Page 118 of Girth (Marked Skulls MC 1)
She was about to walk into a bar full of people she’d walked out on. That would make any person nervous as hell.
We danced around each other in the house until it was time to head to the bar. We hopped on my bike and make our way down the road, and by the time we got there the parking lot was full. Apparently, word had gotten around that I was bringing in some sort of surprise, and everyone had apparently shown up to witness it. Syd locked up the moment she saw all the bikes piled outside the bar, and she gripped harshly onto my jacket as I turned my bike off and parked it.
“It’s gonna be all right. I’ve got you,” I said.
“My god, they’re going to kill me,” she said.
“Far from it. No one’s gonna lay a hand on you, okay?”
I helped her get off my bike, and I could see her shaking. We both turned towards the bar as the neon sign kicked on, signaling the official draping of night out there in the desert as she held tightly onto my arm. We stood there for awhile, simply taking in the night sky as we craned our necks back.
Then, she slipped her hand into mine, and her shaking ceased.
I looked over at her and saw a strength I’d never seen in her eyes before. There was determination, perseverance, and a protective stare I’d only ever seen in my mother’s eyes. She knew she had to do this for Emery. She knew she had to do this to keep her daughter safe. The stoic stare and the way her body simply stopped shaking, it was a protective mama bear stance.
In that very moment, I knew how much I loved Sydney.
She took the first step forward, and I followed right by her side. I pushed through the double doors as we slowly walked into the bar, and all of a sudden everything stopped. People looked over from the bar and up from their cards. The members playing pool dropped their cues to the tables as they gawked. People’s eyes were raking over Syd, trying to make sure their eyes weren’t deceiving them.
And then their eyes trailed to our hands.
Mac parted the pool of people and slowly made his way for us. His eyes were on fire. Angry. Shocked. His eyes flicked towards me before landing heavily on Sydney, and all she did was roll her shoulders back while she held his stare. His stature loomed over both of us as he stopped, cloaking us in his shadow while Syd stood toe-to-toe with the man who’d taught her everything she knew about fighting when she was younger.
Then, he did something no one else had seen him do.
He threw his arms around Sydney and pulled her close to him.
“Uncle Mac,” she said breathlessly.
“Holy fuck, Sydney. Where the hell have you been?” he asked.
The bar erupted into cheers and celebrations as tears wafted down Sydney’s face. Mac held her close, a small grin creeping from his cheeks as Sydney worked her arms around his stout frame. For the first time in years, I genuinely smiled. This crew had welcomed her back with nothing but open arms for the little girl they’d lost six years ago, and I could see Syd melting back into her family even as she stood there hugging Mac.
“I’m so happy you’re finally back,” Mac said.
“So am I,” she said, whispering.
“Mac, I hate to ruin the moment, but we really need to talk,” I said.
“Yep. You two follow me,” he said.
I took Syd’s hand and weaved her through the crowd. People stopped to hug her and tell her how wonderful she looked. Some of the girls gave her kisses on her cheek while some of the men told her what a beautiful woman she’d grown into. I squeezed her hand before I pulled her close, showing them all who she belonged to as she giggled. Her hand patted my chest, trying to get me to calm down as we finally made our way back towards the back room.
And the rest of the men stood to greet Syd with all smiles before we sat down and got to business.
“Have you told her?” Mac asked.
“I told her we had a plan, but that was it,” I said.
“I believe I’m to blame for the DEA being here,” she said, and everyone’s head turned toward her face.
“How so?” Talon asked. “Whatcha get yourself into, Marshall?”
“Talon,” she said, grinning. “You look good. I haven’t heard you talk this much… well, ever.”
He grinned and pulled her back in for another hug before she started talking.
“I just need you guys to listen, all right? Because a lot of this is going to come as a shock. Just know that my father never meant to lie to you guys. This was just a different club when it came to family when I was born,” she said.
“Your momma’s not dead, is she?” Snake asked.
“That’s who I’ve been with for the past six years,” she said. “Until she passed away a couple weeks ago.”
“Sorry for your loss,” Talon said.
“Sorry for both your losses,” Mac said.
I heard Syd draw in a shaking breath and I held her close to me.
“You’re good here, okay? The hard part’s done,” I said into her ear.
“My mother lived near the Iron Souls,” she began.
“Say no more,” Fox said. “They’re on a witch hunt. If they’ve seen you with them once, they’re tryin’ to round ya up.”
“Do you know anything?” Mac asked.
“No. They think I do, because apparently, their joyriding route was also one of their trade routes? But I didn’t know any of that,” she said.
“An agent approached her in the hotel I found her in,” I said.
“An agent talked to you?” Mac asked. “You sure you were just joyridin’?”
“I hung out with them, yes. But I was never patched as someone’s property. They just reminded me of…”
I gripped Syd’s hand tightly while Talon rubbed her back. If there was one thing this club was sensitive towards, it was people intimidating their women and children. They didn’t put up with it, and they didn’t tolerate it.
“That agent threatened you, didn’t he?” Mac asked.
“‘She,’” Syd said. “And yes, very much so. Threatened me with jail time, with exposing secrets, all sorts of shit.”
“Exposing secrets?” Snake asked. “The fuck’s that mean?”
I searched Syd’s face as war raged behind her eyes. The men sat back and waited for her to make her decision, giving her the space she needed to gather her thoughts.
“We’re a different club now, Syd. Let’s tell ‘em,” I said.
“Hawk and I… the night… that night,” she said.
“That night,” Mac repeated.
“I was just overcome with grief. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to process it. I just wanted to distract myself from it. And Hawk, he would’ve done anything I asked him to.”
“The two of you have a kid,” Fox said.
Syd closed her eyes as a tear fell into her lap.
“They threatened to take Emery from us,” Syd said, whispering.
“A daughter,” Talon said, grinning.
“They what?” Mac growled.
“Called me a bad mom. Threatened to tell Hawk that I was a terrible mother who left my child home at night with my own mother while I went joyriding with criminals across town,” Syd said.
“They fucking did what?” Snake asked.
“Did all this shit in front of Emery, too,” I said.
“Emery was there?” Mac asked.
“We were swimming,” Syd said, sniffling. “I was-... in the hot tub and-... and Emery was jumping into the pool. She looked so scared and that agent… she didn’t give a shit.”
“All right, I’ve heard enough,” Mac said. “This club won’t stand for that shit. Hawk, congrats on the kid. It’s time to get your family safe.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Ain’t no one mad at you, either,” Snake said. “This shit rolled up onto my doorstep? I would have done the same thing.”
