Naomi
He’d kissed her forehead. She couldn’t remember anyone ever doing that except her mother when she was young. So why did it make her skin tingle and her body feel warm, even a few days later?
She’d thought about it over and over. It was an uncomfortable feeling. Well, not in a bad way. More unexpected, and it made her wonder if she was losing her mind.
Her brain kept turning over questions about what it could mean. Or did it even mean anything at all? Why was she getting so worked up over a kiss on the forehead? Hell, he practically ran out of there afterward.
Was he worried she would read too much into it?
Of course he was. And here you are doing that very thing.
She pushed that thought from her mind and forced herself to focus on what she was doing. Tonight was the night she would work at Rogue’s shop to complete the weekly paperwork. Not that there would be much since they closed the shop once Esme had her baby.
There had been a lot of commotion around the grounds in the last few days, so she’d tried to stay out of the way as much as possible.
The twins, however, had taken it upon themselves to visit with her and play with Asher as much as possible, keeping her updated on all the goings-on.
She appreciated the company and the break from trying to keep Asher entertained.
Which is how she already knew Esme had a little boy they named Jett, and how she nearly broke Fury’s hand during labor when he dared to remind her she wanted to do everything without an epidural.
After only being around Esme a handful of times, she’d gotten the impression he was lucky she hadn’t torn it clean off. Or worse. The woman was fierce. And if she wasn’t mistaken, when Fury came home to pick up a couple of things, he’d been very gingerly using his right hand for everything.
Karissa, on the other hand, was enjoying the hell out of the entire situation.
Well, mostly. The morning after she got back, she made a point of finding Razor and telling him she’d never have a kid.
If he brought it up to her again while all of that was fresh in her mind, she’d hurt more than his hand. Razor, smartly, never said a word.
Rogue closed the shop for two days to give the club time to prepare to welcome Esme and Jett home and to let everyone meet the new addition. It made Naomi see the club in a completely different light.
Observing was one of the few pastimes she had, and watching everyone pull together the way they had, warmed her heart.
It’d been so long since she’d seen any care from a group as large as this.
Gifts brought, the house cleaned by multiple members, Gabe’s school drop-offs and pick-ups sorted without much fanfare. All of it was something else.
Not to mention, all the plans for tonight’s celebration. Esme came home yesterday, but tonight was for the club to celebrate and party the night away in Jett’s honor. Or so Jax had explained when she’d dared to ask why everyone seemed so excited.
It also explained the thumping bass coming from the clubhouse as she walked past it. It wasn’t loud enough to be heard from the apartment, but with the cheers coming from inside, there was no denying a party was happening.
A part of her wondered whether it was only for club members, but then she spotted Saylor, Karissa, and Glitch inside, drinking and laughing.
A small pang of longing hit her, but she refused to let it take hold.
She had a job to do and a son to get back to.
The twins were watching him for her while she worked, but she didn’t want to take up their whole night.
She walked into the garage office, rolled her eyes at the papers scattered around the desk, and got to work.
“What are you doing working when there’s a party going on?”
Startled, she jerked her head up and stared wide-eyed at Glitch and Karissa, who stood grinning, drinks in hand. “I always work on Friday nights.”
“Yeah, but tonight is a party night. You don’t work when there’s free liquor and lots of fun going on,” Glitch scolded lightly. “And aren’t the twins watching Asher?”
“Well, yes, but only until I’m finished. And I’m not really a partier anyway.”
She certainly never wanted to be invited to one of Diego’s parties. She’d been to one when he dragged her there, and she’d never gone back. Not that she thought that was the kind of thing going on here, but it certainly wasn’t her scene.
Bikers were well known for what kind of things happened during these kinds of events.
“Babe, you need to live a little,” Karissa advised, tone firm but kind.
“Well, I wasn’t really invited, so I don’t think I should intrude.”
They stared at her and groaned. “Okay, that’s our fault for assuming you’d instantly know you were invited. Consider this your official invitation.” Karissa beamed. “Now, finish up and let’s go relax.”
“I don’t—”
“Naomi, just come have one drink,” Glitch urged. “You don’t even have to stay very long. I’ll get Scarlett to send the twins a message to watch Asher for a bit longer. Honestly, it’ll make Scarlett and Rogue happier not to worry that the girls will try to sneak into the party or get into trouble.”
