by Evie Harper
“I can’t remember,” she sobs. “I want to remember. I want to know who I was, who you all were.”
“Trust me, baby; you don’t want to remember your... our childhood. Leave it be. We know the truth now and that’s all that matters.”
“You have a family, Slater,” Piper says softly through her hiccupping cries.
A family. Parents, possibly siblings. Would they want to know the man I’ve become? Could they forgive all the evil things I’ve done? I feel numb from the day’s events and decide now is not the time to think about this new information.
I cup Piper’s face and explain, “I have all the family I need and apparently more than I realized.” She gives me a small smile and I kiss her softly, but deeply.
I pull back and gaze into Piper’s eyes, the same brown eyes I stared into when I was an abused little boy. The same eyes which shone light into my dark world.
“Piper or Mia, it doesn’t matter, I’m never letting you slip through my fingers again,” I powerfully pledge to her.
Piper shakes her head and whispers, “I’m lost, confused. I knew who I was an hour ago, but now...”
“You’re my girl and I’ll help you figure out the rest. I’ll tell you about who you were as a little girl, how much of a fighter you were, how loyal and caring you were.” I shrug. “A lot like who you are now.”
Piper flashes me a brilliant smile. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Slater.”
“That’s a good thing, Piper, since I’ve loved you my whole life.”
Chapter Sixteen
Family.
Slater
We drive away from the cabin and watch as the cottage begins to collapse, and become engulfed by flames. We could have taken Phillip out somewhere unknown and buried his body, except he didn’t deserve the effort. We could have left his body there for the owners to find, but I didn’t think that would be right, either.
We decided to burn the cabin to the ground with his body inside. I imagine if the owners knew someone had died in their vacation cottage they wouldn’t want to stay there any longer. Hopefully this way, they have insurance and can rebuild.
And Phillip died the way he deserved to: frightened, cowardly and shot by his own gun, his body burned. His ashes will be gone with the wind as if he never existed, the way it should be.
Piper
Slater drove us straight to the hospital to see Kelso, wanting to tell him what happened as soon as possible. Della will be told when she’s back home and well enough to handle the news.
Walking into the hospital, I catch Pacer and Mack staring at me with wondrous looks on their faces. It’s strange. To them this is remarkable, a miracle, but to me, it’s a piece of history I never missed, yet they are the most important moments of my past. I wonder if I broke through the fog, would I remember my parents? The likelihood of that ever happening is slim. I’ve tried most of my life to remember something, anything. But I’ve never gotten close enough to ever think there might be a chance at a memory. They are locked up tight. Perhaps it’s for the best; that way, I can’t miss what I can’t remember ever having.
I wait in the main waiting room while the boys talk to Kelso in the next one over while still staying close to Della’s room. I hear a bang and jump in my seat, looking around for what made that sound.
Kelso storms into the waiting room, his face hard and his fists clenched. He walks over to me and I stand, starting to back away while wondering why he’s so angry with me. But instead of anger, he scoops me in his arms into a warm, gentle hug. “Missed you, sis,” he whispers.
Tears begin to fall as I wrap my arms around Kel and hang on to him with a death grip. Family. A family that was mine all along, a family which accepts me for who I am, my stutter and all.
One after the other, the guys wrap me in strong, warm hugs.
Tears continue streaming down my face, as the moment is too much for me to handle. I’m turned into Slater’s arms and he takes me, my chest wracking sobs, crying out my pain from the constant rejection and feeling alone for so long.
“You’re not alone anymore, Piper.” I look up when I hear Mack’s voice.
Slater whispers in my ear, “Whether you were Mia or not, the moment I heard your cute-as-fuck stutter, you were mine and you were a part of this family.”
My heart can’t take anymore; it’s so close to bursting.
“The moment you beat up a guy for teasing me you became my everything, Slater,” I respond truthfully.
Slater grins and says, “Time to head home.” He kisses my forehead, unwinds his arms from around my body and takes my hand in his.
