Biggs held up a hand, silencing him, and pushed to his feet, cane in hand. “Listen to me, boy.” He put a hand on Dixie’s shoulder. “I’ve made mistakes where family’s concerned, and I don’t intend to make another one.” He continued walking toward Diesel. “My brother is gone, and I thought that was all we’d get of Axel.” He stood beside Diesel. “On your feet, son.”

Diesel stood tall, willing to take whatever Biggs dealt.

Biggs stepped closer. “You’re my brother’s son, and that makes the rest of us lucky sons of bitches to be in your presence.” He pulled Diesel into a manly embrace, speaking roughly into his ear. “Welcome to the family, D.”

Relief and disbelief bowled Diesel over as he processed what Biggs said, his gaze moving over the others, who were trying to stifle smiles. “Y’all were fucking with me?”

They burst into laughter, and Diesel uttered a curse as they got up, all speaking at once.

“We’re a lot to handle, but you know you love us.” Dixie hugged him.

Bullet pushed his way in. “Get used to it. You’re a Whiskey now.”

“Welcome to the family, cuz.” Bones clapped him on the back.

“I got the best of Axel, and those years should’ve been yours,” Bear said with a tinge of guilt.

As much as Diesel would have liked to have gotten to know Axel and maybe even been taken under his wing, he didn’t begrudge the closeness Axel and Bear had shared. “No, man, it’s all good. I’m glad he was there for you.”

Bear gave him a quick embrace. “When you’re ready, I’ve got lots of stories to share.”

“I look forward to hearing them all.”

Red hugged him, all sappy eyes and sweet, maternal smile, tugging at those parts of him Tracey had unearthed. “Honey, you’ve always been like a son to us, and this just makes it even better.” She motioned toward several boxes on the floor behind him. “We went through Axel’s things from the basement of the clubhouse and what we had here. It’s not much. Mostly books and such. I put together a few photo albums and other things we thought you might want.”

That lump that had been popping up like a groundhog in his throat all weekend reappeared. He glanced at the boxes as Bear lifted the flaps of one of them and pulled out a book.

“I don’t know how interested you’ll be in these, unless you’re into Bilbo Baggins.” Bear turned the book around, showing him the cover of The Hobbit.