“It's not safe for you here, baby. Hammer ain't around, and if I hadn't been, that asshole could have done anything to you without realizing who you were until it was too late. Don't worry he's a dead man.” The growl that rips from his throat... God, help me.
“I know,” I finally open my eyes. “But I had to come. I need to speak with you, it is so important, Jett.” Jett. Even the sound of his name has me weak at the knees.
“I guess you better come inside then.” I clutch his waist, unable to move my shaking legs. “You okay?”
I shake my head. I feel sick. I won't be sick, I never am, but I feel nauseous.
He clasps the back of my neck, bringing my head forward and kissing my forehead. Probably thinks I'm upset about Razor and his wandering hands. I'm not. Asshole wouldn't have got far. However, I let Jett pull me into his arms.
I wrap mine around his back tightly. I rest my head against his powerful chest and breathe deeply. It shouldn't feel this right to be in his arms.
“I'm all right, Jett. Honest.” I say that, but I don't seem to be able to let go of him, but he pulls away slightly with a smile on his face, winks and takes my hand, leading me inside.
Here goes. The most significant moment of my life so far. I only hope Jett agrees to what I'm about to propose. Literally.
He leads me inside where a bunch of bikers are sitting talking and laughing, drinking and being dumb. Most bikers are in my opinion.
Jett's younger sister waves at me. I wave back. That's when I notice her husband, Tank, Hammer's brother. That sounds so weird to me.
“Maria!” I spin on my high heels and laugh loudly as Avery runs at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I have no choice but to let go of Jett's hand, even though I was trying to keep hold of it.
“What are you doing here?” She asks as she pulls away from me. She looks so different, she's wearing tight jeans, and a leather jacket, which I know has the words Property Of Ghost, written on the back in white stitch work. She's so damn proud to be his wife. I can't believe how quickly she got her figure back after baby Danny's birth. That little boy is beyond cute. I love him so much, and he's already giggling at people.
This isn't the Avery I'm used to. The Avery I once knew wouldn't have been seen dead in anything that wasn't Versace or Gucci. She was spoiled by her father, the Don before my brother. When he passed away, my brother spoiled her just as he did me.
Her mother might be alive, but we don't talk about that waste of space. I guess it's not really her fault that she had a breakdown after uncle Vinny died. However, she's never had much to do with Avery since. I can't imagine what would drive a mother to walk away from her child and never look back.
Draven and I are Avery's family, Hammer and Ghost also. I guess this whole MC. Will they be mine also?
“I came to speak with Jett.”
“Jett, huh?” She eyeballs him while folding her arms around her waist.
I feel so overdressed and uncomfortable. I hardly ever feel uncomfortable, but I'm wearing nothing more than a little black dress that is so tight and short it leaves hardly anything to the imagination. No wonder Razor thought he could do what he wanted to me. I should have been a little smarter in choosing an outfit before coming here, but I didn't even think about it. The way I dress comes naturally. It's not like I dressed like this to impress anyone.
God, I'm going to be in so much trouble when my brother finds out I gave my bodyguard the slip. Again. But is it my fault that he's so dumb he can't keep track of me? He gets paid to watch me and where I go closely. Moron.
“Does Draven know you're here?”
“No. Don't say anything to him. Please.”
“I won't, but he might.” She tips her head.
I turn mine to see Hammer and his wife coming toward us, their baby in his big arms. Yes, I have a tiny little nephew, Noah, just three months old. He's beautiful, but I've never even held him. I've wanted to, but every time I so much as stroke his little head, Hammer pulls him away from me. Yeah, he doesn't like me at all, and that hurts so much. I've been nothing but polite to him, but everything out of his mouth directed toward me isn't.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” Hammer snaps as soon as he's within earshot. I bite the inside of my mouth as Willow, his wife tells him not to make a scene. I don't think I've ever felt this uncomfortable in my life.
“She's here to see me,” Jett tells him. Hammer hands the baby to Willow, who rolls her eyes, and while Hammer and Jett argue about why the hell I'd need to see him, I block them out and stand smiling at my nephew. He's such a beautiful little thing. He's going to be the image of his daddy.
“He's so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Willow smiles. “Would you like to hold him?”
“Can I?” I think the smile on my face is going to split my cheeks apart. She nods her head and places him in my arms, and something inside of me melts. This is going to be me soon. I'm going to be the one holding the baby, my baby, and for the first time since I found out a couple of days ago, things don't seem so scary.
“What the fuck are you doing?!” Before I can even blink, the baby is ripped from my arms and passed back to his mother. “Take him to Nova.” Nova is Jett and Willow's younger sister. Yes, my brother is married to Jett's sister. Hammer's brother is married to Jett's other sister, and though there is nothing wrong with that, it's somewhat confusing to me.
“I wasn't hurting him.”
“I don't want you near my son!”
“Jesus, Hammer!” Jett snaps. However, it doesn't bother my brother; he just keeps right on looking at me like I'm the devil in disguise.
“What have I ever done to you?” I'm trying to fight back the tears trying to fall from my eyes. I'm a strong woman, but this hurts like nothing ever has.
Many people hate women like me. I'm the sister of a Mafia Don
, so they automatically think I'm some evil, privileged princess. However, I'm not a bad person. I have never done anything bad in my life. I'm kind to everyone, a friend if they need one. Draven might be everything people say he is, but he raised me right. I'm a good person. I know I am.
But then why does my half-brother hate me this much?
Ignoring my question, he says, “Go home, you stupid little girl. You really think this is the kind of place you should be?”
“You really think this is the place your son should be?”
He takes a step toward me, but I hold my ground. He doesn't scare me as much as he tries. He stands with his hands across his big body. “He belongs here. You don't.”
“I'm not leaving. I'm here to talk to Jett about something.” Hammer's eyes shoot to Jett, giving him a deadly look. What the hell is that all about? Jett doesn't seem to be bothered by it, though, he rolls his eyes and pushes his hands into his jeans.
“You have nothing to speak to Jett about, and when I tell Draven you obviously gave Lorenzo the slip and came here, he'll make damn sure you can never do it again.”
“There is something I need to speak to Jett about. I wouldn't have come here for any other reason. I know you hate me, but you don't have to treat me like shit on your boot, Hammer.”
“That's where you're wrong.”
My shoulders sag. I can deal with people hating me; I'm used to it. However, this is my brother, the brother who doesn't have a problem with Draven. They talk, they have dinner together sometimes. Sure, I'm there, but he doesn't say one word to me, nor does he look at me. I don't get this.
I'm not a drama queen, and even though my brother is now dragging me through the clubhouse by my arm, and the grip he has on me may hurt and is strong enough to leave bruises, I don't make a sound. Everyone else behind him is yelling for him to stop, but I won't.
He rants on about me not coming here again, and how he'll tell Draven to keep me away if I so much as show my face at the gate again. Idiot of a man.