by Lila Rose
Coyote grinned before he pulled me into a one-armed hug. “Happy for you, brother.”
“Thanks. You too.”
Who’d have guessed we’d each find the person made for us in a matter of months apart?
Talon hadn’t been in the common room when Coyote and I walked back out. I left Coyote with his old lady and walked down the hall to Talon’s office. As soon as I knocked, his gruff voice barked, “Enter.”
Opening the door, I stepped in and shut it behind me. “Hey, Prez.”
“Ruin, didn’t know you were headin’ back today.”
“Yeah, brought Mimi and Cowboy back. They’re in his room if you need to talk to him.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Thanks, but is there anythin’ new since our calls?”
“Yeah, somethin’ else happened.”
“Take a seat, brother.”
Nerves had my palms sweating as I sat opposite him at his desk. I rubbed them on my jeans. “Early this mornin’, a rival gang showed at the Takahashi place and shot out some windows to get Taro—Wolf’s attention. Wolf’s uncle planned it, as he doesn’t want Wolf to rule the house. It ended in a bloodbath, but Wolf got Mimi, Cowboy, and me out to protect us. He’s worried it’ll happen again.”
Talon leaned forward, elbows to the desk, chin to his hands. “Good of him to think of you lot. Helps Mimi is his sister. What aren’t you tellin’ me though?”
My throat thickened in fear. I swallowed. “I want to go back.”
His brows shot up. “Why?”
Heat hit my cheeks, and I cursed at my reaction. Talon wouldn’t care I was into a dude though. “There’s somethin’ between me and Wolf.”
“Somethin’?”
“He’s mine,” I stated and narrowed my eyes.
He hummed under his breath and sat back in his seat. “You and him together?”
“Sort of.” I shook my head. “Yes. Yes, we are. But… he doesn’t want to bring any trouble to the Hawks MC.”
“And there could be trouble?”
“If this mornin’ was anythin’ to go by, then yes.” He already knew about the uncle and how the family used to run things, how Taro was changing their ways.
“Brother,” Talon started as he stood and walked around the desk to sit on it in front of me. “I ain’t gonna push you to stop seein’ him. If he’s yours, then he’s yours. Whatever trouble comes, you know we can deal with it. We’ve got your back through it, and if you’re claimin’ Wolf, then we got his too. I mean, it’d be good if he stopped dealing in guns and drugs, but if he doesn’t, then we’ll just make sure the Hawks stays clean and work in the background of things, helpin’ out when we can. None of it will stop you from bein’ with him.”
“I could leave the club—”
“Shut the fuck up. That ain’t happenin’. Hawks blood runs through your veins. You’re family and always will be, no matter who you’re with. Get me?”
A weight lifted off my chest. “Yeah, I get you. Thanks, Prez.”
“All I ask is that you keep me updated on things. Call us if you need anythin’. You headin’ back today?”
“Gonna go see the family before they rock up here. Not sure how long it’ll take. Might head off today or tomorrow mornin’.”
Talon smiled. “You happy?”
I grinned. “Yeah, I fuckin’ am.”
“That’s all that matters. The rest we’ll deal with when it comes. Now, come on. I better get out there before my woman comes searchin’ for me and yells for doin’ bookwork on my day off.”
“Can’t have that.”
“Shit no.”
Christ, I was damn grateful for the club. Talon’s backing meant everything; it meant I could keep my family.
Chapter Eighteen
Ruin
At the door to my childhood home, I knocked once before opening it and stepping in, calling, “Mum? Dad?” I only ever used Dad when at home. Anywhere else, he was Stoke or brother out of respect.
“Josh?” Mum cried before she raced into the living room from the kitchen. Tears brimmed her eyes, and she pressed a hand to her mouth.
Smiling, I shook my head. I’d only been gone a month. It was like she hadn’t seen me in years. She stalked towards me, her arms opened wide just as Dad stepped into the living room from the bedroom hallway, rolling his eyes at Mum but grinning. Rayne followed him.
