“A biker, huh?”
“Yes ma’am.”
She smiled. “Always figured you’d be a hell raiser.”
I laughed for real this time and caught Flick watching us out of the corner of my eye.
“Ben,” she shouted, “come play with your sister for a few minutes.” I looked to him, saw him huff, but when he spotted that I was watching, he lost the attitude and got on with it.
Like a raging bull, Flick stormed in my direction, but I saw she was more intent on assessing Malia who was stood behind me and her gran. The closer she got, she straightened her back, swayed her hips with a little more sass and attempted to suck in her middle, which was just ludicrous, she was slender, she’d always been a slight little thing.
“Let’s get this over with.” She looked at me, but sauntered straight past, expecting me to follow.
Normally, I wouldn’t obey, but in front of her gran and the kids I figured this wasn’t the best place for the showdown she seemed keen on. “Catch you later, you’re still my favorite.” I kissed gran again and walked off.
“Just like old times,” she chuckled back, and I had no idea what she was going on about, but I figured Flick was right, the sooner she gave me what I’d come for—Tracey’s documents—the sooner I’d be on my way.
“Come,” I barked at Malia, trying to convince myself that she’d cause less trouble if she was with me than if I left her to the mercy of Gran. Malia smiled, not in the least bit surprised at my behavior, and followed.
Flick’s mom and dad were already in his office.
“Really? Does your girlfriend need to be here, this is a family matter?”
Flick still had teeth then.
“I’ll just—”
“You’ll stay put.” She really didn’t need to, but any chance to piss Flick off was not to be missed. Even after all these years it still felt like a sport. Flick snorted and Malia smiled, not in the least bit phased. When you’d seen the things that she’d seen in life, you learned not to sweat the small stuff.
“A few years ago, Tracey asked me to be the executor of her final wishes,” Flick’s dad began. He was still an attorney and Flick had followed in his footsteps, although I had no clue whether she still did that shit after college. I saw Flick’s mouth drop open at his words, for someone so close to Tracey, she had no clue about the extent of my sister’s preparations. “I only agreed because I figured it was a job I’d never have to see through.” A sadness overwhelmed him. “Seems fate had other ideas.” He reached behind him for a large official packet and tore it open. We all stilled as his eyes scanned the first piece of paper.
“Alright, she didn’t have any possessions, but she did make things legal for the kids.” He stopped and scanned again, looked at me and then looked at his daughter.
“In the event of my death, the children, if still minors, are to remain together. Joint custody is awarded to Felicity Peters and—”
Fuck. I knew what was coming.
“Beckett Hope. In the event that one of those is deceased, sole custody is granted to the remaining survivor.”
“Flick, you can have them,” I barked, my brain fused and panicked and words flew free on autopilot.
“What?” She looked at me shell shocked and disappointed.
“Hang fire,” her dad handed me an envelope, “says you have to read this before you make a decision.”
I held the envelope with the word ‘Beck’ scrawled in her writing and the whole room went silent as I tore it open, Malia took a step back.
Beck,
You’re about to say no, I know you are. But don’t. You have to do this one thing for me.
I’ve never asked anything of you, ever. I gave you your freedom. When you went in the army, I stayed because you left me behind. You made me promises, and you didn’t keep those either. You have no idea of the hell I went through; without Flick and her parents my life would have been hell.
A hell that you were quite happy to leave me in.
When you wouldn’t come home, I respected it, hated it, but you’d escaped so why the fuck would you want to come back. I don’t know what you were doing, but I believed you when you said it was too dangerous, but so was my life with those fucking assholes who called themselves our parents. I missed out on being in your life, you missed out on mine too. When I had kids, you promised you’d be a part of their lives, you didn’t keep that promise. Now it’s time to. I took all your shit on my shoulders, and I hated you for it, but I soon realized that hate was really jealously. You got to fucking leave and live your life.
My kids need you, they’ve had no father, they need a role model, be that for them. Do not let those fucking leeches get my kids, Beck, you owe me that. But more than that, you need my kids, Beck, whatever happened during your time with the army, changed you, took you away from us. It’s time to come back to us, time for you to see normal life and my kids can give you that. Flick can give you that.
Give me this, my one wish, especially when I feel like I gave you everything, every chance, opportunity and your damn freedom. That my kids grow up surrounded by two people who can love them like they deserve to be loved. The other choice for them is back in that house, treated like slaves, beaten like you were, and me after you’d gone.
I never told you I was proud of you, my big brother who went off to save the world, and I regret that. I’m sorry you thought I hated you, I was just bitter because you got to leave, but I always looked up to you and that’s how I know you can do this.
Do it, love them, for me. Save them from the life we had.
Tx
What the fuck, Tracey?
Why the hell was I being guilt-tripped from beyond the grave? I screwed up the letter and shoved it in my pocket. Dumbstruck, trying to process it all, fast.
“Honey, it’ll be fine, you’ll cope with the kids, we’ll help.” Flick’s mom went to her and rubbed her shoulders to calm her down.
“I will, I can do this, I love those kids, I can raise them.”
