“I didn’t know that,” I said in surprise.
“Oh, yeah. It was a big clusterfuck from what I’ve heard. Grease stepped in and protected her from some gang, and they’ve been together ever since. Us kids don’t usually get the entire stories, but we hear the bones of most of them.”
“Ya tellin’ tales?” Grease asked from somewhere behind me, making me jump.
“Of course not,” Trix said, smiling sunnily.
“You’re trouble, kid,” he told her indulgently.
“I’m the best kind of trouble,” Trix said with a sly smile.
“I didn’t need to hear that,” he murmured in disgust, making Trix laugh.
She turned back to me and smiled. “You’ll figure it out. Just takes a little time.”
Trix walked away, leaving Grease and me alone in the hallway. Jesus, the club was full of people, and not one of them chose that moment to join us?
“Whatcha gotta figure out?” Grease asked as I turned slowly to face him.
“I . . .” my words trailed off as I met his eyes and I immediately shifted my gaze to his throat. “Nothing. All of this is just a little overwhelming.”
“Ya gonna leave my son as soon as you’re safe?”
“What?” I met his eyes again in surprise. “No.”
“Good.” He nodded, leaning against the wall and pulling a cigarette out of his pocket. I stiffened, but he didn’t light it.
Rebel chose that moment to wiggle like crazy and I almost dropped to my knees in an effort to try and keep her steady.
“Here,” Grease said gruffly as he stuck the unlit cigarette between his lips and plucked Reb out of my arms. My jaw dropped as he turned and opened the door behind him and set Rebel on her feet so she could walk inside the room. “Callie’s in there,” he explained as he closed the door behind her.
My mouth snapped shut as he leaned back against the wall.
“Know ya don’t like me much—”
“I like you,” I lied quickly, making him chuckle.
He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and started rolling it over his fingers. “Nah, girl. Ya don’t. I scare ya?”
I lifted my chin, refusing to answer.
“Just means you’ve got a sense of self-preservation,” he said with a grin. “Nothin’ wrong with that.”
“I’m not scared of you,” I mumbled, glaring at him.
“Good,” his voice dropped. “Cause I’d never hurt ya. Ya know that? Don’t hurt women on principle, but you? You’re family. You’re my son’s old lady.”
“I’m—” I started to argue but he sliced his hand through the air, cutting me off.
“Will’s been outta control for a long time. Runnin’ himself ragged lookin’ for somethin’. Looks like he found it.”
I swallowed hard as he stared at me.
“I’m gonna protect that. Doesn’t matter if ya like me or not.”
“I don’t dislike you, you just scare me,” I blurted.
He grinned like he’d won. “Truth will set ya free,” he murmured.
“Oh, shut it,” I said in frustration, then snapped my mouth closed as my eyes went wide.
“See? Free already.”
I snorted in annoyance.
“You’re a good girl. You’re good for Will. Won’t take his shit, but you’ll give him a little growin’ room. He’s gonna fuck up, just stick with it, alright?”
“He’s already had his fuck up,” I retorted. “He doesn’t get any more.”
Grease choked and then laughed hard. It changed his entire face.
“Girl, life’s a series of fuck ups and clean ups. You just gotta decide that you’re in it, and then stick.” He pointed toward the closed door. “Ya think I’ve never fucked up with Callie? Shit. That woman has dealt with shit ya can’t even imagine. But once she was in, she wasn’t goin’ anywhere. Same with me. Made the decision and we stood by it.”
My throat grew tight. Was that really all I had to do? Life with Will seemed like a roller coaster. I was so afraid to trust him. Afraid that he’d leave again. He pissed me off and worried me . . . and still, I couldn’t imagine being without him anymore. I didn’t want to be without him ever again.
“I’ll try,” I said finally, clearing my throat.
“Don’t try,” Grease said seriously. “Do it. Stick. Ain’t nothin’ better than knowin’ someone’s got your back, no matter what. You give that to my boy, he’ll give it back.”
I nodded as Grease stuck the cigarette back between his lips.
“Been dyin’ for a smoke for two hours,” he mumbled with a grin. He reached out and awkwardly patted my shoulder, obviously done with his little lecture.
When he moved around me, I turned with him, watching him go. I thought about Will sleeping in his room, and the tension between his eyes that hadn’t relaxed and the way his shoulders were bunched tight around his ears.
“Hey Grease?” I called out right before he hit the archway that led into the main part of the clubhouse. “I’m worried about Will. Something’s wrong.”
Grease turned to look at me, his eyes sad. “I’ll take care of it,” he said softly around his cigarette. “Stick, Molly, yeah?”