Chapter Eleven
Melissa
J ACE FINALLY WORE me down and I moved to Frostford to be closer to him. There was no point in continuing to paint a target on Oaklynn’s back for the men in my father’s club. She knows I’ve moved with the twins again, but that’s about it. I’m very careful not to give her too many details of where we are or what’s going on in my life. The less my best friend knows, the better off she’ll be. I don’t have a doubt in my mind Oaklynn would give her life for the twins and me. It’s what I’m trying to avoid. So, for now, she doesn’t get to know any details about my life. The most she gets out of me is about work because I can write from anywhere and it’s not a secret of what I do for a living.
It took Jace longer than he wanted to convince me to move to Frostford. The twins are almost a year old now. I stayed with Carter until Jace finally played the last card he had to use against me. I remember the day vividly because I was so hurt by his words at first.
Jace and I were hanging out in Carter’s living room. I keep the house immaculate at all times because Zeke, Delilah, and myself are simply guests in his home. This place doesn’t feel like a permanent stop for us and so I’m always cleaning and making sure the kids aren’t too loud if Carter is here. The three of us are cramping his style and I’ve been thinking about moving out, but fear holds me back from being alone when my father and his assholes could find me at any minute.
“Melissa, you have to know this isn’t okay,” Jace says, setting his water down on the table in front of us. “The kids are quiet as fuck and barely make a sound when they play, when you’re not takin’ your classes or working’ you’re cleanin’ and makin’ sure this house is spotless. You’re not takin’ care of yourself at all. When do you rest or relax in any way?”
“I have nowhere else to go, Jace. Carter is doing a good thing by letting us stay here with him and I’m just trying to make sure we don’t wear out our welcome and he kicks us out on our asses,” I return, tears prickling my eyes as I blink rapidly to hold them off.
“You do have somewhere to go, Melissa. I love hangin’ out with the twins and you, but it’s too far for me to make it out here on a regular basis. What the fuck are you gonna do if somethin’ happens and it takes me hours to get here? Carter is barely here and when he is home, he’s holed up in his office or bedroom. I doubt the man could fight his way out of a wet paper bag, let alone protect the three of you. Things have changed, but it doesn’t mean the threat or danger has vanished completely.
“Melissa, I want the kids and you to move to Frostford. I can protect you, watch over you, help you when you need a break. I’ll be there as I’ve been there for you over the last two years. I’ve taken more time away from my club than anyone else and others are startin’ to get pissed about my continued absences. I’m not gonna stop comin’ to see you three for any reason, but this is what needs to happen. You need to be closer to people who will watch out for you and make sure no one gets close. Oaklynn fuckin’ agrees with me on this subject. We just talked about it on my way here today. She wants you away from trouble and to know someone has your back. Someone who will actually do what needs to be done to make sure the kids and you are safe, happy, and healthy no matter the cost,” Jace says, shocking me as I stare at him with wide eyes.
I had no clue he’d talked to Oaklynn about me moving to Frostford. She hasn’t said anything to me about it and this is the first time he’s mentioning it as well. Jace also knows I’ll do anything for Oaklynn. Just like she’d do anything for me. If she believes I should move closer to Jace, maybe it’s something I need to think about. I lift my eyes to look at Jace and see the second he realizes he’s got me.
“Fine, Jace. You play fucking dirty. I want you to know that,” I tell him, laughter filling my voice. I have to finish my current project and talk to Carter before I can even think about leaving here. I’m not just going to abandon him when he’s taken us in and helped me more than he had to. You have to give me a little bit of time to get things put in motion to move.”
“That’s fine, Melissa. It also gives me the chance to find you three an apartment and get it ready for you guys to move into. I’ll find one close to the clubhouse so someone is always close by in case you need help,” he says, watching as I flinch at the mention of being close to a clubhouse again. “These guys aren’t you’re father’s club, Melissa. They would die to protect Zeke, Delilah, and you. Not fuckin’ sell you out to make some money and not give a fuck what happens to you. We’ll take it slow and I’ll introduce you to them one at a time until you’re comfortable with the guys. There are a few ol’ ladies there too. You can meet them first if you want.”
“We’ll take it a day at a time, Jace. Just be happy I’m agreeing to move so close to a club again. I have nightmares every day about my father and what they did to me.”
“I know, Melissa. I’ve gotta take off, but I’ll send you pictures of any apartments I happen to find so you have a choice in where the kids and you live,” Jace says, standing up from the couch and walking over to where Zeke and Delilah play on the floor.
