Warlords MC: Book 5 – Joker : Chapter 12

“Oh, grandpa. I’m so glad you’re still around,” Rowen assured him.

“That means the probate won’t go through. You realize that don’t you?” Stafford pointed out.

She slowly turned her head and glared at him. “You lousy worm. I don’t care about any of that. I told you before and I will tell you again, I’d rather have this old man around than have his money. I’m grateful that he’s still alive. I would rather have that then have to arrange his funeral. I don’t want his money or his company. That’s his legacy not mine. His money is his, not mine.” She turned toward her grandfather and said, “You really need to get another lawyer, one that doesn’t fucking care about your money. He’s worse than Jared.”

Austin grinned. “Baby girl, that’s what I pay him for. He has to care about my money.”

“Well, he still sucks,” she grumbled.

Stafford simply smiled and shook his head.

Rowen ignored him. “I don’t want your money grandpa. My parents left me enough for the rest of my life.” Pausing she asked him, “Did you know Jared might have set the accident up?”

Austin wrapped his arms around her and he nodded. “I just found that out sweetie. I’m so sorry. He has a lot to answer for doesn’t he?”

“Well, I pray he will answer for everything,” she mumbled into his chest.

Charli came in and invited their two visitors to stay for dinner.

“Yes, please Grandpa,” Rowen pleaded. “I thought you were gone forever. I want to spend more time with you.”

Austin gave the two women a smile. “I would be honored.”

“What about me?” Stafford asked.

Rowen squinted at him.

He laughed.

“He could hardly stay in the car while we eat,” Charli piped up.

The group laughed and went into the living room.

Sitting with her grandpa, Rowen beamed. She looked better than she had before.

Austin looked her over. “What did they do to you, little girl?”

Rowen’s smile faded. “It was …” She took a deep breath. “Hard.”

Joker shook his head and seemed to have no hesitation of telling him. “They beat her,” he blurted out. “Starved her and brand—”

Rowen reached over and placed her fingers over his lips.

Austin looked livid. “No, baby girl. Let him tell me.”

Joker took her hand and kissed her palm. “He deserves to know.”

Austin looked stunned as he stared at them both. He gritted his teeth. “What was that last part?” He stared at Joker as he spoke.

“They branded her shoulder with the Eagle Talon’s Symbol.”

“And…” Shay interjected. “They implanted a tracker there.”

Stafford gasped loudly from where he sat. “What?”

Joker nodded. “Grinder of the Eagle’s Talon MC planted a tracker in her skin.”

Enraged and his face a beet red, Austin jumped up. “I never wanted to kill anyone until today! That man needs to die.”

“Grandpa…It’s okay.”

“OKAY?” he shouted. “None of that is okay, little girl!”

Rowen looked over at Joker and shook her head. “Now, see what you’ve done.”

“No! I’m glad he informed me.” Austin started to pace, though his limp was evident. Then he halted his pacing and looked over at the couple as Joker sat next to her while holding her hands in his. “Rowen, are you um… with this man? I mean are you…” His voice faded away.

Rowen gazed up at him and replied without hesitation, “I am.”

“You’ve been here all of what? Two days? How can this be? You have never even dated before this.” His eyes narrowed in on Joker.”

“Oh, shit,” Deuce muttered.

“This doesn’t look so good,” King stated in a low voice.

Jack nodded as he too, saw nothing but trouble coming.

Ace shook his head and glared at his baby brother, Joker.

Joker ignored them, as he’d grown used to their ways, a long ass time ago. He stood and walked over to face Austin. “Sir. I am serious about your granddaughter. It is not—”

Austin reared his arm back and punched him in the jaw.

Joker didn’t even flinch really. A large man himself, it would take a lot more to knock him down, but he did grab his jaw.

“Grandpa!” Rowen rushed over and got between them. “You shouldn’t have done that!”

Joker looked angry but he remained calm as he then swiped a bit of blood from his lip.

Austin refused to be placated. “Just because he rescued you and you were grateful doesn’t mean he had the right!”

Rowen gasped. “That is not what happened, Grandpa. Not at all.”

Ace stepped closer looking for a way to diffuse this explosion in his living room. “Sir, she was brought here by her rescuer. We had no involvement in that, I am sorry to say.”

Austin blinked his eyes at this news.

“Yes, Grandpa. Joker took care of me. But I…” she paused and looked over at Joker. “I was the one who pursued this.”

Stafford came over to Austin looking concerned. “Sir. Please calm down. This isn’t good for your health.”

“Fuck that!” Austin bellowed. “I took three beatings, knifings and was shot. I’m not scared of this biker!”

Ace sighed. “Mr. Davis. She is a fully grown woman, but I understand your feelings. The fact is…” He looked the older man square in the eyes. “Joker here was a Lance Corporal in the Marines. He also was awarded the medal of valor. He is college educated and has many attributes. If you are looking at the surface of him being a biker…You need to look harder.”

Joker glared at his big brother. “I don’t need to be sold to anyone.”

“Damnit kid,” King spoke up now. “We have all been proud of you and if we want to say it.” He paused. “Especially Ace, as that shit is just fucking rare.”

His other brothers snickered.

Ace glared at him and his brothers.

The male snickers halted.

Missing the interior joking, Austin seemed to calm a bit. “It was just a shock is all. I-I never expected her to—”

“To what, Grandpa? Grow up?” Rowan smiled and took his arm.

He let out a long breath.

The tension in the room seemed to lower some.

Letting go of her grandpa’s arm, Rowen turned to Joker in concern. “Are you okay?”

Joker grinned at her now. “He’s got a helluva punch for an old man, but I’ll live.”

“Dinner!” Charli announced as Luna and Maggy stood beside her.

Annabelle then came running down the stairs. “Ohh! We are supposed to have her special Mac n’ Cheese!” Ignoring the assembly in the living room and all the drama that came with it, the little speedster sped past everyone into the dining room.

Jade was following her while telling her to slow down but to no avail.

Austin blinked at the occurrence. “Wouldn’t life be grand if that was all it took to make someone happy? Mac N Cheese?”

The room went quiet.

He looked around at the family assembled in the room. “I believe I shall take her enthusiasm to my vest. To hell with the fight over money. I made it, spent it, used it, and all that really mattered was you, Rowen.”

Rowen had a lone tear rolling down her cheek as she left Joker and took her grandpa’s arm looping it through hers. “That sounds more like it. We are together and alive. “

He nodded at her then caught Joker’s gaze. “I only care about her happiness. And I see you could give that to her.”

Joker stood tall and erect like he did in his soldier days. Intending to face him off if he had to.

“But,” Austin added. “If you ever hurt her, you will get more than a punch to the—”

“Grandpa!” Rowen cut him off.

He snapped his mouth shut and looked down at her. “Ok, ok. Let’s go have the world’s best Mac N Cheese, shall we?”

Rowen burst out laughing.

The room followed as the brothers joined in. Finally, the stress and tension melted away.

Stafford spoke up, “Dang, I never thought to hear the day when Austin Davis gives up millions for some Mac N Cheese!”

The laughter in the room got louder and echoed through the farm house as they all went into the huge dining room.

Charli watched them all go by. Pausing, she looked upwards and then around at the walls of the only home she ever knew. Despite its changes and remodeling that the boys did. The heart and soul of the home remained the same. “See Ben?” she whispered to her grandpa. “Family fills your house. I hope you can see this from where you are.” She swiped at her eyes to get rid of the tears then rubbed her still flat belly. Turning, she went into the dining room.