Chapter Ten. #2
“I hope his liver rots, and Dawson dies a painful death,” Penny hissed. Rosie nudged her as the children began entering loudly. None of them was bothered by my presence apart from Jayes, who came running over.
“Falcon says we can take you to see me swim after we’ve eaten,” he announced, shot his arms in the air for victory, and dashed off again.
Guilt swamped me. Jayes had been so repressed; Dawson had controlled everything and ruled with fear.
Because Jayes hadn’t been a bully like his nephew Jed, Dawson had tried terrifying him into being a thug.
It hadn’t worked but had caused Jayes to retreat into himself.
Now seeing him here made me realise how much I’d failed Jayes.
“Don’t be hard on yourself. Most of us have a story.
Hell, Harley met Oakley as she ran away from her forced marriage.
He shoved her on the back of a bike, meringue wedding dress and veil.
My ex-husband tried to kill me and my kids by burning us alive.
Mina was a shut-in. Her own sister terrorised her and murdered several people she loved.
Over time, we beat the negative emotions because events were out of our control,” Penny said softly.
“Hell, yeah. Totally agree. Grace smacked her ex over the head with a leg of lamb and made headlines for that. Carmelle’s first husband was killed in front of her and her daughters, and then she was held hostage by a deranged asshole.
Demi was born of incest and related to the madman who kidnapped Carmelle.
Aurora-Victoria is a bona fide medium, and Rosie nearly destroyed an entire MC.
As for me, I was wrongly sent to jail for killing a friend, and my boyfriend and own family turned on me. Hi, I’m Amberlea.”
I blinked at the smiling woman. “Say what?” I finally managed.
“Oh well, we’ll catch you up this afternoon. Some of us should have books written!” Oakley quipped with a grin.
“It sounds like it,” I said weakly.
“Welcome to the nuthouse.” Oakley grinned before leaving.
Holy hell, what had Falcon brought me to?
Should I reach out to the Parks? Everyone was insane here, by the sound of it.
My eyes lit upon Jayes, who was smiling and talking to a couple of children.
My boy was happy; that was worth whatever insanity these people offered.
Falcon
I was barely holding on. I needed to hit something, but that would fuck my shoulder up more. Ice held my gaze.
“She doesn’t realise she was raped?”
“No,” I replied. “I think it’s been beaten into Myka that men have certain rights. Which is bullshit.”
Both of us had heard Myka’s story. She was such a conundrum. Initially, I believed she was weak. Something I should never have assumed. Myka had been hiding her personality while seeking an escape from her life. She must have thought her dreams had come true when she learned about the Parks.
“Think she’s going to stay?” Ice asked.
“No. Not unless we take care of Dawson and his asshole family.”
“You planning to?” Ice studied my face.
“Am I claiming Myka? That’s what you’re really asking,” I retorted.
Ice smirked. He was five years older than me, and sometimes that felt huge. Ice was creating what I wanted. It didn’t matter that I was only twenty-two. I’d grown up around people who understood what family was and set about building it.
“Yeah.”
“I am. I’ve met Myka less than a handful of times, and I wasn’t very complimentary in my thoughts about her at first. But now I understand more. I can see her personality shining, and damn it, Ice, Myka’s mine,” I admitted honestly.
“Then good luck, brother. She’s wounded and is just realising she’s got wings to flex,” he replied.
“Oh, Myka can flex them as much as she wants, as long as she comes home. After all, I’m a Falcon,” I quipped, and Ice grinned.
Myka
“There are so many children,” I muttered, watching the pool.
“Last night, we enjoyed a cookout whilst brats played. Looks like we’re repeating ourselves,” Falcon said.
“Do you do this often?”
“We try to. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we all get together. During the week we’re hit and miss. There’s usually at least half of the club around, though. We are tight-knit.”
“Falcon, you’ve no idea how lucky you are,” I whispered. He smiled.
“Let me tell you about my parents.”
Fifteen minutes later, I stared at him, stunned.
Holy hell, what a story. Ace and Artemis had been young lovers who’d been terribly wronged.
Nova and Falcon had been ripped from Artemis’s womb, and they’d all been left for dead.
Then Artemis set out on a revenge bender, intent on getting even, and it turned out they’d both been betrayed horribly. Then they’d got back together.
“Someone needs to write a book about them.”
“Yeah. Can you imagine it, their story in black and white? Nobody would accept it, but every word is true. It’s because of them and my brothers that I know what love is. It’s not mouthing words; it’s actions and turning up,” Falcon said, and I nodded.
