Page 7
ALEC
Getting back to the UK wasn’t as quick as I wanted it to be, not if I wanted my qualifications. Knowing that Lexi was mine had lit a fire under me. The first thing I’d done was reach out to my mum, and after she’d reamed me a new arsehole, she’d done what she’d always done and had my back. We came up with a game plan, although Mum warned me that it wasn’t going to be easy getting back into Bren’s good graces. Not that I expected it to be. Bren had every right to be angry with me, just as I was still a little pissed at her for not telling me, even if I did understand her reasons.
My relationship with Bren, though, was secondary to wanting to get to know my daughter.
Once Mum had finished with me, she’d handed the phone to Gunny, the one person who’d never judged me, although I had a feeling this time he would.
“You fucked up royally this time, son,” he says as soon as he takes the phone from Mum.
Sighing, I rub a hand over my face before replying, “I know, I’ll make it right, Dad.”
“Of course you will,” he answers, “but boy, you are in for a world of hurt when you get home. Her father and brothers are baying for blood. It’s only because she forbade them to go after you that Reaper hasn’t got on a plane. However, once you get in the ring with them, all bets are off. My advice… get that over with as soon as you can and then show them that you’re the man I know you to be.”
My throat tightens at his words. Cash is right; my sperm donor may have created me, but the man who taught me everything I know and has been there for me from the beginning—he’s my dad.
Clearing my throat, I reply, “Thanks for always believing in me, Dad. I’ll fix this, I promise.”
“Love you, son. Hurry up and get home so that this can all be sorted out,” Gunny orders me. “And son, your daughter, she’s beautiful.”
“Get me pictures if you can,” I say to him.
“I will,” he assures me, “let me know when you’re arriving, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay, and Dad,” I hesitate before continuing, “don’t tell anyone I’m coming. I’ll meet with Reaper, Sam, and Ben first. Can you make sure the room at the back of the garage is ready for me? I don’t want Bren upset about what they’re going to do to me.”
Gunny is quiet for a minute before he replies, “Will do, son. I’m proud of you, and we’ll see you soon.”
True to his word, Gunny was at the airport to collect me; not even my mum knew that I was arriving. Neither of us spoke much on the way home. I was stuck in my head, desperate to see Bren and Lexi but knowing that I first had to fix things with her dad and brothers. While I was a full member of the MC, I knew that tomorrow I’d not be meeting my President; I’d be meeting with a fucked-off father. I’d take my punishment, then work on mending fences.
Opening up the back of the garage, I wave goodbye to Gunny as he drives out of the back parking lot. Walking into the room where I’d spent a large part of my childhood staying under the radar from my biological father until I trusted Gunny enough to move into Crow Manor, we’d kept it as a bedroom because I’d still crashed here when I was working late and didn’t want to make the twenty-minute ride home. Setting my suitcase down, I lay back on the bed, groaning tiredly as I sink into the bed and promptly fall asleep, only to be woken by the blaring of my alarm a few hours later.
Muttering tiredly, jet lag pulling at me, I remove the phone from my pocket and switch off the alarm. It’s four in the morning, but I want to be at the gym waiting for them when they get there. Routines hadn’t changed much, and most of the brotherhood and some of the Old Ladies got their workouts in early.
Dragging myself out of bed, I strip my clothes off and walk into the tiny, attached bathroom. Jumping into the shower to wake me up. Ten minutes later, I am dressed and brewing a coffee, pouring it into a travel mug. Picking up my gym bag, I leave the garage, ensuring it is locked and the alarm set before I walk over to the gym. Taking out my set of keys, I open up and disarm the alarm. Even with the beatdown I know is coming to me, something in me eases at the familiar routines.
I’d missed home.
Dropping my bag off in the changing room, I start my warm-up and am still hard at it when Carly walks up beside me.
“You’re back,” she greets me with a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. It doesn’t surprise me; Carly and Bren were tight. Seems I would be making amends with more than just Bren and her family.
Gripping the bag I’d been punching to stop it swinging, I wait to reply. Only when I’m sure the bag is secure do I turn towards Carly and reply, “I am.”
“Lots of people are pissed at you, Alec.”
“I know,” I nod in agreement.
Carly tilts her head, her gaze assessing. I’m not sure what she sees, but this time when she smiles, it’s a full smile, not her customer service one. Reaching out, she wraps her arms around me in a hug, “Welcome home.”
Returning her embrace, I reply, “Thanks, Carly.”
Letting me go, she steps back, “I’m guessing you’re here early for a reason.”
Nodding towards the ring, I reply, “I’m waiting on Reaper, Sam, and Ben.”
