His (Hers #5) (8 page)

“A good time? Those are short lived dude. You’ve been following her around for at least a year now.” I push him. He needs to finally admit there is something more to the two of them than meets the eye.

“She has shit. Baggage. I do too. I guess anything more serious wouldn’t really work. I’m on the road a lot with Chrome and shit.” He’s making more excuses. If Chrome and Star can actually make something work with the amount of time he is gone, anyone can.

“You know that’s bullshit as much as I do. But, if you wanna tell yourself that’s why, that’s cool.” I drop the subject and bring the attention back to my own personal drama. “Anyway, Seven is on a mission to take this guy out and I have a feeling the whole town is going to end up getting thrown under the bus this time around. I mean, look at the circus that came to town when she was in the hospital. Be prepared. It’s going to be a disaster.” I let out a sigh and prepare myself for whatever it is that’s about to come.

“You really think Journey and I could make something of it?” His random question takes me off guard.

“Ryker, if you want something enough, anyone can make a relationship work. Look at me and Seven. You think we are a match made in heaven?” I laugh and leave him with that seed planted in his head. I hope the guy takes my advice and goes after what he actually wants.

“You aren’t going to believe this shit.” Seven says the second I walk into her office. The stone cold look on her face doesn’t make me feel any less anxious than I have all day long. She clicks the mouse on the computer a couple times and opens up her Facebook account. I’m waiting to see more Vince bullshit or her naked ass plastered on some gossip page.

“What now Seven?” I ask as Marley speed crawls across the floor and clings onto my leg. I grab her and pick my princess up giving her a big kiss and resting her on my hip.

“Read this..” she trails off and leaves a message open on her computer screen while turning away.

Hi Seven,

My name is Lyric and I know you are a really busy lady so I will make this really quick. I was raised by my mother and never met my father. He wasn
’
t in the picture, ever. I recently went looking for my biological father and I found him. David James. Your dad. He told me about you as well as your brother, Blue. I haven
’
t been able to make contact with him, but I found you on here and thought I might try and contact you. I know this may be random and hard to deal with but I would like to get to know you if you are willing to meet me.

I understand if you aren
’
t.

-Lyric

I sit in shock staring at the computer screen. As if we didn’t have enough bullshit going on in our lives. Her fucked up parents have thrown another curveball into our shit. As if that whole adoption shit with Star and Magnolia wasn’t bad enough, but now Seven has siblings appearing out of the woodworks. If this sets my wife off, I swear to everything holy in this world that I will track those piece of shit, hippy-ass, losers down and kill them one-by-one. She sits in silence and I wonder if I should ask her how she feels about it. Does she want to talk about it at all? I guess the fact that she took the time to show me instead of keeping it to herself answers that question for me.

“Are you okay?” I question her, opening up the lines of communication. I am half waiting for her to freak out. I am convinced there is a meltdown brewing deep down in there. A few minutes go by and she still remains calm and relaxed. I am a bit taken aback by how peaceful she is. How calm she is acting with this news just tossed into her lap.

“I’m fine. I just…” she pauses for a minute to turn in her chair and look me in the eye. “I don’t want to get my hopes up if she is just another person looking for money.” She looks actually disappointed.

“You look disappointed, like you actually want a sister?” I am confused, so I just leave the ball in my wife’s court.

“Levi, I’ve always wanted a sister. Hell, Blue was the biggest piece of shit sibling ever. I’ve been jealous of Star forever because she has Paisley and Journey. I wanted that bond. That connection with a sister. I mean, yeah… I’ve had them all as sisters over the years… but it’s different, Levi.”

“Then meet her.” I suggest, holding my breath and praying my advice is actually the best in the given situation. I don’t want to push her into anything she isn’t ready for.

“I’m going to. I looked at her profile and she lives locally. I just haven’t messaged her back yet. I really just don’t know what to say.”

“Say how you feel for once, Seven.” I smile and take Marley to the nursery to get her dressed for our Friday night family dinner at Star and Chrome’s house, leaving my wife a couple minutes to make the connection if that is what she feels is right.

Seven

Present

Lyric,

Thank you for reaching out to me. I am definitely surprised to find I have a sister out there in the world. Although, with my parents, I am not exactly shocked. I do genuinely hope you had a better childhood than we did.

I would like to meet. Maybe we can have lunch or dinner on Monday?

Thank you for contacting me.

-Seven

What else can I say? I hope you never meet Blue? I hope you didn’t get left alone by your mom for days on end? Spell out every fucked up detail of my shit-tastic childhood to make her feel bad if she actually had the chance to have a good life? I genuinely hope she has had a much better life than I have.