“I completely agree. People call love many things, but it’s not like in romance films, all sunshine and rainbows.
For a while, with Dawson, I doubted love even existed, but I knew it did.
I’d just not found it. It’s being there when you’re throwing up over the toilet, it’s fetching ice cream at three in the morning, and making their favourite meals, just because.
Standing by someone’s side when things are dark and celebrating the good times,” I replied.
“Yeah, being their cheerleader when they’re full of doubts and giving them strength when they feel weak. Holding hands in the back of a truck whilst watching the stars. Refusing to go to bed mad at one another,” Falcon added.
I glanced at him shyly before nodding. He was being quite distracting.
Falcon had a swimmer’s body, lean and muscled.
He wasn’t broad like his brothers, but his muscles were defined, and his skin held a natural tan.
Falcon had told me Ace’s lineage was Native American, but Artemis was Caucasian. He was a good mix of both races.
“Falcon!” Jayes screeched, appearing.
“Guess I’m up!” Falcon chuckled and grabbed Jayes. To my horror, he threw Jayes in the pool, and my son came up, chuckling.
“He’s fine,” a guy said, and I looked up and saw a huge man sitting down. Texas. “Falcon’s been throwing him around, and Jayes loves it.”
“Jayes isn’t used to rough play.”
“He soon will be.” Texas relaxed back on a lounger. Seriously, with how cut he was, Penny was a lucky lady.
“We won’t be here long. I’m worried about Jayes getting attached to Falcon.”
“Why do you have to go?” Texas asked.
“Because of Dawson’s family. They won’t leave us alone,” I replied.
“Even if you had the protection of an MC?”
That made me think. “But I don’t.”
“What if you did?” Texas pressed.
“Honestly, I don’t know. The Beauregards are all one pizza short of a parlour.”
“What the fuck?” Texas boomed and began laughing loudly.
“What?” A brother called Hunter turned his aid to us. He was married to Thomasina Mae Blake, and even though I’d barely been allowed to leave the house, I knew of her.
Texas repeated what I’d said, and Hunter laughed too. “A pizza short of a parlour. I love that!”
“Super cool saying, I’m gonna need to remember that,” Texas agreed.
“Can I borrow that for a book?” Mina demanded, her head popping up.
“Sure.” I blushed. Why was everyone looking at me? Would they please stop?
“So, the cunt’s family’s insane enough to go up against us?” Texas asked.
I blinked at the change of subject. “I think so. They believe they’re the big bad.”
“Those assholes ain’t met us. We need that crem, pretty quickly,” Texas muttered.
What the hell did a crematorium have to do with anything? That statement was so random!
“Mommy!” Jayes yelled, and I glanced over and cheered as he began swimming.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that’s Falcon’s kid,” a tall, broad, handsome African American said. He didn’t have his cut on as he wore swim shorts.
“Klutz, it’s uncanny, isn’t it?” Texas replied, seeing my confusion and giving me a lifeline.
“Yeah. Steel’s home.”
“Steel?” I asked.
“Call my name, and I shall appear!” a gorgeous guy teased, appearing. He was dressed in well-fitting jeans, a tee, and his cut. The biker uniform.
“Congrats on the gold and silver, asshole!” Falcon called out. I winced as I saw Jayes cock his head.
Several people got up and slapped him on the back, congratulating him.
“You’re jealous because you can’t match me!” Steel taunted, and Falcon flipped him the middle finger. I tilted my head slightly; something was off with his voice.
“Dude, I’d kick your ass,” Falcon retorted, caught Jayes, turned him around, and sent him back the other way.
“That’s probably true.” Steel chuckled. He accepted more backslaps.
“Nova?” Falcon called.
“Escorted her to your grandpa. Last I saw of her, she was kicking the absolute shit out of an asshole who decided, because he had a dick, he was better than her.” It finally clicked. Steel had an English accent. How interesting.
“That’s my twin.” Falcon grinned and turned his attention back to Jayes. Steel grabbed Hunter’s beer, who kicked him in retaliation and sat at the end of my lounger.
“Hey beautiful, you have to be Mommy of Jayes!”
“Yeah, I’m Mommy,” I hesitated before answering. A growl came from the pool, and I craned my neck, wondering what was happening. Mischief lit up Steel’s eyes. Oh, he was trouble! I recognised it immediately.
“What’s a gorgeous dame like you doing in a place like this?” Steel asked, and I began laughing. From Falcon’s direction came another growl. Was Falcon playing with Jayes, or was that someone else growling? Why were they making that noise?
Texas and Steel swapped amused glances, and I knew they were up to something. The question was what?