Elaina

by Jennifer Hanks

  David’s eyes focused on my bracelet before his eyes shot back to mine. “The bracelet.”

  “I’ve worn it every day since I was sixteen.” I admitted.

  “Why? Striker told me the story of your mom leaving and C.C. raising you, but I don’t understand why you’d want to wear it.”

  I smiled softly. “I guess it always made me feel like I was closer to mom, and you, even though you didn’t want me. I felt like I would’ve wanted you so I kept a piece of you with me.” I blushed. “It’s hard to explain.”

  David reached across the table and covered my hand with his own, tears falling on his cheeks. “I didn’t know about you Lanie. She never told me. I haven’t seen her since she told me to leave all those years ago. I would’ve wanted you, I want you now. I want to know get to know you, spend time talking to you, learning what you like and don’t like, maybe get the chance eventually to be more than David to you, maybe be ‘Dad’.”

  I wiped away the tear running down my cheek.

  “Would you consider it, maybe getting to know me?” He asked in his quiet way.

  I nodded quickly. “Yeah, I mean, I’d really like that.”

  He smiled. “We can do a DNA test if you want, I’m fine with that, but as far as I’m concerned you look enough like me that I don’t need a test to tell me what I already know.”

  I laughed. “I think you’re right.” We had the same hair color and eye color, even our bone structure was the same. The only thing I was guessing I got from my mom was her height and build because David is tall and lanky.

  “I have a wife. We’ve been married for twenty years now. She’d love to meet you too, if you’d want to eventually.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “We don’t have any kids together, so I’m afraid you don’t have step siblings.” He frowned.

  I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Didn’t you want kids?”

  He smiled sadly, tears welling in his eyes. “I wanted kids very badly so did MaryAnn, my wife, but we couldn’t have any.” His jaw hardened. “Not to speak badly of your mom Lanie, but I’ve been very upset since I found out about you. Your mother took away my chance to raise you. I would’ve in a heartbeat.”

  I shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s okay. I’m pretty mad at her too.”

  David laughed loudly, shaking his head. “You’re a very sweet girl, Lanie.”

  Jake flung his arm around my shoulders. “Yes, she is.”

  David eye’s flicked between Jake and I before finally landing on me. “Is this your boyfriend Lanie?”

  My eyes widened when he shot a glare in Jake’s direction, but then he leaned across the table and lifted his hand to hide his face so only I could hear his words. “Just go with me here, I’m trying out this dad stuff.”

  I laughed because he was funny; my dad was funny in a weird, quirky way like me. I reached across the table and laid my hand over his, feeling him wrap his much bigger one around mine, a smile lighting his face, his eyes sparkling.

  A year ago I was alone, just me, in my tiny house with my giant dog. And now I have a boyfriend, a huge adopted family, friends, and my dad.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  JAKE

  “You done for the day?”

  I looked towards the temporary office we’d put up up on the job site, in time to see Ben heading my way.

  “Yeah.” I called out as he got closer.

  I was fucking exhausted. We’d been putting in extra time to get this two-story monstrosity completed and I knew I needed a break or my work would suffer. I threw my tool belt over the side of the truck bed, tucking it into one of the long boxes running the length of the side and closed the lid. I leaned my forearms across the top of the truck bed when Ben finished his approach. He mirrored my stance beside me, both of our eyes locked on the house standing in front of us. I knew in another hour or so the sun would be completely set and without work lights, this house would become invisible against the night sky.

  “It looks good.” Ben’s voice echoed through the quiet.

  I nodded. “It does.” I glanced his way. “It’s a big fucking house.”

  His head turned, eyes meeting mine. “It is. That’s what people want.” He dropped his head and ran his hand along the back of his neck before looking back up. “You know what Pop said that I thought was interesting?”

  I cocked my head. “What?”

  Ben grinned before looking back towards the house in front of us. “He came by earlier after my meeting and looked over the plans Chase has designed for the next three houses. They were talking about how things have changed over the years.” He snorted out a laugh. “And to be honest, I was only half listening because you and I both know when Pop gets going, he could go on for hours about that shit,” I chuckled because we’d both been on the receiving end of his stories and sometimes they seemed endless. “But he said he always wondered why houses were getting bigger when families were getting smaller.”

  I thought about that for a moment. “He’s right.”

  “Isn’t he always?” Ben smirked. “Is he ever fucking wrong?”

  I laughed. “According to mom he’s wrong a lot.”

  We both knew she may have said that, but it was only to piss him off. Truth is what they have together is something most people would never believe exists.

  “I want that.” I admitted to the night sky, not looking at my brother. “What they have, I want that.”

  “You have that brother. With Lanie. She’s incredible man, perfect for you.” He dropped his head, his voice quiet. “We all want that.”

  My head snapped his way. “You got someone in mind?”

  He scuffed the toe of his shoe into the dirt. “Nah, man, not sure that’s in the cards for me.”

