Music, voices, laughter, screaming kids, and the sound of shuffling feet rushed over me. I smiled.
“Showtime,” I said to the boys before raising my voice over the crowd. “We’re here,” I yelled out.
“Thanks for that,” Draco said dryly as the crowd moved almost as one, turning toward us.
Rebel reached him first, smiling so wide that it was impossible not to smile with her. As Draco wrapped her in a hug, I sniffled and widened my eyes, refusing to cry. Turning away, I moved toward the bar, keeping an eye out for Kara. It was past time for her to face the damn music.
Chapter 10
Draco
Present
Whoever said you can’t go home again hadn’t been born into a family of multigenerational members of the Aces and Eights Motorcycle Club.
When I strode inside the clubhouse for the first time in four years, it took me a minute to get my bearings. It wasn’t because everything was different than I remembered it—actually, just the opposite. It was like stepping into a time warp where nothing ever changed. Small things were different, some of the tables were new and the bar stools had been replaced, but for the most part, everything was familiar—including the faces that turned to greet me.
I met Grease’s eyes from down the bar and greeted his nod with my own then watched as his eyes crinkled at the corners just before a tornado hit me in the midsection, knocking me back a step.
“I missed you,” Rebel said, leaning back to grin at me.
“Same,” I said, squeezing her tight. “You get taller?”
“No,” she replied, scoffing. “I’m still five feet two inches exactly.”
“Exactly?” I teased. “Are you sure? I think you might be off at least half an inch.”
“I’m not,” she replied seriously. “I was just measured last week and I didn’t wear shoes. Maybe it’s my shoes?”
“You’re probably right,” I said, my throat tight. “Still gorgeous as ever.”
“I’m wearing mascara,” she replied happily, batting her eyelashes at me.
“Pfft,” I said, leaning down a little. “You don’t need it.”
Reb’s smile, the joy or the relief or the welcome, something about it, made my chest tighten and for a moment, I felt myself getting choked up.
“Okay, honey,” Molly said, reaching out to rub Reb’s back. “Give everyone else a chance to say hello!”
“Fine,” Rebel replied, taking a step back.
“Hey,” I complained, winking at Reb. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
“I’ll find you in a little bit,” she replied, still smiling. “I have to help with the presents.”
“It’s good to see you, Draco,” Molly said, the sincerity in her voice making it wobble a little. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Thanks,” I replied. As they moved away, I walked further into the room. There were a lot of people waiting to see me, but I knew who I had to find first. Smiling and nodding at the back claps and words of welcome, I moved toward the couches on the far edge of the room. There, like a king and queen on their thrones, sat my great gramps and nan, waiting impatiently.
“Don’t get up,” I said as Gramps struggled to his feet.
“The day I greet my great grandson on my ass is the day they’ll put me in the ground,” he huffed, reaching out to grab both my hands. His eyes seemed cloudier than the last time I’d seen him, but his gaze was still sharp and his hands just as strong as they’d ever been. “Damn good to see ya, boyo.”
“Damn good to see you, too,” I replied, letting him pull me into a backslapping hug. I ignored how small he felt and focused on the familiar smell of him instead. “You’re so white you look like Santa.”
“Father Christmas, eh?” he said, letting me go with a grin. “I’ll take it.”
“Nan,” I said, turning to my face my great grandmother. “How you doin’, sweetheart?”
“Better now that my boy’s home,” she said, sniffling a little. She reached for my hand and I helped her to her feet. As she raised both hands to my face, I froze. “You’re still my boy?” she whispered.
“Always,” I whispered back.
“That’s what I thought,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “And still handsome as the devil.”
“You’re biased,” I said with a laugh.
“Biased, maybe,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But I’m not blind yet.”
“How’re your eyes doing?” I asked, looking her over.
She waved me off. “Good as new,” she said. “Doctors can do cataract surgery in their sleep these days.”
