Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ELSIE
I was nervous about meeting everyone else, especially Rhea. Part of me hates her for what she did to Scar. Even though I know rationally none of it was her fault. However, he loved her enough to make a sacrifice for her for his brother. While they got their happiness, he was suffering and almost dying. It occurs to me in that second, what if he still has feelings for her? You don’t just sacrifice yourself like that for just anyone.
Scar senses my tension as we make our way down the hall, moving closer to the sound of many voices echoing from the bar area. He lifts my hand to his mouth and places a reassuring kiss.
“They will all love you,” he assures me, thinking I’m worried about everyone else. That hadn’t even occurred to me until now. My body tenses further as we enter the area, only to see a huge table laid out full with bikers, women, and children. Jesus, there are a lot of people to try and remember.
Thankfully, Star walks right up to me with a smile spreading across her face as she pulls me into her arms. “Relax, we are all family,” she assures me, draping her arm over my shoulders before she tugs me away from Scar and begins to walk me around the table to meet everyone. I recognise some of the guys as Star introduces me to each of their ol’ ladies. “And this is Acid, and his ol’ lady Rhea,” she introduces.
My body tenses and Star feels it. I force a smile and nod in greeting. Rhea’s eyes anxiously flicker from her lap to me, and clearly I’m not the only one who was nervous.
“Okay,” Star sighs, feeling the tension before she turns. “Oh look, Queenie!” she says with a high pitched awkwardness to her voice while dragging me away to meet her.
The older woman wipes her hand on a cloth before yanking me into her arms. I’m quickly learning they are all huggers. She leans back, holding me at arm’s length, her eyes sweeping me over like she’s assessing me.
“You are stunning!” she chimes.
I give her a small smile, “Er, thank you?” I answer as a question.
Suddenly I feel Scar’s strong hand at the back of my neck, his thumb stroking back and forth. I immediately relax under his touch.
Queenie’s eyes are warm as she looks up at Scar. “It’s about time,” she states softly before her eyes come back to mine. “Thank you for bringing him back,” she states, giving my hand a gentle squeeze before she turns around and walks back into what I’m assuming is the kitchen.
I turn and look up at Scar. “What does she mean, bringing you back?” I ask, confused.
Scar pulls me into his arms and places a soft kiss on my lips. “No idea. Come on, let’s feed you,” he murmurs across my lips, kissing me once more. As he takes my hand and leads me back to the table, I still feel like all eyes are on us, and I find myself trying to hide behind him. Well, until he pulls a chair out for me and then I have nowhere else to hide.
I am very aware I am the daughter of a man that tortured two of the club members. Sure, I helped Scar get out, but that doesn’t redeem me completely, and I can understand why I am their main focus right now.
“How are you feeling today?” Dixie asks me from across the table. I look up from my plate and give Dixie a warm smile. She had been so kind to me yesterday, and it’s a relief to see another familiar face.
“I’m feeling good.” I nod.
“Oh, I think she’s feeling better than good. Scar was helping her with her recovery this morning,” Star teases. My cheeks turn beet red.
“Fuck’s sake, Star,” Scar growls next to me.
“What? I’m just saying she has a lovely glow this morning.” Star smiles, giving me a wink. I bite my bottom lip to stifle a laugh. “Elsie, you look good, and don’t be embarrassed. I was sucking Ghost off only twenty minutes ago.” She shrugs. My laughter escapes me, and I quickly clamp my hand over my mouth.
“Jesus Christ, woman,” Ghost sighs.
“Star, remember that kids are around,” Acid states through gritted teeth, gesturing to a young boy sat next to him who has a pair of headphones on playing some sort of handheld computer game.
“Oh, he can’t hear me. Can you?” Star yells. “Hey Olly, Acid ate your mom out last night,” Star adds.
“Star!” Rhea gasps.
“He isn’t listening. He’s busy playing his game, and don’t think I haven’t noticed you didn’t deny it.” Star snorts back her laughter.
“Woman, will you just keep that mouth shut and eat your god damn breakfast?” Ghost fumes.
Star pins him with a look. “Oh, I will keep my mouth shut. Along with my legs, too,” she seethes.
“You want some pancakes?” Scar asks, snapping me out of the showdown that is about to kick off.
“Huh?” I ask, looking at him.
He smiles and places a pancake on my plate. “Don’t worry, they are always like this. You’ll get used to it.”
“Woman, you couldn’t keep that mouth of yours shut for more than 5 minutes, and you know as soon as my mouth touches yours, you’ll be an eager little whore wrapping those legs of yours around my waist,” Ghost counters.
I hear a few of the women make a tut under their breath and I wince at his words.
I absently pick up a piece fruit off my plate and eat it, assuming that Scar put it there. Watching Star and Ghost, I hadn’t really been paying attention. Star and Ghost was like a steamy romance playing right out before my eyes, and I can’t seem to look away.
Star’s eyes alight and I can’t tell if it’s from enjoyment or anger. She calmly leans over, placing a gentle kiss on who I’m guessing is her son’s head. We hadn’t got around to introducing me to all the kids yet. She casually stands and saunters over to one of the guys that has the word Prospect on his cut.
“You are taking me out,” she orders. The guy’s eyes flicker behind her, looking for permission from Ghost. I look back at Ghost and he says nothing as he just sits there, his eyes searing into his woman’s behind. Star clicks her fingers in front of the Prospect’s face, getting his attention. “Happ! Take me away from here,” she demands.
