by Vera Quinn
Facing the Pain
Vera Quinn
Copyright
Copyright©2020 by Vera Quinn
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please, purchase an additional copy for each person or use proper retail channels to lend a copy. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please, return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author. Only small excerpts may be used for review purposes of this material. All other use must have written permission from Vera Quinn. Address below.
[email protected]
Editing & Formatting by Maggie Kern @ Ms.K Edits
Book Cover by Taylor Dawn @ Sweet 15 Designs
Contents
Note from Vera
Disclaimer
List of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Also by Vera Quinn
Contact or follow Vera Quinn:
Note from Vera
This novella is a little bit of a different writing style for me. I hope it comes across the way I am hoping.
Every day that I get up and write is a day I am grateful for. It’s what I love to do and I have so many stories in my head and I want to give each of them to my readers so this one is for all my loyal readers who take a chance to read my books every time I drop one on the platforms. I cherish each of you, and I hope that comes across in my writing. Thank you for making my dream come true.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance of actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is intended for adults 18+. This book contains adult situations and language, violence, drug use, and sexual activity. Mature readers only. If any of this is offensive to you this may not be the book for you.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlie/Eve Sweets
Eve Marie Copeland Sweets - Mom
Rival Sons MC: East Chapter
Tracker/Josiah Sweets-President & Dad to Charlie
Sinister/Quinton Sweets
Runner/Tobie Sweets
Wired/Rance Sweets
Bent/Yance Sweets
Duke/Brian Lake
Rival Sins MC: South Chapter
Jules/David Lake- President
Sons of Wrath MC
Garner Crowder-President
Repeat/Kentucky Crowder- VP
Horn- Tech Guy
Deacon/Braden Crowder- SAA
Pit/Taylor Seams-
Chapter One
CHARLIE
WHERE TO START?
I wish I could say this story is a love story of all times, but it’s not. It’s more a story of love and loss. I know, how can a person be so jaded, so young? I guess I am an old soul inside a young body. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Once I start, I may not be able to stop.
I am Charlize Victoria Sweets, better known as Charlie. My dad calls me Charlie Red because of my flaming red hair, or it was flaming when I was a child. Now it’s more of a strawberry blonde. I am the baby of the family and I have four older brothers who are all part of the Rival Sins MC. My oldest brother, Quinton Sweets, goes by the road name Sinister. He’s thirty-six years old and as protective of me as my dad. I think of all my brothers, he’s the one most like our dad, Josiah Sweets, whose road name is Tracker. The second oldest, Tobie, goes by the road name Runner and is thirty-two years old. Finally, there are the twins, Rance and Yance. They are thirty years old and their road names are Wired and Bent. I am twenty-three years old and the baby. Oh, I know this is sounds long winded, but to tell you the truth, aren’t all stories of love, and loss long. We have a big loving and fighting family. We’re either all on the same page, or we are knocking heads. I guess some might think this is strange, but it was the way I was raised. My mom, Eve Marie Copeland Sweets, died in a freak bridge collapse on the highway a few months after I was born. She had been going back for a check-up at the doctor’s office and had errands to run. I was told she left me home with one of the club aunts to watch over me so she could get everything accomplished faster. She never made it home. Five people lost their lives on that road that day. My dad, brothers, aunts, and uncles from the club raised me. They are all my family, well, all but one. I don’t consider him family anymore, or maybe I am just so raw right now. I just don’t know. I’m trying to put the cart before the horse again.
Remembering my life as I was growing up, I was always just one of the boys. I played in the woods and the dirt. My face and hands were always dirty, but I loved every minute of it. My dad and brothers taught me as they were doing things. If one of them was working on a bike or a truck, I was handing them tools until I was old enough to learn to help. I was taught to ride my bike when I was old enough to fit the pedals, and soon I moved up to a dirt bike. My dad said I was never going to be one of those women who needed taking care of. His worse fear is leaving me defenseless. Somehow my dad still feels guilty for what happened to my mom, even though there was nothing anyone could have done to protect her that day. He and my brothers taught me to defend myself and how to shoot a gun when I was old enough to understand the safety rules. Dad was always strict about safety for us. If he found me being reckless, he would tan my butt. No, he didn’t beat me, but he did spank me. He taught me to listen to what he said and to follow the rules. Did I think it was mean back then, sure I did, I was a kid, but now I understand it. He was teaching me so I wouldn’t get hurt. Lesson learned.
