“Here,” Texas said.
I reached for the ice pack and guided Freya to my leather recliner. I sat her down and got her legs propped up, then fiddled with the ice pack. I got it taped around her arm before I slid off my jacket, then placed it over her lap. I reached out and tucked a strand of her wild dark red hair behind her ear, then cupped her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay. Do you trust me?” I asked.
She nodded softly into my palm and my heart skipped a beat. Then, I stood and turned toward the guys.
“They’re tracking us, and in the process they’re cornering everyone we’re spending time with. All of them are in danger right now. Every single one of them. Now, this young girl needs our help. Damn who you know see she’s related to. So, what is this crew going to do? Are we going to turn away a woman in need who’s gotten tangled up in our shit because of our careless ways and selfishness? Or are we going to buck up and stick to our code?” I asked.
“They were trying to get information out of her, weren’t they?” Notch asked.
“They were,” Freya said.
Her voice became stronger, and it made me grin.
“What kind of information?” Stone asked.
His eyes fell to Freya and I stepped off to the side.
“They wanted to know what my relation to Bronx was. What he was doing in my hotel room. They tried to corner me with the fact that they figured Bronx and I were hooking up, and that I was as weak as they assumed I was,” she said.
“Are you?” Texas asked.
“Am I what? Weak or hooking up with Bronx?” she asked.
“Both,” Stone said.
“No, and why the hell is it any of your business?” she asked.
I swallowed my chuckle as I grinned down at her.
‘Atta, girl.
“I like her. She’s got spunk. Good on ya, Bronx,” Notch said, chuckling.
“Did you say anything?” Stone asked.
“Didn’t get a chance to. Bronx stepped in before things got too rough, and they dragged us into an alleyway,” Freya said.
“I take it the two of you emerging means they didn’t,” Texas said.
“You’d be right, yes,” she said.
“What in the world is all this commotion about?”
Hayley’s voice shocked me and I whipped around. I watched her emerge from the hallway with that damn rock Stone had bought her glimmering on her finger. My jaw dropped open as I heard Freya gasp. My eyes panned over to Stone, who was automatically striding for her side. Hayley’s eyes danced around the room, tired. Like she had just woken up from a nap.
“Hayley’s here?” I asked.
“It’s her,” Freya whispered.
“She’s been staying here at the clubhouse with me because of how her father is involved. She’s scared, and I told her she’d be safe here,” Stone said.
Then, I heard the recliner flip down as Freya’s feet hit the floor.
Twenty
Freya
The second she walked out of the hallway and into the light, my world froze. Images of the picture I had in my wallet bombarded my mind, but they were nothing compared to actually seeing her. My gosh, she was gorgeous. Her body was shaped like mine. Her hair was the same color as mine. She didn’t have my eyes, but she had my eye shape. Her facial features were softer, but the length of her neck resembled mine. The broad shoulders. The small dip in the waist. The truncated legs that made us look even shorter than we really were.
I flipped the recliner down and stood up, her eyes connecting with mine.
The voices of the guys fell into the background. Everything ceased to exist. My heart slammed against my chest as I took a few steps forward, emerging just beyond Bronx’s form. I knew Stone was scared. Protective of who he loved. And I could respect that. I did respect it. And as I grew closer to Hayley, I saw more and more of my mother within her.
Like the way her cupid’s bow was a little sharper than normal. Or the way she had those natural dark circles underneath her eyes. Or the way her eyebrows were naturally shaped. I mean, her fucking hairline screamed of my mother. The small widow’s peak that made her face almost look like a heart.
“Hayley, you should go back into the room,” Stone murmured.
“Please don’t leave,” I said breathlessly.
Hayley’s eyes connected with mine as I stood there. Halfway between Bronx and her. I ran my eyes over her, taking her in. She was beautiful. Hell, she even stood like me. With one hip always cocked out.
“Who are you?” Hayley asked.