I’m not sure who the guy is more afraid of, her or Ghost. We all sit in silence as we watch the exchange. The Prospect Happ, gives a brief nod and walks towards the door to leave, with Star following close behind him. I look back at Ghost, and his jaw is set tight, his eyes glacial.
“Fuck,” I hear muttered from one of the brothers. Spider, I think. As if knowing what’s coming next, Ghost launches to his feet and storms out of his chair. The sound of chairs scraping back against the floor and booted footsteps echo as all of the brothers follow him out. Scar pauses and places a kiss on my head.
“Back in a second,” he mutters as he follows his brothers.
I sit there a little stunned, my mouth opening and closing, not quite sure what to say. Should we go and make sure Star is okay?
“Go, I will watch the kids. Just make sure he doesn’t kill Happ. He’s close to getting patched in,” Queenie says, sighing.
All the ol’ ladies jump to their feet, but I stay put, not sure if I’m included in this.
Rhea stops beside me. “Come on, Star needs us to have her back.” She smiles.
“Oh,” I say before jumping to my feet. “Is he violent?” I ask, feeling dread pool at the pit of my stomach.
Rhea throws her head back and laughs. Damn, she is so beautiful.
And she’s seen Scar naked, the thought enters my mind. I shake my head to clear the negative thought.
“Oh, Ghost is violent, but not to Star. He would never hurt her, but anyone that touches her or upsets her... Well, then he loses his shit.” Rhea smirks. As we make it outside, everyone is stood around. We squeeze through and see Star sat on the back of Happ’s bike. “Oh, that ain’t good,” Rhea mutters.
“Why?” I ask.
“You never sit on the back of another brother’s bike, unless it’s for a good reason. Right now, I’m surprised Ghost hasn’t beaten his ass,” she states.
“Jesus Christ Happ, you got a fucking death wish?!” Spider yells.
“Pres’ orders are to do whatever his ol’ lady tell us. I’m following his fucking rules!” Happ argues.
“Brother, not when you damn well know he will beat your ass for having his woman on the back of your bike,” Cash adds.
Star just sits there on the back of Happ’s bike with her arms around his waist, glaring at Ghost. All while Ghost is stood there with his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his entire body strung tight. I frown, still a little confused by the whole thing.
“Why don’t you just get off the bike Star, and chew him out like you normally do?” Maggie suggests, trying to calm the situation a little.
“What? Like the good little whore I am?” Star asks with a sarcastic smile.
Ghost’s fists relax immediately at her words, and he places his hands on his hips, sighing. “Shit,” he mutters, as if realising something at hearing his own words coming out of her mouth. “Darlin’, you know I didn’t fucking mean it like that,” he explains. “Let go of Happ and speak to me,” Ghost says calmly, yet his tone still carries a small amount of warning.
Happ reads the warning and kills the engine on his bike. Star exhales a breath and releases her hold on Happ and gets off, standing in front of Ghost with her arms crossed over her chest, still with a seething glare aimed at Ghost.
“You don’t ever call me that,” she seethes.
Ghost takes a step towards her. “Darlin’, I fucked up,” he states.
“I am not a whore,” she replies, and her voice cracks a little.
Suddenly I feel like this is a very personal moment for them and we shouldn’t be watching.
That crack in her voice has Ghost softening in an instant. He reaches out and grabs her, pulling her into his chest.
“Everyone fuck off,” Ghost barks and we all return inside.
Scar drapes his arm over my shoulder as we walk back in. “Do you think she’s okay?” I ask him.
“She will be fine. Star has some triggers is all. Although I haven’t seen her react like that before,” he mutters.
As if nothing had happened, we all sit down and begin eating breakfast again. Well, all except Star and Ghost. Everyone is laughing and talking like nothing has happened, and I find myself playing with Star’s and Ghost’s little boy, Enzo. He is adorable with dark hair and ice blue eyes. His chubby cheeks are currently covered in mushed up strawberries. I push his motorbike toy along the table, making sounds as he giggles and claps his little hands. It then occurs to me that this is the first time I’ve ever interacted with a baby before. Of course, I’ve seen babies and children, seen them play and watch TV shows and movies, but no one I know, or rather those I was allowed to know, ever had kids. So I was never around them.
I look around the table and notice the very big difference from my home to here. I was part of a family, I was blood related, yet I was treated like I was nothing. There wasn’t any of this. Being an actual family, having breakfast together while laughing and talking. These men, dangerous and I’m sure deadly as they are, they find time for their loved ones, their family. Why couldn’t my father be like that?
“Angel?” Scar’s voice tickles over my ear.
I blink, realising I had been lost in my own thoughts and look up at him smiling. “Hey.” I grin.
“Where did you go?” he asks.
I look around at everyone again and sigh, shaking my head. “Nothing, it’s okay. I’m okay,” I assure him. He looks at me for a moment before he gives me a brief nod. His eyes are soft as he looks from me to Enzo. “I’ve made a new friend.” I smirk.
“I can see. How’s it going, big man?” Scar says to Enzo, holding out his fist for a fist bump. Enzo bumps his little fist to his and I open my mouth in surprise. Scar shrugs. “Been teaching him for a while.” Scar winks. “You feel okay to go for a ride?” he asks.
I smile. “I am.”
Scar bends down and takes my mouth with his. “Good. I want to take you somewhere,” he says across my lips.