Then one summer day when I was twelve, I got my period, and I called my dad. It wasn’t fifteen minutes later that my dad and all four brothers arrived at the house with Aunt Tillie, my favorite club aunt, hot on their heels. I almost laughed at their faces. I mean I was twelve; I took health in school. I knew what was happening. I had been prepared since I was eleven. Aunt Tillie knew this, but she liked laughing at the big men in my life. I knew my dad and brothers would not be prepared for this day. I don’t think my dad would have been prepared if I had been thirty when it happened. For the next few days, I was treated like I was going to break. I knew I couldn’t let it go on, so I filled a few water balloons with pickle juice. I noticed my dad and Yance coming around the corner of the storage building. I knew Dad had to see how things were getting started so as not to get my brothers in trouble. I didn’t want my dad to think my brothers instigated it. As soon as my dad was clear of the building, I pounded Yance with a balloon of pickle juice. He looked shocked, and I could see the pickle juice was stinging his eyes. Dad looked shocked, and I was laughing. I knew Dad knew I just wanted to have some fun and for them to quit treating me like a porcelain doll. Then I noticed Rance follow in Yance’s steps and I threw a balloon at him and then took off running. I noticed Rance was looking at Dad.
“Charlie Red started it. Are you two just going to stand there and let her get away with it?” Dad challenged them. They looked at each other. I sto
od and watched them from behind the tree. I could still hear their conversation, but they were a safe distance away.
“Dad, she’s delicate right now,” Yance said.
“We don’t want to hurt her,” Rance added.
“Well, boys, it looks like to me that your sister is telling you that she doesn’t want to be treated any differently. What are you going to do? Let her get by with sucker punching you with a pickle juice balloon or pay her back?” Dad wiped his hand down his face and smoothed out his beard. Yance only waited a second before running for the water hose, and Rance came running straight at me. I hit him with another balloon and knowing I was going to run out of balloons soon, I ran straight for the back door. We all knew better than to get water or juice in the house. I zigged and zagged, hoping Rance couldn’t read my mind to know where I was going. I was almost home safe when all of a sudden, my dad’s big arms wrapped around me. I took my last balloon and smashed it over his head. All of us were laughing as Yance caught up with us with the water hose, water going everywhere.
“Boys, I think we owe your sister some payback.” I knew Yance wouldn’t turn the hose on me if Dad had me in his arms. “Give it to her.” Yance looked at Dad with wide eyes and then does the exact thing Dad asked. Within minutes, I was sopping wet, and so was Dad, but we were all laughing. That broke the ice of me and my period. My two older brothers were told when they arrived home and we all had a good laugh again. My little world was once again happy.
That was the last time for a few years that my family thought I was delicate.
Chapter Two
CHARLIE
Growing Pains
My life was uneventful, or nothing caught my attention anyway, until the summer I turned fourteen. That was the summer between middle school and high school. I was in a rebellious stage because all the other boys and girls my age were pairing off together. I mean, when we had functions, there were boyfriend and girlfriend pairs. It went on in middle school too, but my dad was having no part of it. It didn’t help that my birthday came after September, so I was older than most of the kids in my grade. He and my four brothers ran off every prospective boyfriend I had. Because of that, all the guys just stopped trying. I was tired of it and decided if boys weren’t approaching me then the only thing left to do was be the one to approach. I sucked at it.
That also was the summer my dad finally gave his consent for me to go to the lake with my friends. We had to be chaperoned. I mean, really? The lake was only ten miles away, so what were we going to do, hitchhike? But I didn’t mind. It was still freedom, and I didn’t look at it as a terrible thing. Don’t think I didn’t hear motorcycles going by, but I never looked. They were just trying to keep me safe, so I wasn’t going to be a brat about it. I told myself to pick my battles carefully.
The second or third time we gathered at the beach, there was a new boy there. He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. He had light mocha skin and deep green eyes. I couldn’t help but stare, and I did until his eyes met mine. He winked at me and smiled. I was a goner. I diverted my eyes so I wouldn’t shame myself by going goo-goo eyes at him. When I chanced a look back at him, he was still looking at me. I don’t know how or why, but I winked back at him. I turned around and started talking to my best friend, Brindle.
“You are so busted. I don’t think anyone missed the way you were ogling that new guy, Jake Edmondson. He’s sixteen and a junior this year. He’s a starter on the varsity team and so out of our league. He just moved in with his grandmother, Ms. May, and he’ll be there until he graduates. His parents are both doctors and for the next year they’ll be gone with one of those traveling doctor things, but they’ll be back for his senior year. That’s the gossip I heard at the hair salon yesterday. Mom had to have her roots done again.” Yay for Brindle’s mom needing her roots done on the right day. I would have had to nose around at least a week to get all that information. I didn’t know Ms. May had a grandson coming to stay. We all loved Ms. May. She always opened her doors after school for any child that needed watching over or was just hungry. She was like a grandmother to all of us. I was about to ask Brindle a question when I saw a shadow cast over us, and I turned to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Jake. I swallowed and went to say something, but nothing came out.
