3. Chapter 2 #2
I look at all three men, all three looking at me with raised brows, and I huff, “You’re not going to like it.”
“Oh god, you’re not a stripper, are you? I can’t hack it if my sister is taking her clothes off, no, no, no,” my brother gasps with a mock terror, and I roll my eyes.
Jackass.
“I think I’d make quite a good stripper,” I retort, and all three men’s faces turn sour as some brothers look my way, hearing my words with raised brows and I roll my eyes and ask, “How about working at Gary’s Motors then?
Is that a better profession?” and the club quietens, brothers looking my way in shock.
Uh oh.
“Sweetheart, if you wanted reception work, you could have worked at the tattoo parlor or even our garage. You didn’t have to seek employment with a rival garage,” Brick says from near the bar with a furrowed brow. While his old lady smiles wide at me, and she raises a brow.
Oh yeah, Anna was also aware of my educational plans.
I swallow hard, here goes nothing.
“Actually, Brick, I’m their new mechanic.”
The room is so quiet at my admission that you can hear a pin drop. There is no word of a lie, the music has been shut off, and every eye is on me.
Suddenly my third grade play comes back to mind where having so many eyes on me made me not only physically vomit while on stage, hitting three parents in the front row but where I also knocked over the fake castle behind me after I tried to run off stage but obviously going the wrong way and ended up knocking Ms. Dewberry out in the process.
The poor woman had to have five stitches.
“Their mechanic,” my brother confirms, and I nod once, trying to ignore the feeling of puking, I reply, “I got my degree in automotive repair and technology with Grandad's help before he…” I trail my words, hating that he’s not here to hold my hand and tell the brothers to leave me alone like he used to.
I clear my throat, side eyeing his seat again, then admit, “Working with cars and bikes is all I’ve ever known, thanks to him, so yeah, I’m their mechanic, and today was a good day. ”
A woman’s laughter echoes in the room, and we all look towards the club girls as Misty sneers, “A mechanic, really, you? What couldn’t find a more feminist job role?”
Her lipstick is still smeared, the mascara smudged underneath her eyes, and her top is still wonky from when she followed Psycho out of the hallway where the brother’s officers are.
Suddenly, my anger takes hold, which isn’t good because, unfortunately, I can’t control my mouth when I get angry but add in the jealousy and heartache, yeah… .
I curl my lip at her and reply snarkily, “Like what, opening my legs for the brothers to try and trap them like you?”
Her cheeks redden as the brothers laugh, and I shake my head and look at my brother, who has a big grin on his face, and I admit, “I love what I do, and honestly, it has f–all to do with you or the club. This is my life, my choice, and it makes me happy, so get over it and say well done like a normal person.”
He nods and states, “Congratulations, little sis. I am one hundred percent behind you.” Psycho adds, “Me too, cupcake. I’m proud of you.”
I grin at him, then look at my dad, who sighs, shaking his head.
“You couldn’t want to be a ballerina, huh?” he asks, and I snort and remind him, “Dad, I have two left feet. Or are you forgetting me tripping and headbutting two girls when Mama enrolled me for it?”
He winces as he scratches his cheek and mumbles, “Yeah, I think I blocked that day out. Watching your daughter get a concussion was not on my list of things to do that day.” Viper adds, “Let’s not forget that she gets stage fright—third grade Rapunzel play anyone?”
I wince, hating that the whole brotherhood was there that day, all not knowing whether to laugh or try and save me from my horror.
The brothers all snort and laugh, some coughing to be nice enough to hide it, as Psycho’s body shakes next to me in silent laughter.
I elbow him in the ribs, making him choke on his laughter, while Dad tilts his head at me and confirms, “You’re happy?
” I nod, so he nods back and says, “Okay, then, I’m proud of you, little doll. ”
I swallow hard. I wish I could stand up and hug him, thank him for being the dad I needed and for getting me where I’m at, but he didn’t. He was too busy cheating on his old lady like every other brother in this room.
Grandad was my male role model, and he knows it.
“I’m not fucking happy!” Blade snaps making me jump and I look his way near the bar in shock, and he narrows his eyes at me and growls, “The fucking competition, you’re working for the competition instead of me, seriously?”
Double crap. I honestly didn’t think he’d want me in their garage.
Would now be the right time to tell him I signed a one-year deal?
My phone rings giving me an out, and I instantly relax.
Psycho feels it, causing his body to shake with his silent laughter again and yet again, I elbow him making him cough as I state, “Ah, look at that. That will be Raya. She’s having problems with her car, so I’ve got to go and help her out before we go clubbing. ”
Psycho freezes at my words, his laughter soon gone while my brother tenses, but I ignore both their reactions and stand. I’m not a kid anymore, and I need to see if I can find someone who can take my mind off a certain brother next to me.
I lean over and kiss Psycho's cheek first, wishing I had the guts to kiss his lips but also knowing I wouldn’t kiss him even if I did have the guts because I have no idea where his mouth has been and move.
He pouts, “I thought we were going to have ice cream. I mean, surely you don’t want to go…”
I cut him off, hating the big brotherly concern he shows instead of jealousy, and chuckle, “Next time,” before rounding the table. I boycott Dad, who looks down and kiss Venom's cheek next, who mutters, “That girl is probably using you, Ives,” but I ignore him like I always do and walk away.
I’ve known Raya since I was five years old, when some boy pushed me off the swing. She gave him a black eye, sticking up for me, and was also kicked out of school for a week for her actions. I gained a friend who was more like a sister, and Anna has ensured we stayed close all this time.
Raya also has a massive crush on Venom, something she hasn’t admitted to, but I’ve picked up on.
She refuses to make eye contact and always stutters around him, despite the glares he keeps giving her, only making his suspicions about her heighten.
In his eyes she’s a rich bitch who wants to piss off daddy so is using me to get to him.
Little does Venom know, her dad passed away when she was fifteen and that she’s also a dental assistant earning her own money, refusing to use the inheritance her dad left her, an inheritance her mother has kept quiet from her father’s side of the family who believed it should have been theirs especially after she fell in love with someone else.
After her father died, they all popped up like unwanted daises demanding his attorney who happens to now be Raya’s stepfather and the club’s attorney to give them access to his estate, trying to contest the will despite all inheritance legally belonging to her mother who sold and placed the estate funds in a trust for her daughter without her father’s family being aware of.
For years, they wanted nothing to do with him for marrying someone they saw as unfit, only for them to lose their income. Raya’s grandfather's business going bust, and her aunt and uncle have wanted her father’s money ever since, like the greedy bastards they are.
It doesn’t help they he passed away of a heart attack leaving them in debt by millions.
As far as they are aware, her father’s money got washed up in debts and finances, and that is how it will stay, meaning I can’t say anything to my brother, especially when I know Mr. and Mrs. Averie have a tie with the club, something Cale is not aware of.
I look at Psycho again as I open the door and send him a smile when he tilts his head at me with a frown, trying to ignore how my stomach tightens and I walk out ignoring Misty’s hateful gaze.
I don’t know what her problem is. Psycho always sleeps with her, and he gives her his body. Yet, for as long as I can remember, she’s had a problem with me, and honestly, it is getting old, especially when she has the guy who owns me, attention.
I allow one tear to fall as I get outside before wiping it away, and I whisper, “Why can’t he love me?” before I walk over to my car, ready to get drunk.
“I just have to make sure Raya has my phone, so I don’t drunk dial,” I mutter.
I’ll never live it down if I did.