“This is nothing, Emma. This has happened a few times between us.”
“Why?”
“You know how close we are from what I’ve told you about us, sometimes we rub each other the wrong way and this is how we would settle shit.”
“Is it settled between you now? Is he going to show up here looking for you?”
“Nothing’s settled and I’m pretty sure one of my ribs are broken.”
“You should go to the hospital.”
“There’s nothing they can do apart from hand me a big ass bill. I just need to rest for a beat.”
She presses the towel back against my mouth and I think it’s to shut me up. “Is this going to be a regular thing, you fighting and showing up in this state?”
I fight to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“I’m only in this state because I fought my brother, I don’t look like this fighting anyone else.”
“Cocky much?”
“It’s the truth, babe.”
I thought hearing about Ellis and Victoria, the danger the club comes into contact with would be enough for her to run out on me, and I wonder if seeing me fight before she left is going to tip her over, but she sighs and says, “It’s going to make kissing you difficult for a few days.”
That’s my girl, I knew she was sent our way for a reason, for more than just teaching Victoria how to sign.
“There’s plenty more we can still do,” I say, cocking a brow and trying not to smirk and bust my lip open again.
“Will you tell me what’s going on with your brother before we get to the more? Why are you so angry with him?”
“Because he didn’t choose me.”
Emma
“One minute it was the two of us and in one trip everything changed. Everything I was, who I thought I was, snapped in the blink of an eye into something else, something I couldn’t figure out. We met Aspen.”
“She’s the girl Mason’s with?”
He nods and carries on. “I liked her in the beginning, she was fearless, I thought she was fucked up like us. It turned out she was the daughter of the guy giving our club problems. I didn’t trust her and anything I felt for her vanished.”
“But it didn’t for Mason?”
Shaking his head, he says, “It was like he was under a spell, the more I told him he couldn’t trust her, the more he gravitated toward her. Our whole lives we’ve always been on the same level, I could call the decisions he was going to make before he made them, the same for him with me. Then he was deciding shit without me, I didn’t know what he was thinking or planning. It scared me.”
“But it must’ve worked out if they’re together now?” I ask.
“It wasn’t only her father who was against us, he was in partnership with the local priest and sheriff, they were all a part of a drugs, prostitution, trafficking ring and after arguing with Mase, I was heading back to the clubhouse when I was pulled over by the sheriff. He arrested me on whacked out charges and once he had me in the cell, he had five of his officers beat me.”
He stops and I remember to breathe. Every time I think I’ve heard it all, more violence comes at me.
“They put me in the hospital for a few days and Mase felt guilty because he wasn’t with me at the time. He was with her. I later found out she did something to prove to me she was on our side and I bit my tongue and told Mason to stay with her when Cas wanted a couple of us to stay behind.”
I’m confused.
“You told him to stay, but you didn’t mean it?”
“Fuck no, I wanted to see what he would do without having to make his choice weighed down with guilt.”
“Myles, that’s…fucked up.”
“I know, but it is what it is.”
“You must have expected your lives would differ at some point?”
“I never thought about it.”
“You have Penelope now; life is going to be different for you just being a dad.”
“Do I have you?” he asks and I look up at him.
Does he have me?
My heart says yes, and my head doesn’t know what to think. I had to live so long living and making choices based on be rational and logical. It’s time I live following my heart.
“You have me.”
I know I have him. He makes it painfully obvious how he feels for me.
His phone chooses now to ring, and he digs it out of his pocket. He throws it down on the table, letting whoever is calling him go to voicemail.
“Who are you ignoring?”
“Pope.”
“You should go and sort it out, I’ll be here when you get back.”
He grins and then flinches when he opens the cut on his lip.
“It’s possible I’m falling in love with you.”
“You better be, because I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with you.”
“Yeah?” he pushes, leaning forward and scooting our chairs as close as they will get to one another.
I’m laid across him when I ask, “What are you plans where Hailee is concerned?”
“I haven’t got a fucking clue,” he says, sighing. “I’ll go with it when she shows up tomorrow.”
Since she showed her face yesterday it’s been bugging me what trouble she’s going to cause for Myles.
“Do you think she’ll want Penelope back? I mean, she didn’t even look at her earlier, it was like the baby wasn’t five feet from her.”
“I saw that, and no, she’s not getting her back. Mom has papers ready for her to sign giving me full custody. I’m never letting her go.”
He actually warms me when he goes caveman over Penelope. How he was with her in the beginning, not even looking her way let alone holding her and feeding her, changing her diapers, it’s nice he’s done a one-eighty and proven he’s not the asshole I was starting to think he was around her.
“I’ll see what she has to say and go forward from there. I want you to know though, that she won’t ever come between us. I’m not putting up with any bullshit from her.”
“I believe you.” Leaning up on my elbow, I’m sick of hearing his phone ring downstairs in the kitchen. “You should let your brother know you’ll talk to him tomorrow and then come back to bed.”
