Chapter 1
Brick
Sunday. There wasn't a brother in the Brotherhood of Steel who'd willingly miss Sunday family dinner.
I eased my Harley through the open gates of the compound, the familiar rumble of the engine echoing around the yard before I pulled into my usual spot outside the clubhouse.
Five years had passed.
Five years since Steel had taken over as President.
Five years since the Brotherhood had become more than just a motorcycle club, it had become home.
I killed the engine, letting the sudden silence settle around me for a moment before swinging my leg over the bike. Pulling off my helmet, I ran a hand through my honey-brown hair before tying the longer strands back into a bun. As I rested my helmet on the seat, the sound of laughter drifted across the compound.
It was impossible not to smile. The clubhouse looked different these days, bikes still lined the yard, brothers still stood around talking, beers already in hand despite it barely being lunchtime, but now there were footballs scattered across the grass, chalk drawings covering the patio, and children's bikes abandoned wherever their owners had decided they'd rather run than ride.
No one complained anymore. It wasn't just the Brotherhood's home, it was their children's too.
"Uncle Brick!"
I barely had time to turn before Ryder came charging across the yard, his little legs moving twice as fast as they probably should.
"Come on!" he shouted excitedly. "We've been waiting for you!"
I laughed as he skidded to a stop in front of me. "Have you now?"
Ryder nodded enthusiastically. "Now we can play football!"
Before I could answer, another small body crashed into my side.
"Uncle Brick!" Mackenzie wrapped his arms around my waist before looking up at me with a grin that was far too much like his father's. "You're on my team."
Across the yard, Acid looked up from where he was helping Harley unload Isla-Rose's changing bag from the back of their SUV. He placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "Oi!" he called. "I'm your old man. What about me?"
Mackenzie didn't hesitate, he looked over his shoulder at Acid and shrugged. "Uncle Brick's faster than you."
A roar of laughter erupted around the yard. Lucky nearly spat out his coffee. Steel shook his head into his mug, trying and failing not to laugh, even dad's lips twitched.
Acid looked genuinely offended. "I'll have you know I'm still quick."
Harley closed the car door with her hip, Isla-Rose sleeping peacefully against her shoulder. She smirked at her husband. "Quick to complain."
More laughter rippled through the yard.
Acid pointed towards his wife. "I liked you better when you agreed with me."
Harley raised an eyebrow. "When exactly was that?"
Acid opened his mouth and closed it again. "...Fair point." He mumbled.
I grinned, ruffling Mackenzie's dark hair. "Looks like you've started a war, little man."
Mackenzie puffed out his chest proudly. "I know."
The brothers laughed again. Watching them all together, something tightened in my chest.
Steel stood on the clubhouse steps with Aria tucked comfortably against his side, Harper hanging onto her mum's hand while pretending she wasn't listening to every word.
Lucky had one arm draped around Lori's shoulders as Isaac bounced a football between his feet, waiting impatiently for us to start.
Acid instinctively reached for Isla-Rose the second she stirred, kissing the top of her tiny head before handing her back to Harley.
Families.
Everywhere I looked...
Families.
Five years ago, this place had been filled with brothers, now it was filled with children who called every patched member "Uncle."
The Brotherhood had grown into something none of us had expected.
Not just a club.
A family.
A home.
And standing in the middle of it all, with Ryder tugging one hand and Mackenzie holding the other, I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face.
This was exactly where I was meant to be.
****
Ryder clapped his hands together, his excitement practically bursting out of him. "Right! Mackenzie, we're captains!"
Mackenzie nodded so seriously you'd think he was about to negotiate world peace instead of a football game. "Yep."
Lucky wandered into the middle of the yard, twirling the whistle hanging around his neck. "I suppose that makes me referee."
Brick chuckled. "Who put you in charge?"
Lucky grinned. "I'm the only one sensible enough."
Lori laughed from the picnic table. "I wouldn't go that far."
The brothers laughed as Lucky pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "I've just been insulted by my own wife."
"You'll survive," Lori teased. Lucky winked. "I always do."
Ryder pointed across the grass, his eyes lighting up. "I pick first!"
Mackenzie frowned and shook his head. "No, I do."
Ryder looked confused. "What? Why?"