“Shoulda heard her complainin’,” my gramps scoffed teasingly. “Patrick, I need more tea. Patrick, it’s too warm in here, did you turn the furnace up again? Patrick, it’s too cold in here, did you turn the furnace off?”
“He’s full of shit,” Nan said with a scoff as I helped her sit back down. “Your mother came over and helped. Patrick sat on his ass the whole time.”
“Woman, that’s an outright lie,” Gramps argued.
“And when your mother wasn’t there, Nix was,” she continued, ignoring him.
“How is Uncle Nix?” I asked, crouching down to eye level.
“He’s doin’ well. I’m sure he’ll be comin’ down to check on ya soon. He couldn’t get away for Christmas.”
“Work?” I asked. My uncle was affectionately known as a workaholic, but that was the polite way of saying it.
“He’s workin’ a suicide hotline,” Gramps said, reaching over to hold Nan’s hand. “Holidays can be hard for some.”
“Then I won’t give him shit for not being here to greet me,” I joked, even though we all knew that was the last thing I’d ever do. Honestly, I would’ve been a lot more comfortable greeting almost everyone by phone and forgoing the whole welcome home party. It was just my luck that I’d gotten out right before the annual Christmas Eve gathering.
“You guys need anything to drink?” I asked, rising.
“Oh, we’re fine,” Nan replied. “Go say hello.”
“Do I have to?” I asked.
Nan just raised her eyebrows and made a shooing motion with her hand. “Come over for dinner this week, sweetheart.”
“Will do,” I agreed.
I moved back through the room, saying hello to the adults and stepping around the kids that were running wild, but part of me was poised, looking for the one person I’d missed more than all the others. The only adult I knew that hadn’t visited me in more than three years.
“You clearly had time to work out,” Tommy said with a huff as he stepped in front of me. “Jesus. You’re built like a house.”
“Good to see you, too,” I replied, laughing.
“See, this is just bullshit.” he joked. “You’ve seen my pop. You’ve seen my brother. I should be built like a house, too.”
“Poor thing,” I joked back. “I’m sure you make up for it with attitude.”
Tommy burst out laughing. “Come here, fucker.” He slapped the side of my head then pulled me in for a hug. “Good as fuck to see you on this side, brother.”
“Good to be on this side,” I replied. “Where’s your better half?”
“Probably pukin’,” he said with a shrug.
“Shit, Tommy,” I said, shaking my head. “Again?”
“What can I say?” he said with a shrug. “No, seriously. I’ve got nothin’.”
“I’m buyin’ you condoms for Christmas,” I replied.
“Cool. The kids can use them as water balloons.”
“Jesus, Hawk must be fuckin’ exhausted.”
“We’re both exhausted,” he said seriously. “But it’s a hell of a ride.”
“Better you than me,” I replied.
“Give it a year or two,” he said knowingly.
“Fuck that.”
“You seen her yet?”
“Nope.”
“You lookin’ for her?”
“I’ll see her eventually.”
> Tommy grinned. “It’s gonna be fun watching the new generation act like fuckin’ morons. I’m gonna start takin’ bets.”
He moved around me and I took a deep breath before scanning the area again. Either Kara had changed her appearance so much that I didn’t recognize her or she wasn’t there. I was betting on the latter. I’d had a sixth sense when it came to her since I was a kid—if she was around, I knew it instantly.
“Come get a beer,” Curtis said, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
I flinched, but neither of us mentioned it.
“There’s more kids,” I said as I almost tripped over a little boy with a Mohawk. That one was definitely one of Tommy’s.
“A few, yeah,” Curtis said with a laugh. “You can mostly thank Tommy for that.”
“Yeah, he said Heather’s pregnant again.”
“’Course she is,” Curtis replied. “Like clockwork. Let’s see,” he said, pausing to signal for two beers at the prospect behind the bar. “Tommy’s got little Mick, Rumi, Otto and Titus. Kara’s little brothers, Brody and Jamison. Gray’s not really a kid anymore, but Harper’s still pretty small. Who am I missing?”
