Page 6

6

Raven

I 'm annoyed—very annoyed—and very bored. It's been half an hour since we were told not to leave the house, half an hour since we became prisoners in this place with two overzealous prison guards watching over us. Seriously, the two prospects haven't taken their eyes off us since Elias left.

It's irritating, and I'm willing to bet this was Old Grizzly Bear's idea to keep us under lock and key. That paranoid bastard has it out for us. Fucking asshole. Why the hell would we lie about who our sperm donor is? It's not like we had a choice.

I'm about to go stir-crazy when a knock sounds at the door. Thing One goes over to answer it, leaving Thing Two to watch over Phoenix and me. To my surprise, Thing One comes back with a girl in tow—not a trashy one like the bimbo I almost knocked out earlier. This one looks put together and sweet, with a wide grin on her face and her light brown hair pulled into a ponytail.

The mystery woman turns her attention to us, introducing herself as Lace, Bear's niece. I have no idea how someone so kind could be related to that grumpy ogre. Lace makes small talk with Phoenix, offering to make us breakfast as I try to think of a way out of this house without my wardens noticing.

A plan forms in my head for my jailbreak. I know Phoenix won't approve, but I can't stay here all day like a captive; I'll go insane. Maybe Lace would be willing to help us out. She's off tidying up the house, and Nix offered to help put away the laundry. I guess that's what Lace does around here for these guys—cooks and cleans for them. She says she doesn't mind, though, which is odd to me.

I could never get used to that. One shitty comment about my food, and I'd deck the man who mentioned it. Nix is the more domestic type. She enjoys taking care of people like that; I couldn't be more opposite. Playing homemaker isn't in my blood. I guess I have Elias to thank for that.

While the others start putting away laundry, I head to the bedroom we stayed in last night. I grab my bag, making sure I have everything I need for the day. I can hear my sister's voice down the hall, talking to someone—probably Lace. When I call her name moments later, she rushes through the door, wearing a flustered look.

Something's off. "You okay?" I ask, looking her over.

Her eyes spring wide, and she nods. I don't buy it. Peeking into the hallway, I see Raptor coming from the direction I heard Nix's voice a minute ago. Son of a bitch. Where the hell did he come from?

I look back at Phoenix, noting her ruffled appearance. "Did that fucker do something to you? I'll kick his ass."

Immediately, Nix shakes her head. "He didn't do anything. I got flustered when we were talking, that's all, Rae. Promise."

It's the truth, I can tell. I know her well enough to sense when she's lying. The look on her face isn't shame or fear. She's bashful, and I have a pretty good idea why.

"We can't get too comfortable here, Nix. We don't know these guys or what they're capable of. I hate to think what they'll do to us if somehow the test comes back negative."

Phoenix shakes her head. "I know it won't. Mom wouldn't lie to us, Rae."

"I know, that's not what I mean. But what if they bring back altered results? What then?"

She sighs. "I just have a feeling. It'll all work out, Rae. I know it will."

Her optimism is one of the things I envy most about her. The way she can somehow find the good in things that no one else can—it's incredible. I'm not like that at all. I see things in a different light—darker, more realistic. I have to; that's what keeps us safe.

As I watch her, I decide to abandon my plan to break us out of our temporary prison. She needs me now more than I need my freedom, and stirring shit up right now won't do either of us any good. I join her next to her spot by the window, nudging her shoulder as I get close. She rewards me with a half-smile.

I draw an X over my heart—something we've done since we were kids—silently telling her I love her and I've got her back.

She mirrors the motion, her smile growing as she rests her head on my shoulder.

A couple of days pass without much excitement. Lace comes over each morning to make food for everyone and tidy up after most of the guys leave for the day. She and Nix are becoming fast friends—something I'm grateful for.

As we're finishing breakfast, Bear's phone rings. He disappears to answer it with a solemn look on his face. When he returns, he looks directly at Phoenix and me. "Results are in," he tells everyone grimly.

Elias stands, telling everyone to pack up and head to the bar. "We'll meet Doc at church to read the results."

In no time, Nix and I are loaded into a van and hauled over to the bar, where we wait to find out what Doc has to say. Phoenix grips my hand fiercely as we wait inside the back room of the bar—the MC's church.

