Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
brISTOL
“Hop off, Butterfingers,” Beast says, patting my thigh.
“Okay.” I sigh and let go of his waist, sliding my fingers up to grip his shoulders. I hold on to him to balance myself while climbing off the back of his bike.
No sooner did I get both feet on the ground, I hear Paxton and Sage shouting and running in my direction.
“Auntie Brissy,” Sage squeals. I squat down, arms out, ready for her hug, but nothing can prepare me for both kids to plow right into me, wrapping their arms around my neck and sending me to my bottom.
If Beast wasn’t directly behind me, they’d take me the rest of the way to my back.
“We mistied you,” Sage announces, stepping back alongside her brother while Beast helps me from the ground.
“I’ve missed you guys too.” I smile, reach out, and run my fingers through the little girl’s curly locks. “I’ll talk to your mom about next weekend, getting you two and having a sleepover at my house. How’s that sound?”
“Fuckin’ fantastic,” Reaper calls out, coming up to scoop Sage in his arms and looking down at Paxton. “Come on, little man, your mom has your plates ready for you.”
“Yay! Hot dogs are the shish,” Paxton yells, pumping his fist.
“Reaper, seriously.” I giggle, unable to help myself. “Ivy is going to kill you.”
“No, she won’t.” Reaper grins and walks off.
“Oh yeah, she will,” I shout, speaking to his back.
Beast wraps an arm around my shoulders, chuckling. “Come on, baby, let’s get over there. I see your dad and brother watching us.”
My steps falter, and I glance around, finding both men standing there in jeans.
Jeans. I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of them wear jeans in my life.
Well, maybe Ben, but never my dad. Those jeans were even paired with T-shirts, not polos or dress shirts.
They look totally normal and definitely not out of place.
Sitting down at the table next to them is my sister, and she still looks the same because of the bruises, but she’s wearing a T-shirt dress.
I’m sure it’s loose on her for reasons I already know.
“Bristol?” Beast gives my shoulder a squeeze and urges me forward.
“This is all too weird,” I mumble, more to myself.
“It’ll be okay,” Beast murmurs and kisses the side of my head. “Just don’t think too hard on it.”
“Easy for you to say.” I was still freaked out.
The two of us spent a lot of time having sex since that first time and didn’t really stop until we passed out, even when Beast’s cock was inside me.
I loved every memorable moment of the sex-a-thon.
He’d been right about me not thinking of anything else.
I didn’t until after he mentioned going to the clubhouse.
His telling me that he would explain things to me later definitely freaks me out, although I’ll admit to myself it also excites me because I’ll be learning more about who he is.
Beast drops his hand from around my shoulder, and I feel a knot in the pit of my stomach, thinking it was going to draw away from me, but he surprises me by taking my hand in his. He surprises me even more by lifting my hand upward to press a kiss to my palm.
“Bristol,” my dad greets me when we’re in close range and pulls me in for a hug.
“Hey, Dad.” I smile and return his hug before stepping back and smiling at Ben and then my sister. “I hope you all are having a good time.”
“It’s definitely a new experience,” Giselle murmurs, looking around. “Last night I heard more sexual sounds than I’ve ever heard before.” She gives me a shy look while I notice her blushing.
“Yeah, these guys get kind of rowdy.” I laugh nervously.
“Glad you guys could make it,” Beast says, pulling me back into his arms and chuckling. “Have y’all ate anything yet?”
“We were waiting on Bristol,” Ben answers.
“Figured we could all eat together,” my dad says, smiling, glancing between the two of us, his eyes holding a look of approval in them.
“Why don’t you sit here with your sister, and I’ll grab you a plate,” Beast offers.
I give him a nod as my answer and make my way around to the opposite side of the picnic table and take a seat.
From where I’m sitting, I can see Beast as he, my dad, and my brother all start toward the table filled with food.
I catch Ivy’s gaze and wave at her. Sutton turns and she waves.
Isabelle sees me, disconnects from the others, and starts in our direction along with Stella and Everleigh.
I see Josephine sitting at another table holding her newborn baby boy.