He leans across the bed, presses his lips to mine, wincing from the sting from his cut and climbs out of bed, having zero concerns with walking around my house as naked as the day he was born.
Lying back on the mattress, I squeal. How is it possible to feel like this for someone you would never have looked twice at a few months ago. Guys weren’t a priority to me when mom was alive, I was more concerned making sure she was comfortable and had everything she needed. Yet, meeting Myles, he makes me want to change my whole life. Set roots in this town and love him forever.
Myles
The sun is shining bright as I ride to my parents’ with Emma behind me. Fuck knows how today is going to play out, but having her with me, I know it won’t end with us ripping each other’s throats out. Or trying to again at least.
Last night with Emma was perfect, far surpassing anything I could have imagined. Touching every inch of her as she explored every inch of me. I know what path in life I’m taking now, and it’s a far distance from the previous path I was on. Looking back, I’m surprised Mase and I didn’t end up in jail or dead.
Mason’s bike isn’t out on the drive when I park outside the house when we arrive.
Good. I like that I’m first here, plus I want to see my daughter.
Walking inside, my hand is firmly clasped around Emma’s, letting my family know exactly what’s going on between us and it gives me a sense of pride as I get to show her off as mine.
In the living room, Victoria is sat on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table, holding Penny on her lap, pulling funny faces. Releasing Emma’s hand, I scoop my kid up and she gurgles away, melting my heart.
“You trying to say hello to your dad?” I ask her and it dawns on me she knows my voice, she
smiles at me and I lose my shit.
“Did she just smile at me?” I ask anyone and everyone in the room as mom walks in.
“She did, first time that I’ve seen too.”
Fuck yeah. My kid thinks I’m worth smiling at.
Over my shoulder Emma is making herself comfortable on the couch and I watch her and Tor sign to each other. It’s beautiful to witness.
I still have a lot of learning to do and now I have Emma’s entire attention, I can think of plenty of opportunities she can teach me, preferably while we’re naked and in her bed like last night.
Cuddling Penny, the light mood in the room tenses when the front door opens and Mason struts in like he’s never been away.
He clocks me first and walks over to kiss mom on the cheek. His eyes dart to Emma and then Penelope.
“I don’t want any fighting, boys,” Mom warns as we both roll our eyes. Well, Mason rolls one, the other if fully swollen closed.
“I’m here to talk, nothing else. First, I want to meet my niece,” he says, moving closer.
Emma nudges my leg with her foot when I don’t move and I relent, passing her over to him.
“She looks more like us,” he says, holding her up to get a look at her.
“Good looking then,” I grunt.
“You know it,” he says, grinning. “I’ve got to say, I was relieved when she came back yours.”
“So am I now, shit is working out.”
“Shit, you’re a dad, Myles. I can’t wait to see how she turns out, if she’s like you, you’re going to have your hands full.”
“With Emma around, I doubt it much,” I say with a shrug.
He raises his brow, and I forget he doesn’t know much, if anything about her.
“Emma, as you can guess, this is my brother, Mason. Mase, this is Emma.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she says, and he tips his head at her. “Shall we talk outside?” he asks me.
“Sure.”
He passes Penny back and in turn, I pass her over to Emma. I don’t think about it, it comes naturally to give her to her. I’m guessing she’s ready to help with the kid if she wants to be with me, it’ll be pretty difficult if she doesn’t. Nah, my angel wouldn’t do that.
Outside in the back yard, we head towards the picnic bench and sit opposite each other.
“Is there something I’m missing between you and Victoria’s tutor?”
That’s the first thing he asks?
“I’m going to marry her one day.”
There’s no point in pretending that’s not where I’m heading with her. I’ll give her the time that she wants, and then it’s happening. I’m not ever letting her go.
“It’s like that?”
Nodding, I pick at the fraying wood and ask, “Where’s Aspen?”
“She stayed in Mercy to tie up loose ends.” He reaches over the table and stops me from picking at the wood. “Talk to me, you said we were good before you left and then you don’t speak to me in over two months.”
“I’ve been busy, if you forgot already, I was dealing with Tor, she wouldn’t even entertain the first four tutors we hired and then Emma showed up, the day after that, Hailee shows up with the baby and fucks off without a word.”
“I know all that, I’m asking what our problem is.”
Sighing, I blurt it out. “You chose her, Mase. It didn’t take much for you to stay and play house with her.”
“You said you were fine about us, you told me to stay!”
“It was different when we got back, I didn’t think it would be so hard without you.”
“I get what you mean, I’ve found it hard too.”
“Sure, with Aspen there to keep you distracted.”
“Myles…I’ve missed you and it’s killed me you not picking up my fucking calls. But now you have Emma, you should understand how I feel for Aspen. Could you leave Emma now she’s in your life?”
Shrugging, I realise how fucking stupid I’ve been.
“I’m sorry, alright. I get it. I really fucking do.”
“Do you mean what you say this time?”