Yeah, the fucker plays dirty and I let him remember that shit on a daily basis. So, two months ago, I moved to Frostford with my kids and we’ve been living a quiet, peaceful existence ever since. Jace kept his word and found me a place to live that’s not too far from the clubhouse. It’s a small cottage on a quiet street that has a small yard out back for the twins to play in. He even put up a swing set. One of those wooden ones with all the different things for kids to do besides swing or go down a slide. Plus, there’s a park just down the road that’s even bigger. Zeke and Delilah love playing there because it gives them a chance to toddle around and practice their walking.
The cottage has three bedrooms, a large kitchen, laundry room, living room, and I’ve even got a space for an office. There’s no more reason for me to work in the living room with my stuff spread out all over the place. Especially with the kids moving around more and getting into everything. Jace made sure the cottage was furnished and ready for us to move into. Including a fully stocked kitchen, the kids’ rooms decorated and furnished, and my office ready to get to work. He went above and beyond what I was expecting. There’s no way I’ll ever be able to repay him.
Zeke is practically running already while his sister takes things slower. Delilah strolls around and looks at everything while remaining steady on her feet. My son is hell on wheels just like his daddy was. Zeke’s constantly checking out everything and following things that capture his attention. Especially motorcycles. The twins are night and day from one another and I’m happy about their differences. Zeke is already protective of Delilah. Zeke would be so proud of his kids and it kills me daily to know he’s not here to watch them grow and change every single day.
I just finished getting the kids ready to go to the park with Jace so I can get some work done when my phone rings in the living room. Walking out to grab it, I find Jace calling me. He’s been really busy lately and I have a feeling he’s canceling plans with the kids. Hell, he doesn’t have to help with them at all and yet we see him almost every single day now. The only time we don’t is when he’s on a run or gets delayed at work for some reason.
“Hey Jace,” I answer my phone, watching the twins walk down the hall toward me.
“Can you come to the clubhouse, Melissa? I’m still gonna take the kids to the park so you can get some work done, but I can’t leave right now. It would be easier if you could bring them here and I’ll bring them home later on,” Jace asks me, explaining vaguely as to why he needs me to go to the clubhouse.
“Jace . . .,” I begin, but stop after his name.
Jace has been trying to get me to go to the clubhouse multiple times a week since I moved to Frostford. I’ve always said no and avoid the clubhouse, any of the club owned businesses, and the loud rumble of motorcycles as much as I possibly can. It’s not really hard because I don’t go anywhere. The only places I go are the park, grocery store, gas station, and home. I’ve also turned Jace down every time he asks me to go out to dinner with him. Not as a date or anything, but just as friends and a way to get me out of the house and explore my new town.
“Look, I know you don’t want to be around the club. Your reasons are valid. However, I really want to spend time with the kids today and this is the only way I can make it work. I’m waitin’ on my President to get here so I can talk to him before we go to the park. He got held up and will be here as soon as he can. I know you’ve got a deadline comin’ up. I wouldn’t push for this if it weren’t important, Melissa,” Jace pleads with me, his voice letting me know there’s more to the story than what he’s letting on.
“Fine, Jace. If I didn’t have this deadline looming so close, I wouldn’t be going anywhere near that clubhouse. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Please be outside waiting for me,” I return, moving through the living room to find my keys and purse to head down the road.
“Thank you, Melissa. I’ll be outside waitin’ for you. And I’ve got lunch ready for the kids too,” he says, again my suspicions raise because Jace doesn’t like feeding the kids. He feels like something will happen when I’m not there and they eat.
Hanging up, I get the kids out in the car and buckled in their car seats before getting in the driver’s seat of my used car. I really have to get something better, but this is what I have the money for right now. Between bills, food, and taking care of the kids, there’s not a lot of money left over for much else. Especially when I’m trying to save as much as I can for any emergencies that might occur.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the clubhouse. I could literally walk there with the kids. The club is just down the road from my cottage and stands out despite my need not to want to know where it is or what’s going on there. I’m pretty sure it’s because I grew up around a club that it’s like instinct to know where the clubhouse is and what’s going on there. Especially on the weekends when it’s nothing but party time there. All the cars going down my street toward the clubhouse is something to be expected.
Pulling up to the gate, I get stopped by a young kid. I’m guessing he’s a kid considering he’s already so tall. This guy must stand at close to six and a half feet tall. He’s got tattoos covering his exposed skin a shaved head and wears the standard biker clothes—jeans, tee shirt, boots, and his cut over his shirt. I roll down my window as the guy leans down to look in my car. Something flashes in his eyes when he looks at Zeke and Delilah causing my panic to increase slightly. Yes, I’m scared to be here and started having a mini panic attack the second I pulled into the driveway for the clubhouse.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” his deep voice asks as his eyes keep darting back to my kids in the backseat.
“I’m, um, I’m here to see Jace. He knows I’m coming. I just got off the phone with him,” I state, my voice showing how scared I am to be here.