“You have an amazing life with these people,” Giselle remarks, drawing my attention to her. “I’m happy you were able to find happiness.”
“Thanks, Elle.” I smile. “They are all great people.”
“I can see that.” There’s a look of envy in my sister’s eyes.
“You have some explaining to do, woman,” Isabelle declares, planting her bottom next to me on the bench.
Usually, she’s super shy and doesn’t talk to anyone unless she knows you well.
I’ve come to know her well, and I can see the gleam in her eyes.
“Spill it, I know you and Beast finally had sex. After what happened, are you okay?”
I can’t help but wince, knowing she’s talking about Porter. I want to change the subject, especially since Giselle is right here, but considering what she’s been through, she’ll probably understand.
I chance a quick glance at her, then look to where Beast is still getting food on plates while talking to his brothers. Finally, I return my attention to Isabelle. “I’m okay. I didn’t even think about what happened to me. Or the scars.” That last part is not more than a breath.
“What happened to you?” Giselle asks, looking between Isabelle and me.
Taking a deep breath, I answer, “I was kidnapped, raped, and nearly killed by a psycho.”
Giselle’s eyes widen and she looks taken back. “How in the world didn’t we know this?”
“Because the club kept it quiet.” Thankfully, it was Isabelle who answered for me. “Reaper and the others knew it would be the best way to protect her at the time.”
“I’m so sorry,” Giselle whispers, and I can’t help but flinch because that’s the last thing I want to hear.
No one ever wants to hear anyone saying those words out of pity.
“I wish I knew what you’d been through. Maybe I could have come to you sooner.
” I whip my gaze back to hers on that last bit and stare at my sister in utter disbelief as she inhales, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Ronnie’s always hit me from the moment we got back from the honeymoon.
But over the two years we were married, it got worse.
This last year he’s raped me more than once. ”
“What made you finally ask for help?” I blurt the question and want to kick myself for asking it.
“I’m pregnant,” she admits. “I could deal with it myself, the beatings, even the rape, but I didn’t want to put a child through that.”
Whoa.
I swallow past the lump forming in my throat and look from Giselle to Isabelle and then back to my sister. I can respect the fact she’s finally decided to leave in order to protect her child.
“Did Ronnie know you were pregnant before you left?” That’s something we all need to know, and I hope he doesn’t because if he did, there’s no way he’ll let her go. Not without a fight.
“I found out after he left for work,” Giselle says, licking her busted lip once again.
“I knew if he found out, it would enrage him. He has a plan for when we’re to have children, and he’d beat me worse than he did Thursday night after getting back from the poker game.
He’d lost and came home to take it out on me. ”
Tears prick my eyes, and it’s all I can do to keep from letting them spill down my cheeks. I want to cry for my sister and what she’s been going through. I wish I’d known exactly what she was going through. I’d have sent someone after her a long time ago.
“Does anyone else know you’re pregnant?” I ask.
“Stella and the rest of us know she’s pregnant,” Isabelle answers, reaching across the table to take my sister’s hand in hers. “We told her we’d be here for her.”
So that’s why Isabelle came over here. To give my sister support as well as me. To make it easier for the both of us to understand each other.
I open my mouth to say something else but close it when Beast, my dad, and my brother all sit back down.
I won’t say anything in front of any of them.
Not unless she speaks up first. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep from saying anything to Beast when we’re alone, though.
With my sister pregnant, I don’t know if sending her away will be for the best. She’ll be alone, where here, she has family close by.
Either way, my sister’s pregnant, and shouldn’t be alone to take care of this child without someone to help her.
“What’s going through your head, Butterfingers?” Beasts asks me a couple of hours later.
The afternoon ended up being a good one.
My family seemed to have a good time and were really laid back.
I realized while eating that it was definitely always my mother who made things so tense.
None of them were involved in the tension.
Well, that is unless you count them being tense because of her.
We were never able to be an actual family, and for the first time today, we got to do that, and it was great.
I brush a strand of my hair out of my face and meet Beast’s gaze. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’m seeing. He looks curious, yet concerned, but there’s something else, and I just can’t put my finger on it. “Why do you ask?”