Mackenzie looked at him as if it was obvious. "I already picked Uncle Brick when he got here." He pointed proudly at me. "You said I could."
Ryder's mouth dropped open. "I said we were captains!" Mackenzie shrugged. "I know."
"You cheated." Ryder shouted. Mackenzie shrugged "I was clever."
Ryder looked at me for backup. "Uncle Brick..."
I held both hands up with a grin. "Don't drag me into this. I'm staying out of it."
Ryder sighed dramatically before muttering, "Fine..." He scanned everyone standing around the yard. "I pick Isaac."
Isaac punched the air. "Yes!"
Mackenzie beamed. "I've already got Uncle Brick."
Acid folded his arms, pretending to be offended. "Oi. What about your old man?"
Mackenzie looked up at Acid. "I know you're my dad."
Acid smiled. "So..."
"But Uncle Brick's faster." Mackenzie grinned. "Come on then old man, I pick you too."
The brothers burst out laughing. Steel walked over and clapped Acid on the shoulder. "Doesn't feel so good, does it?"
Acid looked at Steel before a grin spread across his face. "Nope." He nodded towards Ryder. "Looks like we were both second choice."
I couldn't help laughing. "About time you two got picked second."
Acid pointed at me. "We walked straight into that one."
Steel chuckled. "Fair enough."
Ryder looked back at the line-up. "I pick Dad." Steel stepped onto Ryder's team with a grin.
Mackenzie pointed confidently. "Blade." Blade nodded once. "I'm in."
"Snake," Ryder called. Snake wandered over beside Steel. "Good choice."
"Eightball." Eightball walked over beside Mackenzie.
Flanker shook his head dramatically. "Seriously? You're splitting us up?"
Eightball smirked. "Thought it'd be nice to have a break from you."
Flanker placed a hand over his heart. "That hurts."
"It'll hurt more when we beat you," Eightball shot back.
The yard filled with laughter.
"I pick Flanker," Ryder said. Flanker grinned at Eightball. "See you on the losing side."
"In your dreams," Eightball replied.
"Anchor." Anchor wandered over to stand beside Blade. "Looks like I'm with the winners."
"Keep dreaming," Steel called.
Lucky blew his whistle. "Teams!" Lucky shouted out the teams -
"Mackenzie's Team - Mackenzie, Brick, Acid, Blade, Eightball, Harper and Anchor."
"Ryder's Team - Ryder, Isaac, Steel, Snake, Flanker, Hawk and Reaper."
Ryder studied both teams carefully, his little face scrunched into a frown. "Hang on..."
Everyone looked at him, he pointed at Reaper. "I've got Grandpa..." Then he pointed at Hawk. "...and Uncle Hawk." He looked across at Mackenzie. "That's not fair."
Steel folded his arms, already trying not to laugh.
"Why isn't it fair?"
Ryder sighed. "I've got two old men."
The entire yard erupted with laughter, and Reaper shook his head. "Old man, am I?" Hawk laughed beside him. "I've suddenly aged twenty years." Ryder nodded seriously. "I think we should trade."
Mackenzie looked thoughtfully at both teams, he counted everyone. Looked at Reaper, then at Hawk, then looked back at Ryder.
"Nope."
"Why?" Ryder asked.
Mackenzie pointed at Reaper. "Grandpa's a machine." The brothers laughed again. Mackenzie wasn't finished. "He can still take everyone down..." He looked up at me with a proud grin. "...except Uncle Brick." I couldn't help smiling.
Ryder folded his arms. "Uncle Hawk can still outrun Uncle Acid."
Acid groaned loudly, then threw his hands into the air dramatically. "Whose side are these kids on?" Steel smirked, folding his arms. "Definitely not ours."
Harley laughed. "They're on Uncle Brick's side."
"I've noticed." Acid shouted back over his shoulder.
The laughter echoed around the compound as Lucky blew his whistle again. "Enough talking! Kick-off before someone pulls a hamstring."
Reaper looked at Hawk. "I think he means us." Hawk smirked. "Race you to the halfway line."
Before Acid could even react, both men took off across the grass. Acid watched them disappear before shaking his head. "I hate this family."
I laughed, shaking my head. "No, you don't." He smiled. "...Yeah, I do."
*****
Lucky blew the whistle one last time. "Game over!"