“You tell me, you could once upon a time. Don’t tell me you can’t read me anymore.”
Lifting his chin, I hold his stare. His face sober as we lock eyes and I can feel my brother returning to me.
“I see your truth, brother.”
“Let’s get back inside then, I want to see my kid. I plan on being a good dad.”
Together, side by side, we walk back to the house and the familiar feeling of brotherhood is returning in my heart.
“So, she’s your old lady then?” he asks, before we step through the back door.
“Yeah, sure as shit, brother, she is.”
I’ve barely made it through the hall, going in search of my girls with Mason at my back when there’s a knock at the front door.
Mom looks out the living room window and her face turns sour. Hailee must be here.
I stop by the living room door and nod once at Emma, she nods once back and I know she’s good.
Mason follows behind as I swing open the door and step outside. There’s no way she’s setting one foot in here. She lights up when she sees Mason’s back and moves closer. He backs off, making it clear not to come near him and she frowns.
“Let’s get this over with, what do you want to say?” I grunt, really not in the mood to deal with her. “You show up at the club shrieking and yelling at me, what have you got to say now your little fuckhead friends aren’t around?”
At least she looks sheepish over her behaviour yesterday. “I’m sorry, Zara was filling my head with all sorts and I snapped when I saw that woman holding her.”
“You mean his old lady?” Mason asks her and she nods.
“You don’t get to abandon her and then tell Myles who can and can’t be around her. It’s not going to work like that.”
Something in my chest tightens, my brother is back, fighting my corner and it feels so fucking good.
“You ran out of here on our kid, she was in pain, and you skipped town. Why did you even come back?” I ask her, not wanting to stray from getting this over with sharply.
“I wanted to make sure you’re looking after her properly. I want you to promise me she’ll have everything you can possibly give her.”
I can only stare at her. It’s Mason who asks the question running through my mind.
“Where are you going to be?”
Her face transforms into a huge ass grin and excitement bubbles in her.
“I’m going to L.A. I’m going to be a star.”
Snorting, Mason again voices what I’m thinking.
“Porn star?”
Her excitement dies a thousand deaths and she full on scowls at us as we burst out laughing.
“No, asshole. I have a friend who has a friend who can get me an audition for a big budget movie.”
“Big dick movie, more like. Don’t be offended, sweetheart, you’d look good on camera.”
“Yeah, it wouldn’t be anything we haven’t seen before.”
“Whatever, guys. Promise me you’ll look after her.”
“I don’t have to promise you shit, I have been looking after her. I will promise you though, if you leave her today, you won’t see her again. You won’t be showing up here every so often wanting to play mommy. You go and you never come back. I’m not fucking around, Hailee.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, and eventually nods. “Okay, as long as you don’t come after me for maintenance when I hit the big time.”
Fuck my life. How did I even find her attractive enough to stick my dick in her?
“You’re unbelievable,” Mason mutters.
“Don’t worry, your cum money is safe.”
I turn to Mase and say, “Don’t let her leave, I’ll be back in a sec.”
I rush inside and collect the papers Mom got from the solicitor. Backtracking for a pen, I head outside and thrust them at her.
Frowning,
she takes them and flips through the papers.
“What are these?”
“Sign them where indicated, and give me full custody, then you can get your ass out of here.”
She doesn’t hesitate, although she asks as she’s signing, “Shouldn’t this be done with a solicitor?”
“Just sign your name,” Mason orders her.
I cross my arms over my chest, tapping my finger on my elbow as I wait for her to finish and with every signature she scribbles, my future becomes more secure.
“What’s her name anyway?” she asks, handing me the papers.
“Penelope, you can’t have forgotten already,” I snort.
“As if, the girl you was kissing yesterday, the one holding Penelope.”
“You’ll never know, you can leave now.”
For a beat, I think she’s going to ask to see Penelope one last time, but she skitters back to her car. Bitch.
I’m happy to see her drive away this time, but there is one question I want her to answer, just for peace of mind.
“Hey, Hailee, why did you have her if you didn’t want her?”
Now she’s a safe distance from us, she smirks, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Because I was too far along when I found out I was pregnant, if I could have, I would have aborted her.”
I make it to the top step before Mason’s hand clamps down around my arm and stops me from going any further.
She climbs in her car and I make sure I watch her drive off so I’ll never forget the moment she truly dropped Penelope from her life. A moment I will never forgive her for.
Of course it makes it easier for me if she’s not around, but she was still Penelope’s mom until she signed the custody papers. After the last signature, that was it.
“Has she always been that much of a cunt?”
“Fuck knows, we were only interested in her cunt,” I snort.
“True.” We both laugh and he opens the front door. “Put those papers somewhere safe, fuck knows with her, you might need them one day.”
I can’t see her showing her face around here again. Or I really fucking hope she doesn’t.
“What did she have to say?” Mom asks but all I can see is Emma sitting with Penelope.
Their Fractured Souls: Sons Of Lost Soul MC Book Six Page 23