“Hey, Ma,” I muttered when we wrapped each other up in a hug. Her breath hiccupped, and her arms squeezed me tighter.
“Josh.” Rayne shoved Dad out of the way and ran at me. Mum pulled back in time for Rayne to barrel into me.
“Hey, kid,” I said, holding her close. “How’s school?”
“Shit,” she mumbled.
“Rayne,” Mum snapped, wiping at her eyes.
“Rayne,” Dad clipped.
“You all swear all the time.” Rayne shifted to my side to put her arm around my waist, and I placed mine around her shoulders.
“We’re adults, sis,” I told her.
“Whatever,” she grumbled.
“Good to have you home, son,” Dad said before he hauled me into a one-armed hug and pat to the back.
“Good to be back.” It was, for now, but I wasn’t sticking around for long. It blew my damn mind I’d attached myself to someone so fast, but Dad was right. When you found your one, you just knew.
Damn Taro for making me leave.
“You all right?” Dad asked.
“Yeah, good. Talk to you later about it,” I told him, which earned me a chin lift.
“We’re heading to the compound soon for a family barbeque. You’re going, right?” Mum asked.
“Was just there, caught up with the brothers.” I smiled. I didn’t say I was heading back there though, because I wasn’t sure I would.
Mum studied me a moment. “How about a coffee?”
“That’d be good.” I led Rayne into the kitchen, and we took a seat at the table with Dad while Mum busied herself making drinks.
A honk sounded out the front, and Rayne perked up. “That’ll be Nary.” She bolted from the room, and we all heard the front door being thrown wide.
“What’s Nary comin’ for?” I asked.
Mum smiled. “She said she’d pick up Rayne for the barbeque since they missed out on her sleeping over at Nary’s when Ayra was sick.”
A foot to my shin had me cursing and glaring at Dad. “What’s up with this?” He waved at my face.
The chair screeched when I pushed back to rub my shin. “What the fuck you talkin’ about, old man? You losin’ your mind?”
Dad’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “Cut the crap. Somethin’ is goin’ on.”
“Maybe it had somethin’ to do with the shit I’d just come home from, ever think of that?”
He studied me, and it felt like he was looking into my damn soul. “That ain’t it.”
I snorted. “Yeah, okay,” I deadpanned.
“Honey, did something happen?” Mum asked.
Goddamn. They weren’t going to drop it.
“Look, all I can say is that Mimi’s family is fucked up. Even on his death bed, her dad treated her like shit for not marrying an old man for a business deal. Her uncle was gonna do the same to his daughters if Wolf didn’t—”
“There.” Dad pointed at me.
I pulled my brows down. “You been smokin’ somethin’? Did Killer and Ivy pop over, and you four had another toke party—”
“That was one time,” Mum snapped, setting a steamy coffee in front of me and Dad. She glared at me before she went back for hers. “And don’t mention that in front of Rayne.”
Chuckling, I said, “I won’t.”
“Hey, hey,” Nary called from the front door.
“And then he said he wouldn’t come near me because my dad’s in the Hawks MC,” Rayne told Nary.
I looked to Dad, who smirked. “My job is done.”
“If he’s scared of Dad, he’s not worth it then. You need someone who
won’t quiver in fear around Dad. Besides, he’s a pussycat.”
“I am not,” Dad yelled. The two girls giggled.
Nary entered first. I got a slap to the back of the head, then a kiss to the temple before she moved around the table to kiss Dad on the cheek.
“Where’s Ayra?” I asked.
Nary hugged Mum and explained, “With her dad at the compound. I’m here to pick up Rayne and all her, as Saxon said, ‘crap she’ll need for just one night.’”
Rayne snorted. “Guess he won’t be playing One Piece on the Switch with me that I’m bringing.”
Nary winked at her before she looked at me. “Good to see you’re back, bro.”
“Miss me?” I asked as Rayne sat next to me.
Nary grinned. “Not in the slightest.”
“Bull.”
