She was wearing a grey pantsuit with a black blouse and carrying a leather satchel briefcase. Her shoes were patent leather, pointy as all hell and about four inches high. God only knew how she walked in them. Her hair hung down her back and had a kink in it like she had just released it from a hair tie.
She was six years older than me, so we hadn’t been in school together, but we hung out when she came to the clubhouse with her parents.
“Waverley. How long has it been?”
“Just over five years,” I told her.
“I never thought you would go anywhere without that band of misfits following behind you.”
“How come you’re here, baby?” Rosa interrupted.
“Can’t I come see my mom?”
“At four on a Sunday afternoon, dressed like that? Don’t even try to pretend this is about me.”
“Well, yeah, but I would never be here and not come see my beautiful mama,” she smiled, and Rosa beamed back at her.
I smiled at the two of them. I’d always envied their relationship and given what I now knew about my mother, even if she stuck around, I wouldn’t have had this kind of relationship with her.
“I was going through a few things with War actually,” she glanced at me. “We just got finished up before they went out on a ride.”
I gave a sardonic laugh. So, it was okay for him to up and leave the compound, but the little female couldn’t go anywhere without a guard watching her.
“Rosa, can I stay at the house or is there anywhere else I can stay while I’m here?”
When I explained King had me sleeping in the clubhouse, she was aghast. And I hadn’t even told her about being in the room next to Hudson.
Both she and Cassie were in hysterics when I relayed what had happened this morning. Rosa told us the girl who got kicked out had cut up her feet and had a head injury but was mostly okay and willingly left.
“Tanya is a piece of shit,” Cassie muttered as she slipped off her shoes and grabbed another beer, clearly settling in for some girl time. “I don’t spend a lot of time at the parties, but that girl is out for one thing only. God help the fool she hooks.”
Rosa looked at me, wondering if I knew she was after Hudson. It wasn’t my business, but it was ironic Hudson ended up with a woman not so dissimilar to my mother.
“There is plenty of room here, don’t you worry. There are a few girls who are dating some guys who stay here, but it wouldn’t bother them none for you to stay. I’ll tell King, you just get your stuff and come on over. I’ll let the girls know and they’ll show you to an empty room.”
“Thanks Rosa.”
She touched a hand to my cheek. “You’re welcome sweetheart. It’s great to have you home, no matter the circumstances. You know you’ll be safe here.”
“And it’s good to have someone who isn’t trailing after biker dick to hang out with,” Cassie laughed.
I laughed with her. Rosa was right. Despite the circumstances, I would be safe. I was just concerned about how easily I fit back in. I definitely needed to speak to Declan.
Chapter 8
Sitting in our usual booth at Benson’s Diner, I ignored the server as she dropped off our food. I left it to Connor, who started flirting with her as soon as we had walked in. She barely looked legal, so I frowned at him as he winked at her before she walked off, blushing from head to foot.
“You wanna cool it with that shit?”
“Ah, I’m just having fun,” he said, picking up his soda.
“She’s sixteen,” I muttered, picking up my knife and fork to eat.
Connor laughed again and shrugged. He was my other best friend, and I loved him enough to kill for him, which I intended to do as soon as I could.
Connor changed after the Kingsmen attack. Something to do with the damage to the lobes in his brain. His filter had vanished overnight. Mostly he was jovial and fun, but occasionally, he went dark and shut us all out, those were the times when we worried the most and either War or I stayed with him, even though he yelled and lashed out about us leaving him the hell alone.
We were both terrified he would do something to himself. The doctors told us suicidal tendencies could be an issue.
