by Debra Kayn
"Did she pass out?" said Ashley.
"Who are you?" The other girl's gaze darted around, probably looking for more adults in her paranoid state.
"A family friend," she lied. "I can take her home."
"My older brother is coming to pick us up." She glanced down. "Michela is my cousin. Her stupid ex-boyfriend challenged her to drink. I'm going to take her back home with me and let her sleep it off."
She studied the girl. "You haven't been drinking?"
"A half a beer." The girl shrugged. "The party is lame."
Thinking it was probably best if Michela stayed with family, Ashley nodded. "Don't leave her alone."
"I won't." The girl frowned. "I'm not stupid."
Ashley stood, suddenly feeling old. She'd been a teenage girl always going to the parties, hoping to find a boy to love her. Back when young dreams gave her a purpose to find everything her heart desired.
Behind her, a young man shouted. The girl on the couch sat straighter and yelled back.
Ashley stepped away and watched the brother and sister work out the new plans. Confident Michela would be taken care of, Ashley weaved her way through the crowd to the front door. Thankful that she'd escaped the teenage years in one piece. At least physically.
Mentally, she'd lost her heart.
She walked out the door. Though, sometimes, she still physically hurt from losing her heart to the man who continually stayed in her life. Olin was everything to her and yet she couldn't seem to make herself fully commit to him in the sense of making their relationship permanent and having children.
Gagging noises came from the far side of the porch followed by female groans and male laughter. She blew out her breath and headed toward the street where she'd left Jackie in her car. At thirty-nine years old, maybe she was too old to go out on a Friday night.
She couldn't even handle teenagers. How would she handle a night out at a club with Elissa and Willa if she was already feeling like going home at ten o'clock at night?
Opening the car door, she moved to sit down and stiffened at the sight of Olin occupying the driver's seat. "What are you doing here?"
"Followed you." He unfolded his tall, broad frame and exited the car. "Now, I'm going to follow you to Brikken property as you take my sister home."
The nerve below her eye twitched in irritation. She fisted her hands, wanting to do nothing more than push his hulking body out of her way.
He'd stalked her. Again.
First, he wanted to stay home. Then, he wanted to go out. Every single time she agreed to spend the night with him, he took her to the Brikken Motorcycle Club clubhouse and disappeared into the garage, leaving her alone to entertain herself. He wanted to keep his business private, then, so could she, which meant he had no right to follow her if they weren't going out together.
She tore her gaze off his concerned coffee-colored eyes and got into the car. Olin shut the door before she could reach for the armrest. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to leave her alone. She wasn't in the mood to fight. Jackie was her main focus right now.
"Okay, let's get you home." She started the car and after checking over her shoulder, made a U-turn in the street, and headed out of town.
"Chief's going to ground me until I'm eighteen," muttered Jackie, staring out the side window into the darkness.
"Your dad will see that you did the right thing." She had her doubts that Chief would see behind the problem right off the bat. He had a tendency to react when he felt his family was in danger, especially his two daughters he had with Johanna.
She couldn't fault him. Her stomach rolled when Jackie had called asking for help, imagining the worst.
"Did you and mom ever go to high school parties?" asked Jackie.
She glanced in her rearview mirror seeing a single headlight knowing it was Olin. "That was a long, long time ago."
"Oh, come on. You're not that old."
Ashley's grip on the steering wheel tightened. " We went to a few. I'm sure your dad went to his share of parties at your age, too."
Jackie snorted. "He grew up in Brikken with Rollo as a father. He was probably snorting coke and hanging out with prostitutes when he was Stassi's age, but he won't remember that when I walk through the door and he finds out what happened tonight. He'll act like my problems are the worst things imaginable."
Ashley remained quiet. Girls had a tendency to overexaggerate during the teen years and believed they had nothing in common with their parents.
There was a time when she refused to speak to her father after he'd had an affair on her mom and left the family. The decade afterward was like living with two children, instead of parents.
She had no idea adults could act and say things so immature because of having their heart hurt.
Until she grew up, fell hard and fast for Olin, and acted out. Their arguments had turned into a habit. Fight. Sex. Fight. Better sex.
She tapped her thumb against the steering wheel and took the road out of Tacoma. Ninety percent of her fights with Olin started over something ridiculous. Nine percent of the time, she was disappointed in herself and embarrassed about how she behaved. But, that one percent when she and Olin clicked was the most wonderful thing in the world.
That was her problem. She held on to the slim chance that Olin was the perfect man for her but fear stopped her from fully committing her future to him because he had enough wildness in him to leave her. Just like her father.
A mile from the Brikken Motorcycle Club gate, securing the property, Ashley said, "Do you want me to call your mom before we go in?"
"Olin already called Chief." Jackie rubbed her arms. "Knowing him, he also called Jett and Thorn, too. My brothers don't help me because they always side with Chief."
She'd gotten used to all of Chief's children calling him by his name—or nickname as it was. "Nah, that's not true. I know for a fact Olin loves you and would have your back. All your brothers do."
Ashley would've laughed at the forlorn expression on Jackie's face because she knew the girl's older brothers well enough to know that if they had any thought that their little sister was in trouble, they'd rally around her in support.