“Cecilia’s,” I said, nodding my thanks to the prospect as he handed me a beer.
“Right,” Curtis said. “Olive, Meg and Forrest. You met most of ’em before you went in.”
“Yeah,” I said with a sigh, turning to lean my back against the bar. “None of ’em look the same now, though.”
“You can always tell which ones are Tommy’s—”
“The Mohawks?”
“That and the fact that they’re complete hellions that look exactly like their father,” Curtis said dryly.
“Hey,” Heather said, coming toward us. “I take exception to that. A couple of ’em look like me.” She didn’t stop until she was in my space, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. “Happy as hell to see you, kid.”
“Hey, Hawk,” I said, squeezing her back. “How you doin’?”
“Great,” she replied, her lips twitching as she pulled away. She looked at me and then Curtis. “Does everyone know?”
“We know the signs by now,” Curtis said with a laugh.
“Just once, I’d like to announce it,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
“Congratulations,” I said, smiling.
“Now see,” she said, raising her voice, “that’s what you say to an expectant mother.” She pointed at me. “You’re clearly the superior twin.”
I choked on the beer in my mouth as Curtis sputtered.
“A congratulations would be nice,” she said, raising her hands in the air as she spun in a circle. “It’s joyous motherfucking news.”
“Congratulations!” a few people throughout the room called.
“Too late,” she called back. She turned back toward me. “I missed you,” she said, smiling as she pinched my chin. “Glad to have you home.”
“I’m the superior twin,” I said to Curt as she walked away.
“I made one comment about her having a litter,” he muttered.
“And you’re still standing?” I asked in surprise.
“Tommy caught her before she could do any damage,” he replied with a chuckle.
“How ya doin’, son?” my grandpa Casper asked as he joined us at the bar. “Havin’ fun yet?”
“Can hardly contain myself,” I replied. He huffed out a laugh.
“Give it some time. You’ll settle in and the women will stop huggin’ ya.”
“It’s all good. I’m happy to see ’em.”
“Just probably not all at once,” Grandpa said dryly, glancing at me.
“It’s a lot.”
He nodded. “Well, day after Christmas, you come see me, yeah? I got a bay in the garage with your name on it.”
“He gets his name on a bay?” Curtis said in mock jealousy. “What the fuck?”
“As long as it’s nowhere near his,” I said jokingly, jerking my head toward Curt.
“Okay, everyone,” my Gran Brenna called out, standing on a chair. “Time to do presents for the kids! So get your drinks and settle in!”
The sound of children squealing with excitement filled the room.
“Brody and Jamison aren’t here yet,” one of the little boys yelled.
“I get their presents!” another one said instantly.
“No one’s getting Brody and Jay’s presents,” my Gramps said. “Ya little shits.”
“I’m gonna hit the head,” I told Curtis.
“After the kids do their thing, the adults do a white elephant,” Curtis replied. “You’ll wanna be here for that.”
“I didn’t bring anything.”
“I’m sure Mom did,” Curt replied, waving me off. “Seriously, if nothin’ else, you wanna watch. A couple years ago, someone brought a cup and jockstrap. Used.” Curt laughed. “Tommy opened it and he complained the entire damn night until he got drunk enough to put it on.”
“Lookin’ forward to it,” I said, shaking my head.
As I headed to the bathroom I let out a long breath. The day was going good. Everything was simpler than I’d thought it would be. I should’ve known that even though people here missed me, they’d give me a bit of space. I was happy to be at the club and glad to see the people I’d missed over the years. All the kids were growing up and the adults all had a few more wrinkles, but everyone was familiar. Comfortable.
“Hey, handsome,” Callie said as I met her outside the bathroom. “It’s nice to see your pretty face.”
“That’s my line,” I replied, leaning down to give her a hug. “How you been?”
“No complaints,” she said, rubbing my arm. “Glad you’re finally home.”
