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Fourteen

Family Comes Together

Emryn

I ’m a bundle of nervous energy by the time we reach the club. It’s not the Pride that has me on edge, but meeting Blade’s family. I want them to like me. All my insecurities from my past are bubbling up and threatening to overflow.

Thank goodness, Hanna’s keeping me busy.

This woman is a superhero. She runs her own business, doing most of the baking herself, and only recently started training some of her staff to take on some of those duties.

She’s also the mother of the sweetest little boy.

Romeo is a little love. While the other kids are off playing in the backyard, Romeo comes to the kitchen to see if he can help out his mom.

Risk finally convinces his son that the Lady Pride has it all under control and leads his son out to play with the others, but even then, you can see that Romeo has a watchful eye, looking after the little ones.

He and Gavin, Guard’s oldest boy, are great friends with completely different personalities.

It’s funny to see all these big, macho biker dudes turn to mush around their kids. And awfully sweet to see the love and attention they give their families.

The barbecue gets underway, with men taking turns at the grill, the others looking after the kids, giving their wives and girlfriends some downtime.

Ava is settled on a lounger with a margarita in hand.

Willow, Charlotte, and Quinn sit around her, all laughing and exchanging stories.

Vi, Maddie, Izzy, and Abby, are hanging around the pool table with Saint teaching them how to play the game.

They’re doing more laughing and missing the ball completely than playing.

Rose, Sofia, and I just finished setting out the salads and side dishes and are taking a break.

I search the room for Blade, but I don’t see him anywhere, that is until he walks in with an older man, not quite as tall as him, who is an older version of Blade, very distinguished and handsome.

This must be his dad, Jonathan. You can clearly see that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree in the looks department.

Blade has his arm around a young woman, who I assume is his sister, Jaci.

She’s super cute, with shoulder-length dark hair, not at all like Blade’s, and she has pretty hazel eyes.

Hanging on to Jonathan’s arm is Blade’s mom, Silvia, who is a more mature version of her daughter.

It’s clear to see that they’re a close-knit family. Blade catches my eye, and it’s crazy, but I seem to be rooted to my spot, scared out of my mind. I watch Guard leave the other men and move to greet Blade’s family.

I can hear them talking. I’m so close, but I haven’t been able to unglue my feet from where I’m standing, and I can feel my body trembling with fear.

I gave up caring what people thought about me years ago, especially my own parents and their snobbish friends.

Yet, I want to make a good impression on Blade’s family.

It would suck if they hated me when I’m falling in love with their son.

“This meeting has been a long time coming. We’re happy to have you and your family with us,” Guard says to Jonathan.

“Thanks for having us.” Jonathan looks around at the mass of people in the club, and particularly outside at the kids and their dads. “Gotta say, this isn’t what I was expecting,” he admits.

Guard chuckles. “We hear that a lot.”

Blade is staring at me, and somehow, I find the superhuman strength to force my feet to move toward him. It’s his smile that calls to me, letting me know that everything is going to be okay. The guys are still exchanging pleasant chitchat when I get to Blade’s side.

As I approach, Blade holds out his hand and tucks me into his side. “This is Emryn, my girlfriend. Don’t scare her off, and no stories of me as a baby on a bearskin rug,” he warns with a glint in his eye.

“Kid, you were walking around naked with a wrench in your hand. No bearskin rugs for you,” his father jokes, making me giggle and completely breaking the ice with his smile. He stretches out his hand, and I take it. “Jonathan, but call me Jon. My son has great taste,” he says, making me blush.

“Just like his father,” Silvia says, and Jon gives his wife a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m a hugger, sweetie, so brace yourself.

” Silvia engulfs me in a warm hug, and all the tension inside me melts away.

“Blade came over the other day and wouldn’t stop talking about his beautiful girl who is an amazingly talented photographer. ”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For what, sweetie?”

“For being so kind,” I return, still whispering.

Silvia pulls back and scans my face. “We have so much to talk about. I’m enthralled by an independent woman who is also a great artist. And don’t say it isn’t art, because photography is an art.”

“I totally agree,” I tell her. Silvia’s eyes are twinkling with delight. The worry inside me begins to fade.

“Mom, you’re hogging her,” Jaci interrupts as she wiggles herself between us. “I’m Jaci, the most loved and adorable child in the family,” she announces, rolling her eyes at her brother. “Right, bro?”

“You wish. Everyone knows I’m the favorite,” he insists, mocking his little sister.

“Puuuulease!” she draws out, then bats her lashes at her father. “I’m your precious little girl, right, Daddy?”

Jon strokes Jaci’s hair and kisses her forehead.

“That’s right, precious.” Then he adds, “And Ben is my handsome risk-taker, and it seems he’s making all the right choices.