My mind repeatedly mulls over the idea of actually having a sister. What this could mean, and how this could change my entire world? Blue hasn’t been around for ages, and I don’t expect him or want him to be an uncle to my children. We call Star and Paisley aunts, but Marley would be able to have a real, true, flesh and blood aunt who is actually related to us. My heart skips a beat and I am excited about the possibilities, but also cautious because my gut tells me to slow the fuck down.

It isn’t what I needed on top of everything else going on in my life, but I think this may be a very welcome distraction from Vince and the fact that a video of Levi and I has been shopped around to TMZ today. There is no way I am going to tell Levi that though. Not until after dinner. Or until I hear back from Stella Finnegan to see what exactly she can do about it.

Hey, if my naked ass ends up all over the internet… at least I can be proud of the fact that I was able to take two dicks like a champ for the world to see. Not everyone can add that accomplishment to their list of achievements in life! I try and shrug it all off, not letting it get to me. Not allowing myself to be bothered by someone else trying to take control of my life. But the fact that I have no control over the situation is damn near eating me alive.

“You almost ready?” Levi asks from the doorway of our bedroom while I finish up the last couple keystrokes on the computer.

“Nope, gotta shower still.” I shrug and head in the direction of the bathroom. I know I am late, but I just haven’t been motivated to do anything but bark orders from my throne, which is exactly what I’ve been doing for months since I left the physical office of White-Woods Global. My mind shifts to James and what he would think if he knew I wasn’t fulfilling exactly what he had dreamt for me all those years ago. Would he be happy? Would he regret leaving it all to me instead of someone else? Would he resent me?

There are days I wish I could just sit down and talk to him. Like… have coffee and catch up. See what kinda hell he is raising in Heaven with Johnny Cash and Robin Williams. I think we have all been there when we have lost someone that important in our lives. Fuck, I hate death.

Pulling up the long winding driveway that leads to Star’s house I notice more cars and motorcycles than our usual Friday night family dinner. Something we have made a point to do every week no matter who is sick or who has a spouse out of town. Drama doesn’t exist at our dinners, it is just our time to catch up and come back to being one giant family. Tonight, I have more news to share than anyone else will. I can bet you that one.

We squeeze our Infinity SUV between two packs of motorcycles and make our way to the house. I start to count all the bikes, two, three, seven, eight, Jesus… what the hell does Chrome have going on? It has to be something big and I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with Star. Or any fuckin’ danger rolling into town. We just can’t take anymore right now.

Her long hair is back to blonde after trying out the whole brunette thing for a year. Star’s hands are on her hips as she gives me the evil eye. “You are late,” she says pointedly. A little less than amused that I decided to show up an hour later than we are all supposed to meet.

“It’s the baby’s fault.” I lie, “I had to take a shower because I felt like a frumpy mom, but I got some good dirt for you.” I add to try and curb her mood. “What’s goin’ on?” I question as I nod in the direction of all the bikes.

“Some new guys are rolling in from another Hell’s Renegades chapter. Manhattan, I think. Chrome volun-told me they were coming for dinner.” She doesn’t look as mad as she was a couple minutes ago. Maybe she just needed a little female re-enforcement in the house?

“So the house is full of bikers?” I laugh.

“Yes, and the new guys are babysitting tonight.” Star laughs as we enter the house.

The roar of laughter and male voices booms through the entire first floor of her house. The fact that there are about twenty bikers taking over the dining room, kitchen, and living room is obvious. Chrome walks from the kitchen and picks me up in a bear hug, spinning me around.

“How is my favorite Seven?” he says with his smooth, deep voice. Every time he talks, I think of one of those phone sex operators. I laugh to myself, thinking about it again. Star already knows where my mind is and she slaps my arm. I mouth
sorry
to her with a smirk on my face. I just can’t help my dirty mind sometimes.

“Chrome, I’m your only Seven.” I sass him.

“EVERYONE LISTEN UP!” Chromes voice carries through the house and the loud chatter comes to an immediate halt. The men all turn and look at the man towering next to me. “This is Seven James-Parker and her husband Levi.” He nods to Levi a few feet behind me holding Marley. “And their daughter Marley. Seven is just as important as my wife Star in this house. You will respect her and treat her as my old lady. No disrespect will be tolerated. She is one of us.”

I laugh because some of these men have been right by my side for more intimate times of my life. They know me from taking out Zane, and if they weren’t there to actually witness it, they heard about it from one of their brothers.

“That is a name I never thought I would hear again…” The voice isn’t familiar as a man starts to step through the crowd. I blink a few times wondering if I am actually seeing a man I once considered a play partner with James at Sinners & Swingers. I could never forget his face, even if he has a ratty ass beard now.