldn’t have Charlie. Anyone willing to give up that little girl?” King asked.

When no one said a word, King closed the meeting with the slam of his gavel and some parting words.

“I want Samantha to feel welcome here. I hear about any of you blaming her for this shit again, you’ll meet me in the ring, after Jack gets done with you.”

We all stood to leave, as King demanded, “Mimic, stay.”

I walked into the common room and found Sammy and Charlie sitting at a table with Beck and Rachel.

“Hello, ladies,” I said, dipping down to kiss Charlie on the head. Then moving to Sammy and doing the same.

“Hey, Jack.”

“Hi, Daddy. Guess what?”

“What, Shortcake?”