Teller
Except for a few bumps,Grinder’s return has gone better than any of us expected. Although, due to his parole restrictions and intense relationship with Serena, we don’t see him all that often. After church, he’s usually quick to hurry away from the clubhouse.
“If I’d been without pussy for fifteen years, I’d be nailing everything with legs,” Ravage says one afternoon as Grinder’s truck tears down the driveway. “Not settling down with the first hot chick who bounced on my dick.”
“You already nail anything that moves,” Dex points out. “I think you violated a girl’s sweater at the last party.”
Rav reaches down to scratch his balls. “It was something scratchy, for sure.”
I stand and distance myself from Rav’s ball-scratching hands. “This has been…disturbing. But I have my own hot chick waiting for me.”
“A miracle.” Rav wags a finger at me. “You better get on your knees and thank that woman for putting up with you.”
“I plan to.”
Dex holds out his fist. “Catch you later.”
I tap his knuckles and say my goodbyes.
As I’m trying to escape, I bump into Rock.
“Can we talk for a second?” he asks.
My gaze strays to the ATV I was planning to ride through the woods back to my house. “Yeah, sure.”
“Let’s get away from the clubhouse.” He tips his head in the direction of his cabin.
“All right.” I follow him onto the path leading to his place. He’s quiet, which isn’t so unusual. But the air around him weighs heavy around us.
By the time we’re seated at his kitchen table, I’m ready to come out of my skin. “What’s up, Rock?”
“Where we at with the DNA testing?” he asks. “Are we going in for a second round or not?”
Fuck. Right.One of my brilliant stalling tactics when we got the news was telling Rock I wanted to take another DNA test before we revealed our relationship to anyone. I thought it’d buy me some time to adjust but instead I’ve thrown myself into club business and tried to ignore the looming confrontation. I open my mouth to protest my need for more time, but he steamrolls right over me.
“It’s been months. The club’s in a good place. Heidi’s done with school. Blake’s out of the hospital. Wedding’s over. They’re not on the road with Rooster and Shelby anymore. What are we waiting for now?” His solemn tone is all curiosity and fatherly concern. No hint of the stern presidential lecture I expected.
“Shit, Rock.” I run my hands through my hair, unprepared for this discussion. What’s a good excuse to give him today?
He stands and goes over to the coffee maker, measuring out enough for a full pot and adding water. “Grinder seems to think we could be brothers instead of father and son.” He tosses out the idea like it’s a softball instead of a fucking grenade.
Shock rolls down my spine. He shared our connection with Grinder? Without asking me?
“You told him?” I can’t examine the second part of what he said yet.
“He’ll keep it a secret.” He cocks his head. “You realize, at this point, more people know than don’t, right? The longer we hide this from Heidi, the more hurt it will cause when we finally tell her.” He levels another stern stare at me. “And she’ll find out eventually. One way or another. Every secret has an expiration date, and this one is perilously close.”
I fucking hate that he’s right, even if I won’t admit it. “Well, I’m not the one going around telling everyone, now, am I?”
“Wrath figured it out on his own.”
I cross my middle and index fingers together in front of my face. “You two are freakishly close.”
He shrugs. “He cares in his own way.”
“What about Z?” Because if Wrath knows, then Rock probably told Z too.
Rock turns and leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest—completely unapologetic. “He almost figured it out on his own. I told him because I was trying to help him reconcile his feelings about Lilly keeping Chance from him.”