Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ROMANIA
There was so much to look at in the shopping mall.
I’d already found gifts for some of the brothers in the club back home and dropped them off to Eve so she could look after them.
It was highly likely I was going to have to post this stuff home because I doubted everything would fit in the suitcase my parents brought from home for me.
Now I was looking for something for Eve and Quake. But I wasn’t sure what.
What did I know about them?
Eve enjoyed energy drinks and protein smoothies, reading non-fiction—ick—watching action movies, and Quake.
She already had him, which I believed I helped with, but she needed something else. Something to remember me by.
Then there was Quake. He loved food, gaming, working in his bar, and Eve.
I needed to find something that whenever they looked at it, they’d think of me.
Wait, wait, wait.
Taking out my phone, I opened the photos. The other day we’d been sitting on the couch when I snapped a picture of the three of us. Eve and Quake were cuddled up behind me and I was giving the peace sign while smiling like a lunatic.
It was perfect.
I just needed a place to print it out and find a frame.
With a plan in mind, I set off to figure it out. Thankfully, when I asked some people, they were happy to point me in the right direction.
By the time I had my gift done, it was an hour later, and I totally deserved an iced chocolate. And maybe Eve would like a coffee too.
With the bag on my arm and two drinks, one in each hand, I made my way back to the clothes store where Eve worked.
I’d just entered, when Eve’s manager Anna raced up, asking, “Did you see security?”
“No, what?”
“Back left corner two people are hassling Eve and won’t leave.”
My gut dropped, and I raced towards the area she said. When I rounded the corner, I heard, “Think you’re fancy now? That your shit don’t stink? You’re still nothing.”
“Hey!” I called, stalking over.
The woman turned while the man whispered something to Eve that had her paling.
“What the fuck you want, bitch?” the woman snapped.
I threw the iced chocolate in her face, plastic cup and all. When she screamed in outrage, the guy turned and charged. I had one hand free, but maybe I wouldn’t even need it. The old guy was obviously intoxicated with the way he was stumbling.
When he got close, I crouched and swept my leg under his feet. He stumbled and dropped. Before he could get up, I pressed my boot down on his throat.
Holding the coffee cup over his head, I demanded, “Don’t move unless you want to be burned.”
When he went to say something, I pressed on his throat harder. He quit squirming and snapped his lips closed.
I looked at Eve, who seemed like she wanted to lose her breakfast as she leaned against the wall. If it hadn’t been here for her, I was sure she’d be on her bum.
“Eve?” I called.
Her gaze swung to me, tears welling.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked.
The woman gripped at me. At my hair and tee, she pushed and pulled. Pinched and slapped, yelling, “Get off him, you whore. Leave him alone.”
“Eve?”
“Security. Step away from each other.” The guard held up a Taser and waited for me to release my foot. When I moved off to the side, I placed the coffee cup on one of the shelves and watched the old guy sucking in some hard breaths before the woman dropped to her knees next to him.
“It’s her fault. She attacked us,” the woman screamed. “Darling, are you okay?”
The guy shoved her back and sat up. “I want to press charges,” he said.
“No!” Eve exclaimed. She straightened and took a step closer. “She was saving me. They came in here and started shouting and threatening. Anna witnessed it.” Eve pointed to her nodding manager.
“They noticed Eve up front. She tried to walk off quickly, but they followed her. They shoved her and got in her face. She did nothing to provoke them, and then Eve’s friend arrived to try and help Eve by moving them away.”
“She threw a drink in my face,” the woman bellowed.
“Lewis, going to need a hand in Rosies,” the guard said into his walkie-talkie.
“On my way,” Lewis replied.
Slowly, I shifted over to where Eve stood shaking. Reaching out, I took her hand in both of mine to hold them against my chest. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head.
Gently, I pulled her into a hug. “Do you know them?” I whispered.
I turned when I heard the guard instruct, “On your feet and come with us.”
“But it wasn’t us. It was them,” the woman barked. The guards didn’t listen to them, and they got the couple to their feet before they escorted them out.