I looked at her, saw the familiar fighting spirit and knew she could do it on her own, but Tracey’s last wishes weren’t for that. I’d taken enough lives, sent people to hell, and the one chance I got to balance the scales was staring me in the face. Did I want to raise two kids? No. Did I want to do it with someone who hated me? No. But the adversity of it all would just makes those scales balance quicker.
“I’m doing it.” The room stilled.
“You’re not raising those kids, you’re a biker!” she threw back, and I felt Malia step close and take my back. It was kind, but unnecessary.
“I’m their fuckin’ uncle.”
“Now. You decide to be one now!”
“I don’t have to explain to you why I’ve been outta those kids lives’.” As I finished, I heard the door creak and turned to see a mop of curls peering through before she was pulled back and Ben’s stern face appeared.
“If you don’t want us, then me and Lila will be alright on our own.” His arms were straight down by his side, his little hands clenched into fists. I recognized that spirit it was like looking in a mirror.
“Kid,” I turned to look at him, “We may not know each other yet, but we’re gonna get to know one other. I’ve got a nice house, plenty of friends and I promise you’ll be safe.”
I’d never had a conversation with a kid before, I was most definitely winging it, but surprisingly, I didn’t feel panicked. The balled-up letter in my pocket felt like it was vibrating, urging me on.
“We want to live with Aunty Flick.” His determination to have it out with me showed true Hope, spirit flowed through his veins.
“Not a problem, Aunty Flick’s coming to live with us too.”
I heard her gasp, fuck, I heard everyone gasp, apart from Malia, who it seemed was well trained in ‘expect the unexpected.’
“I think we need some more legal advice here,” Flick swallowed. “Mom, take the kids for ice cream.”
Lila started to
jump up and down. “Ice cream! Ice cream!”
When Flick’s mom had left the room, I braced for what I knew was coming. “I’m not moving in with you.”
“No? Gonna be a long commute for you to see those kids.” I turned back to her.
“I’ll contest it!”
“Contest what? That those kids have a living relative who is happy to take them on and raise them? Think the state will see that as a problem they don’t need to be involved in.” I looked at her dad, this was his opportunity to correct me, but he just stayed silent.
She leaned into me, “A living relative who is a biker.”
The door opened wider and Gran Peters shuffled in. “Felicity Peters, you take that stick outta your ass. Those kiddies need all the love in the world, and love comes in many shapes and sizes. You think Tracey didn’t know what she was asking?”
“But, Gran—”
“But Gran nothing. Seems to me the only one with the choice to make is you. Walk away from those kids and the last wishes of your best friend or suck it up and co-parent.”
“We don’t need to co-habit to co-parent.”
“Way I see it is those kids need stability, not to be shuffled back and to along the damn highway. Suck it up, girl.”
“Are you people high?” Even her dad jumped as she screeched.
“Way I see it, I got a house, a job, a support network of friends who can kick in and help, and legal rights over those kids.”
“Do you earn money drug running?”
Fuck. She was seriously asking me that shit, and I was about to ball her out over it, but Malia got there first. “Uh, now hang on, Little Miss. Judgmental.”
“You’re not in this.” Flick put her hand up in front of Mal’s face.
“Get your hand out of my face,” Malia warned.
“Girls.” Flick’s dad stepped closer to her.
“Enough!” I barked and walked over to the desk, grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and scribbled my address down. “Pack up your shit, pack up the kids’ shit and be there. If you don’t show with those kids and I have to come looking for you, I will be unhappy and let’s just say, that won’t make me a pleasant roommate.”
“Fuck you!”
Her dad had heard enough, “Felicity!” Even though he bellowed her name, she was on a roll.
“You can’t seriously support this?”
He gentled his tone. “You want to be in those kids’ lives, this is how it happens, but let me tell you, you make the wrong choice, without even trying, then you’re not the person I thought you were.”
Flick searched his eyes and then stormed past me, ice cold and angry as fuck. Her dad turned to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “You mess this up, those kids suffer. Think on that.” And then he walked off.
Malia, Gran and I were the last ones standing, but I knew Gran wasn’t going to let me off the hook so easily. “I know you’ll do the right thing by those kids, but don’t break my only grandbaby.”
“Flick can look after herself,” I snorted.
“See, deep down, I know you don’t believe that. So, if this is one of those games that you used to play back when you were kids, then think again. Doing right by those kids also involves teaching them how to be a grown up and treat women with respect.” Gran looked at Malia, also assuming that we were together. “I’ll see you soon, Beckett, and when I visit, my girl better be smiling, and not because she stuffed a toad in your shoes and liked seeing how much it ticked you off.”
After she shuffled off, I waited a few seconds to make sure the coast was clear and then walked out knowing Malia would follow. I said nothing as I climbed inside the jeep.
“Uh… Shadow, what the fuck just happened?”
“My sister always had a fucked-up sense of humor, guess she’s having the last laugh now.”
“You’re about to be a daddy to those kids.”
I sat back, the leather creaking as I faced that thought. “Uncle.”
“Whatever, you know jack shit about kids.”
“Sure I do. Oceania loves me.” I started the engine.
“My Oceania knows how to twist her Uncle Shadow around her pinky.”
“Exactly.”