“Hi,” I finally got out. “Do you want to sit with us for a while?” Jake sat down.
“Is your dad really the president of a motorcycle club?” I didn’t like where this was going, but I answer. I was proud of my family.
“Yes, and my four older brothers are all members of the same club. My name is Charlie. I am the baby, and they are very protective,” I got out and by the time I did, I was a little pissed. I don’t know why, but I was.
“Well, hello, Charlie. I love the name. What I have seen of you, it fits. I’m Jake and I wanted to know if you would like to go to a movie or maybe out to eat with me next weekend?” I was left speechless for a second.
“Why? I mean you asked me about my family and then you ask me out? I can tell you that if this is a joke or a bet, this will not end well for you.”
“You’re beautiful, but the other guys are staying away. It intrigued me. I asked questions, and they told me about your family and the threats they like to give. I don’t get scared of threats. I have done nothing wrong. I only intend to get to know you better and have no intention of dishonoring you. So, what could I be threatened with? That is, unless they would have a problem with me holding your hand. We can be chaperoned. I don’t care about that, I understand. I have an older sister and my dad put her fiancé through the ringer. No one wants to let their little girl grow up. I intend to be a very protective dad one day, many years down the road. I know my manners. My dad taught me right. I am always to treat every female as I would want someone to treat my mom or sister.” Jake stopped talking and leaned back beside me. I didn’t know what to say to that—any of it. I’d never had a boy say that many words to me at one time. Jake smiled, and that calmed my nerves.
“I can’t date until I’m fifteen and that’s not for four more months and then the boy is required to meet my family first. Not just my dad and brothers, I have a clubhouse full of uncles.” I thought that would shut Jake down.
“Alright, Gram will need to know where I am, but I’m good with that. I told you my intentions, and that shouldn’t upset anyone. Can I come by your house tomorrow so I can meet your dad and brothers? I’ll ask if I can see you at your house or here at the lake until you can date. Since I know how old you are, I’m sixteen and a junior. I’ll be seventeen soon. I think my grams knows your dad,” Jake told me.
“Jake, everyone knows Ms. May and we all love her. Are you sure about this? Another girl might be less trouble. If I’m being honest, another girl would be a lot less trouble for you.” I looked at him, but he just smiled at me.
“Maybe that’s true, but anyone worth having is worth whatever you need to go through to get there. If you decide you don’t like me as a potential boyfriend in the four months we need to wait, then we’ll be good friends. A good friend is worth everything and needs to be cherished. I would become as protective as your family is.” Jake picked my hand up, brought it to his mouth and kissed it. I never wanted to wash it again. “Tomorrow afternoon about what time?” I didn’t know what to say. I looked at Brindle, but her mouth was open, and she had gone mute—not something Brindle did very often. I guess if Jake was this brave, I could be too.
“Be there at four and come hungry. I’ll cook us all dinner.” That had Jake smiling.
“My lady knows how to cook; I’ll be incredibly lucky if you become my girlfriend. I never get full, ever.” Jake stood up. “I’m going to go back over by the guys, so if your brothers or uncles drive by again, you won’t be in trouble. No need to peeve somebody before I meet your dad.” I didn’t even ask him how he knew I was being watched. I was sure the guys filled him in on the motorcycles driving by every day. I looked over at all the guys and they seem curious but
were keeping their distance. My mind was made up. If I didn’t want to be the only girl that was never asked out in high school, then it was time to handle my family. This was a fantastic opportunity. I wanted to spend time with Jake and get to know him, and maybe we would be just friends with each other. Don’t worry, I was a teenage girl trying to find a way to approach my dad. All I wanted to do was have Jake give me my first kiss. When he kissed my hand, that was the first time someone had kissed it. I knew I had that starry-eyed look. Jake walked back over to the rest of the guys and I turned and looked at Brindle.
“If you don’t talk your dad into letting him come by your house after the show he just put on for everyone, every girl is going to be after him and that includes me.” I look at Brindle with hard eyes. “I’m sorry, Charlie, but that guy is so hot.” I wanted to be mad at my best friend, but I couldn’t be. Jake was hot. I tried to put Jake out of my head and concentrate on what I was going to say to my dad. I didn’t even have the good sense to get Jake’s phone number or give him mine, but I had Ms. May’s home number.