“Ah, okay. Well, they’ll be here in about five minutes. Here,” she hands me a bottle of water from the bag at her feet. “Drink up, you’re going to need it.”
Taking it from her, I say, “Thanks,” before opening it up and tilting my head back, drinking it down. When I’m done, she takes the bottle from me just as the first rumble of bikes can be heard entering the village.
“Good luck,” she smirks, walking away. Going towards the ring, I pull myself up and in. I’m standing, waiting in the corner when Reaper walks in; anger flashes across his face as soon as he sees me. Behind him is most of the brotherhood, including Sam, whose face hardens when he catches sight of me waiting. The only one not looking surprised is Ben; I’m assuming Carly let him know I was waiting. Bringing up the rear is Gunny. He nods at me, letting me know he’s here if I need him.
The silence is deafening, then Reaper breaks it, throwing his bag on the ground. He toes off his shoes and stalks toward the ring.
The man might be older than me, but he’s still in peak condition, and I know from experience that he hits hard. With him being so angry, I know this is going to hurt because he won’t be holding back, and I have no intention of defending myself. I’d take what he gave me both for him and for me. Because as angry as he is at me, I’m just as angry at myself for the missed months with my family.
“You little motherfucker,” he grinds out as he punches me in the face, nearly taking me down. I only just keep my feet. And then he’s on me. I don’t lift a hand to defend myself; it’s only when I’m down on the mat that he stops.
Panting, he points a finger at me as he grinds out, “This isn’t the end, you little shit. I promised my daughter I’d not touch you out of the ring, but every time I’m in here with you, it’s fair game. You’d better be here to make things right with my girl and my granddaughter.”
Coughing, I groan and roll to my knees, blood dripping from my nose. I already know that it’s broken; my ribs are aching, and I can already feel bruises forming. Coughing again, I push myself up and slowly stand, turning towards Reaper. “I am,” I assure him.
With a nod, he turns away and leaves the ring. Sam climbs in and I grimace at the anger on his face. “My sister!” he storms towards me and hits me; I groan as his fist connects with my cheek, opening up a cut there.
“You know,” he hits me again, this time in the ribs, “how she felt about you,” this time it’s the kidneys. “And you still went there,” he punches me in the stomach, and I lean over and retch. He waits for me to finish before he starts in on me again, shouting angrily, “Then you treat her like a fucking whore, slapping her on the arse and telling her there’s money for a taxi,” this last sentence has a collective angry mutter coming from those gathered to watch.
‘Fuck, I wish he’d kept that to himself,’ I thought, just as he sweeps his legs past mine, and I end up on my back on the floor. Turning my head, I watch as my best friend walks angrily away from me. I’m still lying there when Ben’s face appears above mine. I’m not sure how much more I can take but I will. I make to get up but fall back; my ears are ringing, my one eye is completely shut, and I can only just see out of the other. I’m not sure if it’s blood or if it’s swelling that’s stopping me from seeing out of it.
Slowly, I push myself up, prepared to meet Ben, nearly falling back down. Surprisingly, Ben holds out his hand and pulls me to my feet.
Once I’m steady, he lets go, and I straighten up to face him, “Okay, I’m ready,” I tell him as I sway slightly on my feet.
Ben shakes his head, “I’m not going to fight you, Alec. Am I angry at you… yeah, I am. But I’m just as mad at Bren for keeping secrets. The two of you have been circling each other since we were children. I’m not going to make this harder for you. I know deep down you care about my sister, and I hope you do right by both her and Lexi. You’re better than this; I’ve always known that. Get yourself seen to and rest up because you have your work cut out for you.”
I stare at Ben in disbelief. Although I shouldn’t be surprised; he’s one of the kindest and most forgiving people that I know. I’d still expected him to at least punch me, though. Slowly, I make my way towards the ropes, wondering how the hell I’m going to climb through them without falling over. I’m just about to grab hold of them when Ben calls out, “Alec.”
Lifting my head to look at him, I wait. “I’m not hitting you this time, but if you fuck my sister and niece over, then all bets are off.”
“Fair enough,” I acknowledge, gripping the ropes, and then Gunny and Brice are there, helping me through them and down. Slowly, I make my way to the changing room, ignoring everyone else. All I need now is a hot shower to wash the blood and sweat away, painkillers, and to sleep the next few days away as I heal.
Somehow, I manage all that and get back to the garage, where I collapse on the bed in the back room and pass out. That’s where I stay for the next three days, only rousing long enough to take the painkillers Gunny has ready for me.
On the fourth day, I’m woken up by a soft hand on my cheek turning my face towards them. Opening my eyes, I look into a pair of familiar wide blue eyes framed by dark lashes, so at odds with her blonde hair.
