“If it’s anything like your lasagna, I’m sure it will be amazing,” Bash said as he steered the car onto the road. Charlie rolled her eyes before turning back around in her seat.
The rest of the ride passed amicably. I told them about my day with Match and asked them about what to expect at dinner.
“Mom will have tried to cook something that most likely will be burning when we walk in, or already in the trash. My dad has steaks and potatoes on backup for when she throws in the towel,” Charlie answered while Bash nodded along.
I was curious to see the family dynamic, how they all interacted with each other as a unit. I was also looking forward to spending more time with Guard and Cece. They both had been incredibly kind to me so far, but there was something about Guard that felt familiar.
The week of my attack, he stopped by on one of the days I took off work. I was surprised to see him, but he insisted on coming by to keep me company. We had a cup of coffee together and chatted aimlessly before he decided to get serious with me.
“You and I are a lot alike, Fiona. I know that may seem strange, but I recognize the spirit in you. You’re a warrior, a nomad. You had to escape to find yourself. But you did, and now you’re going to learn what it means to have a found family. It won’t be easy. You’re used to going at it alone, but once you let us in, I promise you won’t regret it.”
His words stayed with me, and I agreed that we shared a kinship. He seemed to understand the disconnect from my family and previous life, the desire and obsession I had with maintaining the one I had created for myself. Rather than that feeling scary, it was a relief. I knew that, around Guard, I didn’t have to mask my emotions or play up a situation.
He was one of the only people to validate how far I’d come, and that I was doing a good job. With Guard and his family in my life, I finally felt like I had a chance to create an existence that was all about what I wanted and needed. That there was an option for a life in which I wasn’t doomed to relive the mistakes of my parents and theirs before them.
As the car pulled into a driveway, I studied the quaint ranch house Bash and Charlie grew up in. It was painted a classic blue color and had sturdy window boxes full of flowers. The front porch was large and featured a swinging chair that looked as if it was made for curling up on with a cup of coffee to watch the sunrise.
Charlie skipped into the house before us, leaving the door open as the smells and sounds of cooking drifted out amidst chatter and laughter. Hesitating outside the door, I felt frozen. Bash was following behind me and walked around to face me when he felt me falter.
“You got this, darlin’. I promise no one is gonna bite.” Leaning in, he spoke in a lower voice, “Well, unless you ask me to?” He waggled his eyebrows, and it was enough to break the ice.
Nodding, I walked through the front door with Bash’s hand at my back, unaware that it would be the moment that changed the course of my life irrevocably.
Bash
When I got back to the clubhouse after my time with Fiona, I was wide awake. A few kisses had me hyped up and harder than I had been since I was a teen. I hated leaving her, especially when she looked so soft and tousled, her expression unguarded for once. I didn’t want to push her, though, and I didn’t trust myself around her quite yet.
I may not have known exactly what I wanted out of it, but the one thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to do anything to hurt or scare Fiona. Time, I had. Patience and self-restraint were a bit more difficult.
A party was in full swing when I walked into the clubhouse, but one look at Bull and I knew it was time to check on our guest in the paint shop. I walked in to find Theo unconscious, blooddripping down his body, pooling in a puddle under his toes, while his head lolled from side to side. Deep grooves and bloody lashes littered his body, starting on his back and wrapping around to his arms and chest.
Knowing the bullwhip was a favorite of Charlie’s, I deduced she was able to work out some of her issues on old Theo. At that point, he was nothing more than a battered hunk of meat. His breathing was labored. Every inch of his body was bleeding or bruised. All in all, it was a job well done. Scythe slunk out from the shadows and gave me a nod.
“Charlie really went at him. It was pretty impressive. I have the footage if you want to see it.” I shook my head at the bloodlust in Scythe’s voice.
“I believe you. I think everyone got their turn with him, but double-check with Reaper and Guard. Once they give the okay, cut him down and get rid of the body. I’m gonna crash for the night,” I told him.
Theo didn’t even move while we talked around him, and I left the paint shop knowing he would no longer be a threat to my sister or Fiona.
The next morning, Charlie was still asleep when I left for the garage. The weekends were busy, but I tried to only go in for paperwork, mostly keeping my work hours from Monday to Friday. I had a late lunch with the guys, then went back to my office to try to wrap up early, eager to get to Fiona. I was only mildly surprised when Charlie stalked in a little after 3 p.m.
“What are you doing with Fiona?” she asked me, hands on her hips, staring me down from across my desk. The door hadn’t even swung closed behind her before she dug in.
“You could have your pick of any woman you want. Literally, for reasons I cannot fathom, chicks will line up for a chance to date you, and you decided it was a good idea to go after the oneperson I give a shit about? Fiona is not some dumb bitch you can fuck around with, then toss aside.”
“I know that, C,” I said calmly.
“If you know that, then I repeat, WHAT the fuck are you doing?” she asked, leaning on my desk to look me straight in the eye.
“I don’t really know. I like her—really like her. I don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t want to get in the way of your friendship, but I don’t know if I can stay away. I’ve never felt this way before,” I answered honestly.
Charlie looked up in surprise before slumping into the chair behind her.
“Well, shit,” she said, and I gave her a questioning look.
“You act differently around her. I’ve noticed it, but I thought you were just being extra careful because of me. You seem lighter, though. Less stressed,” she muttered petulantly.
“Does that mean we’re okay?” I asked, pressing my luck.
