Their Fractured Souls: Sons Of Lost Soul MC Book Six

by R. Hunter, Ellie

  “Cheers.”

  I listen to all their murmurs of congratulations and drown them out. I’m still wrapping my head around it myself.

  “Anyway, we’re setting off at eight am sharp, not noon and anyone who’s late will lose half their cut. This is a fucking good run for us, and it will go a long way to getting us back on track financially”

  No one disagrees with Cas and he brings up the surprise party for Tori’s birthday tomorrow night. This was mom’s bright idea and while I think it’s a bad idea, I’ve been proven wrong many times and I hope I am again now, because Tori deserves a good night to forget all the shit that’s been flung at her.

  “The kid has been through a lot and I want everyone there to show her we’re here for her if she should need us.”

  Again, no one disagrees, and he ends the meeting. Out in the bar, the first thing I notice is mom is here with the baby. Harper and Alannah are cooing over her and it pisses me off, not them cooing over her but that mom brought her here in the first place.

  Crossing the bar, I come to a stop behind them and grunt, “She shouldn’t be here around all this smoke and shit.”

  “She’s okay, Myles. I only just got here and I only came in to say I’m cooking a thank you dinner for all Emma’s help so far. I want everyone there.”

  “What time?”

  “Emma should be back by six, so let’s say seven. Hopefully your sister will drag herself out of bed to join us.”

  Pushing Tori to the side for a moment, I ask, “Where is Emma going?”

  She didn’t say anything earlier about going out. She doesn’t know anyone in town. Where the fuck could she be going?

  “She’s going to view a house in town, she’s meeting with the realtor in forty-five minutes.”

  “What’s the address?”

  “I don’t know the number, but it’s on Maple Drive.”

  Giving the baby a once over, she’s sleeping soundly in her car seat, I hightail it outside and head into town.

  I don’t know what I’m doing, but it feels right riding toward her. I see her car parked outside the last house on the street and she’s so focused on the house she doesn’t hear me coming.

  I park up behind her car and then she turns and frowns.

  “What are you doing here?” she asks as I walk over to her.

  “I’m inviting myself to see your new potential place. We wouldn’t want you moving into a dive.”

  “I was raised in a trailer, our definitions of dives might differ,” she says, smiling.

  “Mom popped into the club, told me you’d be here,” I say, not sure why.

  “It’s okay, it’ll be nice to have someone at my side in case the realtor tries anything funny.”

  The realtor decides to show up and I already don’t like the look of him, but then again, if he can sell this place to her and she rents, at least she’ll be sticking around in town for a while.

  Introductions are made and we follow him inside after he unlocks the door. I take in everything and I have to admit, it’s not bad. It’s fully furnished so she won’t have to go out and buy furniture and it’s clean. I follow quietly as the realtor gives her the tour of the place and the longer I’m here, it feels so fucking right.

  Once he’s done and we’ve circled the house twice, I ask, “Can you give us five minutes, please?”

  “Sure, I’ll wait out front.”

  Once we’re alone, I step closer to her and I’m relieved when she doesn’t back away.

  “What’s keeping you in town?” I ask first.

  “Cheap rent.”

  Bullshit, but I don’t pull her on it. I asked if we could talk tonight, but I can’t wait that long.

  “I’m going to be straight with you, whatever you’ve heard about me I’m no liar, so here goes…I like you. I like you in a way I’ve never felt before. The timing is all wrong, I know that, but all I keep thinking about is kissing you again.”

  Her lips part and my gut sinks knowing she’s going to find any reason she can to not follow this through with me.

  “Before you shoot me down, I know I affect you too. Let me prove to you I’m not living that life anymore. I’m not looking for you to be a mom to my kid, but I do want to find out where we can take us.”

  “Do you realise you’ve never called her by her name?” she points out, like she hasn’t heard a single word I’ve said.

  “Penelope. Although, I’m not sure I like it all that much.”

