Shaking my head, I replied, “No, no, it isn’t like that. I enjoyed watching the patching ceremony and seeing the way everyone acted like family.” I looked pointedly at Deacon. “It showed me how someone would want to be a part of this life.”
My response seemed to please the Malloy brothers. Deacon even gave Rev a knowing look, which Rev responded to by ducking his head.
After finishing what I could of my meal, I noticed an old upright piano across from us. I rose out of my chair and went over to it. “Does anyone ever play this?” My fingers were already tinkling lightly over the keys.
“Not since Jim Beam died,” Rev replied, as he joined my side.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
Rev laughed. “Jim Beam was the oldest member of the club. He literally lived and died with a bottle of Jim Beam in his hand. He could even ride one handed and drink.”
“I guess that’s how he got his road name, huh?”
“Yes. It is.” He nudged me closer to the bench. “Why don’t you play something?”
I widened my eyes as I shook my head wildly back and forth. “Oh no, I’m out of practice.”
“I’m sure you’re just being modest.”
“Ah, hell, Rev, don’t encourage her,” Bishop said behind us. When I turned around, he winked. “She’ll just end up torturing us with some of that fruity classical shit.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I countered, “Is that all you think I can play?”
“Like you know any hard rock or blues. That’s what Jim Beam always played. You’d swear sometimes you were listening to Jerry Lee Lewis.”
“Impressive. Did he also play the piano while holding a whiskey bottle?”
Bishop grinned. “Hell yeah.”
“Well, I’m afraid ol’ Jim Beam beats me on that one. But…” I pushed the piano bench aside and sat down. “Maybe I can find something that would impress even Bishop’s musical taste.”
“Bring it on,” Bishop challenged.
I hadn’t lied when I told Rev I was out of practice. It had been months since I had touched a piano. In fact, it was even before my captivity with Mendoza. But I was never one to shy away from a challenge.
My hands momentarily hovered over the keys as I closed my eyes and mentally went over the opening of the song. Within seconds, it all came flooding back to me. My fingers hit the ivories and I began pounding out the opening ofGreat Balls of Fire. It was actually a song I had wanted to learn back in the day, especially since my parents hated me to do anything that wasn’t classical or tasteful. Regardless of the fact he was a musical genius, it would be hard to argue that Jerry Lee himself was very tasteful.
As soon as the guys recognized what I was playing, a roar went up among them. I was treated to cat calls and whistles, which fueled me to play even harder. A pleasant warmth ran through me as I was mentally able to slide another piece into the puzzle that made up my former self.
I finished the song in a flourish. Strong applause stung my ears, sending a flush to my cheeks of both embarrassment and pride.
When I dared to look over my shoulder at Bishop, I found him grinning like a Chesire cat. “Damn, Uptown Girl. I’m sure as hell glad I didn’t put money on that. You would have owned my ass.”
I laughed at his summation. “Once again, I think I have to do a song just for you.”
Sweeping a hand to his chest, Bishop replied, “I’m touched.”
Although I would have loved to have known how to playUptown Girl, I had to settle for another Billy Joel classic withPiano Man. When he recognized the tune, Bishop clapped his hands in appreciation. “I need to get my lighter!” he shouted over the music.
As I laughed, I couldn’t help feeling more alive than I had in a long, long time. It was something about my converging worlds. If I was honest with myself, I probably felt more alive among Rev and his brothers than I ever had back in my old world.
“Annabel.”
At the sound of that voice, my fingers froze on the keys. No. This couldn’t be happening. Before panic could set in, I whirled around on the bench. At the sight of him, my chest clenched in agony.
“F-father?”
He forced a smile to his face—one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You look well,” he said, as if he was surprised to find me in one piece or not covered in tattoos and piercings.
