CHAPTER 2
“Baby girl.”
I look up from the padlock on the Jokers’ Wrath compound and smile to see my dad walking towards me. He’s big, he’s scary, and he’s deadly. But to me, he’s just a giant teddy bear. Though, I’d never tell him that. He’d probably cut me. He’s been President of the club my entire life, and he’s damned good at it. It was always nice, growing up and knowing he had your back.
One thing was for sure, none of us ever got bullied at school.
“Hi, Daddy.” I smile, taking a step forward and falling into his arms.
I turn instinctively and breathe him in, taking in his scent and letting it wash over me. Leather, mostly. And my dad. Always my dad. His smell is my comfort. I hug him tighter before pulling back and looking up at him.
“How are you?” he asks, studying my face.
Can he see the pain in my eyes? He didn’t meet Michael, but he knows about him. They’ve all met him before, when we were friends. We kept it quiet for a while when we first started sleeping together, but after he disappeared on me, it didn’t take long for news to travel that we’d been together for a while.
“I’m okay.”
That’s a lie.
Last night was a horrible night. I sat up with a heavy, sinking feeling in my chest and tried to call Michael over and over. I’m ashamed that I got to that point, but my desperation and heartache is finally blending and getting a little confusing for me. I just want answers. I don’t understand how someone can just switch off like that.
“You know I don’t like it when you lie to me,” Dad says, taking my chin in his hand and tilting my head back. “Need me to go kill that little fuck?”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Thanks, but no thanks. I can handle this one.”
He grunts.
I hug him again. “Seriously, I’m okay.”
“Don’t like seeing my girl upset over some whiny, pathetic, fuckin’ ...”
“Dad.” I giggle, shaking my head. “Seriously. I’m okay.”
He stares at me, then nods and steps back. “Go inside, your momma has been missin’ you.”
“Okay,” I say softly, disappearing into the shed situated on the compound.
“My baby!” my mom cries the second I step through the door.
My mother is a spitting image of Pocahontas, seriously. The resemblance is uncanny. All that dark hair, those almond shaped brown eyes, that skin that’s so soft and olive. If they ever made the cartoon into a movie, my mom would totally fit the part. She’s gorgeous. Age does nothing but make her even more stunning.
“Mom.” I smile when she hits me and throws her arms around me, causing me to take a step back.
“I haven’t seen you for a week! Where have you been? Matilda told me you were okay, but your sister would tell me you were alive if you were dead. Hell, she’d bury your body and stuff your bed with fake pillows and have me believe you were sleeping.”
I chuckle.
Matilda would. She has my back, always. Plus, she’s slightly crazy, which is why I adore her.
“I’ve just been busy, it’s fine. How are you?”She steps back and studies me the same way Dad did. I think she learned that from him. Her brown eyes narrow, and she says, “You’ve been upset.”
“How can you possibly tell that?”
“Because I can see it in your eyes, your momma knows. It’s my job.”
“I’m fine, honestly.”
She huffs. “You know I’m here if you need to talk.”
I force a smile, because it’s getting harder and harder to keep a genuine one. “Of course. Is Jack around?”
“He’s in the living room, driving everyone crazy.”
I snort and move into the living room, looking for Jack. He’s the son of another member and his wife, Mack and Jaylah. He’s crazy, funny, and I enjoy hanging out with him. He’s guaranteed to always make me laugh. He has one of those personalities. I notice him as soon as I step into the living room. He’s standing against the bar, elbow on it, laughing hysterically about something with his older brother, Diesel.
“Hey, guys.”
Both of them stop and turn towards me. Diesel, who is Native American in looks, just like their dad Mack, studies me. Then his brown eyes soften. “Hey, Mol,” he says, walking over and jerking me into his arms. “Long time no see. You good?”
My God. These bloody bikers are so intuitive.
“I’m fine, D. How are you? How’s Mercedes?”
Diesel’s girlfriend is the daughter of a club member too, only she’s not in this club. It was a messy situation for a while, but the two clubs sorted it out and are now at peace with their relationship.
“She’s good,” he says, letting me go. “How’re you?”
“I just told you.” I grin and he narrows his eyes at me.
Diesel is like his father. He’s broody, slightly arrogant, but his heart is bigger than any man I’ve met. He loves hard. He gives heaps. He’s an incredible person. He also notices everything.
“And you lied.”
I ignore that and turn to Jack. “Hey, bro.”
He grins at me. “Yo, sista, how’s it going?”
“Good. What’s happening?”
“I’ll check you two later,” Diesel says, leaving the room.
“Later!” we both call.
Jack slides his backside onto the bar, and I leap up, sitting beside him. “Not much. I still haven’t heard from Michael since he broke up with me.”
Jack is the only member of the club who knew Michael better than a few casual interactions. He hated him, of course. Warned me he was sketchy. I should have listened to him. Might have saved myself a world of heartbreak.
“What a prick. Why didn’t you call me?”
I shrug, crossing my legs. “I wasn’t dealing with it that well, to be honest.”
“I’m sorry. That really sucks, Mols.”
I force another smile. “Anyway, enough about me. Entertain me with one of your stories. Make me laugh. I need a distraction.”
He grins. He’s the opposite of his brother, with lighter eyes, lighter hair and a leaner build, more like his mom, Jaylah. He’s incredibly good looking, though, and he has no problems with the ladies. None. At. All.