What the hell had I just done?
“You can’t do that with kids, and I doubt Miss. Prickly Pants will let you.” I laughed at that, it was a great name for her, and I couldn’t wait to throw it at her and see her mood plummet.
“You have history with her.”
“She was my sister’s best friend.”
Now Malia laughed. “Your sister’s best friend hated me because she thought we were together. Did you break her heart?”
I pulled away from the drive, leaving the question unanswered while I thought about the whirlwind of the last half hour and the only thing I could think about was how I’d never felt so fucking alive. Sparring with Flick was fun, her irritation was off the charts, and now she was a full-grown woman, even prettier than the nerdy teenager she used to be, my attraction to her came barreling back.
Flick
“How long are we visiting Unca Beckett?”
Damn you, Beckett Hope!
Asshole.
“Well…”
I hadn’t exactly told the kids we were moving in with him. Partly because I woke up the day after Tracey’s funeral praying it had all been a fucked-up nightmare. Replaying it and realizing it wasn’t didn’t make it any less fucked-up.
How the hell did I tell them that we were moving to a town we’d never visited, to live with an angry biker, a virtual stranger?
Damn you, Tracey Hope!
If she was here, I’d ring her neck; this was just the kind of crazy stunt she pulled when we were kids. She’d have some mad plan, and Beckett and I would be tricked into seeing it through. I glanced to the heavens, wondering if she was listening, but as a bolt of lightening didn’t strike me down and show me a sign, I figured she wasn’t done torturing me just yet.
“We’re not visiting,” Ben muttered.
I glanced at him. “What makes you think that?”
“We have everything we own in the trunk.”
Astute. Since seeing him and Beckett in the same room, I began to dread that spending more time together might be a bad thing. Ben was already displaying signs that reminded me of a younger, moodier Beckett.
“It’s what your mom wanted, honey, and what better way to get to know your uncle.” I did my best to smile even though I wanted to take a knife and stab people randomly.
“Are you sure he wants us?”
“Of course I’m sure!” Now, I was really having to hold it my stabby mood together.
“I heard him tell you you could have us.”
“That was just shock and grief talking.”
Thankfully, he dismissed me and went back to his video game machine because I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to lie to him with convincing sincerity. See, this was the problem with kids, the world to them was black and white, when in reality, it was definitely a lot grayer. I just hadn’t had the required training, or time, to perfect the art of no nonsense that kids required and I had no fucking idea how I was going to pull this off every day while doing it in full view of someone even less qualified.
Beckett fucking Hope.
Four hours later, I turned onto the street my sat nav had directed me to. “Here we are kids.”
Lila leaned forward, nose pressed to the glass, eyes wide in wonder. Ben tried to fake nonchalance, but his curiosity won out in the end. The place took me by complete surprise too, I was expecting some skanky hole in a rough neighborhood, but the place was a two storey solid looking family home in a pretty housing development. The only sign that a biker lived here was the actual bike tucked under the carport to the side. The windows all had curtains, the lawn looked maintained, and if I had to guess, I’d say most of the woodwork and the front door had seen some fresh paint recently too.
“This doesn’t look too bad, kids.”
/> “Do you think he has swings? I want to swing. Is there a park here?” Lila had progressed from nose against the glass to bouncing in her kiddie booster seat.
“Shall we go see?”
I opened my door and climbed out, Ben followed suit and as soon as Lila was free of her confined space, she shot past me and bolted up the drive to the front door. “Lila! Wait!” On her tip toes she managed to reach the door handle, open the door and then promptly disappeared, even though I could still hear just how excited she was. “Unca Beckett! Unca Beckett! It’s me! I’m here!”
I got a wriggle on, making sure Ben was behind me and when I eventually stepped over the threshold, I found my recently acquired ward. Lila, up in Beckett’s arms, nattering at a million miles an hour, thrusting a unicorn teddy in his face. I wanted to him to appear awkward, but he didn’t, he smiled, taking it all in and even managing to nod when it was deemed his responses were required.
As soon as he saw me, his smile dropped and the chill he threw my way was sub-zero.
Asshole.
I looked around. Simple furnishings, very simple. All looked newish, and as it was basically one big living area zoned off, I was able to check most of it out with a head tilt here and there.
“Where will I sleep, Unca Beckett?”
Her put her to the ground and looked at Ben. “You coming, kiddo?” Ben shrugged, but excitement got the better of him and he followed.
“I’ll just stay here, then,” I mumbled. “Asshole.”
I could hear Lila screaming with joy. Her excitement irritated me as much as his frostiness, so I decided to start bringing in all the gear we’d brought. First were the suitcases, the kids had one each filled with clothes, and another with toys. Before we came, we did a lot of clearing out of old stuff and donated a whole heap to goodwill, I wasn’t sure how much space we’d have, and it seemed to help their excitement for the adventure. After that, I lugged in more cases of my own stuff. I’d left a lot in my apartment as it still had six months left on the lease, and I knew I was also hedging my bets, when Beckett realized that he didn’t want this for his life, I could move us all back there and be the consistent, reliable one for the kids.
Flick (The Black Sentinels MC Book 4) Page 4