Chapter 61

DYLAN

“So, Grandpa, you were on a trip for a long time?” Lexi asked as she watched the older man sit at the kitchen table, getting ready to eat.

Dylan cleared his throat. “Yeah, Lexi, I was away to take care of some things.”

His granddaughter was precocious, that was for sure! She had been asking him questions since he had walked through the house doors.

She was a beautiful little girl, and he knew she was going to make trouble for her father and the men in the club when she was older, just like her aunt had.

Dylan’s only salvation was that Kiki was in love with another club member, so he just had to threaten Mitch and that was it. He was hoping that his amazing daughter-in-law could keep her grounded.

“So, where did you go?” Lexi asked, getting a bite of her spaghetti ready.

Dylan was going to answer when Avery stepped in.

“Lex, sweetheart, Grandpa has had a long day and just wants to eat his dinner with his family. Can you give him a few days to get used to being with us?”

Dylan gave her a grateful look as he took a drink of his wine, and Avery sat down at the table.

“Okay, fine.” Lexi sighed, “I just wondered if he brought me a present like when Nona, Nonno, Uncle Luca, and Uncle Matteo come to visit.”

“It wasn’t that kind of trip, Lex. It was all business,” Justin added. “Now eat. Aunty Kiki and Uncle Mitch are coming with your cousins after dinner.”

Lexi squealed, then started eating. Dylan looked at Avery, and she squeezed his hand in solidarity.

JUSTIN

Justin could tell his dad wasn’t used to this much excitement and didn’t know if he needed to stay somewhere else until he got acclimated to being out.

They finished dinner quietly, and Lexi went to color her grandpa a welcome home picture. Avery could tell that Justin needed to talk to his dad and went up to Lexi’s room to give them privacy.

Justin watched as she went upstairs before he started, “Pop, are you doing okay? Is this too much?”

Dylan sighed. “No, I’m okay. I just can’t remember how to be around little kids, not saying something that is not okay for little ears. I’m so afraid that I am going to say something and fuck up your kid.”

Justin smiled sadly. “Pop, you aren’t going to screw her up. If me and the rest of the guys haven’t fucked her and Ryan up at this point, then we are pretty safe.”

Dylan chuckled. “You’re probably right. Sorry for being a pussy. I think I really just need to shower without some dickhead watching me and sleep in a real bed.”

“And maybe get a woman to rub up on you?” Justin smirked.

Dylan grinned. “Oh yeah!”

Justin chuckled. “Yeah, got the final okay from the inspectors and we are moving into the new dorms tomorrow. Big party Saturday, you think you’ll be ready by then?”

“Oh hell yes!” Dylan laughed and hugged his son.

“I’m really glad you are here, Pop. Stay as long as you need,” Justin reminded him.

“I know, kid, I know. I’ll give it a couple of weeks here and get all my shit in order again, then find a place,” Dylan explained. “Thanks again for letting me stay here.”

“I love you, Pop. We all love you,” Justin said. “And I’ll talk with Lex and get her to back off the interrogation.”

“She is something else,” Dylan commented. “She can be scary!”

Justin laughed. “You have no idea!”

They were interrupted when the doorbell rang, and they heard little feet running down the stairs.

Justin went out to open the door and helped Mitch bring in the baby carriers as Kiki pushed past them, dropping the diaper bag, and threw herself into her father’s arms, crying.

DYLAN

Dylan loved feeling his baby girl in his arms again. He couldn’t hug her while he was inside, even if it was a cushy, blue-collar federal prison.

He had learned his lesson and wasn’t going to fuck up again and get too cocky. He had already missed the first six years of his granddaughter’s life and didn’t want to miss any more.

“Hey, little one,” Dylan said, trying not to cry and failing. “I missed you.”

“Hi, Daddy” was all she could manage before the tears took over.

He held her for a few minutes before she calmed down, then sat down so she could introduce him to her children.

Dylan hadn’t remembered how little infants were until he was holding them in his arms. They were so tiny, so vulnerable, and he instantly felt that protective instinct come over him.

He realized that was something he’d missed. Protecting himself in the joint was one thing, protecting someone else was another. And he’d missed it—badly.

The reunited family sat together for the rest of the evening, getting reacquainted.

AVERY

The party was in full swing, and Avery couldn’t have been happier.

The new dorm rooms were furnished, and guys had moved in. The new nursery/childcare area was done and Lexi and Ryan, along with a few others, were trying out the playground.

She loved the feel of the redecorated main room and actually liked the new adults-only room. It looked classy, but she knew that it would get a lot of action tonight and many nights after.

She was eating the great food and watching her extended family party. Avery had received her fair share of props and congratulations for a job well done.

JUSTIN

No one could wipe the smile off Avery’s face, and Justin noticed. She was a truly regal lady sitting at the table, laughing at something Mama June was saying.

“She is something else, son,” Dylan leaned over and said in his ear.

“Yeah, she is,” Justin grinned as he watched her.

“I know you weren’t sure about her at first, but she is really one hell of a president’s old lady. Truly one of us,” Dylan complemented.

“I know,” Justin said, and couldn’t say anything else. He was just thrilled that his family was whole again, and things looked just about as perfect as they could get for a 1% MC club.

The alcohol was flowing, and the noise was loud. Justin watched his dad be greeted by everyone, welcoming him back and saying how glad they were that he would be joining in again.

Justin had an idea on how to bring his dad back to the table and just needed to bring it to them and hope they agreed.

Justin was getting up to bring him another beer when he saw Gabi slide up and give his dad a big hug.

Dylan had a look of utter lust on his face with an undercurrent of something more that Justin found interesting. He wondered how his dad was going to play this out.

He smiled to himself when he saw Gabi take his hand and lead him down the hallway.

He was going to go tell Avery what he saw when he turned and saw Mikey sitting with Sally and drinking very intimately.

“Justin!” he heard Avery hiss, and he turned to her. “Do you see who Mikey is talking to?”

Justin chuckled. “Yeah, I do. I thought this might happen at some point. They have been circling each other for a while now.”

“I’m totally speechless!” Avery gasped.

“I know.” Justin chuckled. “I already warned him that if he screws with her, she will kick his ass.”

Avery laughed. “That is for sure! I just can’t believe that Mikey would like her. She is not the timid little thing that he usually goes for.”

“That’s true. She is actually a lot like Mikey,” Justin said. “Crazy and everything.”

“Hey!” Avery scolded and smacked him in the gut, making Justin laugh and kiss her temple. Life was damn fucking good.