“Park in the lot and I’ll him know you’re here,” the guy says, already pulling his phone out of his pocket.
With a nod of my head, I wait until he moves back from my car to continue in to the parking lot. It’s almost completely empty with the exception of two SUVs parked at the end of the clubhouse and four bikes parked in a line up against the building. Or as close as they get to it. Taking a deep breath, I park my car close to the door and shut the engine off before getting out to grab my kids.
By the time I’ve gotten Zeke and Delilah out of their seats and grabbed the diaper bag I packed for them, Jace is walking up to us.
“There’s my favorite kids,” he greets Zeke and Delilah as Zeke races the short distance to Jace.
I watch on as Jace picks my son up in his arms and I do the same with Delilah. Jace takes the diaper bag from my shoulder as we make our way toward the clubhouse door. My heart speeds up and sweat begins covering my back and neck. Hell, my hands are shaking with my daughter in my arms and my breathing picks up just a little with every single step closer I take to a world I left behind. A cruel, cold, unfeeling world that’s nothing more than a lie. One that took the love of my life from me and robbed my children of their dad.
Jace opens the door for us and steps back so I can enter before him. My eyes take a second to adjust to the dim interior after being out in the sun. My eyes take in the clean common room of the clubhouse. Tables fill the space directly in front of me while couches, a few recliners, and large TVs are mounted to the wall off to the left of the front door. To my right is a long bar that takes up almost the entire wall. A few bar stools are already occupied by large men. I try to keep my attention off the men as I turn to face Jace. Just before I look back at one of my best friends, my attention is caught by a guy walking in from the hall at the back of the room.
He’s almost six and a half feet tall with a shaved head. His lower face is covered in a neat, trimmed beard and tattoos cover his exposed skin. The man’s right arm has more tattoos on it than his left. His torso is covered by a black tee shirt that stretches tight across his chest and shoulders. If I were closer, I’m sure I could count his abs with how tight the shirt is on his body. The man is wearing a pair of jeans that fit tight to his thick thighs and a pair of scuffed, black, motorcycle boots cover his feet. The last piece my eyes take in is the cut covering his upper body. It’s not until I get to the man’s eyes as he continues walking closer to me that my breath catches in my chest and I can’t get in a breath at all. The man in front of me has the warmest, chocolate brown eyes I’ve only ever seen once before in my life. This can’t be happening right now.
Someone is playing a cruel joke on me and Jace is playing a role.
“I don’t understand,” I say, my voice just above a whisper as I turn to face Jace. “What the hell is going on right now? Are you trying to hurt me? I thought we were friends, Jace.”
“We are friends, Melissa. This isn’t a joke or any type of game. Homicide, or Zeke, is really alive and here. That’s why I wanted you to come here today. It’s time you find out the truth of what happened so long ago. Both of you need to talk,” Jace says, a sad smile on his face as he reaches over to take Delilah from me.
My vision starts to fade to black as I whip my head back toward Zeke. A man I’ve wished to see for so long. He’s standing in front of me and has changed so much in the time since I’ve last seen him. I have no words as I try to take in several slow, deep breaths to beat back the panic and every other emotion filling me right now. There’s too many for me to even think about naming or feeling as everything seems to bombard me at once.
“Baby girl,” Zeke says, his deep, smooth voice washing over me like a blanket.
I want to run to him and touch his skin. Make sure he’s real and standing in front of me instead of this being a dream. A dream I’ve had so often there have been times it seemed real. Now, this is a reality and I can’t trust it.
“Melissa, I need you to breathe with me,” Zeke says, stepping up so our bodies are aligned and touching in multiple places.
Zeke brings his hands up on each side of my face, forcing me to look in his eyes. He takes several slow, deep breaths, holding each one for a second before releasing it again. I copy him and soon the blackness begins to fade, my heart rate slows down, and my breathing starts to return to normal. I’m still shaking and I don’t know if that will ever go away with Zeke’s hands on me again.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” Zeke asks me, his voice barely above a whisper as my complete focus is on him. “I’ve missed you so fuckin’ much. I don’t believe it myself that you’re standin’ here in front of me right now. This is real, Melissa. I promise you that.”
Zeke wraps me up in his arms and I melt into his hard chest. He’s definitely got more muscles since I last saw him and has grown into the man I always knew he’d be. Not emotionally or anything, but physically. Zeke was always working out and building himself up and it doesn’t seem to have changed in our time apart.
Tears fill my eyes and I don’t bother trying to stop them from spilling over. They roll down my face and soak into Zeke’s shirt where my face is pressed against his body. He smells the same as I remember—all man and something woodsy from his body wash. There’s also the lingering hint of the cologne I bought him so long ago and he wore on a daily basis for me. It’s a smell I’ve missed. One I came to think of as home so long ago.