Their lectures and guidance would be misinterpreted by Jackie as overbearing. It would be years until she realized their anger and frustration came from love. She'd give Olin that. He loved his family, no matter how unconventional they were.
The boys—Jett, Olin, Thorn were Chief's sons from when he was together with Karla, their mom. Though Chief and Karla were never married nor had they lived together. Chief had multiple women until he brought Johanna home as an eight-year-old child. Then, Johanna became Chief's world, and he'd settled down with her the moment she was old enough.
She lifted her hand in greeting to D-Con at the gate and then drove onto the property, parking near the two-story clubhouse. If there was any hope that Jackie would get away without being punished, the sight of Chief and her oldest brother, Jett, standing outside waiting for them stomped anything positive that she could add to the situation.
"Shit," mumbled Jackie. "Mom's not with them."
"Johanna will be there for you afterward." That she was positive of.
She shut off the engine and patted Jackie's leg. "I guess we should get out and hear what they have to say."
Jackie's gaze snapped to Ashley. "You'll go with me?"
Emotions gathered in her throat, and she swallowed them away before her eyes teared. It was getting too late in life for her to hold on to the dream of having her own children but if she were blessed with a daughter like Jackie, she would stand beside her through the good and the bad.
"Whenever you need me, I'll be here." She lifted her gaze and found Olin parking his Harley to join his dad and brother. "And, I think tonight, you might need me for a little longer."
She exited the car. Chief wouldn't welcome her into their family business. But, she counted on Olin to make sure she could remain by Jackie's side. The least she could do w
as make sure Jackie knew she'd done the right thing.
Chapter Three
Jackie faced Chief. Olin stood behind his father. How many times had he heard the same tone in Chief's voice, the same lecture about the dangers of being a Stanton?
By comparison, his little sister was a piece of cake to raise. At her age, he'd spent twenty-four hours in Juvie all because he'd been caught with beer in his duffle by the cops during a routine traffic stop. Chief had let him stew before signing him out and taking responsibility for him. Then, his mom, Karla, grounded him for a month.
All Jackie received tonight was a stern talking to.
"I didn't drink. I didn't do drugs. I didn't have sex." Jackie raised her arms out to her sides. "What more could I have done?"
"You could've stayed home. There's no reason why you need to go to some kid party on a Friday night. You see your friends all week at school." Chief growled. "Maybe now you'll tell your friends no when they tell you they'll drive and bring you home."
"I don't have a car yet. How would I go out with them?" Jackie huffed and crossed her arms. "This is ridiculous. You party at Brikken with everyone here on the weekends. I'm old enough to hang out with my friends."
"You can party here," said Chief.
"Oh, that's funny." Jackie rolled her eyes. "Hanging with my parents. My number one choice of things to do."
"Jackie," murmured Jett. "Watch your mouth."
"Shut up, Jett." Jackie shot a glare at her oldest brother. "Stop treating me like I'm some stupid kid. I took care of my problem tonight and called Ashley. If you think about it, I should be patted on the back instead of being lectured."
Olin strode forward, patted Jackie on the back, earning a smile from her, and winked at Chief. His father had a limit before he put his foot down. His sister would need to learn when to keep her mouth shut. It was his job to teach her ways of getting out of trouble.
"Get your ass to the house. Your mom is waiting for you." Chief watched Jackie walk a dozen paces away and said, "Jacqueline?"
His sister stopped and turned around. "What?"
"Next weekend, we'll go look at cars," said Chief.
Jackie ran back to Chief and lunged for her. His dad caught his sister and roughly rubbed the back of her head.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," said Jackie.
Chief leaned down, kissed the top of her head, and whispered in her ear. Olin moved away, knowing the night had come to an end. His sister had gotten her way, and he believed his dad was getting soft in his old age. It'd only taken Jackie half the time to talk Chief down as it had when he was growing up.
Ashley caught his gaze and turned away, stepping toward her car. He jogged four steps and hooked her elbow.
"I'm too tired to fight with you. I came for Jackie. That's all." She kept walking.
"Not looking to exchange words." He stopped at her vehicle. "Thanks for going to Jackie when she called."
"I love her. She's practically family." Ashley looked back at the clubhouse. "I'd do the same thing for Stassi."
"Would you do the same for me?" He leaned against her car, blocking her from opening the door and leaving. The question came even though he knew the answer. Anytime he'd called her and needed her, she'd been there. Even when she tried to date other men, or she was in the middle of a workday.
"Olin." His name came out of her mouth as if she had no breath left.
He kissed her softly, stepped back, and opened the door. "Go home, Ash."
Less than two hours ago, she'd been prepared to go out to the club. He shut the door and stood there staring at the dark window of her vehicle in the dark, unable to see her. He felt her sadness as if it was his own. Yet, he was clueless about what was going through her head.
Six months ago, he would've known what was wrong. Their relationship was on the right path. She'd stayed over at his house more than at her own. She'd thrown her birth control away, determined that if they had a child, it was meant to be. They'd spent hours talking about how to deal with moving her over to his house and letting her sister have their shared house.