  “Oh? What would you have called her given the chance?”

  I think on it and then realise what she’s doing. “Good one, now answer me, will you give me a chance?”

  Pursing her lips together, her mouth hooks up in the corner and I want to kiss her smirk until I own it. She’s driving me fucking crazy.

  “Okay, but we need to slow down, if we do this, we take it at my pace.”

  “I can do slow, but I’m curious, how fast does your pace go?”

  “Well, for today, you can kiss me and then tomorrow…”

  Fuck her pace. I lean down, bending my knees slightly and claim her mouth. We’ve talked, we’ve worked our shit out, and now I’m taking what we both want. Fuck, she feels perfect. Her lips, soft and warm, parting for me to slide my tongue in and sweep it across hers. Her hands work their way up to the back of my neck and the back of my head and I need more. She’s going to kill me if her pace goes too slowly.

  I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket before it rings, and I already know I’m not answering no matter who it is. Yet, Emma pulls away, breathlessly, she smiles at me.

  “You should get that, it might be about Penelope.”

  Shit.

  I dig out my phone, my jeans too tight from being so close to her and it’s Mason. I hit ignore and put my phone away. I have no time for him right now. He found his way in Mercy being with Aspen. I’m finding my way now with the baby and Emma. If he wants to talk to me, he can drag his ass home.

  Reaching out, I pull her against me and tip her chin up so her eyes are on me.

  “Please rent this place so we can keep doing this…and more.”

  * * *

  I gave her the choice of riding back with me and picking her car up tomorrow, but she wanted to drive back herself. I’m trying not to let it smart that she doesn’t want anyone at home seeing us arrive together. I’ve barely parked up when she comes up the drive and parks beside my mom’s car.

  The wind picks up as she climbs out the car and her hair whips around her face. It doesn’t hide the blush in her cheeks, and I can’t help but smile knowing I’m the reason she’s heated.

  Since she doesn’t want to be seen together, although since my mom told me where she was and what her business was in town, I think they’ll have a pretty good idea already, I walk inside without waiting for her and shrug out of my cut and take my boots off.

  Mom wants a family night and I don’t plan on leaving the house again tonight. Hopefully by the end of the night I’ll be sneaking into Emma’s room and saying goodnight in the most personal way possible.

  “Is Emma with you? I thought I heard her car pull up,” Mom asks.

  “Yeah, she’s back. What have you got cooking, smells good?” I ask, falling onto the chair next to Grumps at the table.

  “We’ve got lasagne tonight, it’s Emma’s favourite so she says.”

  Tori walks in holding the baby and Emma follows her in. With everyone around the table and Mom dishing up, I listen to Grumps harping on about the run in a couple of days and Dad adding his opinion in at times. I’m surprised Grumps is still talking business with Emma at the table but as I look her way, she isn’t taking any notice of his conversation. She’s grinning at the baby while Tori sits her on her lap.

  “Come on now, Dad. No club business tonight,” Mom shoots off and joins us, taking her seat next to Dad.

  “Everyone, tuck in,” she says and I don’t need to be told twice.

  I help myself to a large portion of mom’s lasagne an
d opt out of the steamed vegetables. Once my plate is loaded, I’m about to dig in when Tor stands and leans over the table, passing me the baby. I take her without thinking and receive a warm smile from mom.

  Using one arm to hold her against me, I use my free hand to dig into the lasagne.

  “So, tonight, I wanted cook dinner to say thank you to Emma for everything she’s done for Victoria so far.”

  Everyone picks up the drinks, mine a beer, and raises them in the air. “Thank you, Emma,” we all chime and I enjoy her blush when she dips her head and graciously accepts.

  “We are paying her,” Grumps mutters and Mom glares at him.

  “It’s fine, honestly, I’m happy I’m helping.”

  She quickly signs what’s being said to Victoria and she actually smiles for once. I didn’t realise how much I’ve missed her smile.