All eyes land on the club's doctor when he enters the room with a sealed envelope in his hand. "I haven't read them yet. I wanted everyone to see the results haven't been tampered with."

I see him cast a glance at Bear with that statement. We all know how skeptical he is about the entire situation. I hope Nix is right about everything working out. Who knows what that crazy bastard would do if the results somehow came back negative . . .

All the club members sit around a large wooden table, waiting for Doc to read the results. There's no sound other than the tearing of paper as he opens the envelope that will seal our fate. Silently, he reads the form. When he's done, he looks up at Elias, then at Phoenix and me.

With a small smile, he slides the paper to Elias, pointing at the bottom of the page. The MC's president reads over the page, taking a deep breath, looking as steely as ever. I can't read his face, even when he looks up at us. I watch him as Nix grips my hand tighter.

My heart is about to beat out of my chest by the time Elias speaks. "It's official . . . I'm a father!" he announces with a crooked smile.

Suddenly, the room erupts as the other men cheer and pound their fists against the table, celebrating the news. All except Bear, that is. He's sitting back in his chair, scowling at the results on the paper.

I let out the breath I was holding as Nix beams next to me. This is exactly what she was hoping for, and I'm glad she finally got her wish. Before I can say anything to her, Elias looks our way. "Phoenix, Raven, welcome home."

Unable to help herself, Phoenix lets go of my hand and rushes over to Elias, shocking him when she throws her arms around his neck. I bite back a snicker as I watch the startled look on his face. This is Phoenix through and through. She loves with her whole heart, and now she has the missing piece—the one our mother told us about on her deathbed.

I continue watching the scene unfold. Eventually, the MC president softens, putting his arms around my sister. It's like watching a baby deer learn to walk, unsure if it's doing what it's supposed to or not. If the situation weren't so serious, I'd laugh. Instead, I stay seated, battling my confusing emotions as I let everything sink in.

I'm not sure how to feel, but whatever is going on inside me is foreign and uncomfortable. I make the mistake of catching Elias's eye for a moment. The look he gives me tells me he knows exactly how I feel. It's mirrored in his face as he nods at me, understanding that I don't show my feelings the same way as my sister.

I let myself feel everything for a split second and regret it instantly. I start to feel the tingle in my eyes as the tears begin to prick. Without hesitation, I spring from my seat, running straight for the restroom. I can't let these men see me crumble. I won't.

I hear Phoenix calling after me, but I ignore her. I need to be alone right now while I sort through these unwelcome feelings clawing at my chest. Thankfully, she knows me well enough to leave me be. She knows I need time to process everything, to settle my mind and my emotions.

After sitting against the cold wall of the restroom for what feels like an eternity, I gather myself, feeling calm enough to face everyone. When I leave my fortress of solitude, I run face-first into a hard body. I look up to find an unimpressed Reaper staring down at me and am immediately irritated.

"What the fuck do you want?" I hiss at him.

With an equally irritated tone, he informs me, "Prez put me on guard duty. Didn't want anything to happen to his precious Princess."

I resist the urge to gag at Reaper's nickname, choosing instead to push past him to the bar. I help myself to a glass and a bottle from the top shelf. My guard watches my every move.

"What? Figured it's on the house, you know, family discount and all that."

Reaper rolls his eyes as I slam the drink. He watches me pour another and knock that back too. Feeling generous, I hold the bottle out to him.

The stubborn bodyguard shakes his head. "It's time to go. Prez has shit he needs done, and he wants you back at the house with your sister." That's when I notice the bar is empty. Everyone else is gone, leaving only the two of us.

Shit. How long was I in there?

Reaper waits impatiently as I put away the bottle and reluctantly follow him outside. As we reach the gravel parking lot, I realize the van that brought me and Nix here earlier is missing, along with every other vehicle but one—a monstrous bike that would only fit a giant or the burly man walking ahead of me.

As Reaper slides on the bike, I cross my arms over my chest. "You really think I'm getting on that thing with you?"

He shrugs. "Unless you'd rather walk."