“You really need to get back into the bedroom,” Stone said.
“Let me explain. Let me meet her, please? She deserves answers just as much as I do,” I said.
I looked over at Stone and watched his eyes burn a hole into my face. At least, he tried. I looked back at Bronx and saw him eyeing the guys around the room, his entire body tense. He was ready for a fight. A brawl of sorts. My eyes panned back over to Stone as the two stared off, silently begging the other to back down.
“Who is this woman?” Hayley asked.
I closed the distance between us and stuck out my hand. I held it there, waiting for her to take it. She looked over at Stone and I followed her gaze, watching as the man let his eyes wander me one last time.
“You really do look like her,” he murmured.
“So, I’m not the only one that thinks she looks like me,” Hayley said.
“No. You’re not,” Bronx said.
“Please shake my hand so I can introduce myself,” I said.
She looked back at me with those striking blue eyes and took my hand. She had a firm grip. A commanding one. One that was very well-suited to the future wife of a club president. I grinned as I shook her hand, then she released my grasp a bit too quickly for my liking.
Hopefully, my half-sister wouldn't hate me for what I was about to do.
“Now, who are you?” Hayley asked.
I drew in a deep breath and settled myself in for yet another chaotic ride.
“My name is Freya. I grew up in Yuma, Arizona. My father is the president of the Celtic Riders motorcycle club there. And I’m your sister,” I said.
The entire room fell silent as Hayley’s brow furrowed. I let her eyes dance around me as she took a small step forward. Away from Stone’s side and up to my face. Her hand came up and she ran her fingers through my wild hair. Her fingertips grazed my cheek before she ran them over my nose. My lips. My neck. There wasn’t as much shock in her face as I would have expected. If anything, there was relief.
“My sister,” she whispered.
“Yes. Half-sister. We have the same mother,” I said.
“How is—how is that possible?”
“To have the same mother?”
She nodded softly. “My mother is supposed to be dead.”
My hand came up and I wrapped it softly around her wrist. I closed my eyes, knowing damn good and well I was about to destroy this young woman’s world. Dead. That’s the lie her father fed her. I turned around and searched for my purse, then saw Bronx hold it out for me. I walked over to it and plucked it from his hands, taking it to sit on the kitchen table. I rummaged around in my purse until I found my phone. Then, I turned it on airplane mode before flipping through my gallery of pictures.
I came across my most recent photo of my mother before I held it up to her face.
“This woman?” I asked.
Hayley’s eyes lined with tears almost immediately. She ripped my phone from my hands and looked down at it in disbelief. I watched her as her hand smoothed over my phone. I watched as her fingertips danced over the picture of her mother. My mother.
Our mother.
“Your mother’s name is Rose?” Hayley asked.
I nodded softly. “Yes. Rose.”
“And uh, and when was this picture taken?”
“Hayley,” Stone warned.
I held my hand up to the man, then shot him a warning glance. He wasn’
t in control of this situation any longer, and I wasn’t going to let him keep his fucking fiancée in the dark. I heard someone snicker. One of the guys. But I didn’t bother to discern who it was. I walked and stood in front of Hayley, waiting until her eyes came up to meet mine.
“When was this taken?” she asked.
I sighed. “A little under two months ago. At my college graduation.”
When the phone fell out of Hayley’s hand, I was there to catch it. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and her fiancé came to stand behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder. Her neck. Her cheeks. I saw the pain in her eyes. The absolute aching pain that came with realizing someone she loved had been lying to her for so long. I sniffled myself as I slid my phone into my back pocket, trying to give her the space she needed while gathering my thoughts.
Because I knew she was about to bombard me with questions.
“How—why—she’s—my mother, she’s—”
“I will answer whatever you want. Whatever question in whatever order. Just, take this time. Breathe for me, okay?” I asked.
