I get out of the truck, Finn stays close to me as we join Keola. Keola takes my hand, radiating heat like the damn sun.
My mind is everything but right now it’s focusing on keeping Finn by my side.
I may be confused right now, but I’m not stupid.
The gravel slides under our boots as we take a step further towards one of the centered structures. Finn clears his throat, “So, are there any rules we need to follow?” He glances at Keola. I shrug as Keola looks at me to answer.
“Don’t pick a fight you can’t finish?” Keola’s eyes plead for some kind of reassurance. I’m not paying attention until my face meets the small staircase. Too damn distracted about Keola’s response about picking a fight, as the pain starts to radiate, knowing that I’ll bruise later.
I brace myself to get up, Keola attempting to get me back on my feet. I mutter out, “Stop telling my nephew about picking fights, he doesn’t need to worry about that.”
“I know how to fight,” Finn chuckles out, I beam my attention to him. He goes quiet as I remind myself to talk later about how he knows.
“But does she know how to fight?” Keola laughs out.
I’m right here.
“I would say no. But she does have a taser,” he points out.
And Keola is lucky that I don’t have it on me now.
“Don’t make any plans after church then, angel.” He stands next to Finn, crossing his arms. His leather jacket, different from his cut, hugs his arms. Finn mimics Keola and my heart starts to burst.
I brush the gravel and dirt off of me, examining my hands for scrapes, “I don’t recall someone being the boss of me.”
Keola’s coy smile flashes, warning me to be careful of my words. Heat rises again to my cheeks. He looks at Finn, “To answer your earlier question, just mind your manners, don’t piss anyone off, and be respectable.”
“I just ask because the Sons of Anarchy show said something about rules,” Finn says as he brushes past me to the front door, opening it before he disappears. My eyes follow him.
My mouth is left agape, my mind flooding with more questions.One battle at a time.
Keola creeps up behind me, hands grazing my hips, “Quite a kid you got there, angel.”
“Keeps me on my toes.”
“You ready?” he asks me.
“What am I preparing for? I’m just told that I’m going somewhere and here I am.”
“I can fuck that attitude out of you and not let you come,” he whispers in my ear.
“Wouldn’t fucking dare,” I sneer back.
“Be good, and find out.”
So much for not being horny during this meeting.
He pushes inside the door to find a bunch of men dressed like Keola laughing and carrying on. I see familiar faces from the foundation, and some that are brand new. Every person is different, looking from different walks of life. I grab Finn in my arms, cascading around him. Keola walks over to a burly, heavily tattooed man and gives him a clasped hand shake, as the giant man wraps him a hug.
There’s another one that I recall, Sparky. He’s been around the foundation in the past few months. His ginger curls pull on my heart strings, reminding me that one day Finn will be that grown up.
Another guy pops beside me, just as tall as everyone else, but his light brown eyes and his dark skin stuns me and yet a little bashful. His toothy smile spreads like he recognizes something or someone.
“You must be Charlotte,” he says.
“Please, Lottie. Charlotte is too formal,” I blush a little bit.
Does everyone know my name?