  Grumps begins moving his hands and fingers and everyone goes quiet. Emma smiles softly and Victoria’s happiness spreads to everyone around the table.

  “What’s he saying?” I ask Emma.

  “He’s telling her he’s proud of her and he loves her very much.”

  One day I’ll be able to tell her the same and so much more.

  Emma

  Life is now unpredictable. With my mom, you could predict every day, from the minute we woke up to the minute we fell asleep. First I would help her to the bathroom and wash her and dress her for the day. She never left the trailer but she liked to be dressed in case anyone dropped by. They rarely did but she liked to be ready. After she was dressed, I would quickly wash and dress myself and then I’d make breakfast for us after which she would take her medications. Then she would read during the morning while I done the chores and got the groceries. Lunch would come and more pills would have to be digested. The afternoons she would sleep and I would carry on with the chores still to be done and I’d fix up dinner. In the evenings we’d settle on the couch and watch tv. We went around in circles, every single day. In Willows Peak, around the Simmons family, especially around Myles, you never know what to expect. Their lifestyle is so easy-breezy and it’s refreshing. I’m happy here and after signing the tenancy agreement after Myles called the realtor back last night, 1057 Maple Drive is mine for a minimum of twelve months.

  Victoria moves into her grandfathers place this weekend and now I have my own place, I can drive out to her in the morning and come home in the evenings. It’ll be nice to be back in my own space, but a part of me will miss being around the family, even with their troubles going on. It’ll certainly be nice to walk down in the mornings and not be met with Pope’s morning smile, which is more of a scowl.

  I found out yesterday, Kyla and the other old lady’s are secretly throwing Victoria a surprise eighteenth birthday party and apparently it’s my job today to keep her distracted. Only, she’s asked me twice already if I know anything. I eventually sign, ‘I can’t tell you.’

  Becoming fluent with her signing, she signs back, ‘I’ll tell you how I lost my hearing if you tell me what they have planned.’

  She knows I want to know what happened and she wins.

  ‘You better act surprised when the time comes.”

  Her lips curve mischievously and I tell her about the party at the club.

  She doesn’t seem surprised and sadness washes over her.

  ‘What’s wrong with a party?”

  Her hands and fingers fly smoothly through the air as she tells me her story and I’m reminded of talking with my mom having someone to sign with again.

  ‘I was around all the brothers when my hearing was stolen from me. I was leaving their clubhouse after finding someone I care about in bed with someone else. He only did it to hurt me. I wasn’t aware of what I was running out into and a gun was fired. Someone then shot back and because I was so close, the bang burst my eardrums and I haven’t heard a thing since. I’m lucky though, I could have been shot and died.’

  * * *

  Oh my god. I leap forward and collect her in my arms. That’s fucking horrible. I pull away and a tear falls down my cheek.

  * * *

  ‘I’m so sorry that happened to you!’

  * * *

  ‘One moment I was crying because I thought my heart was breaking, and then I was on the ground in the worst pain imaginable. I don’t remember much but I remember flashes of Myles and Mason at my side and then they were kicking the guys asses who were shooting their guns. My dad told me one of them still isn’t able to walk, they think he’ll have to have back surgery. My brothers are fuckers, but I trust them with my life, they were there for me and I’ll never forget.’

  * * *

  I digest the information she’s pouring out to me and then smile, not because of what happened to her, but because she just signed a whole explanation perfectly. I tell her so and she beams, forgetting all about guns and violence. It leaves me wondering just how violent Myles can be.

  * * *

  ‘I’m glad you came into my life, Emma.’ She signs and I smile. ‘Me too.’

  * * *

  For the rest of the day, we sit outside on a picnic blanket, talking with only our hands.

  I swear she looks a lot more emotionally free by the time she goes inside to start getting ready.

  I walk into the kitchen to collect my purse and Kyla is pulling a tray of cookies out the oven.