“Kel, you good here?” Kel nods and Slater continues, “We’re hitting Rex and his crew tomorrow.”
“And how are we doing this?” Pacer asks.
“By breaking his bones one by one, and if he still wants this war to continue, I have a back-up plan.”
“What’s that?” Kel asks.
Slater looks to me quickly then back to his brothers. “It’s last resort and nothing any of you need to worry about, because hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.”
Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good.
“Can we go now? I want to check on Jimmy. If he’s run, God knows if he will ever come back after this.”
They all nod and we head into Della’s room where all the guys give her a kiss on the forehead. She’s still unconscious; the doctors said she will wake when her body is ready.
I stare down at Della and in this moment, I promise to be the best sister I can be. I’m going to give her everything I know she wants in both a sister and a best friend.
***
We arrive home and find Jimmy is still here. When he wasn’t in the house, I started freaking out and screaming his name, but he came in through the back door from the shed with grease on his hands. He actually smirked at me for the first time ever. Apparently, me freaking out makes him happy.
Males! So annoying.
Slater tells me he’s taking Jimmy out to the shed to ‘talk.’
I nod and say I’m going to have a shower. A massive grin explodes on his face and he winks at me. “Good memories in that shower,” he remarks.
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile which spreads across my face. They really are good memories.
I spend a long while in the shower, trying to wash away the day and wrap my mind around all the secrets which were revealed. I wonder if Slater will try to find his family. I wonder if any of them will. After a while, I decide to get out and go in search of food. It’s dark outside so my stomach must be trying to tell me it’s dinnertime.
I hop out of the shower, dry myself with a towel and wrap it around my body. Then I walk to Slater’s room, where he told me he put my suitcase.
I open the door and gasp when I see his room illuminated with lit candles. Slater stands in the center, smiling at me. I scan the room and look at every burning candle. To my right, many sit on his chest of drawers and to my left, a heap more rest on top of his TV unit. I look back to Slater and see the flowers on his bed.
“Oh, my gosh,” I say, my voice full of surprise. “This is all so beautiful, Slater.”
I move to his bed and inspect the flowers, seeing they are pink Peonies with dirt clumps still stuck to their roots. I grin and say, “Are these the flowers that are planted in your neighbor’s front yard?”
“Were,” Slater whispers into my ear, and his deep tone instantly has shivers racing around my body.
Slater pulls the towel from my body and his eyes narrow on my chest as they fill with need. He stands behind me and places kisses along my neck and shoulders while he cups my breasts. His calloused fingers rub over my nipples until they harden, my body begging to be filled with his cock.
Slater lowers one of his hands and begins rubbing my clit, instantly causing my legs to weaken as pleasure begins to build. Out of nowhere, Slater slaps me on the ass and it stings, but it doesn’t rival the pleasure swirling through my body. He slaps m
e three more times and after each, my pussy contracts with need, the delicious sting pushing me further and further over the edge. I desperately want his cock filling me.
Slater turns me and lays me over his bed face down. He palms my ass like he always does. “Fuck, I love this ass. I have no fucking clue what it is about it, but it drives me crazy. And now with my handprints marked on each of your gorgeous, round, ass cheeks, claiming you as mine. Shit, I think this is gonna be quick.”
I spread my arms out wide, getting ready to grab a tight hold of the bed. Slater moves between my legs and enters me slowly. “Hold on tight, baby.”
I do as he says, grasping the side of the mattress. Slater keeps his promise and begins to pound into me at a punishing rate, causing our bodies to slam together. We both moan loudly at the ecstasy our bodies are experiencing.
He pulls out and thrusts back in again. “Fuck,” he groans, and the vibration from his deep voice sends pleasure soaring through me. Slater brings us to the brink of pleasure and pain and we both tip over together, screaming out our release.
