Grinch (Cerberus MC)

“Grace!” Misty squeals when she enters the room.

Grace barely manages to stand from the table before Misty wraps her in a hug. Grace’s arms go around her too, and I don’t see that same tension she’s displayed more than once when she was faced with someone touching her.

The hug lasts forever, Grace seeming just as reluctant to let go as Misty does.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Misty says, finally taking a step back and cupping Grace’s face. Her thumbs sweep under her eyes, and it nearly makes me step forward and ask Shadow’s wife to back off.

Grace hates to cry in front of people, and now that I know a little of her backstory, I realize that’s probably from having to be so strong as a child. I can’t imagine what a meth head’s reaction would be to a crying child. I don’t even want to think about what she went through when she was younger.

They whisper softly to each other, as the others in the room look away in a bid to give them a little privacy, but I can’t seem to pull my eyes from them. When Misty says she’s going to make her a plate, Shadow catches her before she can make it to the buffet-style setup on the countertop. They leave the room for a few minutes before returning.

As if needing to be close to someone she knows, Grace gets up from the table and follows Misty to the counter as Shadow takes a seat beside Kincaid.

“The clubhouse is full,” I hear Misty tell Grace. “But we have a room ready for you at our house.”

Grace’s eyes snap to mine, and I can’t presume to be able to read this woman’s thoughts. Hell, I thought she’d say yes twelve years ago, and look where that got me.

I have to look away. Even if she’s begging me to allow her into my own space, I just can’t. Fighting the attraction to her on a physical level is already nearly impossible, and as much as I hate admitting it, Aro and Ugly were right on some level. There’s something between Grace and me, and I need to snuff those embers out before they start a raging forest fire. That would be impossible if she were in my room.

I keep my eyes locked on the guys across the room, Shadow’s gaze on me as if he’s trying to determine my true feelings as I listen to Misty and Grace discuss where she’s going to be staying.

I put the shield up, masking every ounce of my emotions as I lift my fork to my mouth. Shadow grins when I realize there’s not actually any fucking food on it.

“That’s very generous of you, Ms. Bowen.”

“It’s Griggs now, but please call me Misty.”

The clarification reminds me that the last time these two saw each other, Misty was working at a school and Grace was a terrified little girl weighed down with the burden of a very terrible secret.

I guess this is the best outcome I could ask for with Grace not being in the clubhouse. It means I won’t have to tiptoe around her or avoid certain places because I can’t seem to get my shit together when she’s around.

It’s not Tennessee, but at least it’s one step closer than I had predicted.

Chapter 20

Grace

Maybe I just convinced myself that I was ready to be here in New Mexico, but I haven’t felt settled since the moment I arrived.

Putting a face to Kincaid left me in shock. I’d avoid the massive man if I were to run into him at any other place. His smile is soft and genuine, but he’s intimidating. All the men are, but even after having met Legend, Kid, and Boomer before arriving, the full effect of the Cerberus men didn’t hit me until I saw them all together.

“You seem lost in thought,” Misty says, concern on her pretty face.

We’re now at Misty’s house, Emmalyn and Khloe tagging along while their men stayed back in the kitchen at the clubhouse.

“We’re not going to ask questions, but we need you to know that we’re here and ready to listen if you want to talk,” Emmalyn says, confirming their united front.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” I confess, not knowing exactly where to start.

I know a little about Cerberus, mostly from my time being around Marines on the Navy bases I was assigned to during my eight years in the military. Countless times I heard guys telling stories and being excited on the off chance that they would eventually get an invite. Some men used that desire to work harder and be their best. Most often though, the men who spoke about their perceived imminent request to join were complete assholes. I hate that it tainted a little of my idea of what Cerberus actually was because I haven’t seen a hint of any machismo since I arrived a few hours ago.