Chapter 1
Switch
“So, what do you think?” Joy stands at the kitchen sink, sunlight pouring through the window, lighting her auburn waves to look like a perfect sunset. She picks at her thumbnail as she peers up at me.
She’s a different woman from the one I stole away in the middle of the night to save her and her daughter from Travis Fucking Hitchens.
She can look people in the eye a little more, she’s made friends with the Ol Ladies, and she’s started working part-time as a receptionist at the medical center in town.
Yes, the same medical center I work at full-time now since I gave up the ER to get a better work-life balance.
And to see Joy and Kit more, but she doesn't need to know that.
“I like that it’s close to the clubhouse and it’s not too big for maintenance and things,” Joy trails off, looking more and more nervous.
“I think it’s a great place, Joy,” I soothe.
But I don’t think it’s a great place. A great place is my place, where she and Kit currently live.
Yeah,it may be in my guesthouse, but they’re still there, on my property where I know they’re safe and sound.
But as all my meddling brothers and their Ol Ladies have told me, I can’t keep Joy and Kit there forever.
And I get it. Watching Joy’s shoulders relax and the smile grow on her face at my words, I know she needs this.
She needs to spread her wings and discover who she is on her own.
Without me. Which makes my fucking ass cheeks clench because it goes against all my natural instincts to give up something I want so bad.
I blame my parents for having six fucking kids.
Gingers at that so we were all firey, ill tempered little shits with not enough to go around.
Which meant when you got something you fought to keep it.
“It does make me feel a little better that you’ll not only be close to the clubhouse, but also to my place.”
Her smile grows as she nods before her gaze darts away shyly, “Yeah, um, that’s why I like this place, too. I, um, I already walked it, it’s five minutes in each direction. That makes me feel better.”
“I’m sure Chewy and her brothers will have plans for security systems too,” I add.
They fucking better. There is no way I’m letting Joy and Kit out of my sight without knowing that they’re safe and sound.
“I’m gonna take a quick look at the yard.
” I hook my thumb over my shoulder and wait for Joy’s nod before I spin on my heel to head out the kitchen door, leaving Joy to walk the rest of the house.
I need air and to have a word with myself.
If I want to let Joy do her thing, I need to chill out.
Not say one thing and then think of a million ways to worry about her or insert myself into her life.
I know it’s going to be hard, but the pep talk the MC gave me, which was pretty much “back the fuck off for fuck’s sake” keeps ringing in my ears.
“Friends. All Joy needs right now is friends. Not a big, hulking fucking ginger all up in her business.”
“I think you’re more of a strawberry blonde myself.” My head snaps to the side to be met by the assessing gaze of a woman with too many floaty clothes on. The kind Stevie Nicks kinda wears. “Can I ask you to turn around please?”
“What for?” I ask, brows pulled low.
“I need to see your patch, so I know whether to smile or pull my gun,” the witchy woman says, leaning on the fence post between her property and the one Joy is thinking of buying. Fucking Chewy handing over all that cash. Ugh, simmer down man.
I run a hand down my face, turning and showing the woman my back. “Devil’s Rose MC. Our clubhouse is-”
“Just down the road. You had the poker run about a month back,” she answers. “You can turn back now.”
“So, you live there?”
“You attached to the cute little redhead inside?” She asks, not answering my question. She’s got balls, I’ll give her that.
“Yeah, she's a friend.”
Her eyes dance around my face, a smile curling at the corners of her lips.
“Friends. Got it.” Her gaze moves to the kitchen window behind me.
“I spoke to her the other day when she looked at the property. She’s a sweet thing but I can tell she’s been through some shit.
” I straighten at that. “Tell her if she moves in I’ll have her back.
Gals like us have to stick together.” I open my mouth as she turns to walk into her home, “Name’s Willa Malone.
I’m sure your club will look me up.” With that she shuts her door with a quiet snick.
“Oh, did you meet Willa?” Joy’s voice calls from behind me as she makes her way down the back porch steps. “She’s really lovely, I met her the other day.”
“She seems like a cool chick.”
Joy’s gaze darts to mine before darting away again, her fingers picking at her thumb again.
It’s a tell. Even though she’s a fuck ton more confident than the woman who was brought into my ER that night, there are still facets of the abused woman lurking the in the background.
You don’t survive a fucking decade of abuse to come out the otherside unscathed.
So, as Joy stands there contemplating whether to tell me what's on her mind or not, I step a little closer, place my hands on her shoulders, breathing gently, waiting for her breath to sync with mine.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, babe. You know that. Now, you were saying something?” My thumbs gently rub at Joy’s shoulders and I will them to stop, moving my hands and letting them hang at my sides. That’s all the Joy I’m allowed for now.
“Yeah, it’s going to sound silly -”
“As silly as the shit Rider comes up with?”
Joy chuckles. “Well, maybe not that silly. But, um, I think the reason I like the house is because I like Willa.” Her big brown eyes meet mine before darting away, “She makes me feel safe. Just like you and the club do.”
“You trusted your gut to get you this far, I’m sure you can trust it a little more to make this next step.”
Even if it’s without me. For now, anyway.
Joy
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I really can’t.
I’ve signed on a house. My own home. One for me and my little girl where no one can hurt us.
Where we won't have to know where all the exits are and if the wardrobes are big enough for us to fit inside.