  I closed my eyes, opening them slowly, feeling my brother’s pain. He’d had that or at least he thought he had with his highschool girlfriend, Jackie. We all thought they were on the forever path together until he caught her one night in the back of a pickup truck with his buddy from the football team. I’d unfortunately been with him that night or maybe fortunately because I thought he was going to kill him. He’d ripped him from the truck and beat him right there in the parking lot, the entire time Jackie cried for him to stop. I never knew if she was crying because she’d gotten caught or because she knew Ben could very easily put her fuck-buddy in the hospital. When I finally got Ben off him, he looked at Jackie with so much pain in his eyes that I wondered if he’d ever recover.

  It seems like maybe he never really has.

  “Ben…” I started.

  He shook his head, lifting it to once again stare off into the distance. “They got married last weekend.”

  “Fuck.” I whispered. I should’ve known that, been there for him, but I was too wrapped up in my own damn drama to have even known the date.

  “Heard she’s pregnant.” He said quietly.

  My head dropped back, my eyes going to the sky. I rubbed my hand across my face before looking forward again. “Then it’s time to let her go.”

  He nodded. “It was time a long time ago. I just can’t seem to fucking do it.”

  “You will.” I promised. “And then you’ll meet the one who’ll be ‘it’ for you. With any luck, she’ll move in next door and drive you fucking crazy until you get your head out of your ass and realize she’s the only woman you want by your side for the rest of your life.”

  Ben chuckled. “I’m not sure that’s how it usually happens.”

  I slapped him on the back of the shoulder. “Once you let Jackie go, man, it’ll happen. I let Julie go and Lanie fell right into place.”

  His head turned, his expression angry. “She come out of hiding yet?”

  “No.” I frowned. “Nobody can find her. Striker seems to think she’s hiding with another MC now, but it’s one even he can’t access.”

  “You think she’ll stay that way?”

  I shook my head. “Not a fucking chance.”r />
  “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Ben admitted. “I heard Nick’s going in.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What? Into the MC?”

  Ben frowned sadly. “Yeah, I guess Cam’s been trying to talk him out of it, Henry too, but the DEA wants in there. Apparently the amount of drugs handled by them is immense and they want to completely dismantle the organization.”

  “It’s dangerous for him.” I didn’t need to say that aloud, we both knew it and Nick had become family to us. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that if he goes in, Cam was going to lose his shit. At least we know this time he’s not going with him, that he finally gave up that fucking life. Plus, he has Sydney now and he’d never leave her or put her in any danger. Maybe if Nick had his own woman he’d reconsider, but as far as I know he doesn’t.

  I tapped my palm against the top of the truck. “I should get going.”

  Ben smirked. “I’d be hauling ass out of here too if I had sexy Lanie waiting at home.”

  I turned my body to face him and sent a glare his way, but he only laughed, causing me to shake my head and grin. “Always stirring the pot, huh little brother?”

  He faced me, leaning his hip against the side of the truck and slapped his hand against my shoulder. “We all have our strengths, man.”

  I reached behind me and grabbed the door handle to my truck, pulling it open. “You coming over to watch the game?”

  Watching Thursday night football at my house was becoming somewhat of a tradition for me and Ben. Pike most often stays too, which means Cam and Syd show up and where they go usually Chris and Lucy go. It’s been good for Lanie, getting to know my brothers and not all together, which seems to sometimes be overwhelming for her. It’ll be good for Ben too. He and Lucy are good friends and she just has a way about her that makes everyone comfortable talking to her. It’s a shame it’s too late to get Grace to come over, she and Ben are close, just like her and I. The three of us grew up spending a lot of time together being so close in age. I think he’s been missing her; I know I have been.

  “Is Lanie cooking?” He asked.

  I shrugged. “Probably.” The truth was Lanie was always cooking something and I think half the reasons my brothers kept coming over was because of her cooking.

  Ben grinned. “Then I’ll be there.”

  I moved into my truck, starting it up at the same time I pulled the door closed. Ben stepped off to the side, gave me a small wave and smirk before turning towards his own truck parked only a few feet from my own. I knew he’d go home and shower before coming to my place, so that gave me time to try to talk Lanie into a shower with me, like I always do and she’ll say no because Pike and Bray are in the house. Maybe I can send Pike on a beer run or something and ask him take Bray. I’d done that last week, causing Lanie’s face to turn bright red, resulting in fantastic shower sex.

  I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text to Grace telling her about Jackie. She’ll either text or call Ben as soon as she can because she knows as well as I do that Jackie just about broke our brother. Grace was and still is the poster girl for all things girly, but that didn’t stop her from offering to kick Jackie’s ass when it happened. To this day I have no idea what Grace said to her after Jackie showed up at a party our parents held over the fourth of July.

  Ben had brought Lucy to that party under the pretense they were dating and he told me later that Jackie had told him she planned to be there. She’s been fucking with Ben’s head for too long. I’m glad she’s married now. Maybe my brother can finally move on and find someone who deserves him.

  I threw my truck in drive and turned out of the parking lot, slowing at a stop sign and looking down at my phone to see Grace had already texted me back.

  “On it.”

  That’s all she wrote and honestly all she needed to say. I knew Grace well and her family was the most important thing in the world to her. She’d call Ben and I was confident he’d show up at my house in a better place than he had been only minutes before.