“They’d do that?”
Karissa and Glitch winced. “Shit. Look, they’re teenage girls who like to piss off Rogue and the guys as much as possible.
They’re good kids, though. Sneaking in was just a test to see how well their stealth skills had developed that one time.
They don’t try to drink or anything like that.
And they’ve never tried to get in past nine,” Glitch added, nodding.
Like that was a very important fact to note.
Naomi’s brow arched. “What happens after nine?”
Karissa sighed. “That’s when the club girls show up. The girls don’t need to see that. Guys in relationships are faithful, but anyone else is fair game.”
Naomi’s cheeks flushed at the implication. It’s not like she hadn’t seen that before and worse when Diego made her go to that party or even to meetings where he wanted accurate numbers and counts. That didn’t mean she was comfortable with the open displays.
She glanced at the time on the computer. It was closing in on nine. “I probably should go back to Asher.”
“Don’t make us drag you, Naomi,” Glitch warned. “One drink, then you’re free to go. It’s to celebrate baby Jett, not for something wild and nefarious.”
She could feel herself buckling under pressure. There was only a little bit more to do. It wouldn’t take long. Maybe a couple of minutes wouldn’t hurt. She was curious to see what a party at an MC clubhouse was like compared to what she knew.
“Fine, but only for a few minutes. Asher’s probably already asleep, and the girls will get bored just sitting around.”
“Good. Finish up and meet us in the clubhouse. What do you want to drink? I’ll have Tom make it since he’s on the bar tonight, and it’ll taste right. Those other prospects are hopeless unless it’s beer or straight liquor.”
“Oh, no, I don’t need to drink anything. I’m not much of a drinker anyway.” Ever, actually. Drinking was something she never allowed herself to indulge in. She didn’t want her senses dulled.
Thankfully, neither woman pushed it. They nodded and headed back out to the clubhouse.
Naomi finished the paperwork and walked out of the shop, locking it behind her. Already, the clubhouse sounded louder, rowdier. Part of her wanted to run the other way, but she forced herself to head toward the clubhouse.
Her palms were damp and sweaty, and she had to work to tamp down the urge to run the other way, especially as she walked up the steps and the clubhouse door opened to reveal Savage and Royal stumbling out, their mouths fused together and their hands roaming all over each other.
She froze, and a small squeak slipped out as she tried to get out of their way. They broke apart, turning to look at her. She gasped. “I’m so sorry.” Her cheeks flushed, and she stepped back down the stairs.
“Hey, Naomi,” Royal rasped, a wicked grin on her face, her eyes bright and her face flushed. “We were wondering where you were.”
“Oh, I, uh, didn’t know I was invited,” she admitted, glancing at Savage. “Karissa and Glitch invited me, so I just thought … but I can go home. It seems like everyone’s busy.”
Even to her ears, it sounded like a lame excuse.
“Why the fuck wouldn’t you be invited?” Savage asked, frowning.
“Oh, uh, well, this seemed to be a club thing, and I …” She waved her hands, unsure how to finish that sentence without sounding insulting.
Savage’s frown deepened. “Did no one tell you to show up?”
“Ah, not exactly. But to be fair, I’ve been busy, and other than when I work on the garage stuff, I don’t really see anyone.”
He didn’t call her out on her half lie. Instead, he grunted, “Any club parties and shit, you’re invited to. Now you don’t have an excuse. Now get in there.” Before Naomi could process the order, he hauled Royal over his shoulder, making her shriek and giggle as he strode away.
Naomi stared after them. Well, that wasn’t what she’d expected. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. She glanced at the door then back at the warehouse. She could go back to the apartment, and no one would be the wiser. That might be for the best.
She walked a couple of steps then froze when Karissa yelled out her name.
“Don’t even think about it,” Karissa warned. “One drink, then you can go. Whatever Savage said to scare you off, ignore him. Or I’ll come and drag you back in here myself.”
Slowly, she turned, looking at the women standing in the open doorway, Glitch slightly behind her.
She wanted to argue, but something in their expressions made her step forward.
Maybe it was the worry that Karissa would actually drag her back.
Messing with a former mercenary was not on her list of things to do today.
She followed the women inside, flinching at the blast of noise that hit her.
The music blared, the bass pumping vibrations through the floor, and the smell of cigar smoke and beer filled her nose.