Slater’s heavy body falls on mine, his hot breath fanning across my cheek. He rolls off my body, pulls me into his, and wraps his arms around me.
“Fucking heaven,” he says softly against my head.
I sigh, wrap my arms around him and kiss his chest.
After a while of lying in Slater’s bed, spent and satisfied, I decide it’s time to talk to him about my living arrangements.
“So, I’m going to have to go home soon,” I voice quietly and cautiously.
Slater jolts up in bed and pierces me with a curious stare. “Just to get your stuff, right?”
“Well, I’m not going to keep living there. I know Peter has a key, so I’ll have to find somewhere else to lease. I can’t just keep paying rent there and sleeping here, Slater. I have things I actually want of my own, actually a whole house of things which are mine, things I have worked hard to acquire for myself,” I inform.
“No,” Slater says and shakes his head. “Fuck no, you stay here. You live here now; you’re a part of this family. We can decide out of the two houses what material items are better and keep those, and then you can sell the rest.”
“That’s huge, Slater, me moving in. I’m not sure about that. Would I have my own room?” I make myself sound worried, but damn if this isn’t exactly what I would love to happen. But only if it’s truly what Slater wants, not just what he thinks I wish to happen.
Slater’s forehead creases and he grimaces at my words. “First, you’re moving in even if I have to tie you to my bed, and what the fuck would you need your own room for? This room is huge,” he says while throwing his arm out, gesturing to its size.
I giggle at his adorable confusion. “Slater, I’m all for moving into this house and getting to know my family... again.” I mutter the last part. “But moving into your room... don’t you think that’s moving us too fast?”
Slater falls back to the pillows and laughs aloud. I stay quiet, and he eventually stops and speaks. “You can have your own room.” His voice is matter-of-fact. “But,” he continues while positioning himself over my body, “your pussy is mine every night, whether it’s your bedroom or mine.”
Slater begins to kiss me along my jaw. “I will hunt you down and take what is mine. I don’t give a fuck about moving too fast, because as far as I’m concerned, we’re already nineteen years behind.” He says this while continuing to kiss softly along my jaw and positioning his body between my legs. “I don’t want to waste any more time with you, Piper, but if you want your own room, then I will make it happen. Just know it won’t stop me from claiming you every night, every morning and if you make me those cute triangle sandwiches again, probably every lunchtime, too.”
I laugh loudly at his last words and then gasp when Slater’s hard cock pushes against my entrance. I stare up into his eyes and then he slams into me. Heaven.
Piper
“Piper, I’m done arguing about this. You’re staying here until I come back for you. End. Of. Fucking. Story.”
Argh. Slater’s dropped me off at the hospital to be with Dell since he’s picking up Kelso. Brett is to stay with us while they go to face off with Rex. I want to be there; I want to meet this Rex. I understand it won’t be safe, but when have I ever been safe since Rex noticed me? I want to tell the asshole to go to hell, but Slater refuses to listen to me. We’ve been arguing all morning and all the way to the hospital.
Unfortunately, Mack and Pace were no help. I asked them to understand and all they did was laugh at me. Jerks!
I stomp over to the chair in the corner and fall into it, my arms crossed over my chest and a pout on my lips. I pretend to stare out the window while tracking Slater’s every move from the corner of my eye.
He walks over and kisses me on the forehead. I don’t move, just stay in my pissed-off stance.
“You have no idea how fucking turned on I am right now. If I had the time, I’d take you into a storage room, lift your dress, spank you and pound the fuck out of you.”
Heat explodes below and my breathing becomes erratic.
He grips my chin and tips my head up to look into his eyes. “Your beautiful ass stays here so I know it’s safe and I can look forward to pounding it later.”
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I’m too busy remembering all the times Slater has fucked me deliciously, brutally hard. My body is useless to me right now, too busy getting excited about what he will be doing to me later.
I’m a melted puddle. The man turned me into goo.
