“I see a future, Grace,” my brother says softly.
I squint up at the sky, hoping in the clouds that I see the same.
As I continue to search he describes to me what he sees in the clouds amongst the sky. “I see a home that’s for you and me. A new cool car that you can drive me to school in. I see a dog. A big one. A big fluffy dog that I’ll name Chewbacca.” A fresh wave of tears stream down my face yet I wear a smile. My heart bursts with warmth, spreading through my veins and seeping through my pores. “I see two hearts. One of them being mine and one from a very special someone else. I see a future, sis. And today is only the beginning for us.”
“I see it.” My voice is a bare whisper but I know he can hear me. I reach across the space between us and grab ahold of his hand. He interlocks his fingers with mine and squeezes. I swallow past the heavy lump in my throat. “I see our future, too.”
And I know where ever life may take me, what ever may come my way, as long as I have my little brother by my side I know that I’ll be okay.
“I love you, champ.”
“I love you, too.”
As we begin to walk back to our trailer we hear the distinct sound of the roaring engines of motorcycles that come from the end of our street. Connor pulls away from me and runs towards it.
“Be careful!” I shout after him but I know my warning has fallen on deaf ears.
The line of motorcycles stop outside of our trailer. Sticks being at the front of the line followed by Oak, Snake, Dex, Pax and then lastly Slater. Their Old Ladies, Rosa, Alice, Haven and Stella accompany them on the back. Each of them wear a cut of their own that says Property of Vipers MC on the front. On the back it says property or each of their men.
Connor runs straight to Oak.
He stands tall, straddling his bike beneath him making it look awfully small when I know per fact that it’s not.
I admire him from afar before he has the chance to see me.
His leather cut is on as usual but it’s what he has on underneath that has my mouth gone dry and my panties embarrassingly wet.
His black dress shirt pressed tightly against his skin showcases every one of his hard muscles and is unbuttoned in the front to where it exposes his tattooed chest. As if that isn’t enough he even has he sleeves rolled up to expose his tattooed forearms that I’ve discovered I have an unhealthy thing for. Black jeans that are ripped at the knees are perfectly made for him as they hug his enormous thighs. He finishes the ensemble with black steel toed boots and his signature aviator sunglasses.
The man is sex on legs.
Swinging his leg behind him he does so just in time as Connor slams into him.
I watch in a daze as he pretends to stumble backwards with his arms wrapped around the little guy.
Connor beams up at him. It swells my heart to see Oak smiling back down at him.
One day I’m going to have him smiling without the guilt that presses down on his chest. One day when he smiles he won’t feel the weight of his past.
“Grace! My college graduate!” Alice beams at me. She disengages from Snake, who lets her go begrudgingly, and closes the distance to engulf me in one of her warm embraces.
Wrapping my arms around her I feel the love she emits. Tilting my head back I see how proud she is of me. “I’m so proud of you, Grace. I can’t wait to watch my best friend walk off that stage with her degree.”
Tears press at the back of my eyes. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”
“I can,” she then continues to praise me, “you’re intelligent, beautiful, determined and kind. I would be more shocked if today wasn’t happening.”
“Alice.” My voice catches as a tear slides down my face.
“Which is why when I give you this gift you are going to be selfish for a change because you deserve it.”
Then digging in the inside pocket of her Vipers MC cut she produces a white envelope. My mind immediately goes back to Snake giving me one at Fantasy three weeks ago and inside it had money for my cap and gown and then some. It was far too generous and I felt terrible for taking it but I knew if I didn’t it would only upset Alice.
She hands me the envelope and I take it with shaky fingers.
Due to my hands being shaky I hear a clink of metal.
My heart drops out of my chest and plummets to my stomach.