“How did it go in Melbourne? Did you get to see anyone from Hawks?” Nary asked.
“It was okay, and yeah, I caught up with a few.” My cock throbbed at the thought of the night I went to the pub and then what happened after in Taro’s room.
Fuck. I missed him.
How would he be around my family? I wanted to find out.
“There you go again,” Dad said.
Rolling my eyes, I picked up my mug and took a sip. I didn’t rise to the bait.
“What?” Nary asked.
Dad pointed at me. “There’s somethin’ different about your brother.”
Everyone stared at me.
Jesus Christ.
“Dad’s full of it,” I told Nary.
My sister shook her head. “No, now Dad said something, I can see it too.”
“He looks tired,” Mum added in.
“He stinks,” Rayne commented.
I snorted and grabbed Rayne in a headlock, making sure my armpit was right in her face. She squealed and swatted at me.
“Are you dating Mimi now?” Nary asked.
“Gross,” Rayne whined, wiping at her face and shoving me.
Laughing, I ruffled her hair. “You love me.”
She glared, but I caught her smile. “Apparently I have to because you’re my brother.”
“See how he’s not saying anything about him and Mimi,” Nary said.
Sighing, I took another gulp of coffee before saying, “I’m not with Mimi. She and Cowboy are hittin’ it off.”
“Cowboy?” Mum questioned.
“Yeah, I called him to come down when her dad was… in his last stages. They’d gotten close.”
“Poor Mimi,” Mum said softly.
“She’ll be all right. Better off without him.” Nary and I shared a look, probably thinking the same thing—how we were better off without our dad in our lives.
“There’s still somethin’ different,” Dad said, not letting it drop.
“Shouldn’t you guys get goin’ to the barbeque?” I asked, sucking back the last of my coffee.
Mum suddenly gasped. “You’ve met someone.”
What the fuck? Were my parents mind readers?
I chuckled, then sobered. Maybe this was a part of why Taro sent me away. To see if I’d come out to my family. To show him I wasn’t scared of having a man at my side.
“You did,” Nary exclaimed.
“Oooh, what’s her name?” Rayne asked.
“Is she someone from Mimi’s family? Does she have a sister or cousin?” Mum questioned.
“How about we let him talk?” Dad said.
Did I want to tell them? I wasn’t going to hide it, but was now a good time to inform them I was interested in a guy?
Rayne nudged me in the side. “Come on, tell us.”
“Are we going to meet her?” Nary asked.
“It’s still new,” I said, my cheeks heating. It was new, but I hoped they would meet him one day.
My gut clenched from nerves. I knew my family would accept this change, but a small part of me worried they wouldn’t fully believe me since I’d only had women in my life. Also, it was easier to accept it from outsiders, not someone in their close family.
Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face and leaned back in the seat. “But one day, yeah, you’ll meet him.”
Silence.
All of them wore puzzled expressions.
“Huh? Him?” Rayne questioned.
Nary snorted, then laughed. “Good one, bro.”
Mum and Rayne laughed as well, thinking I was joking. Only Dad sat there and stared at me. He knew I was telling the truth, and to prove it to the others, I pulled out my phone and hit a number, putting it on speaker.
“Josh,” Taro answered softly.
“Hey, quick question, are we seein’ each other?”
He paused, probably confused by my question. “Yes, why?”
“My family didn’t believe me,” I told him.
“Hang on, wait, let me get this straight…. You rode home, went to your family, and told them about me?”
“Yep. And don’t worry, Mimi’s safe at the compound with Cowboy.”
“I wasn’t worried. I knew you would get her there, but… have you lost your damn mind?” he yelled, which brought a smile to my face.
“How?”
“You don’t go away for a month, go home, and just throw this in their faces. You’re crazy! They must think I’ve corrupted you somehow.”
I chuckled. “You did.”
“Shut up. Just shut up. You’re lucky I miss you, or I would reach through the phone and throttle you.” He missed me. My damn heart soared.
