Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
SKEETER
I’d lost my fucking mind. Eating ice cream at the mall with a bunch of rich boys? Inviting them all to hang out at my house?
What the hell was I doing?
I definitely felt better once I was in my living room with a beer in hand, and I was pretty sure Rory felt the same from the way she sank into the lumpy fabric of my couch and sighed.
“I thought you didn’t let your emotions control you?” she said randomly, sipping her beer without looking at me.
“I don’t.”
“Hmm,” she said lightly, glancing over at me. “Why’d you flip out at Gunther then?”
“I wasn’t really going to beat on him. I just wanted him to think I would,” I lied, knowing full-well that I was close to murdering that bastard.
He didn’t like her, and I wanted him to know that if he touched a hair on her head that it would be the last thing he ever did.
“Do you ever wish you’d had more?” she asked, changing the subject.
“What do you mean?”
“Like family meals at the table, bedtime stories, a Christmas tree?”
I fucking hated Max and couldn’t wait to get my hands on him. I couldn’t imagine how confusing that would have been for an eight-year-old to go from having it all, to nothing.
I sighed, sliding an arm around her to pull her against me.
“I had all of that. The food might not have been the best, but we always ate together at the table. I was told stories, and despite not really getting presents, we had a tree for Christmas.”
She frowned, peering up at me. “If your mom died, who raised you? You didn’t mention your dad.”
I considered not telling her, it was getting too personal, but part of me wanted her to know. She wouldn’t judge me, and I hated to think it, but she had a worse upbringing than me.
“Never knew my dad. I assume he was one of the Psychos though. I was raised in the crew. The Shed was mostly my home.”
“You just bounced between houses?”
“Nah. Savage, our old leader, took me in as his own. As I got older, I moved into a place with Slash, then Diesel joined us. Eventually, we ended up living with Hunter and Marco too.”
“I’m surprised you were allowed to live with kids from other crews. Savage sounded like a good man to take you in like that,” she murmured, making me scoff.
“I respect him for the things he gave me and for not tossing me out on the street, but don’t let his plan be mistaken for kindness.
The man was molding us into monsters for his army.
He was cruel to a lot of people, and he raised me with an iron fist,” I explained, downing the rest of my beer before continuing.
“Back then, Hunter and Marco weren’t exactly Devils.
Hunter’s brother made sure they didn’t get dragged in too early.
We all went to school together at Ashburn Valley High, and most crews got along back then.
The Shadow Kings and Satan’s Soldiers kept to themselves, the Reapers of Chaos were in the early stages of forming and were focused on running pussy, the Hell’s Demons were annoying but not a problem, and the Devil’s Armada were based in Ashburn at the time as our allies.
We had to co-exist, and Savage had a truce with them. ”
She was eating this up, her full attention on me. None of this shit was really necessary for her to know, and it felt weird to tell her pieces of our history.
“Is that why you and Slash took over when he died? Because you were like sons to him?”
“It’s why no one fought it, we were raised as Psychos from the day he took us in.
I was born at the Shed on the dirty concrete floor, and I’ll die there.
Slash had a family, until he didn’t, and Diesel took a while to settle in.
He was there as a survival tactic, he never wanted to be part of the crew.
Slash and I took over because we wanted change.
You have no idea how bad that place was beforehand.
Bratty girls that didn’t do as they were told were beaten and raped in the cage for entertainment.
Some were murdered, or drugs forced into their veins to make them compliant.
It might be different now, but some of the members were from that time and would have no problem with those kinds of punishments coming back.
That’s why I tried so hard to keep you in line.
Women are pawns in this world whether I like it or not, and the thought of anyone hurting you like that?
” I swallowed, not being able to look at her.
“You saw it all happen? As a kid?” she asked softly, and I winced as memories hit me.
“I’m numb to a lot because of the things I’ve seen.
Some of my guys that you’re so comfortable around?
You really shouldn’t be. They’d love nothing more than to watch you be dragged into that cage by your hair and tortured.
The shit that Tristan did to you is nothing compared to what the Psychos used to do.
It wasn’t about power to them, it was purely about inflicting pain and fear. ”
I realized I was talking way too much, and I stood to put some distance between us, heading to the fridge for another beer.
I heard the Challenger and Lamborghini pull up, and I was thankful for the distraction as she went to the door to let them in.