The woman didn’t shut up, though. “You stupid bitch. You’re doing this to your own parents. You ungrateful little slut.”
Her parents?
Her fucking parents acted like this and said those horrid things to her.
I wanted to hurt them again, but worse than I already had.
If I’d known who they were, I would have done more.
Facing Eve, I took her hand and led her to the back room before shutting the door on the woman’s screaming.
“Fuck,” Eve muttered, hands covering her face.
I took her wrist, guiding her over to a seat.
When she sat, I crouched in front of her, placing the bag with her and Quake’s gift on the floor beside me.
“Don’t listen to a thing they said, Eve.
” I rested a hand to her knee. “There are people in our lives who don’t deserve to be there.
Those people are two of them. What they say means nothing.
They don’t know you, and they’ll never have the chance to know how amazing you are. Fuck them.”
She drew in a shuddering breath. “Fuck them.”
I smiled. “Exactly. Now, I’m going to suggest you take the rest of the day off.
We can grab some takeaway, go back to the compound, and relax while watching one of those movies you like to rewatch.
Or we could get drunk. Or I could leave you with Quake so he can snuggle all the love into you, like you deserve, so you know you’re wanted and needed and important.
Because you are, Eve. You’re fucking awesome. ”
She dropped forward to rest her forehead on my shoulder. My heart hammered. I hoped I didn’t overstep or suggest the wrong thing. I didn’t want to upset her. She was already hurt by those horrid cock-sucking pricks.
Should I text Quake to tell him what happened?
Maybe I should let Tech know about it, too, since those people were connected to him as well. He’d likely want to make sure they never talked to Eve again.
Hell, Quake and Tech would probably want to pay those fuckers a visit, and I’d love to go with them too.
The door opened, and Eve slowly straightened up. There were no tears, thankfully.
Standing, I turned to Anna and gave her a tight smile.
“Anna, I’m so very sorry this happened,” Eve said.
“Eve, don’t worry, please. I just wanted to check if you’re okay.”
She stood, straightening out her dress. “Yes. I’m fine.”
“I have Kate coming in. I want you to take the day, honey.” She walked forward and squeezed Eve’s shoulder. “Go home and brush this event away.”
Eve nodded. “Thank you, Anna.”
“You’re a great manager, Anna,” I told her.
She waved me off. “It’s what anyone would do when an employee is being hassled.”
“Somehow, I’ll make sure they never come back to the store,” Eve said.
Anna gave her a sympathetic smile. “Even if they do, someone else will handle it. You shouldn’t have to, Eve. Then we’ll call security right away.”
Eve drew in a shuddering breath as tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.” Anna squeezed Eve’s arm before heading back out front.
Eve turned to me. “I’ll just grab my bag.” I nodded, and while she dipped away, I quickly shot a text to Quake.
Rommy:
Eve had a situation at work with her so-called parents. Tell Tech and maybe both of you be there when I get her back to the compound.
His reply was nearly instant.
Quake:
I’ll come pick you both up.
Rommy:
No. I’ll drive Eve home.
Quake:
We’ll be waiting.
Pocketing my phone, I picked up the bag and glanced at the inner door just as Eve walked through.
I smiled. “Ready? I’m going to drive us back.”
She frowned. “I can do it.”
“I know you can, but let me have a go at driving in America. I promise not to drive on the other side of the road. The correct side.”
She snorted, but her amusement quickly vanished, and she quietly said, “Okay.”
Hand in hand, I led us out to the car, got her into the passenger side, and then I slid into the driver’s seat.
“Feels weird on this side.” I started the car and backed out.
“Fang bought an American car. I haven’t been in it, but I’ve seen it.
The motor on that baby sounds like a purring cat.
” I rambled on about the car and then went on some more about other types of vehicles the brothers had.
“But me, I love a VW Beetle. You know, like on the old movie Herbie. I also adored Transformers too. Now those movies were brilliant…. Here we are.”
Eve had been watching me talk, and when she looked out the front windscreen, her eyes widened.
“Did I distract you enough?” I asked, stopping at the gates until they opened.
“You did. Thank you, Rommy.”
