Page 38

Remi

I heard the front door slam not even a few hours later. Looking at the clock, I frowned when I heard Emma stomping up the stairs before she slammed her bedroom door shut. Getting up, I walked over to the window and saw Max storming toward the clubhouse, furious.

Frowning, I looked over my shoulder when I heard Emma scream before glass shattered. Rushing to her room, I threw open her bedroom door to find her standing in front of the full-length mirror I bought her before she came to live with us. I decorated everything in this room, right down to the frilly pink comforter on her bed. I made sure that she had everything she could want or need.

Instead of a grateful and happy girl standing before me, now stood one furious teenager.

“Get out.”

“Emma, what happened?”

“I said GET OUT!” she screamed, rushing to her bathroom, slamming the door shut.

Standing there, I sighed, shaking my head.

Closing her bedroom door, I turned and gasped when I saw Max standing there watching.

“She’s mad at me. I said some things I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

“She’s been mad since the moment we left. Her anger is nothing new to me.”

“What she said,” he whispered, shaking his head. “I can’t believe she would say that shit.”

“She’s a teenage girl, Max. What did you think was going to happen? That she would just forgive and forget. That girl has had her entire life turned upside down.”

“Doesn’t give her the right to say the shit she said.”

“Yeah, it does,” I stated, walking over to him. “She has every right to say or express what she’s feeling. If she can’t do that around us, then who can she do it with? She had everything, Max. A home, a mother and father who doted on her. A little brother who worshiped her. The brothers, friends at school and here. She had her heart’s desire and then one night, it all disappeared. She’s not just angry, Max.”

“She’s scared.” He sighed, hanging his head.

“Yeah, she is. We both are,” I added, as his head whipped up to mine.

“You’re scared?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “Like Emma, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. Right now, you are saying all the right things, doing what you can to back everything up, but, Max, I’ve seen too much. Endured too much of this life to know that it can change on a dime. One wrong move by someone and you won’t think twice before whisking me and the kids off somewhere safe.

“I can’t lose you.”

“Max,” I sighed. “You still don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“We need you as much as you need us. We are a fucking family, Max, and families work together, not against each other. This club, the brothers, prospects, the wives, kids, me... we’re your family, but you don’t include us in anything. You don’t ask for our opinion. You just order everyone around and expect us to follow. You have everything at your fingertips, and if you’re not careful, you will lose it all. Including me.”

“How do I fix this?”

“You don’t need me to tell you that. You already know. You’ve taken steps in the right direction. What you haven’t done is tell them everything.”

He blinked and sighed. “You’re talking about what Sypher showed you.”

I nodded. “Does everyone know or just the club brothers?”

“Not all the brothers.”

Sighing, I turned to walk away then I stopped and looked at him once more. “You won’t win this war unless you get everyone on board, Max. You can’t protect everyone.”

Dinner at the Golden Skulls’ clubhouse had always been a lively affair, and this night was no different. Brothers sat around, joked, laughed, and ate to their hearts’ content, mainly because Axel’s mother, Maria, cooked a damn feast.

The woman was truly in her element. She made damn sure everyone, including the children, had plenty to eat, but when she brought out dessert, I knew everyone in this place would lay down their life for the older woman.

“Hey, Sis.” Sunny smiled, walking over to me. “Can we talk?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

Looking around the main gathering room, Sunny shook her head. “Not here.”

Frowning, I whispered, getting to my feet, “Okay.”

“Everything okay?” Max asked, a concerned look on his face.

I shrugged my shoulders but said nothing when I took my sister’s hand and walked her toward the offices. Seeing an empty room, I stepped in and closed the door behind us.

Sunny had always been a private person before Sandman, and even more so after the two got together. They had a connection that was on another level. Something only they understood. While the entire club knew they both loved each other, their relationship went beyond what most conventional couples had. Their love was almost spiritual in a way.

Standing in the room, I watched as Sunny quietly paced, nibbling on her thumbnail as she tried to find the right words. I knew my sister wouldn’t just blurt anything out. Whatever was bothering her had to be coaxed out, gently.

“Is everything okay with Soleil?”

She immediately smiled. “Oh yes. She’s wonderful.”

“Has Jax gotten into trouble in school already?”

Shaking her head, she grinned. “Oh no. He’s good. He’s enjoying his classes this year. He’s even thinking of trying out for the football team.”

I chuckled. “And Solomon?”

And there it was, a frown.

Okay. So the issue was with Solomon.

Walking over to her, I took her hands in mine and whispered, “Sunny, breathe. Whatever it is, we will figure it out. What is going on with Solomon?”

“It’s not him. It’s me.”

Confused, I asked, “Okay? What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m pregnant.”

Blowing out a deep breath, I nodded.

Yeah, now I understood the reason for her concern.

“And he doesn’t know yet?”

Sunny shook her head. “I just found out, so I can’t be that far along. Oh God, Remi. How am I going to tell him? It devastated Solomon when we lost the baby. He can’t go through that again.”

“Honey, you both lost a baby. Not just Solomon, and you will not lose this one. I know you’re worried, but this baby is good news. Joyous news. You should be celebrating, not worrying yourself sick over the past. Solomon needs to know he’s going to be a dad again.”

“What if he doesn’t want it?” she whispered.

Hugging my sister, I said, “He does. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

The door flung open, scaring Sunny and me, and we jumped apart.

There, standing in the doorway, was Solomon. The love of my sister’s life, saying absolutely nothing while he stared at his Sunshine.

“Fucking move, asshole,” Max grumbled from behind the large mute man.

Rolling my eyes, I sighed, turning to my sister. “Secrets never stay secret for long in this place.”

“What’s going on?” Bullseye asked, as Solomon still refused to move.

“Fucker’s blocking the door.”

“Why?” Phantom asked.

“I don’t fucking know,” Max snarked.

“Well, did you ask?”

“Gee, Phantom, why didn’t I think of that?”

“Don’t get mouthy with me, asshole,” the club sister barked as Massacre spoke up, “Hey, how come no one invited me to the party?”

“Because no one likes you,” Player deadpanned.

“Shut up, Reggie.”

“Make me, Dwayne.”

Shaking my head, I looked at Sunny and groaned, knowing damn well this was about to turn into a three-ringed circus. “Sweetie, maybe now would be a good time to say something.”

“I think you’re right,” she said, walking over to Solomon and taking his hand. Looking up at the big man, she clearly said, “I’m pregnant.”

Solomon stiffened and his eyes widened.

“I know you’re scared. I am too, but we’re going to be fine this time. Isn’t that right, Remi?”

Walking over, I wrapped my arm around Sunny and nodded. “Absolutely, and this time all of us are going to help, because in nine months the both of you will be holding a new baby in your arms.”

“Baby?” Daphne gasped. “Ink, you promised.”

“Wasn’t me, babe,” the brother quickly replied. “I haven’t told anyone.”

Pushing Solomon to the side, I glared at the gathering that was growing outside the room, my eyes focused on Daphne. “You too?”

Ink’s wife nodded. “We were waiting until I hit my second trimester before we told anyone.”