The women giggled around me.
“Josh,” Taro whispered, “do you have me on speaker in front of your family?”
Shit, I thought he would have realised.
“Ah, yeah.”
He made a noise in the back of his throat, mumbled a few curse words that sounded very threatening to me, and quickly said, “I have to go.”
“Taro,” I called. I didn’t care my family was there. I needed him to know. Needed him to understand that he was on my mind. Even when he pushed me away.
“What?” he snapped.
“Miss you too.”
“Josh,” he uttered. “Talk soon, you idiot.” He quickly ended the call. We would talk soon and face to face. I’d made the wrong choice by leaving. I mean, yeah, it’d been good to see my family and to talk with Talon, but I should have stayed by his side after everything. I’d tell him that and also the fact he wouldn’t be able to push me away again as soon as I got my arse back to his side.
He was it.
He was mine.
I knew it before I left, and my certainty cemented when I rode away, leaving a part of myself behind—that part having stayed with the person who was meant for me.
Smiling softly, I glanced up and looked around at my family. The girls were grinning. Mum even had tears in her eyes. Dad wore a smirk. “So, yeah, that was Taro. He’s Mimi’s brother and runs the Takahashi family.”
Dad straightened. “Mimi’s brother? The one who gave up his men?”
I nodded. “I’ve already spoken to Talon about it.”
Dad tipped his chin up.
“Hold up.” Nary waved a hand in front of her. “Even though I think that phone call is cute, Josh, as far as I know you’ve only ever been with women. How can you switch it up like that? You can’t play with this guy’s feelings just for some—”
“Don’t,” I clipped. “I am not playin’ with his feelin’s even when it’s only been women before him.”
More staring happened.
Sighing, I rubbed at the back of my neck. “People change. Like Knife did when he knew he wouldn’t want a life without Beast in it. I appreciate you lookin’ out for Taro, Nary, but you don’t need to.”
“Honey,” Mum started. “Are you saying you feel like Knife did with this boy?”
Boy. Taro would get a kick out of Mum saying that.
“Yeah.” My face heated. “It’s still early, but… fuck, he’s mine.”
“We’ll have to meet the guy,” Dad said.
“Now?” Mum asked. I could see the disappointment in her eyes.
“This is awesome,” Rayne blurted. “Now you’re into guys, like Uncle Julian is, we can do each other’s nails and make-up, go shopping.”
“Whoa, hold your horses, kid,” I said quickly, chuckling. “It’s one guy I’m into, and there’s no way in hell we’re doin’ nails and make-up. I might go shoppin’ with you, but I’m still the same person I was before Taro came along.”
Rayne rolled her eyes. “Boring. You just shit on my BL dreams.”
“Rayne,” Dad snapped, but the grin didn’t go along with the tone.
“What’s BL?” Nary asked.
“Boys’ love. It’s like a genre in Manga.”
“Manga?” Mum asked.
Rayne groaned. “You guys are so old. Graphic novels I read about two guys getting together.”
“Are you the right age for these Manga?” Dad asked, and when Rayne looked away, we all knew she wasn’t.
“Right, until you reach sixteen, stay away from them,” Dad ordered.
“But there are ones for my age.”
“Clear it with your mother first so she can check it out before you look at any more. Where do you even find this stuff?”
“Online.”
Dad sighed. “Everythin’ is too easy to get online. I mean it, Rayne, check it with Mum. If I find out you haven’t, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“I know.”
“Now that’s cleared up. Josh, you should come back to the barbeque. I’d love to spend some time with you before you head off. Maybe go in the morning?”
“In other words, Mum’s missed you and wants you to stay for a bit longer,” Nary supplied what I’d already been thinking.
Nodding, I said, “I can leave in the mornin’.” It also gave me more time to talk to Dad and let him know what Talon had said and what had been happening in Melbourne.
One night.
I had to hold off for one night without seeing Taro. I could do it for my family since I’d been stupid enough to leave in the first place.
Chapter Nineteen