“I’m not sure what the hell is going on with him, but I do know he went over to see his ex-old lady and his daughter, and when he came back he was in a foul mood.”
Malice shook his head. Great, what the club needed was more drama. “Lucien talk to him?” He turned his head and glanced at Tuck. The light that came through the window slashed across his scar.
“Yeah, and it calmed his ass down a bit, but he has been drinking non-stop, and refuses to talk to anyone about whatever the issue is. But we all know that if there is an issue we are all here for him. It’s up to Kink if he wants to open up and unload his emotional baggage.”
Yeah, that was the good thing about being in the MC and having a permanent family. Tuck stayed for a few more minutes, tossed back a shot with him, and then headed toward the back of the club and to his room. Malice stayed there for another few minutes, and when he turned to head back and crash for another few hours in one of the extra rooms, Lucien moved over to him.
“You got a minute, brother?”
“Yeah, I was just going to get another hour or two of sleep since I didn’t get much.”
Lucien nodded. “I won’t take much of your time then.” He tilted his head toward the rear entrance. They moved toward it, and once they rounded the corner Malice stopped and looked at Lucien.
“What’s up?”
Lucien exhaled, ran his hand over the back of his neck, and looked out the back window. “I’ve talked to Kink, so me telling you this doesn’t go against his privacy, and besides, you need to know why he was all fucked-up back at the meeting. He doesn’t really care who knows, but he hasn’t said anything to the other members yet, and neither have I.”
“Okay, what’s going on?” Malice knitted his brows and crossed his arms over his chest. “You talking about that attitude shit that happened between us back there?”
Lucien nodded. “Yeah.” He shook his head, stopping Malice from responding. “Just hear me out.”
Malice gritted his teeth and nodded.
“Kink is in a bad place right now.”
“We all are, aren’t we?” Malice leaned against the wall and sighed. Fuck, he was tired of all the fucking drama that seemed to surround them on a daily basis.
“Yeah, and I’m not downplaying anyone else’s shit. But then my VP and enforcer are going at each other’s throat for stupid fucking shit, and I can’t have that.” Lucien shook his head, and a dark mask covered his face. “Not cool, and I’m not about to put up with that shit.”
“I know, and I’m sorry about that, but no fucking way anyone will talk to me, or about Adrianna that way.” Malice felt this twisted confusion inside of him, one that made no sense, but that he didn’t want to ignore or end. He stared at Lucien, and the dark mask that had covered his President’s face was now gone, and there was almost an understanding on his expression.
“And I wouldn’t have put up with that shit either if I had an old lady.” Lucien exhaled. “Listen, I don’t have a woman, probably never will to be honest, so I can’t see having this possessive need to protect them like that. None of the guys seem to want to settle down either, but I’ve been with the MC a long fucking time, have seen the older members take on old ladies and love them like the world was ending.” Lucien leaned against the wall, too. “I mean my dad was the last person I would have thought would settle down.”
Malice smiled and nodded. “Yeah, he was one tough asshole.”
Lucien started laughing, and despite the tough exterior he always wore, Malice saw the slight pain cover his face. It was after Brandon “Ranger” Silver had passed away of a heart attack last year that Lucien had gotten in contact with other Nomads and started this charter up with the blessing from The Brothers of Menace. Lucien may have never really said why he had started this charter, but in the end it didn’t matter. It could have been a lot of different reasons: tired of always being alone, wanting that family circle back again, or just needing to have a purpose with his own MC. Whatever the reason was, they were here now, and things in that department were looking good.
“Tilly and your mom are doing well?” Malice asked about Lucien’s half-sister and his mom, who lived in Thornton.
He shrugged. “As good as can be I assume. Haven’t seen them really since we set up shop in River Run, but I know Tilly is busy with finishing up her degree, and my mom is doing fine. She and Marshall are adding an addition to the house so his grandkids can have a place to stay when they visit.”
Malice didn’t go into any more detail about Lucien’s mother’s husband. She may have been an old lady to Ranger at one time, but the MC life wasn’t for everyone.