” I blush as Blade’s dad looks at me as he speaks.

Although I don’t have much time to be embarrassed because Jaci links her arm in mine and walks me toward the group of Lady Pride standing close by.

“You have to introduce me,” Jaci says. “I’ve heard so much about these people, all good, of course.

Blade’s always been a happy guy, but since being with Satan’s Pride, he just seems so much more confident and focused.

I love that for my big brother.” Her tone is genuine.

I can see there’s a connection between the siblings that I’ve never had with my own.

I love my brother, Ryan, but it seems that our relationship consists of me constantly listening to his needs and wants.

I’m also his go-to for any problems that come up.

Lately, I’ve been purposefully distancing myself from him.

Our last interaction was a mess, and I still shudder when I think of how much I had to sacrifice to start fresh.

Throughout dinner, I sit between Silvia and Jaci, but the Lady Pride have them laughing so hard that the time flies.

I brought my camera with me and ask permission before taking any photos.

I spend much of my night snapping shots of the amazing people around me.

Guard agreed that I could use my camera as long as the pictures were not distributed outside the club.

No website, no social media. Ghost reiterated that it all stays with the Satan’s Pride family.

Since I had no intention of doing anything other than printing the best shots and putting them into an album for the club, I wholeheartedly agreed.

Blade and his dad had huddled with the men, but they come over every so often to make sure our drinks are topped off and our bellies are full. Blade makes sure to touch me in one way or another, to let me know that he’s with me.

I watch him across the room with the others. It seems that the prerequisite for joining Satan’s Pride is that you have to be a hot, sexy biker. But my man, he’s the most handsome of them all.

Blade

D ad picks his moment at the end of the evening to pull me aside and ask me to take a walk with him.

I knew it was coming. While I was growing up, every so often, Dad would pick his times and tell me to put on shoes and go for a walk with him.

I cherish these moments with my father. Even when we disagree, I consider them my best memories with my dad.

“You’ve found where you belong, son,” Dad says as we walk side by side down toward the edge of the property. “These men respect you.”

Admitting this out loud is big for my dad. The worst argument we ever had was about me joining the club. Like most people, he had misconceptions about what being in the club means. “I respect them too. They’re good men, with families, who are living their lives the best way they know how,” I reply.

“I can see that.” He nods. “Guard is a wise man for his age. Never seen anyone so secure in who they are. He’s a good leader.”

“Next to you, he’s the best.”

Dad places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll admit it, I didn’t want you to leave town. I wanted you to stay where I could be close to you, thinking that if distance came between us, it would change who we are with each other. I didn’t want to lose my son.”

“Dad—”

“No, let me finish. I always considered what we had, this bond between us”—he motions between us with his hand—“to be special. I was scared of losing it. And in the end, it was me who was pulling us apart. I’m sorry.

What you’ve done for yourself here is truly amazing. ” He finishes with “I’m proud of you.”

I get a lump in my throat because my father is the most important man in my life, and I know how much he’s done for his family. All of us, Mom, Jace, and me. Dad has done everything to give us what he could to make our lives better.

“Thanks. I wouldn’t be here without you. It was you who taught me to be my own man and take chances if the risk was worth it.”

Dad smiles at me, clasping my shoulder tighter. “Emryn’s a beautiful girl,” he says, moving on to the next topic at hand.

I chuckle. “Yeah, she is. But she’s also sweet and funny. And when you get her riled up, she’s a spitfire.”

“Sounds a little like your mother.” He laughs. “Your mom likes her. A lot. And Jaci is already planning a girls’ day out.”

I do an eye roll. “Jaci’s nutty. But it’s good that she likes Emmy.”

“Is she the one, son?”

“I think she is,” I reply, but I can’t help the uncertainty in my tone.

“What’s the problem?” It’s just like my father to get straight to the point.

“Emryn doesn’t like talking about her family. And she has this thing about doing everything herself. She has a hard time accepting help, and when I offer, she tries to brush it aside or change the subject. I know there’s something going on, but she hasn’t opened up to me.”

“All families have their own dynamic. Her family could be very reserved, and sharing isn’t what she’s used to.

I’m not going to pretend to know why Emryn is the way she is, but I will tell you this: any woman you think about from the first minute you’re up in the morning to the last moment before your head hits the pillow is worth waiting for.

One more thing. She might be afraid that you won’t feel the same way if she shares what it is that she’s keeping hidden away.

That’s a blow that she may not be willing to take just yet.

” My father says all the right things at the right time.

“I’ll give her time.”

He smiles. “Good.” He sighs. “I like how your two families have come together, Ben. I want this for you.” Dad and I walk back, his arm around my shoulders, and I know in this moment, life is good.