Part One
ChapterOne
RANEY
The polite chatter floating from Jenn’s side of the garden is in complete contrast and contradiction to the rough banter and crude jokes that come from Dad’s side. There’s even a row of chairs straight down the middle of the lawn separating them, which is where I’ve been hovering, in no man’s land.
The two opposing sides of my party are a pretty good representation of my parents and the way they live. Honestly, how these two hooked up, I’ll never know. But they did; I’m proof of them having sex at least once. And they’re living proof that opposites attracting is a genre in romance novels. Never once since they split, did I ever see these two getting back together.
Mom is no longer Mom—she’s Jenn. Our relationship has never really been one like you usually see between mothers and daughters. Not that it matters because I love both my parents. Although, I love Dad more. He’s been there for me every day since Mom walked out on the life she thought she wanted and returned to the one she was born into. Dad’s the one that showed me what family and loyalty means, and it’s got nothing to do with the DNA you share.
Jenn’s name change was her choice, much like the garden party for my birthday was too. I’m more of a grill person. Sitting around and relaxing with friends, as opposed to spending the day with people I barely know, nibbling on mini quiches and smoked salmon blinis. But we’re in Jenn’s world now, and I’m happy to be here. Except even in Jenn’s corner of the world, dad is pretty sure he rules here too.
“And now my favourite part of the day. Listening to the bullshit these cocky shits come up with about being ready to date my daughter is such a highlight. Pretty fucking weird the moment I’m not here, they start breaking the promises they just made thinking I don’t know. But, yep, here we fucking are again.” Dad talks to the crowd on his side of the garden but loud enough so it intrudes on the chatter on Jenn’s side.
“Pretty sure they think they only have to live by their rules,” Joker smirks, giving me a quick wink as he walks to stand next to Dad.
Dad nods his head, “I don’t give a shit how many tennis coaches mommy has or how much money’s in daddy’s trust, we’re talking my baby girl. Since she’smydaughter, she’s going to live bymyfucking rules.”
“King, really?” Jenn scoffs. Even without the volume, you can’t miss her discomfort. She moves farther away from us, not even attempting to hide her souring mood. Personally, I gave up being embarrassed by either of them years ago.
I don’t even bother twisting around to catch the glare they share.
“Raney, ass here now. And not one fucking word, yeah?” Dad’s voice matches the look on his face: pissed off. I get it, I do. He’s about to leave me here and return home.
Dad’s style of parenting is full black-hawk helicopter mode. He has his own small army at his beck and call too. Seriously, if I do anything wrong, the whole lot of them report to him within minutes.
It’s embarrassing. But so is the fact that we’re about to do what we do every goddamn year. Without exaggeration, it’s like Groundhog Day. Every time Dad brings me up to Jenn’s, everyone who’s anyone gets rounded up and made to listen to him lay down the rules. Even though we celebrated my twentieth birthday before we arrived, it could have been my fortieth and I’m sure we’d be doing the same.
Without causing too much of a scene, I take my spot next to Dad and twist around to glare at all my uncles standing supportively next to him. None of them would ever go against his parenting style because these assholes adopted the exact same style of raising me.
Assholes, the lot of them. Good assholes, just covered in tats, with a propensity to say fuck more often than any other word in the dictionary. They’re unapologetically loud and abrasive. They live and love hard, and ride often. And all of them emphatically worship the ground my dad walks on. My dad being Roland Grady, aka King. As in King, founding member and president of the Northern Sector for The Fallen.
I know without a doubt that everything he does is to keep me safe. Although, I’m not sure it should extend to my love life. But none of my uncles will listen to my pleas to get him to be more understanding. No one goes up against King. Especially when it comes to me.
“Every fucking year I want to have a quick bite to eat before I hit the road again. But instead, we have to listen to these little turds who want to date my daughter. Bullshit promise rings.” His voice thunders over the party, making it impossible to ignore him.
Smirking at the side of his head, I spin the three solid gold rings on my thumb, because even though Dad said no to us dating, I was allowed to keep the birthday gift from them last year. Go figure.
“Happy Birthday, Lolli,” Talon says confidently before even looking at Dad or any of the other guys who rode with us. Risky move, but Talon’s always had a point to prove. And that point is he’s strong enough to face anything my dad throws at us. And as much as I love him calling me Lolli, a private nickname to do with my sweet kisses, he also knows how much dad hates it.
“Yeah, happy birthday, Sweets. We’re very happy you’re back.” Reid follows straight after Talon’s greeting. The cockiness of his tone is as obvious as the smug look in his eyes.
Since I’ve visited last, he’s gotten taller. His attitude has grown too. Of course, I can’t help the small purr of satisfaction that bubbles from my chest. I mean, give me credit, these two are fucking gorgeous.
The noise I make is barely audible, except somehow Dad hears. A noise like a dog growling comes from behind his clenched teeth. Of course, once he does it, each of my uncles follow suit. And I realise how busted I am, so does everyone else now.
Reid stays where he is while Talon takes a step closer to me with a heated tip of his lips, I seriously think he’s going to rush in and kiss me. He flicks his chin dismissively at the noise my dad and his team keep making, but also at the encouraging nod he gets from his best friend to keep making a statement.
Talon’s always stood head and shoulders above me, but now it’s like I have to crane my neck to find his midnight blue eyes, his trademark left dimple just dimpling adorably. And shit, I really do think he is going to come over and kiss me.
A shuffle of movement behind Talon saves us all. Hayes averts everyone’s attention to him, and it diffuses the situation. He’s my third boyfriend, and my first lover. He’s also the giver of the other promise rings, and much like Talon and Reid, he’s undergone a noticeable transformation since I last saw him. His deep chocolate brown eyes are just as intense and breathtaking as always. His warm brown hair is longer now too, framing the angles of his face, amplifying how good looking he is. His presence is the most noticeable though, it’s like an intimate brush over my skin.
“What the hell…” I hiss, my fingers swiping over my lips as his presence pushes against me without him lifting a finger.
Dad turns and glares at the side of my head, oblivious to the rest of the world. And I know it’s his warning to pull myself together. I push my tongue against the roof of my mouth until it hurts, but at least it stops my mouth watering. Of course, Dad puts his back to them and faces me.
“Raney, I’m not sure about this…”