A weird sense of relief hit me when Tyler tossed her over his shoulder and stole her attention, laughter leaving her as he dropped her down on the couch and lay over her for a makeout session.
“Her violence got him all worked up,” Caden grumbled as he approached me, watching his best friend devour our girl. Lukas and Jensen joined us, and I noticed that Lukas was holding his hand again.
His eyes met mine and he released Jensen instantly, making me snort. “You’re such a little bitch. What do you think I’m going to do? Run down the street screaming you’re holding his hand?”
His face heated as he glared at me, and Jensen groaned. “Don’t draw attention to it, asshole. He’s shy.”
“He’s not fucking shy, he’s ashamed of you.”
Jensen jerked back like I’d slapped him, but Lukas got in my face. “You don’t know shit.”
I grinned, bumping my chest out more to push back on him. “I don’t? You can’t even hold his fucking hand without being worried someone will see.”
“It’s no one’s business!”
“You’re literally in a room with your friends, Luke.
Why are you worried about them seeing you?
You know I don’t give a fuck. You really think Holloway or Ty give a shit?
You’re ashamed because your mom raised you to be.
Take back your power. Go on,” I bit out, giving him a shove towards Jensen.
“I guarantee Jensen doesn’t give a shit who sees.
He’d probably fuck you in public if you let him. The only problem here is you.”
“Guys, no fighting,” Rory demanded from the couch as she sat up to glare at me.
“We're not. Just helping your little boyfriend grow some balls.”
“Leave him alone.”
Lukas was freaking out. He was pissed at me, but he kept flicking his eyes to Caden to see his reaction to the conversation. Caden eyed him right back for a moment before sighing.
“Do you really think we’d care?”
“I’m not—” Lukas’ breathing became more rapid, and Caden rolled his eyes.
“Dude, chill out. We know you’re into each other, and we don’t care. Promise. Kiss, hold hands, whatever you want. We won’t make a public service announcement about it and freak out on you,” he said with slight amusement, and Lukas relaxed a little.
“You don’t think it’s weird?”
“No. You’re not into me too, right? I hate to break your heart, but you’re not my type,” he joked, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“He’s exactly your type. He’s a pussy, and you love pussy.”
Lukas glowered at me, but Jensen was obviously over the entire thing and grabbed his shoulders, spun him around, and wrapped his fingers around Lukas’ throat to pull him in for a kiss.
As expected, Lukas flailed in a panic, but when no one screamed in horror, his whole body practically went slack and he gave into it.
Caden stared at them for a second before glancing at Tyler.
“Told you,” Tyler said brightly, hauling Rory onto his lap. “Now that everyone’s in love and happy about it, can I have a beer?”
Lukas snapped out of it and pulled back, and Jensen let him, a huge smirk on his face.
“Hey, Skeet? Can I borrow your bedroom?”
“No,” I scowled, not surprised when Lukas scuttled over to the couch to get away from him. “You guys could’ve stopped for a quickie, and Ty, you could’ve bought your own beer.”
“I’m almost out at home,” Tyler huffed, not looking fazed when Rory crawled off his lap to sit on Lukas instead.
“So?”
“So, you’re twenty-one and can buy beer. I’m eighteen, and the guy that sells to me at the liquor store doesn’t work today.”
“You’ll replace it,” I warned, motioning to the fridge for him to help himself.
He wasted no time accepting my offer, and I took the opportunity to steal Rory back as I sat beside her.
“That was mean,” she scolded, but she snuggled into me.
“Worked, didn’t it?” I lit a cigarette and took a drag, holding it out to her. She went to take it and I pulled it back a fraction, making her roll her eyes as she leaned forward to take a drag as I held it.
The guys all got comfortable around the living room, smoking and drinking beer, and I didn’t hide my annoyed groan when I heard Slash’s Mustang outside.
“Seriously?”
He let himself inside, acting like he had no idea he’d crashed whatever this even was.
“Want me to come back later? Didn’t realize the Donovan Fan Club was gathering for a meeting.”
“See you later,” I said flatly, but Rory laughed.
“We wouldn’t host a meeting without the club’s president here. Come join us, bossman.”
“I’m far from your biggest fan,” he chuckled, making himself at home as he grabbed a beer and sat down in the recliner, putting his feet up. “So, what are we doing?”
I didn’t particularly want him to know how I’d spent my morning, but Caden couldn’t help himself.