“All the good parts came from you,” Asa murmured, kissing my neck.
I glanced over at Tommy who was whispering in Hawk’s ear, making her laugh. He’d pulled her against his side until she was tucked under his arm, and his hand was absentmindedly running through the hair on her shoulder. Both my boys were like that with their partners. Affectionate and protective in the extreme.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, tilting my head in Tommy’s direction. “I think some of your good influence stuck.”
“You think she’s gonna give us some grandkids?” Asa asked quietly.
I watched Hawk pinch Tommy’s nipple and winced, then huffed out a laugh as he puckered his lips like he was going to kiss her.
“In time, maybe,” I replied to Asa. “They’re too busy chasing each other around to add any kids to the mix.”
“Long as they get to it while I can still enjoy it,” Asa grumbled.
“The whole situation was a mess,” Amy said, pulling our attention back to the story. “She was young and scared and we didn’t have the same resources that you girls do now.”
My stomach clenched at the implication of her words.
“That had to be terrifying. What an asshole.” Brenna said quietly. She was leaning against Dragon, her head resting against his shoulder.
Poet thought about it for a moment before replying.
“Slider didn’t know any better,” he said finally. “No excuse, but there it is. Grew up surrounded by clubwhores and men who didn’t see the need to stay faithful to one woman when they had others at their disposal.”
Asa made a small sound of understanding, and I elbowed him. There were still men like that in the club. Of course there were. Men didn’t join motorcycle clubs because they were rule followers. It went against their very nature. But no one could argue that the Aces had become far more family oriented than they’d been when Poet and Slider were young. It probably had a lot to do with the woman their members hooked up with—strong ones who didn’t put up with a bunch of bullshit.
“To booze and whores,” Tommy joked, lifting what was left of his scotch in a toast.
Hawk punched him in the belly and I shook my head.
“Wait,” Lily said, looking around in confusion. “Aren’t we missing the beginning of all this? I mean, how did they actually meet?”
“I never heard that part of the story,” Amy replied with a shrug. “I don’t think it was as important as what came later.”
“Started out all fun and games,” Poet added. “Nothin’ much to tell until things went sideways.”
“She was in a difficult position,” Amy said, her eyes soft as she stared at the table in front of her.
“Her old man was a piece of shite,” Poet said, his accent more pronounced. Amy nodded and set a calming hand over his so he’d quit tapping his fingers against the table. “The man looked like a normal human on the outside, but inside he was rotten.”
“Hell,” Dragon said with a small scoff. “Could say the same of most of us.”
“There’s no comparison,” Poet replied darkly. “But Charlie took care of it.”
“I bet he saved her,” I murmured to my man, turning to kiss his neck just below where his beard began. “Like you saved me.”
Chapter 4
Charlie
Past
I was still thinking about Vera a few weeks after the blow up at my mom’s, which was total bullshit because I’d never made any damn promises to her. At least that’s what I told myself. I’d never forget the look on her face when she found me and Jess going at it, though. I’d made a huge mistake thinking that Vera wouldn’t care, but it had never even occurred to me that she’d be surprised. I’d never tried to hide my relationship with Jess and I had no goddamn idea why she’d think the other girl was my sister. I shuddered just thinking about it.
I felt like shit for the way things had ended. I’d never meant to hurt Vera, hell, I hadn’t even realized that I could hurt her. She’s seemed so mellow, like she was just hanging out with me until something better came along. I’d just assumed that she was using me to pass the time when she had to stay at her grandmother’s house. She knew I was just hanging with my ma for a while and then I’d be gone again.
Hell, half the fun of hanging with Vera had been wondering if she was into me the way I was into her.
“You pick up the package in Tacoma?” my pop asked as he strode by, smacking me lightly on the back of the head.
“Already gave it to Doc,” I replied to his back as he walked away.
My dad was the president of the Aces and Eights Motorcycle Club and I barely saw him unless we happened to pass by each other in the clubhouse. The man was busy and even if he wasn’t, he didn’t exactly give off a parental vibe. I’d lived with my mom growing up after she’d left him when I was six. She hadn’t been able to handle life in the club and my dad couldn’t imagine life outside it so they’d split. I was pretty sure she’d cried herself to sleep the day I turned eighteen and told her I was driving down to Oregon to live with the Aces.