  “You’ll be there for eight, right?” she asks.

  “Of course.”

  I pick my bag up from the kitchen chair and go to leave.

  “Emma?” I stop and turn back. “When Tori moves into my dad’s place, will you start showing me how to sign more. It feels like everyone is picking it up better than I am.”

  “Sure, let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come by.”

  It’s nice and strange at the same time how comfortable I am with Kyla, she’s meant to be my employer of sorts but she’s more like someone I’ve known my whole life.

  The drive home gives me too much time to think over Myles attacking the guy in Mercy. I shouldn’t be surprised he defended his sister. I guess I already knew he was protective, I just didn’t realise how far the streak of his went.

  It’s going to be interesting the next time I see him.

  Myles

  Mom arranged for a sitter for Penelope, I turned it down. This is going to be the first party, one, I remember the next day, and two, celebrate not only Tori’s birthday but celebrate the new path I’m on. So, mom and dad are taking Penelope with them and I’m on my way to pick up Emma. I text her earlier and she hasn’t replied yet, I’m hoping she doesn’t leave before I get to hers.

  Luck is swinging my way when I ride onto her street and her car is parked on the drive. Parking by the curb, I swing my leg over and head toward the house, running my fingers through my hair.

  I’m about to knock when the door opens, and my mouth falls open. I’ve yet to see Emma in anything but jeans or shorts, tonight she’s wearing a little black dress and her hair is down and curled. Her eyes are on fire with the makeup she’s wearing and I’m, for once, speechless.

  “You okay?” she asks, when I stay frozen looking her up and down. “Are you here to pick me up?” She moves closer to me and clicks her fingers in my face. “Myles? Honestly, what’s wrong with you?”

  I find my tongue and slide my hand around her waist, pulling her flush against me.

  “You look…unbelievable.”

  There, actual words have left my mouth. She nervously chuckles and peeks up at me through her long lashes.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she murmurs and I pull away from her and take three steps back.

  We have to be at the club before mom and dad get there with Tor, I repeat it three times so it sinks in and I don’t make us late by taking her inside and rip that fucking dress off her.

  She locks up and falls in step beside me as we cut across the lawn to my bike.

  “I heard something about you today and I want to be honest with you, it shook me a
little bit.”

  My entire body tenses waiting to hear what she heard, she wouldn’t bring it up if it was nothing bugging her.

  “What did you hear?” I ask, pushing for her to speak.

  I listen to her tell me Victoria’s version of events in Mercy how she remembers it and I’m not surprised my angel is taken aback by the violence.

  “Let me just say that I have no limit on how I defend someone I love or care about. Fighting is something that comes naturally to me like breathing does for everyone. When I saw her collapsed on the ground, blood pouring from her ears and hearing her screams reach the fucking stars, I wanted them dead for hurting her. Mase and me didn’t hesitate, we jumped them and made them pay our way. We’re not the same, the club I mean, we deal with our own shit our own way. You understand?”

  She swallows before looking away from me.

  “I’m starting to,” she murmurs.

  The only solace I’m taking from this is she heard this about me this afternoon and she still left the house with me, ready to go to my sister’s party. That has to mean something, right?

  Cupping my hand around her cheek, I force her to look at me.

  “I’m not a violent man, I don’t seek violence, I don’t hurt anyone who doesn’t come for me or mine. But that’s not to say, I can’t fight or I won’t fight when I have to.”

  I keep how I enjoy it to myself, she’s learning a lot about me, and I don’t want that to be the one thing that pushes her away. Then again, with all the changes occurring in my life and not being around Mason, maybe the feeling won’t be the same anymore.

  “I get it, I really do. Let’s get to the club before Tori shows up.”

  She turns from me, but I’m not done.

  “Hey,” I say, grabbing her arm gently. “I need to know we’re good.”

  “It’s a lot to take in, Myles, but I’m still here, aren’t I,” she points out.