A hand came down onto my shoulder. A comforting hand with a grip I recognized. I leaned my cheek against the top of Bronx’s hand, waiting for Hayley to dry her tears. Her sobs broke my heart. The way she cried, it reminded me of how someone would cry if they were watching their world being torn apart. I closed my eyes and bowed my head, sucking back my own tears so as to not detract from her a second longer.
Then, she cleared her throat.
“My mother’s alive,” she said softly.
I rose my eyes and locked them with hers.
“Yes. She is,” I said.
“So, my father was lying when he said she was killed by some guy on a motorcycle.”
“Yes, he was.”
“How did your parents meet? I mean, how did our mother and your father meet?” she asked.
“They met here. In San Diego. The Celtic Riders used to dominate the area. My father never told me why they left. But when he became president—”
“Your father is the president of another club?” she asked.
I nodded. “He is. Has been my entire life.”
I watched recognition waft over Hayley’s features.
“That’s why,” she whispered.
“Why what?” I asked.
“It’s a long story, but that’s why my father has it out so badly for motorcycle crews,” she said.
“I don't know what that means,” I said.
“I do. And it’s the missing piece we’ve needed,” Bronx said.
“I’m not following,” I said.
“It makes all the sense in the world,” Stone said.
“Your mother left Hayley’s father for your father. Didn’t he, Freya?” Texas asked.
My eyes flickered over to the large man standing off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest.
“All I know is they met in San Diego and my mother left with my father. They were still seeing one another at the time, and once they got settled into Yuma, my father proposed to my—our—mother in front of the entire crew one night,” I said.
“Holy shit,” Hayley whispered.
“I’m lost again. What’s this about a missing piece to what?” I asked.
“It’s a long story,” Notch murmured.
“Well, you think maybe it’s one you should clue me in on?” I asked.
“So, my mother’s alive. Like, right now. In Yuma, Arizona. Married and living a life with your father. The president of the Celtic Riders?” Hayley asked.
But before I could confirm her statements, a knock came at the clubhouse door. Stone immediately drew his gun and Bronx pushed me toward the hallway. Someone take my hand and I looked down, seeing Hayley’s hand slipped into mine. I looked up at her as she tugged me toward the hallway. Then, Bronx and Notch barricaded themselves in front of us with guns drawn and their entire bodies on high alert.
“What’s happening?” I whispered.
“Just hang tight. Okay? And I promise you, I’ll tell you all you have to know once whatever this is, is over,” Hayley murmured.
Then, the two of us turned our eyes back to Stone as he slowly made his way for the door. With Texas standing in the shadowed corner I’d taken up initially, with nothing but the barrel of his gun gleaming in the light of the setting sun.
Twenty-One
Bronx
Stone swung the door open and we all raised our guns. But he quickly motioned for us to put them down. From my vantage point with Notch, I had no idea who was standing there. Texas’ eyes widened, though. He motioned for us quickly to holster our guns, then put his out of sight. Stone tucked his behind his back in the hem of his pants, then stepped off to the side and ushered our guests in.
My jaw dropped open at the sight of Asher standing in our doorway.
“Where’s our daughter?” the woman beside him asked.
“Mom?” Freya asked behind me.
“Mom,” Hayley whispered.
Freya shoved between Notch and myself, then took off. I stood there in shock, watching as Asher stared down Stone in the Celtic Riders leather cut. Freya tossed herself into her mother’s arms, hugging her as Asher took stock of the lodge around him.
“A bit small,” he murmured.
“We’re a small crew,” Stone said.
I peeked back at Hayley and saw her eyes wide. They were filled with tears, and not even I could begin to empathize what she was going through. Notch stepped off to the side, allowing her a clear pathway if she wanted to take it.
But she didn’t.
Stone peered over at us and sighed. I watched him age ten years right in front of my very eyes. The hurt and the pain he tried to protect his fiancé from had come knocking on our door. And it was all because of a phone call we placed willingly. I knew Stone wanted to protect Hayley. I knew he didn’t want her to understand so much pain and confusion. All we could do now was stand beside her as the reality of her life slowly unfolded.