Slater grins and kisses me once more, but on the lips this time. A deep punishing kiss which speaks of what’s to come when he gets back.
Slater pulls back and turns to a once-sleeping Della, now wide-awake and smiling massively at the both of us. She surprises us, as this is the first time she’s woken since her blood transfusion two nights ago.
I jump up from my seat as Slater takes Della’s hand, kisses her head and sighs. “Missed you, Dell. You scared us. But you’re gonna be okay.”
Della nods very slowly as her eyes close then flutter open. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes. Now you just rest and get better, Dell,” Slater answers.
Her eyes slowly close again and she tries one more time to fight it, but sleep wins out when her eyes don’t reopen after a few moments.
“The doctor said she would be like this for two days as the anesthetic leaves her system,” Slater mutters to me as he stares down at his little sister.
“Please be safe today,” I whisper, suddenly feeling very foolish about my behavior earlier. Looking at Dell, I realize I’ve forgotten just how dangerous Rex is. What if this is the last time I see Slater alive?
My heart begins to beat rapidly, “Promise me you’ll come back alive to me, Slater,” I plead.
Slater turns to me with an intense look. “I promise to always do whatever it takes to come back to you.”
I nod and hug him tightly, never wanting to let him go.
“Slate,” Kel calls out from the doorway.
Slater pushes me back slightly and takes my mouth again, and this time, the kiss is slow and sweet. The differences in Slater from moment to moment are dizzying and intoxicating, but I wouldn’t want him any other way.
“Watch over our sister,” he whispers.
I press my lips together and nod.
As I watch the man who holds my heart in his bloodstained hands walk out of the room, I pray to God to keep him safe, even if he is going to do the Devil’s work. Slater’s heart is pure and good, but his spirit and fight for life is fire, blazing strong and not afraid to burn those who attack what he holds dear.
Slater
I walk out of the hospital room and leave my heart behind. It belongs with the two women I can’t live without, and I won’t take it where I’m going. Rex deserves nothing less than my complete hatred.
“Ready?” Kel asks me.
“Dell just woke up an
d she smiled,” I inform him.
Kel’s eyes widen and he goes to walk around me, but I grasp his arm. “She fell back to sleep straight away, but she’s on the mend.”
Kel pulls me into him and we slap each other’s backs, relieved our sister is going to be okay.
“Now we need to go,” I say and turn to Brett. “Anyone comes, you call me. Anything suspicious at all, you call me. You think a ninety-year-old woman is a threat? You call me. Got it?”
Brett nods. “Got it, Slate. I promise I’ll protect them with my life.”
I lift my chin to Brett, then Kel and I walk toward the exit.
“You sure about leaving Brett here?” Kel questions.
“Who do you know who’s crazy enough to go between Poison Boys and us?”
Kel laughs. “No one.”
“That’s right. I’ve seen the way he looks at Della; he’s in love with her. I believe he would die to protect her. He does it every day by giving us information. I trust him to watch over her and Piper.”
Kel nods and accepts my reasoning as we exit through the hospital doors and straight to Chevy.
Time to go to war.
Chapter Seventeen
A life for a life.
Slater
Getting into Parkland unseen would have been difficult without Brett’s help, so my brothers and I decided to make a statement and cross the borders in Chevy. She’s well known and will not go unnoticed. Doing it this way, we know Rex and his crew will be ready for us, but we’re not here to hide. We’re here to show everyone what happens when you fuck with the Portland Street Kings. We aren’t cowards and we’ll face them all, head-on.
Deep down, Rex does have honor for the streets, so if there’s anything still left inside of him, he’ll call out a brawl, one on one. Just me, him and our fists. But if he’s too far-gone and he decides to try and sacrifice us to his whole crew, we’re prepared.
Guns.
We don’t normally carry or use them until they’re used against us. It’s one thing to live by a code, but it’s another to live by the code so desperately you die by it. Life changes all the time so we change with it, and sometimes that means following new rules.