Page 16 of Mac

Mac

The last few days had been tough. The Phantoms were causing more problems and were determined to use our routes for their own smuggling activities. It was bad enough they were trying to move in on our territory, selling their drugs and weapons, but the Phantoms were also known to be actively involved in human trafficking. That was not our thing, and we didn’t tolerate others conducting that, or any other kind of business, on our own turf. Our last run had been successful, and we now had a new client who was going to need regular shipments of guns. We’d also ensured the routes between us and Reno, as well as Los Angeles, were still holding strong.

We had just finished up church when Viking asked the officers in attendance to stay behind. “While we were gone, I had one of our guys look into Kate,” he announced as soon as the door closed.

“Doubting her story about you being the daddy?” I chuckled, the others joining in.

“No, asshole,” Viking growled in a low voice but continued, “I wasn’t lying when I said she looked just like Anneliese. But I was curious about where she was living and why she was suddenly in Vegas. She hasn’t shared much about her past.”

I knew Viking and Kate had been keeping in contact, but I wondered what was making her so guarded. Granted, she was probably still grieving. She’d just moved from California to Vegas, and it’d only been a week, but Viking was the type that when he decided something, he was all in.

“What did they find?” Wolf asked.

“She’s started working at the diner nearby, so it sounds like she plans on staying put, at least for now. But she’s been living in some rundown piece of shit motel, in a part of Vegas we don’t have much control over. I want to ask her to stay with me and Meredith, but I don’t want to scare her off. We all know, with the Phantoms running around, she would be safer somewhere I could keep an eye on her.”

“Do we know where she came from?” That was another question from Wolf.

He seemed overly curious about Kate, but Viking wouldn’t take kindly to anyone trying to get with his newfound daughter.

“She was living with her grandmother before she passed away not too long ago. She has an uncle back in Apple Valley, but there’s something you need to know about him,” he said grimly. “Her uncle, Stuart, tried to patch into this club years ago, when we were a relatively new MC. That’s how I met her mom. Her uncle was a dick. He was more interested in the image that came with our lifestyle than actually living by our code. He didn’t even make it to a vote. Had to physically kick him out when he refused to leave.”

That instantly put me on alert. It explained a lot about her behavior.

Viking continued, his expression hard. “He had to have known I was her father. I’m guessing him not telling me was his way of getting back at the club. I’ll deal with that, but I asked you guys to stay back because I want you to watch out for her. She’s out there struggling, and I want to help her, but with the crap going on with the Phantoms, I don’t want them catching wind of the fact that I have a daughter.”

“Got it,” we all agreed.

We may not be upstanding citizens, but we didn’t allow anything to happen to each other or our families.

“Since I’m too obvious a target and might draw unnecessary attention, Wolf, I want you to drive by her place tomorrow and check it out as well as the surrounding area. Until people know she’s under the protection of the Desert Sinners, she’s fair game for anyone. Be discreet.”

“Yes, sir,” Wolf said.

We stood up to leave, but Viking stopped me, letting the others exit. Wolf gave me a raised-brow look before I closed the door in his face. “Yeah, Prez?” I asked, turning around to face Viking. He was leaning over the table, and I knew something heavy was on his mind. I didn’t interrupt his thought; I just waited until he was ready to say something.

“I think we’ve both figured out that Kate’s life has been...as far as we know...sheltered.” He paused, standing tall. “She has no idea what this life is about. I can tell her home life was hard, and having an asshole uncle probably didn’t help. I think that’s why she’s here…to escape. But I also know she’s earnest in wanting a relationship with me, and that has to include the club as well.” He stepped away from the desk and faced the window that looked out over the front courtyard, folding his arms across his chest. I watched his intense reflection in the glass. “You’re the first person she met, so that might help.”

I ran a hand over my scalp. “What are you asking, Viking?”

“I need you to help her. I can only do so much on my end. Get her comfortable with the club, but don’t rush her. I’m trusting you to keep her safe, personally.” He looked over his shoulder at me. “No one touches her, Mac,no one. Go with Wolf tomorrow to check on her, then start spending some time with her. Show her who we really are at our core.”

“And the less prettier side of the club?” I asked.

Viking sighed, glancing out the window again. “One hurdle at a time, brother.”

“You got it.” I turned and walked out, closing the door behind me. I stood there for a minute, dissecting our conversation. Christ, my president wanted me to befriend his gorgeous daughter with the understanding that befriending her was all I could do.

The stress from the shit with the Phantoms was already getting to me, and now I had this Kate situation to deal with. I knew the perfect remedy would be finding a chick to sink my dick into. Unfortunately, each time I thought of who I wanted, an image of a certain blonde popped into my head. I was fucked, and not in a good way.