“Jesus, Alec, are you okay?” she asks softly, swiping my hair from my face.
“Bren,” I croak out, my mouth dry. Her hand disappears from my face, and I already miss it. “Here,” she says, putting a straw to my lips. Greedily, I suck down the water.
“Thanks,” I tell her, closing my eyes, only to open them again when I hear a slight noise. Turning my head back to her, I open my one good eye. It zeroes in on the noise, and I smile as much as I can with my lips as split as they are at the first sight of my daughter snuggled firmly against Bren’s chest, wrapped in one of those complicated-looking wrap things that have become all the rage. Her little hand is up against Bren’s chest, and in her mouth is a pacifier that she’s sucking on like nobody’s business. She’s tiny and cute as fuck.
Lifting my arm, I reach my hand towards Bren and run a finger down Lexi’s hand. My gaze flits up to Bren, “She’s beautiful, Bren.”
Bren’s eyes soften, “Do you want to hold her?”
Fuck yeah, I do! Rolling to my side, I groan, wrapping an arm around my ribs as they protest at the movement.
Bren inhales a sharp breath at my obvious pain, a flash of guilt crosses over her face. Ignoring it, I tell her, “Let me go wash my hands, and I’d love to hold her.”
Bren nods and sits down in the one armchair in the room and starts to unravel the wrap that’s binding Lexi to her. Deciding that a hot shower wouldn’t hurt, I take the extra time to get my thoughts in order as I let the hot water run over my body. I can move a bit easier when I’m finally done, wrapping the towel around my lower body when I realise that I forgot to bring a change of clothing in with me. Opening the door, my gaze flits to Bren, who has a blanket over her shoulder, covering Lexi as she nurses.
Fuck if that doesn’t do something to me. I’ve done a complete one-eighty from not wanting a woman and children to not being able to take my gaze off the beautiful sight of Bren and Lexi. Bren’s face is soft as she lifts the corner of the blanket to look down at our daughter as I walk out of the bathroom. I can’t help but flex slightly as her eyes widen when they catch sight of me. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with finding me sexy; it’s more about the bruises covering my body.
“Oh, Alec, I’m so sorry. I told them to leave you alone.”
“It’s okay, Bren, I was expecting it. I disrespected an MC princess; Reaper and Sam had every right to lay hands on me. I was waiting for them at the gym. We needed to clear the air, and I had it coming.”
“Not Ben, though?” she questions.
Shaking my head, I walk towards my suitcase that’s exactly where I left it when I arrived and find clean pyjama pants and a T-shirt. I return to the bathroom to get changed. When I come back out, Bren’s got Lexi on her shoulder and is patting her back to wind her.
“Not Ben,” I reply, going back to her previous question. “Good,” she replies, then nods towards the chair. “Sit. Once you’re settled with her, I’ll go and pick up the food I’ve ordered for you so that you can take some tablets.”
“You’re leaving me alone with her,” I say in surprise as I take a seat and hold out my hands to meet my daughter properly for the first time.
“Of course,” Bren replies. “I never intended to keep her from you, Alec. I trust you with our daughter.” Bren gently transfers Lexi into my arms, and an unfamiliar sting of tears burns the back of my eyes as I look into her sweet face. A perfect miniature of her mother, but I can already see that her hair is going to be more red than blonde. To think that I may have missed out on this if Cash hadn’t pulled my head out of my arse.
Running my finger down her cheek, I smile when she squirms slightly before settling back down. “She’s so beautiful, Bren,” I whisper before looking up to see Bren putting her phone back in her pocket.
“She is,” Bren agrees with a small smile. “I won’t be long. Gunny and your mum are in the front if you need them.”
With those words, she turns and hurries out of the room as if she can’t get away fast enough, and I know it’s to get away from me. I didn’t realise how much that would hurt. I guess I’d got so used to Bren always looking at me like I was everything to her; now that I’ve broken that, I realise how I’d relied on her thinking that way.
“Ah, baby girl, your dad really fu… messed up with your mum. I’ll work to get back in her good graces, though,” I promise my daughter, who of course ignores me and continues to dream happy thoughts. Shifting her slightly higher on my chest so that her head is on my shoulder, I sink further into the chair, closing my eyes. I knew that nothing I did that had a monetary value attached would soften Bren; the only way I had any hope of making up for my colossal fuck-up was to be there for her day to day. With that thought in mind, I pick up my phone and find the group chat I’d set up with Abby and my mum, explaining what I need.
Getting a thumbs up from both of them, I wait for Bren to come back, knowing that we need to have a conversation on where our relationship is going to go from today going forward.