LULA
Exile’s demeanor changed after his call home. Despite his smiles, he was clearly rattled. Sad, even. I knew his sister missed him, but I wasn’t ready to let him go.
Straddling Exile on the couch, I tried to kiss away his worries.
“I’d rather my cock not be at full attention when your daughter gets home,” Exile murmured as his hands rested on my hips.
I kissed his throat and jaw before covering his lips. Our attraction made the world brighter. I felt stronger, and I needed to be at my best right now.
Despite how good Exile tasted, I climbed off his lap and gave his dick a sorrowful pat.
“We’ll pick this up later when Dillon is in bed and the house is locked down.”
Exile zeroed in on the danger part. “Are you scared of another attack?”
“Yes.”
“I never once noticed you scared today.”
“I was an emotional kid, and I would get teased for getting wound up over things. So, I used to practice faces in the mirror to learn how to hide my feelings.”
“Who the fuck teased you?”
“Just kids at school. I’d get wound up if I did poorly on a test or made mistakes. I saw how my dad and uncle would act cool, even when they were upset. I wanted to be like that, so I practiced. Now, I hide my feelings well, even if that makes me seem cold.”
Exile kissed my temple. “I don’t think you seem cold. More like, you’re in control at all times.”
I smiled at him and sighed at how unguarded he was right now. “Never forget it’s mostly an act. Last night, I couldn’t stop replaying what happened with Cher and Stevie or how I felt tied up.”
Losing his cool, Exile tensed and started looking around for threats. I kissed his jaw and brought his attention back to me.
“I have cameras everywhere around the house,” I said and showed him on my phone. “There’s also security in the neighborhood. Plus, people here are just nosy.
“I rolled right up to your house.”
“Yes, but if you weren’t you, I wouldn’t have opened the door. If you were a threat, I’d have hit the alarm and run to my safe room.”
Exile’s eyes lit up at the idea of a safe room in the house. I took him to see the secret room in the back of my closet.
“I never thought of putting something like this in for Nova and the girls,” he said, looking over the setup.
We spent the next fifteen minutes talking safe room details before the security cameras showed Elle’s SUV pulling around the corner. Leaving Exile to admire the fortified room, I walked outside to meet Dillon.
My daughter hitched her backpack higher as she walked past her grandparents’ house to our place. My daughter held herself with such a steely confidence. I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful child.
Her dark eyes flashed to the driveway where Exile’s bike remained. I waited to see if she grew upset over his presence.
“We had a lunch date,” I said, meeting her outside.
“And how did that go?”
“He can only stay for a few more days. I’d like him to sleep here rather than at Rowdy’s.”
Glancing around me into the house, Dillon shrugged. “Okay.”
She started up the walkway to the house. “Elle said Cher might wake up soon.”
My chest instantly clenched at the memory of Cher’s body hitting the ground. I felt stuck as I replayed visiting the sisters in the hospital. Even though Stevie said she didn’t want visitors, I felt a need to see them. Maybe they’d be open to me stopping by tomorrow.
I finally walked inside the house to find that Dillon had gone to her room. She emerged a few minutes later to find Exile and me in the kitchen. Her gaze took in the sight of him.
“That’s my uncle’s shirt,” Dillon said and opened the fridge to find a snack.
“I didn’t think to bring clothes with me when I came to check on your mom.”
Dillon removed a bag of baby carrots and took one out. She looked us over and then bit into her snack.
“Why can’t you have one of the club’s prospects pick you up clothes?” Dillon suggested. “Mom said you were staying for a few days, right?”
Seeming unsure, Exile only mumbled, “I guess we could do that.”
“Wearing my uncle’s shirts is fine, but I assume you’re not changing your man underwear or jeans.”
Exile gave her a little grin. “I see your point.”
Dillon was a natural problem solver. She never embraced drama or let issues fester.
Over the next half hour, I helped Exile locate clothes to be picked up by the club’s prospects. I also checked Dillon’s homework as she flew through page after page. By the time my parents showed up at the front door, Exile’s clothes were chosen, and Dillon’s homework was completed.
“You’re still around,” Pax said to Exile, who only nodded. “Are you moving in?”
“No, but I’ll be here for another day or two.”
Pax glanced at me and then at Exile. My dad could be difficult to read in moments like these. Bebe was more obvious. She wanted Exile to get gone, so we could speak in private.
“Can you take Xena out to the yard?” I asked Exile. “She’s dying to relieve herself.”
We all looked at Xena curled up in her bed, sound asleep.
Exile smiled at me. “How can I say no when a dog begs that way?”
Walking to Xena’s bed near the windows, Exile picked her up like she was a football. I’d feel bad for the little beast if she didn’t immediately run around excitedly once outside.