“I’ve got your back,” I told her.
When we drove in, I parked near the front door just as it opened.
Quake and Tech strode over to the car. I heard Eve’s breath catch as her door was pulled open, and Quake helped her out, hugging her close when her first sob broke.
My chest ached.
I knew she’d been holding it in at work.
But I also figured she’d want to be warmed by Quake’s arms when she let her feelings crash.
When I stood by the front of the car, Tech approached with a strained look on his face. Like any sibling, we didn’t like seeing our sisters or brothers upset.
“What happened?” he asked.
“When I got there, they had Eve cornered and were saying crappy stuff to her.”
“Fuck,” he clipped. “I let this happen. I should have done—”
“Nothing,” Eve said. She sniffed and wiped at her face. “Back then we didn’t have the club. It was you and me against them when we were young. We did what we could.”
Tech ground his teeth together. “They have no fuckin’ right to even approach you.”
“It was a shock, and the stuff they said was shit. It’ll probably mess with me a little, but I refuse to allow it to stick anymore. I’m worth something.”
“Fuck yes,” I yelled, pumping the air with my fist.
Eve and Quake gave me a warm smile.
“Still, I’m gonna make sure they don’t visit you again,” Tech said with a wicked grin, like he was already picturing what he was going to do or say.
“I think Rommy probably scared them away.”
Tech grinned. “What did you do?”
I shrugged. “Nothing much. I wish I could have done more.”
“Rommy, what did you do?” Quake asked.
“Threw a drink in the woman’s face and kicked out the guy’s legs so he fell down.”
“Then pushed her boot onto his neck so he couldn’t get back up while threatening to throw a hot coffee on his face,” Eve added.
The men chuckled.
“Damn, I wish I’d seen it,” Tech said.
“Rommy, come here,” Eve said.
I quickly skipped over, and she brought me into a tight hug. “Thank you.”
Quake’s arms swept around both of us, and he pressed his lips to my head. “You’re pretty cool, Rommy.”
I grinned up at him and then looked to Eve.
God, I wanted to kiss them both.
The longing to be with them both made my heart clench.
Instead of trying my luck and ruining everything, I rolled my eyes and moved out of their embrace.
“It’s what friends do.” I needed a distraction.
Stat. Thankfully, I remembered I had the best type of one.
“Wait,” I called as I rushed back to the car.
“I almost forgot.” I grabbed the bag and brought it over to them, holding it out to Eve.
“Before I leave for Australia, I wanted to get you both something. It’s just something small.
” I quickly turned to Tech. “Sorry I didn’t get you anything.
” He smirked and waved me off. “But, uh, yeah, this is like a thanks for putting up with me while I’ve been here and don’t forget about our friendship while I’m not here. ”
I wish you both cared about me like I do you.
My feelings had grown so big, they were taller than me.
They were the best people I knew, and I knew a lot of great folks.
Quake and Eve were just different than anyone else.
How fucked up was it that I’d found my people who I could fall for, yet they’d never see me in that way?
And I’d never come between them.
Besides, I couldn’t pick. I’d be greedy and want both.
Eve opened the box the frame came in, which was blank, so it didn’t give anything away until she pulled it out and saw the image of the three of us.
“I know it’s goofy, but I really like that picture of all of us.”
Eve’s watery gaze met mine, and she hugged it to her chest. “It’s perfect.”
I scoffed, waving her off while my heart spasmed at her sweetness. “It’s nothing really.”
“It’s a great gift, Rom,” Quake said.
Eve nodded. “It’ll go on the television stand in our room.”
I saw Quake’s body jolt before he swung his gaze down on Eve. “Our room?”
Eve faced him, tipping her head back. “Yeah. If the offer to move into your room is still available.”
“Fuck, sweetheart, yes. A million times yes.” He looked at us and back down to Eve.
“Go, sweep her off her feet and take her to the room, you caveman,” I teased, trying my hardest to ignore another pang to the chest.
Quake grinned and did just that. He picked her up and walked her inside while I watched them go.
“So,” Tech drew out, “how long you been into my sister and Quake?”