  I threw my phone back into the center console and pulled away from the stop sign, a smile on my face. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could take a deep breath. Julie was still out there, but there were so many damn people looking for her, I was positive even she couldn’t get past all of them. I had my brothers coming to watch the game and I knew from last week Bray would plop himself on my lap and settle in to hang out with me and his uncles. Lanie would keep making food until I’d have to call her in to sit down with me and hopefully like last week she’d cuddle up close, lean into my side and whisper to Bray, making him giggle.

  Not even ten minutes ago I was exhausted, thinking only of getting a shower and finding my bed. Now I was thinking about fantastic shower sex, watching football with my brothers, and holding my girl close listening to her giggle with my boy.

  My dad told me he found his reason for breathing the day he first laid eyes on my mom.

  I was fucking ecstatic that I’d finally found mine.

  EPILOGUE

  LANIE

  “How are things going with your dad?” Pike asked, as he backed out of the driveway.

  I smiled, a big goofy smile because things were going well, really well. “Really great actually.” I gushed. “We talk on the phone a lot and text. He told me my mom broke up with him because she’d found a new man or at least that’s what she told him, but he had no way of knowing if that was even true.”

  “Do you plan to look for your mom?” He asked.

  I shook my head. “No. I thought about it, but she left me you know. She knew where I was and never came back, so I think I’d be setting myself up for disappointment that I don’t want or need.”

  He reached across the car and patted my knee. “I’m really happy for you Lanie. You deserve this goodness.”

  “Thanks Pike.” I said shyly. “And thanks for babysitting me for the last, almost three months. Maybe getting out of babysitting duty can be your Christmas present.”

  He laughed. “I don’t mind Lanie.”

  It was almost Christmas and there had been nothing from Julie, not a peep, but no one had let their guard down yet. Jake was afraid she’d strike when we least expect it, like last time, so Pike’s been spending his days with me and Bray as he had before. I never moved out of Jake’s. He actually called his brother’s the Saturday after I met my dad and they came and moved the rest of my clothes and other things to his house. I didn’t argue. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to live with him and Bray, but the coolest thing was Luke decided to buy my house so he’ll be living next door as soon as all the paperwork’s done. Jake hasn’t said anything, but it’s obvious he loves that his big brother is moving next door. I think it might get a little crazy; that’s a lot of Dimarco’s in one area, but I can’t say it won’t be fun to watch. I’m waiting for Paige to show up to watch moving day for Luke. I can’t blame her, the last time I watched a Dimarco move in, I got pretty lucky.

  “You know I could’ve driven myself to Cole’s.”

  Pike snickered. “You know that wasn’t going to fly.”

  “I know.” I huffed. “I just feel bad. You shouldn’t have to drive me the whole way out there to meet Jake and look at this SUV.”

  “Where they’re working he’s already closer to Cole’s than here, so it makes sense. He shouldn’t have to drive the whole way home and then back to where he just came from.”

  “I guess you’re right.” I grumbled.

  “Besides,” Pike continued. “The weather’s kind of shitty with these colder temperatures and rain, so the roads aren’t great. Your car is definitely not made for this kind of weather.”

  That was true and I did hate driving it in this weather, which Jake also knows so I’m sure he had several good reasons for asking Pike. I sometimes feel like we’re taking advantage of him, but Luke assured me that it’s part of his job in security when I asked him, so I guess I need to let it go and be happy someone else is driving in the rain. Jake had be
en bugging me for the last couple of days because Cole has a friend who wants to sell his SUV. Apparently it’s in great shape and I had been thinking about getting one eventually so I agreed.

  “What time do you have to pick up Bray tonight?” He asked.

  “Seven.” I answered, watching the rain drops slide down the windshield. “We’re bringing Lexi home with us too.”

  “Date night?” He guessed.

  “Yep.” Jake and Brody at some point decided that we would babysit the other couple’s kid once a week so the couple without any kids could have a date night. It’s worked pretty well now for the last month, giving us all some much needed alone time, especially for Gia and Brody who’s baby is due in May. I’m guessing when they have two, it won’t be as easy to get away.

  We pulled up to the intersection and stopped at the red light, both watching the rain fall. “You know you’re good for him. He’s a better version of himself with you and that’s saying something since he was pretty great before he even met you.”

  I smiled, still facing forward. “He makes me stronger.”

  “You were always strong, Lanie, but you can be stronger now because you know you have someone to catch you if you fall.” He spoke quietly.

  I smiled, loving that idea, and turned my head to tell him just in time to see a car going way too fast slam into the driver’s side of mine. I screamed Pike’s name, my body being tossed around, the airbags exploding, suffocating me. The car was shoved across lanes of traffic and spun around finally coming to a stop when it crashed into something. I felt blood trickle down my face and my head felt incredibly heavy. I tried to look over at Pike, but the air bag was in my face and then my head fell back against the seat.

  I woke when someone was talking to me and opened my eyes, squinting when the flashing lights seemed too bright.

  “Ma’am. Can you hear me?”

  I reached my hand up and ran it across my face. “Yeah. Where am I?”