Motorcycle clubs have always been a boys club. It makes sense: the violence, the hierarchy, the fact that they haven't exactly met the women's movement. Now, there's a new club in Northern Cali, looking to make a name for itself. It's already allied...
Tiki stared at the text message that Happy had sent her before sighing and typing out a reply.
I'm around. Don't worry, I'm close.
She lit a cigarette out of the pack on the bedside table and smirked as she got a reply almost instantly.
Not good enough, T.
She shook her head and frowned.
What do you want from me?
She rolled her eyes at the answer that he sent back.
Right now? Your location.
Her fingers faltered for a moment before she answered.
Comfort Inn, room 128, Lodi. Happy now?
She had to grin at his answer.
I'm ecstatic. Don't fucking move.
She threw her phone down on the bed and stubbed her cigarette out before getting up to head to the bathroom. She could take a shower while she waited on Happy to show up. An hour later, she opened the door to an irate looking Happy. He pushed past her into the room as she shut the door.
She shrugged as she watched him sit at the end of the bed. "I had some personal shit that I had to deal with." She sighed. "I still haven't dealt with it."
Happy looked at her. "Then why let me know where you were?"
Tiki shrugged again as she wiped a tear from her cheek, making Happy frown at her. "Because I didn't want to deal with it alone and I... fuck, Hap, I missed you, okay?"
Happy grinned at that and held a hand out to her, motioning for her to come to him. When she did, he pulled her down into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. "That's more than okay, T. I think you're finally figuring out that you don't have to do things by yourself anymore. That's what an old man is for."
Tiki nodded as she buried her head in his neck, her arms wrapped around him. "I don't know how to be an old lady, Happy."
Happy chuckled as one of his big hands rubbed her back through the tank top she wore while the other laid on her bare thigh just under the hem of her shorts. "I don't know about other guys, but I'm pretty easy, babe. Sex, back massages and a partner in crime. That's all I need you to be and you'll be the best old lady I could ask for."
Tiki snickered and shook her head as she lifted her head and looked at him. "We sure make a pair, don't we?"
Happy returned her gaze and nodded, threading his hand through her hair. "Yeah, we do." He leaned in to kiss her, stopping just short of the mark. "I think we should finish this discussion in bed."
Tiki grinned and pushed him back as she straddled him. "Sounds good, sunshine."
The next morning, Happy pulled the door of Diosa open and waited for Tiki to walk through before following her. He winced as he moved his back, making her frown up at him. He grinned and shrugged. "Back's a little sore this morning."
Tiki chuckled and shook her head. "I said I was sorry about that. I can't help it. You get me too excited."
He leaned down and snagged her lips in a quick kiss before smirking at her. "I wasn't complaining, T."
They walked into the reception area and Tiki asked the girl behind the desk where Nero was. She pointed to his office and Tiki nodded, walking that way with Happy in tow. When they got there, Tiki knocked on the open door and waited for him to look up from the paperwork in front of him. He smiled and beckoned them in.
"It's been a while, mama. Thought you were pissed at me or something."
Tiki shook her head and sighed, suddenly unsure of whether she should be there or not. Happy, as if sensing her hesitation, stepped up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist from behind in silent support. She took a deep breath and nodded.
"I was, actually." When he frowned, she swallowed hard and continued. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
Nero's frown deepened. "Tell you what?"
Tiki looked at him with a raised brow. "That you were my father. I mean, all these years when I needed someone... you never said a word. You just let me think I was all alone in the world." She paused to wipe at her eyes, Happy's arm tightening in response to her silent tears. "I just don't understand how you could be that cruel. Did you think I was too crazy to be your kid? Too wild?"
Nero sat forward and put his face in his hands for a moment before letting them fall to the desk in front of him. He shook his head. "No, Teresa, that's not it at all." He sighed. "When your mother died... I didn't know what to do with you. I mean, here I was, this young punk kid. I didn't know what to do with a kid of my own so for years I pretended, even with myself, that you weren't mine." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, T. You will never know how sorry I am for that, but now... maybe now, we can fix this shit and be a real family."
Tiki shrugged. "Maybe. I'm still pissed and it's going to take some time to get over that, but... yeah, I want you to stick around."
Nero smiled and stood, walking around the desk to draw Tiki away from Happy and into his own arms for a hug. They stayed that way for a few minutes before Tiki stepped back from him. He nodded as she gave him a small smile before turning to walk back out of his office. When they were outside again, Happy pulled her back to him and held her face in his hands as he looked down at her.
"I'm proud of you, little girl. That took balls."
Tiki shrugged, not used to praise. "I don't know about that."
Happy chuckled before he kissed her. "Well, if nothing else, it took nerve for you to confront him and not shoot him on sight."
Tiki rolled her eyes, making him laugh harder as she shrugged. "Well, I thought our future children, if we have any, might want to have a grandfather."
Happy nodded as he threw an arm around her and walked with her to the bikes. "Good to see you're thinking ahead, T."