“Yeah, me, too,” I said, nodding.
“I’m sure you’ve heard that a thousand times today, huh?” she asked jokingly.
“Closer to a hundred,” I replied.
“Well, that’s just because it’s true. We’ve missed you around here.”
“I’ve missed everyone, too.”
“I bet,” she said, her smile fading a bit. “Listen—”
I braced for whatever she was about to say. With Kara being her granddaughter, I was a little nervous that I was going to have to ignore whatever it was.
“Asa did time,” Callie said, taking the conversation in an entirely different direction. “I know most of the boys have,” she said, gesturing toward the main room. “But Asa did real time. Like you.”
“Yeah, I know,” I replied softly.
“Well, I just wanted to remind you,” she said kindly. “Just in case—you know—you wanted to talk to someone that gets it.” She shook her head from side to side. “I know, I know, you’re men and you don’t talk about things. But still. I know it’s an adjustment and he’s there, we both are, even if you just want to come bullshit and have a beer.”
“I appreciate it,” I said softly.
“I know we don’t talk about it,” she said just as softly, tilting her head to the side. “Like it’s some sort of taboo bullshit—but I remember why you went in. And no matter if it was smart or dumb, right or wrong, I know why you did it. That’s not something our family will ever forget.”
I nodded, unsure what to say.
“Someone sticks up for one of my girls like that, they’ve got my loyalty,” she said, patting my arm. “I’ll let you pee.”
“Thanks,” I said as she moved away.
I went into the bathroom and locked the door behind me, taking a moment to just breathe. I was used to being around people. Hell, I’d been surrounded by men every minute of my life since I was just a kid—but that was so different it couldn’t even be considered in the same category. I didn’t have to watch my back in the clubhouse. I didn’t have to have eyes in the back of my head or continuously scan the room to be sure nothing was about to go down. I could relax now that I was home—though my body had other ideas. I was so fucking tense my shoulders were practically touching my ears. Tension was beginnin
g to give me a headache at the base of my skull.
“Give it a minute,” I mumbled to myself in the mirror, repeating the words Grease had said to me outside the prison when the boys had come to pick me up. Callie was sweet as hell to let me know that I could come to her or her man if I needed someone to talk to, but Grease had already let me know that far less eloquently.
After peeing and washing my hands, I splashed some water on my face and took a deep breath. I needed to get back out there before Curtis or worse, Charlie, came looking for me.
As I stepped out of the bathroom, a familiar voice was yelling over the noise.
“I’m sorry! Jay stuffed a piece of candy cane up his nose this morning and we had to detour on our way here to get it out,” Rose called out. “All is well and he now smells deliciously of peppermint.”
“It buwned,” a little voice called out in excited horror.
Taking two steps toward the archway that led to the main room, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. Damned if I’d slink back into the room with everyone watching to see how my reunion with Kara went. Not for the first time since I’d fallen asleep the night before, I cursed the fact that she’d forced us to do this with an audience.
All of it was for nothing, though, because before I could turn from the hallway into the main room, a slender form hurried around the corner and plowed right into me.
“Shit,” she said, taking a step back as she tilted her head back. “Shit,” she whispered again, her eyes widening.
I had a feeling my eyes had widened, too. I could barely believe what I was seeing. Kara, the curvy, bouncy, gorgeous, animated girl I’d left behind was standing right in front of me, but none of those things—except maybe gorgeous—could describe her any longer.
She was thin, real thin, and not in a way that was natural to her body. She’d had some baby fat when we were teenagers, but her curves had held the promise of a fucking pin-up body. That wasn’t what I was seeing. She looked dainty. Breakable.
The long hair she’d been so proud of and had fiddled with and flipped over her shoulders like it was her job was now short and pulled into a tight ponytail at the base of her neck. She wore no makeup. In fact, she hadn’t dressed up at all, even though all of the other women had. She was wearing a plain gray sweatshirt and a pair of jeans.
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