Peeling my gaze away from Exile’s gorgeous form, I noticed Bebe watching Dillon.
“This seems like a discussion for adults,” Bebe told her only grandchild.
Dillon leveled her dark eyes at my parents and insisted, “I’d like to be a part of the negotiations.”
“We aren’t negotiating,” Bebe insisted. “We’re discussing our concerns like a family.”
“Well, I’d still like to be a part of that.”
“You’re too young.”
“I’m nearly twelve!” Dillon hollered, flipping out before returning to her sweet-faced child routine.
“The Blair Witch’s offspring has spoken,” Pax mumbled while backing away. “Hell on wheels, were you always this loud? I don’t remember you screaming like that as a baby.”
Shrugging like a teenager in training, Dillon replied, “I use my voice when necessary.”
I stroked Dillon’s head and smiled at how she refused to back down. I didn’t expect my daughter to follow in my footsteps. Dillon came with her own dreams and roadblocks. She needed to embrace her own path. But I was still insanely proud of her when she sounded like me.
Bebe gave in grudgingly. “Fine, you have a right to speak up.”
“No,” Pax insisted. “I raised my kids to be seen, not heard.”
Bebe rolled her eyes at his bullshit. “Is it a good idea to have Exile stay over?”
Prepared for their grilling, I pointed out, “Rowdy said Exile wasn’t a weirdo. I trust my brother’s sense about people.”
“I wasn’t concerned about him trying anything with Dillon,” Bebe replied, prepared for my rebuttal. “However, he’s a stranger sleeping in your house. Is that appropriate?”
“I’m scared,” Dillon announced, startling us. “I’m afraid more men will come and take Mom away. What if this time no one finds her? I can’t stay at your house forever. I want to sleep in my room and be normal, but I’m still afraid. Exile is strong, and he found Mom. I like having him here.”
“As a watchdog, huh?” Pax said and nodded. “That’s smart. Use the filthy biker’s skills for your benefit.”
“Wait, you’re okay with this?” Bebe asked Pax.
“Sure.”
“But you weren’t as thrilled about other men around Lula.”
“Grandma means Jarred,” Dillon said and hugged me. “Grandpa said Dad has dead eyes.”
“Like a doll’s eyes,” Pax added, nodding at his own claim. “No offense to Alani, who obviously has a thing for inanimate objects.”
Bebe frowned at Pax. “We don’t even know this new man. At least, we knew Jarred. He was around for years before they started dating. You’re behaving irrationally.”
“No, baby, you just can’t understand because of your vagina.”
“Huh?” Dillon muttered as we ladies frowned at Pax.
“It’s a man thing. I saw Ford when he fell for that dingbat Shay.
I was around when I fell for this hot piece of ass,” Pax said and tugged Bebe against him.
“I know what men are like when they fall hard. That never happened with Jarred, but I see it with the cowboy. A man who’s fallen hard won’t fuck up and ruin what he has. ”
“You nearly did,” Bebe grumbled and poked his belly.
“Yeah, but I fixed that shit fast. You’re remembering wrong. I was barely an asshole. You forgave me so fast. I remember perfectly, like it was yesterday.”
Bebe considered standing up for truth and justice but ended up shrugging and looking at me. “I don’t think having Exile stay here makes sense. I’m being the rational parent,” she said and sighed. “But if Pax and Rowdy think Exile is safe, I can be patient and get to know him.”
“He can only stay for a few days.”
Pax grunted. “That Zodiac has him on a short leash, huh?”
“No, he doesn’t want to leave his sister and nieces unguarded for long. Nova was shot in the back by the Void. She’s afraid to be alone.”
“Oh,” Bebe said, suddenly remembering Exile’s sweet side. “And they live together.”
“Seems lame, you know?” Pax muttered immediately. “Living with a sibling into adulthood, I mean, real loser shit.”
We looked at him and considered whether to mention how he lived with Ford until Shay came along. Realizing he was expecting our razzing, we collectively decided to simply smile at him.
“I really like Exile,” I admitted.
“Are you sure it’s him and not just that you’re feeling vulnerable?” Bebe asked.
“Having Exile here actually makes me feel more vulnerable. If I just wanted to feel safe, I’d have Rowdy move in for a few weeks. Or we’d keep bunking at your place. This thing with Exile is something else.”
We turned our gazes to Exile outside. He leaned down to speak to Xena, who barked up at him. He likely thought the dog wanted something, but she liked to bark. The more he spoke to her, the faster her tail wagged, and the louder she got.
Catching onto her antics, Exile stood up and looked toward the house. I wasn’t sure if he saw us staring at him or if he sensed he was being watched, but he frowned. His annoyance made me smile. Hell, everything he did made me happy.