Carina narrows her eyes to tiny little slits, and I don’t look away while I speak. “She’s hurt by what you said, but she doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.” I narrow my eyes on her and continue, “You keep too much shit bottled up. You shouldn’t from your family. They need to know you.”
I feel her panic as her eyes go from narrow to wide. The way her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water should amuse me, but it doesn’t. I want to know what the hell she’s hiding behind the wallshe has up. Her head has been open to me this whole time, but there’s a part of her that’s hidden deep inside that no one can see.
“Carina, sweetheart,” Clay speaks up, getting his granddaughter’s attention.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” Inferno mutters, shakes his head, and lets out a heavy breath. “I was pissed.”
“I know you were,” Carina murmurs. “I told you it was fine, and it is.” She sighs and lays her head back against the pillow. “Yes, it hurt, but I’m fine. It’s not anything that isn’t true.” Inferno opens his mouth, but Carina shakes her head and continues, “You spoke the truth. Everyone speaks the truth in anger. Not just bullshit, and you know it.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Marina says. “In the heat of the moment, a lot of things can be said. Some of it complete and utter bullshit.”
My lip twitches at her use of bullshit. The woman isn’t one for cussing. Any time I’ve been around her, I don’t think I’ve heard her use any form of vulgar language or such. She’s a proper lady, as some would say.
“Bamba,” Carina starts, but Marina raises a hand, stopping her.
“You know I love you. You and your brother both. You’re both as stubborn as can be. Just like yourfather was. Your mother was a saint to put up with his hard-headedness. Love them both for each other. But you need to learn right now. Things don’t always go as they should. Don’t work out as we want them to. We all make mistakes. Say things we don’t mean. Say things that are hurtful. Go about running from problems rather than facing them head-on.”
“What your grandmother is telling you is that you both need to understand each other and know where the other is coming from.”
“I know exactly where Cason’s coming from. I get it and understand completely.”
I can feel the sincerity behind Carina’s words, though she’s also still hurting from them. My dragon doesn’t like it, which makes me twitchy. I shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t have even spoken up, but I couldn’t resist. The need to protect her is more overwhelming than I thought it would be.
For fuck’s sake, I hadn’t even wanted to bond with her. I was fine being on my own.
Settling in, I listen to the family talk, work through issues, and hug. I see the tears spill down Carina’s cheeks, but don’t say anything. It’s not my business. Only I can’t seem to stay away from her.
As Carina’s eyes start to droop, the others leave the room. Not without talking to me first and giving me hugs. It’s strange and something I’m not used to.Sure, I’ve hugged my brothers. They’ve been there for me since I met them and joined the club.
Our club has a saying, ‘Nobody fucks with the Kings’. Well, that’s the fucking truth. We have charters all over the States with our National Charter out in California. Some clubs are filled with humans while others are filled with both humans and paranormal beings. Hell, our club’s President is the son of a Valkyrie. Fire is the son of Freya. Brimstone is the grandson of Odin, for fuck’s sakes. Flame is human, and so is Boot. Trigger and Fever are wolf shifters. Several others were also shifters, but different species.
The club is a mixture and makes things interesting. One thing we all agree on is that no one is treated differently for being different. Which is why I fucking love my club as much as I do. There’s never a dull moment within it.
Not even when we go to California for parties. The last one Fire ended up leaving early because of some shit that was going down with him. We also all found out that he’s got a twin brother who is also a KOA member, but with the Louisiana Charter.
It’s a big ass family, and I’m lucky enough to be a part of it.
I shake my thoughts off as everyone leaves the room and stare at the woman sleeping. She’s healed alot since I bonded with her, but it’s still gonna take some time for her legs to heal up. The best thing we’ll be able to do is get her out of here and home where she belongs.
I don’t give a fuck if she doesn’t want to go home, it’s where she’s going. No more running away. She can be pissed all she wants that she doesn’t get her way. She’ll go where she belongs, heal, and get through whatever the fuck is going on with her. Maybe with her having to spend time in her hometown, she’ll have no choice but to confront whatever the fuck has got her wanting to run away from the family that loves her.
EIGHT
CARINA
“I can’t do this anymore,”I sigh heavily, hobbling into my grandparents’ house.
It’s been three weeks since I was brought back here. Not to my grandparents’ house, but rather the clubhouse. Pyro’s set me up in his room. He comes and goes, but typically leaves me be. Actually, he doesn’t really say much to me. Asks me if I need anything, and that’s it. There’s no talking. No getting to know each other. He simply comes and goes without much said between us.
I want to be okay with this, but we’re bonded as mates, without the mating part.
Today I had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor in town, and I didn’t remind him about it. Igot Francie to take me. I can’t drive just yet, but I’m thankful my leg was good enough that they were able to take the cast off and put me in a walking boot. Thank the heavens for that because I was going insane with that thing. It was so itchy. I’m not supposed to put a lot of weight on it yet.
“What was that, sweetheart?” Bamba asks, glancing at me as I step into the kitchen. She’s at the stove stirring up what looks like her famous fire hot chili. I love her chili and could seriously use some of it right now. Sniffing the air, I can smell the cornbread in the oven. Oh yeah, I’m glad I came here instead of going back to the clubhouse.
“I can’t handle being at the clubhouse anymore. It’s driving me nuts.” I balance myself on the crutches and pull the chair out to the little kitchen table set up in front of the bay windows. It’s the same table we’ve sat at many times having quick meals. Usually, when we had the whole family at the table, it was in the dining room where we all gathered.
I flop down in the chair and sigh once again.