It seems surreal that after a decade of being a punching bag that I am now two steps away from walking into my own place. My sanctuary.
“So, are you going to let us in or…?”
Chewy’s words snap me out of my thoughts and I turn to be met with the full force of the DRMC.
The Ol Ladies have arms full of cushions and soft furnishings while the men have their bikes and a moving truck full of the things that me and Kit wanted to keep from our old home.
There wasn’t a lot, mainly toys, clothing and keepsakes.
Everything else in the house belonged to Travis.
The furnishings he chose with no mind to whether I liked it or if it was practical for a baby.
And now I have my own place I can fill it with things I choose.
“Sooooo?”
“Oh, sorry, Chewy, lemme just unlock the door.” I fumble with the keys, a little flustered and overwhelmed by the big feelings I’m having. It’s something my therapist says is completely normal after spending so long just surviving.
“Let me help you, babe.” My shoulders drop and my eyes close as Switch’s voice washes over me. Not his loud, bombastic voice, no, this is the one he uses for me and Kit.
His large hand is warm when it presses against mine, steadying mine enough to slip the key into the lock and turn it. I push the door open and the smell of an empty home greets me. One part musty, one part warm and exciting.
Nat lets out a low whistle as the Ol Ladies follow me into the house.
It’s nothing too big and extravagant, even though what Travis left was more than enough for something bigger and flashier, but I’m not that type of girl.
I wanted warm, cozy, something that feels like a hug when you walk in.
This house ticked that box and so much more.
With the clubhouse a five minute walk in one direction, and Switch’s house a five minute walk in the other, the location is exactly where I want to be.
Hell, I would have bought a shack as long as it had me nestled between the people who saved me and my little girl.
“Now who on earth is Mad Dog making eyes at?” Mama Debs mumbles, staring out the window.
Kaia lets out a wolf whistle as all the Ol Ladies press their faces up against the window.
“That’s my neighbor Willa. She’s one of the reasons I bought this place. She just gives off safe vibes,” I say before I can think twice. “Oh, um, that sounds weird, don’t mind me-”
“No. Don’t do that. Your opinion matters,” Kaia says, reaching out and squeezing my hand.
“Vibes are definitely something you should go on,” Nat adds. “On paper Savage was definitely not worth giving a chance, but the vibes with him were off the charts and now I have my little girl and I can’t think of anyone else I would want to be doing life with than my Ol Man.” She shrugs.
“Vibes are illogical, but energy doesn't lie. We’re all just atoms and molecules,” Chewy says, pushing Chomper up to the window so he, too, can see outside.
“Well, thank you for making things geekier than they needed to be,” Blanche mutters.
“So, sweetheart, where do you want all this?” Marx asks, distracting us all from watching Mad Dog and Willa.
“Yup, put us to work, girl! We’ll have this house looking like a home in no time!” Ana adds.
I hesitate, looking at all the expectant faces of the people who have come out to help me over and over again and I can feel my throat getting tight, vision blurry as I try to swallow down my tears.
It’s not until I feel a presence at my side, warm and comforting that I know everything will be alright.
“You tell me what you want, and I’ll get ‘em moving,” Pops whispers to me and I give him a tremulous smile.
***
“Ah, Joy? I don’t mean to alarm you in any way, but there don’t seem to be any beds.” Lovely says, approaching me as if you would a spooked stray cat.
“Oh shoot! I was meant to order new beds but I clean forgot what with all the house paperwork and oh no! I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid! I should have known I would never have been able to do this all on my own I - ow!”
“Holy shit, I can’t believe you just did that!” Blanche cackles as I blink wildly.
“Did you just blow in her eye?” Jazz says, coming up beside me and wrapping an arm over my shoulders.
“She was spiraling. It was either that, or I slap her, but I figured with her history she would not appreciate that,” Chewy answers in her monotone voice.
I shrink a little at her words, knowing that as much as I’d like to forget my past, it’s still there, flashing a big neon arrow at me.
“It’s OK, I’ve got you,” Jazz whispers. She was my first friend. Actually, no, that’s not true. Switch was my first friend. Jazz then became my second and closest. “And just so you know, if I catch you calling yourself stupid again, I will kick your ass. Your history be damned.”
My lips curl up at her words and I give her a sheepish nod.
“Well, I don’t know about you ladies, but unpacking is for the birds. Who’s up for a road trip to buy some beds?” Pops says, blowing out a breath, hands on his hips.
“I don't know, isn’t it rude if I leave the men to do all the work?” I chew my lip, watching as the DRMC brothers move around my home, unboxing things.
“They’ll be fine. They love doing this stuff.” I give Lovely a dubious look but she just smiles impishly and leads the way out to the SUVs where we start to pile in.
“Where we goin’, ladies?” Mad Dog asks through the driver's side window.
“Heading out to look at beds for the two princesses if you’ve finished chatting up the neighbor,” Pops says, shoving Mad Dog out of the way so he can pull himself into the driver's seat.
“I wasn’t chatting up anyone, I was getting her measure to make sure she’s a safe person for Joy and Kit,” Mad Dog fires back.
“Oh yeah, like Wire and Remy wouldn't have already run a full background check on her,” Pops rolls his eyes. “You in or out, fucker?”
“In. Can’t trust you to keep out of trouble.”
“Whatever. How much fucking trouble can we get into at a furniture store?”