“Hayley?” Freya asked.
“What did you just say?” her mother gasped.
“She’s here?” Asher asked.
“Yes. I am,” Hayley said softly.
She emerged from between Notch and myself, her eyes locked on Rose. Her mother. Freya’s mother. Stone stood there, still as a rock, while Texas came over and closed the door. We all watched as Hayley slowly made her way over to Rose. We all watched as tears rushed down Rose’s cheeks. Asher and Freya stood off to the side, hugging one another and watching as the two finally reunited.
“Mom?” Hayley asked.
“Hey there, bumblebee,” Rose said.
“Holy shit, Mom,” she said, sniffling.
Hayley threw her arms around the small woman and Freya sniffled. Her father held her tight, towering well over all of us as they stood in the kitchen. The man practically had to duck to get through the damn door in the first place. He was big and intimidating. But as he held his daughter and watched the reunion unfold, I could have sworn there was a glimmer of tears in his own eyes.
“You’re not dead,” Hayley breathed.
“No, honey. I’m not. I’m so sorry, but I’m not,” Rose said.
“Why did you leave? Why did you—leave Dad?” Hayley asked.
Rose sighed. “It’s so much more complicated than you could ever imagine. Your father and I—we—”
Rose held her daughter out and wiped away her tears.
“Your father isn’t perfect, bumblebee,” their mother said.
Hayley scoffed. “Yeah. I got that.”
“I’m serious. He’s a good man, but he’s got some serious issues he hasn’t ever addressed. PTSD from his job. Nightmares that kept both of us up. He threw himself into work to keep the demons at bay instead of getting the help he needed, and it tore us apart.”
“So, you left.”
“I wanted a divorce, yes. I wanted a custody agreement in place and I wanted to stay in San Diego. And during
the separation, I met Asher,” she said.
Rose turned and looked at the massive man in the corner who still cradled Freya close to him.
“I met Asher and fell in love, and he helped me through a lot. Your father resented me for falling in love so quickly and accused me of cheating. Of leaving him for Asher,” Rose said.
“But why didn’t you ever come back? I get leaving. That’s fine. But why leave me behind? Why not ever come back to see me? Or call me? Or send me a damn birthday card?” Hayley asked.
Rose sniffled. “He threatened us, bumblebee. Me, really. He told me if I didn’t leave Asher for your sake, he’d toss all of us in jail. The crew. Asher. Me. He said he’d accuse me of withholding information from the authorities on the activities of the Celtic Riders, and he’d never let me see you again.”
“And when he arrested and tossed my first V.P. into the tank after following us around for a while, we knew he wasn’t joking,” Asher said.
“Some M.O.,” Stone murmured.
“He flew off the handle, and I was scared. But I knew if I took you with me, he’d never stop chasing us. He’d call in every favor he had to get his daughter back, and I didn’t want to make your life miserable. I wanted you at my side. I wanted you in my life. But I knew if I took you with me—with us—he’d never stop hunting us down. He’d never stop dismantling our life because that’s how your father is. He gets hold of a grudge and he squeezes it for every drop of life it has. Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever did. But it also ensured a life for you I could never give you if I chose to take you with me. If I chose to rip you from your father.”
Hayley threw her arms around her mother’s neck again and the two of them cried together. I looked over at Freya and watched her pull away from her father, making her way for me. My eyes met Asher’s, and I saw he wasn’t happy. But when Freya hugged me, I couldn't deny her the warmth and the comfort she sought.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her close.
I listened as Hayley introduced her mother to Stone. I watched as Texas introduced Asher to the crew. I shook Rose’s hand and tried to shake Asher’s, but he wasn’t having any of it. He simply glared at me, and I couldn't blame him. I was most of the reason why his daughter had been targeted in the first place.
Bronx: The Lost Boys MC #3 Page 13