Then, she'd put the brakes on moving forward. For the life of him, he couldn't get her to open up and tell him why she'd shut him out. It was a habit of hers he wanted to break.
Ashley drove toward the gate. He pulled his riding gloves out of his vest pocket and walked to his Harley. They should be going home together, and instead, they were leaving separately, and when he got back to his house, he'd have to watch her walk into her house.
D-Con left the gate open. Olin rode through, lifting his chin to his MC brother. He had no interest in staying at the clubhouse and finding a way to shake off the frustration with one of the available women. All he wanted was Ashley and if that meant sleeping two houses away from her, so be it.
Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into his driveway the same time Ashley pulled up to her house. He sat on the bike and watched her in the glow of her porch light. Unable to see her face, he took her hesitation at the door to heart and raised his hand, realizing too late that he hadn't turned on his floodlight before he'd left earlier. She couldn't see him.
He lowered his arm. If he could change her mind on moving in with him, being a part of his life, he'd do whatever was required.
The door shut, blocking Ashley from his view. He gazed around the area. The abandoned house in-between his and Ashley's place sat dark and neglected.
Olin inhaled deeply, letting the quietness of the street seep in.
With only Ashley and Lindsay living within sight and safely tucked inside the house, he got off the bike and walked to the front door. At least he was close enough in case she needed him. He could be there within a couple of minutes if she called.
LINDSAY TURNED ON THE barstool at the end of the kitchen counter and waved her empty fork in front of her. "I thought you were going out tonight?"
"I was, but something more important came up that I had to do." Ashley tossed her purse to the couch and walked into the kitchen.
"Don't tell me Olin is more important than going out with friends this week."
"No." She opened the fridge and removed a water bottle. "Jackie called me and was concerned because her friend had gotten drunk at some teenager party and she wasn't comfortable and didn't have a way home. I picked her up and took her back to Brikken."
"Smart kid." Ashley's sister twirled her fork in a bowl of leftover spaghetti and brought it to her mouth.
She took a long drink and set the bottle on the counter. "I'll give her credit. She holds her own against Chief and her brothers."
Lindsay cocked her brow. "I don't envy her. Sisters are hard, but brothers...especially since all of hers are old enough to be her father...I can't imagine. Especially at Jackie's age."
"When did you get home?" Ashley opened the junk drawer, found a hair band, and bent at the waist, gathering her hair on the top of her head.
"About a half hour ago." Lindsay carried her bowl to the sink and rinsed it out.
"Aren't we two wild women." She straightened and moved past her sister. "I'm going to hit the sack and watch Netflix until I fall asleep."
"Oh, I almost forgot." Lindsay pressed two fingers to her temple. "Mom's coming to town on Sunday and is spending the night here."
Almost seven years ago, their mom decided to buy a condo in Portland, almost three hours away. She and Lindsay bought their childhood home at a bargain under the condition that her mom gets to visit often—a deal her mom used at least every other month.
"What's she coming to Tacoma for?" Ashley lifted her foot and took her shoe off before shifting her weight to her other leg and doing the same.
"Night out with her girlfriends, I think."
"At least she's not sneaking around to see Dad." Ashley held up her shoes. "Right? She's not going behind our backs?"
Lindsay shrugged. "Don't know."
"Ugh." Her parents drove her crazy. Did no one believe in being faithful anymore? "I'll see you in the morning."
>
"Sleep tight." Lindsay walked into the living room.
Voices from the television filled the house and slowly softened. Ashley stopped in the bathroom, washed the makeup off her face, and then went into the bedroom. After putting on an oversized shirt, she put her knee on the bed to crawl in and remembered she left her phone in her purse.
Trudging to the other end of the house, she found her purse and walked back to the room, not interrupting Lindsay's marathon of scary movies she was in the habit of watching every night lately.
In bed, she found a text from Johanna thanking her for bringing Jackie home. She shot off a quick reply and her phone vibrated with an incoming text from Olin.
Olin: Want company?
She typed out her answer and held her thumb over the screen. For several seconds she battled with herself and finally shut off her phone without replying, placing the cell on her nightstand. If she'd clicked on send, he'd be crawling into her bed before she could take her next breath.
She was cursed.
Every step forward with Olin brought out new vulnerabilities. She couldn't get him to understand that his dreams for their future might not pan out. She was thirty-nine years old, and the children he wanted might never happen. What would he do if she couldn't get pregnant?
Would he grow bitter and seek another woman to fulfill his needs?
She sighed and stretched out on the bed. He'd leave her. Or, like so many men around the world had done, he'd find another woman.
All the hope and wishes she had six months ago dwindled as another day passed and as hard as she tried to put everything into her relationship, it hurt to disappoint Olin.
She loved him too much.
Chapter Four
Three hundred riders milled around outside the Brikken clubhouse. Olin stood with his youngest brother, Thorn, near his Harley, checking his phone. It'd been four days since he'd talked to Ashley, though he'd seen her arrive at her house almost every evening when she'd come home from work.
"We ride out in five minutes," shouted Jett.