Loud bursts of merriment and sharp feminine laughter could be vaguely heard as she pushed through people and followed Karissa and Glitch to the bar.
“Tom!” Karissa yelled. Tom barely turned from pouring a beer, sliding a drink across the bar toward them. Karissa held up her beer in thanks, grabbed the glass, and thrust it into Naomi’s hand.
Naomi stared at it.
“Rum and Coke,” Glitch yelled. “Light so we don’t knock you out.”
Naomi gave her a smile of thanks and took a sip. It slid down her throat smoothly. She would have to nurse it, or she would be on the floor. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a drink. When she was seventeen, maybe?
Diego and her father never allowed her to have anything but a clear mind. They couldn’t risk her saying anything they didn’t want said.
Suddenly, the music cut out, and everyone turned when a sharp whistle filled the room. A smile tugged at her lips when she saw Razor standing there, a giant grin on his face and a beer in his hand. “A toast to Fury, Esme, Gabe, and Jett!”
A loud cheer filled the room, and Naomi lifted her own glass.
“Who’s next?” someone yelled. She couldn’t make out who it was until they shouted, “Only makes sense that Rogue and Scarlett have their turn. The twins need another partner in crime!”
There was a mix of laughter and groans. She tried to peer through the crowd, but she couldn’t make out Rogue or Scarlett. Considering the second burst of laughter, she had to figure Rogue had growled about it.
The music came back on, but this time, someone kept it at a respectable volume. Her ears were grateful.
“So how are you feeling now that you’ve been here a bit and have settled in?” Glitch asked. “We haven’t scared you off, have we?”
“Not yet. Helping with Rogue’s and Ink’s books keeps me busy.
And Scarlett has been great at getting me materials to keep studying.
I mostly already know it, but it helps to have a less …
sinister way to approach basic accounting.
” She tried not to wince at the reminder of what she’d been doing most of her adult life.
The other women gave her a sympathetic look.
“Can I ask something and hope you won’t take offense?” Karissa asked.
Naomi nodded, a little nervous.
“Why did you do it? I know they forced you, but couldn’t you have lied so no one would have known? You’re wicked smart. Or even smuggled out a note?”
Naomi relaxed. That was an easy question.
“When I first started, Diego had someone else check everything I did. If I were off by even a single number or just a penny, he would have me beaten. By the time I turned nineteen, I was never wrong. Then, when I thought about smuggling out a note, I couldn’t find anyone to trust.
“Diego was smart. I think he saw I was getting desperate to get out. So he switched everyone randomly. There was never a set pattern. I could have one set of guards or staff around me one day and another the next. Sometimes, he would switch them during the same day. And no guard ever crossed me twice within two weeks of each other.”
“He had that many men at his disposal?” Glitch asked, brow arched.
“I figured out after the first couple that he was bringing in guards from other cartels or from criminal groups he owned. He couldn’t risk my escaping. He also had cameras watching every move I had in case I tried to kill myself.”
“Did you?” Karissa asked, with no judgment.
“I considered it, but other than trying to get a gun or hanging myself, there was no other way. I wasn’t allowed access to medications unless a doctor gave them to me, and each dose was monitored. Then, when I thought about actually ending it, I learned I was pregnant.”
“Damn, that must have been hard,” Glitch said, giving her bicep a comforting squeeze. “That was probably the last thing you wanted.”
Naomi tried not to let the guilt swamp her or let the tears building in the back of her throat form. “It was horrible to discover. I denied it for weeks. I refused to even discuss it when Diego tried to bring it up because he kept track of everything.” Her face flamed at that.
“I know it’s not what you would have wanted, but Asher is an amazing little boy,” Karissa said. “And that’s all you.”
“Is Diego …” Glitch lifted her brow.
Naomi flinched. “I don’t know.” She didn’t like to think about the night Asher would have been conceived. It was a memory she had worked hard to bury.
The curse of having an eidetic memory meant that while she could recall things easily, she would never be able to erase the memories she desperately wanted to forget.
The two women didn’t press, realizing that wasn’t a discussion she was ready to have yet.
Suddenly, a shoulder bumped hard into hers, and she staggered back, her drink splashing all over herself and the person who bumped into her.
“You fucking bitch!” a shrill voice screamed.
Naomi froze, and the entire room went quiet, but not before her hair was grabbed, and she was tossed to the floor.