I consider that option before stalking over to the bike. I've been on motorcycles before, but those rides were with men I chose to associate with. Reaper pisses me off, and I don't want him getting any satisfaction from me being wrapped around him on the back of his hog. When he tenses as I climb on, I feel a strange sense of victory. He hates this as much as I do.

Good, serves him right for being such a surly dick all the time.

When we make it back to the house, Reaper follows me inside. "Make sure she and her sister don't run off anywhere," he tells one of the guys lounging in the living room.

"Aww, they pulled you from guard duty already?" I snark.

Reaper glares my way. "I have more important things to do right now than babysit you, Princess." Before I can pop back, he disappears through the door and down the driveway to his bike. I send him away with a proud middle finger, still angry about the nickname he stuck me with.

The guys chuckle as I stalk up the stairs to find my sister. Why does every man in this house make it his mission to piss me off?

Phoenix greets me with a smile as I plop down on the bed. "I hate this," I inform her. "We're being treated like prisoners."

Nix frowns. "We aren't Rae. They're being protective. Elias just found out he's our dad. Imagine how hard it is for him to adjust to his new reality."

"What about our new reality? What does that even look like?"

"I don't know," Phoenix sighs, "but our lives are different now. I'm not sure what that means yet, but I'm kind of excited."

"What if our new lives are filled with danger? What if we have to spend every day watching our backs because of who our father is?"

"It's not going to be like that, Rae. We'll figure it out, all of us. Plus, I don't think Elias and the club are involved in anything dangerous. What could possibly happen?"

I know she's wrong. I can feel it in my bones. Elias and his club are definitely doing some illegal shit; I just don't know what. And I'm not interested in sticking around to find out. "We should think about going back home, Nix."

My sister tenses beside me. "What if I don't want to?"

I stare at her, dumbfounded. "What are you saying?"

"Maybe I don't want to go back. That place is full of sad memories, Rae. Mom dying, her last days being so sick and run down, us missing a big part of our family."

"I'm your family, Nix. You, me, Mom—we were a family. We didn't need him to be one before. We still don't."

Phoenix watches me through sad eyes. "He never knew we existed. Didn't you see how happy he was when he saw those results today? He never had a chance to be part of our family."

"He left, Nix. He left her and never looked back. We don't even know him. What if he's some psychopath who wants to sell us to pervs on the black market?"

"He's not," Phoenix insists.

"How do you know?" My voice is laced with anger, making my sister flinch.

I take a moment to calm myself as Nix replies, "Rae, I can't explain it. I just know he won't do anything like that. All the things Mom told us . . . All the stories she shared about him. I feel it. I know he'd never hurt us."

I shake my head, considering her words. "So what? You want to stay here? Be some biker's old lady?"

Nix shrugs, but I swear I see the hint of a smile on her face. I know who put it there, and I can't help but wonder if her attachment to Raptor is clouding her judgment. I watch my sister for several long minutes, weighing our options and debating how serious she is about staying. She can be almost as stubborn as me sometimes, and I doubt she's going to be willing to budge on this if her heart is set on staying here.

"Let's say, hypothetically, that we stay. What then? What about your schooling? The house?"

"I can start school here. I never really got to start in Albuquerque anyway, not after Mom got sick. We can call the landlord and tell him we won't renew the lease. Go over one day, and grab our things. We can start over, Rae. We can get to know Dad—"

"I'll never call him that!"

Nix sighs at my outburst. "I know this is hard for you. And I understand if you don't want this, but I need this. I can't explain why; I just do. I need to know him, know where we came from." She pauses, looking at the ground, avoiding my eyes. "I have to stay, Rae. I understand if you can't, but I do. I'm sorry."

I let my sister's words sink in, knowing there was nothing I could say to change her mind. She needs this for whatever reason, and I'd never abandon her. She's my family, and I can't turn my back on family.

With a heavy heart, I take her hand, hoping my words won't come back to bite me one day. "Okay. We'll stay."

Phoenix smiles and launches herself at me, wrapping me up in a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rae."

I return her hug as the smallest smile forms on my lips. "You're welcome, but if things get dicey, we're out of here. Deal?"

Nix nods. "Okay."

I hold her tightly as a heaviness settles in my gut. I hope I don't live to regret this.