Mackenzie threw both arms into the air. "We won!" Before I could react, he launched himself at me. "We did it, Uncle Brick!" I caught him easily, lifting him onto my shoulders as he cheered loud enough for the whole compound to hear. "I told you we'd win!"
"You certainly did," I laughed.
Ryder walked over, trying his hardest to look annoyed, but the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth gave him away. "I'm only letting you win because you're little."
Mackenzie gasped dramatically. "I scored the winning touchdown!"
"You got lucky," Ryder teased.
Mackenzie wrapped an arm around my head from where he sat on my shoulders. "I got Uncle Brick."
The brothers burst into laughter. Harper rolled her eyes. "He's never going to stop talking about this."
"Nope," Isaac agreed with a grin. "We'll still be hearing about it next Sunday."
Acid walked over, folding his arms as he looked up at his son. "So... are you coming home with me today?"
Mackenzie tilted his head as if he genuinely needed to think about it. "...Maybe."
Harley laughed, shaking her head. "I think we've lost him."
I looked up at Mackenzie. "You should probably give your dad a hug before he starts crying."
Acid pointed at me. "I don't cry." Steel smirked. "He's cried twice this week."
"I had dust in my eye." Harley folded her arms, trying not to laugh. "In both eyes?" The yard erupted with laughter.
Still chuckling, Mackenzie leaned down from my shoulders and hugged Acid around the neck. "I love you, Dad." Acid's smile softened as he kissed the top of his son's head. "I love you too, buddy."
Reaper clapped his hands together, his voice carrying across the compound. "Right then!" He nodded towards the clubhouse. "Lori's been cooking all morning. Let's eat before Lucky steals all the roast potatoes."
Lucky looked horrified. "I would never." Lori raised an eyebrow. "You already pinched one."
"I was quality testing." Lucky shouted dramatically. "Uh-huh." Hawk laughed, clapping Lucky on the back. "Come on before she catches you taking another."
The children raced towards the clubhouse, laughing and shoving each other as they disappeared through the doors. "Last one inside helps wash up!" Ryder shouted. "Not me!" Issac started running faster. I watched them go, Mackenzie finally climbing down from my shoulders to chase after Ryder. The sound of laughter echoed around the compound. Sunday, this was why nobody missed Sunday family dinner.
For a little while, the Brotherhood stopped being about patches, rules and responsibility. We were just a family.
*****
The clubhouse buzzed with conversation as everyone tucked into Lori's Sunday roast. Lucky and Reaper were arguing over who'd stolen the last Yorkshire pudding. "I didn't steal it," Lucky defended, pointing his fork at Reaper. "It was abandoned." Reaper snorted. "It was on my plate."
Around the table, laughter echoed between the brothers while the kids excitedly retold every play from the game as if we'd all witnessed something worthy of the Super Bowl. I leaned back in my chair, a smile tugging at my lips as I watched them.
Without warning, a memory slipped into my mind.
Six Years Earlier
I noticed her the second she walked into the lecture hall. Long, flaming red hair brushed against her back as she searched for an empty seat. Bright blue eyes scanned the room before settling on me. She smiled, and before I could stop myself. I smiled back.
What the fuck was that? I didn't smile at strangers, and I definitely didn't smile at girls. She walked straight towards me.
"Is anyone sitting here?" she asked, nodding towards the empty seat beside mine. For a second, I forgot how words worked. I cleared my throat and shook my head. "No."
"Thanks." She slid into the chair beside me, the faint scent of vanilla drifting my way.
I stared at the front of the room, trying to convince myself to pay attention to the lecturer.
Instead. All I could think about was the girl sitting beside me.
"Brick." Dad's voice cut through the memory. I blinked, finding everyone looking at me from around the table. Hawk frowned slightly. "You alright, son?"
I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah."
"You sure?" he asked.
I pushed my chair back and reached for my keys. "Early start at the studio tomorrow." It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the real reason.
As I walked out of the clubhouse, one question followed me into the cool evening air.
What would life have looked like... if she'd never walked away?
Would Sunday dinners look different?
Would there be another chair at the table?
Would there be children running around the compound calling me Dad instead of Uncle Brick?
I shook the thought away before it settled too deeply. Some memories were better left exactly where they belonged.
In the past.
