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Kaz

THIS WAS not how he’d imagined spending the most important day of his life.

His legs hung over the side of the railing on the balcony overlooking the backyard of his father’s clubhouse.

Adoptive father, though the two men who’d adopted him into their family felt more like actual parents than his biological ones ever had.

Granted, those two had been bastards. One worse than the other.

But thinking about his past only served to make him angry and miserable, which was why he was out here to begin with.

He ran his fingers down the leather vest he wore over his dark T-shirt.

It was in pristine condition. It was so new it squeaked when he moved.

It would take a while before it was worn enough to be comfortable.

Before the weight of it felt right. He’d never felt as proud as when his father placed that cut on his shoulders as he was patched in.

He was a Disciple now.

He should’ve been celebrating, drinking his fill, and dragging that club bunny that kept making eyes at him up to his room. Instead, he was out here, pretending there wasn’t a party in his honor downstairs .

He’d overheard the two prospects he’d thought were his friends talking shit about him. Saying that he was a legacy and that was the only reason he’d gotten his cut. That he hadn’t earned it.

He’d worked harder than anyone else to earn his keep since the day Ares and Jace brought him home.

He’d always known he had to prove his worth, and no matter how much Jace tried to convince him it wasn’t necessary among family, he couldn’t shake it.

He’d been doing it his whole life. It was the reason he’d survived on the streets for as long as he did.

Inconveniences got killed or tossed aside.

“I thought I might find you here.”

Kaz didn’t bother looking over his shoulder. He’d known who it was from the footsteps alone.

Jace rested his arms on the top of the railing next to Kaz, gaze tracking the few people standing in the backyard with their drinks, some swaying to the music pouring out through the open patio doors.

“You know I hate when you sit on this thing,” Jace said, disapproval clear in his voice.

A smile tugged at Kaz’s lips.

“I’m not gonna fall.”

He knew the confidence in his voice would only make his dad scoff.

“Oh, that youthful wisdom,” Jace drawled, looking at Kaz with a twinkle in his hazel eyes, the brown more prevalent than the green in the sparse light on the balcony.

“Are you calling yourself old? ”

“I’m still in my twenties, thank you very much.” Jace shook his head, a soft smile finding his lips. “I fell at your age.”

Kaz snorted. He knew exactly what kind of falling Jace was talking about. Love and relationships weren’t anywhere on his radar. He was perfectly content to only have fun.

“I’m just saying, there are things we think we will or won’t do when we’re young. Things change all the time at your age. A few ill-timed words and everything can change.”

Kaz clamped his mouth shut.

Fuck. Jace knew why he’d gone out here.

He didn’t want to meet his dad’s gaze, but he knew Jace would keep staring at him until he did, so he turned his head, fingers wrapping around the edge of the handrail. Those dark eyes were filled with understanding, but all it did was make his stomach lock up in a tight knot.

“Don’t ever let anyone take your happiness away from you. The only person who should ever have that kind of power over you is yourself.”

He swallowed hard, seeing the truth behind Jace’s words so fucking clearly.

Jace had learned it the hard way. Hell, he had, too.

It was just… life was never easy, was it?

He’d certainly never had it easy. Junkie parents who hated him more than they hated each other.

Living on the streets had been better than living with them.

It had been easier, too, a lot of the time.

It had still sucked and the hunger, the fear, and the sick shit he’d seen still haunted his nightmares, and yet, he preferred it over living with those two assholes.

“I know,” he muttered, gaze dropping from Jace’s when he couldn’t stand it any longer.

Jace never hid how much he loved him, and he was always the most vocal about it out of the three of them.

Ares was more of a quiet support, though he said the words, too.

Being loved still felt strange to him. There was always that little voice in the back of his head trying to convince him it wasn’t real.

But loving Jace and Ares came with its own set of challenges because of how fucking vulnerable it made him feel.

If there was one thing he hated, it was exposing his heart.

This life he’d built, this family he was a part of, could so easily be taken away, and the fear of that often stumped him. He wasn’t sure what to do about it.

The door didn’t creak, nor did the floor, and yet he knew someone had stepped onto the balcony with them.

He ignored the man and let his head fall forward, shame burning inside him.

He should be stronger than this. He shouldn’t have let a few words draw him away from the party he’d looked forward to for years.

Since his first ride on a motorcycle. Since he understood exactly what being a full-patch member of the Disciples truly meant.

It wasn’t just the family you gained or the brotherhood, it was that feeling of belonging somewhere. Of being worthy of it all.

Normally, he would’ve just slammed his fist into those boys’ faces for talking shit, but their words had hit him tonight. That was the part he loathed. The part he thought made him weak and useless. He’d let words get to him.

“How ‘bout you get your ass down from this damned railing and we go celebrate?”

He looked up at Jace, smiling wryly .

“I’m fine,” he lied.

A huff had them both looking at the man still standing by the door, his tattooed arms crossed over his chest. He raised a brow at Kaz, then glanced at his husband. Something flashed through his blue eyes as they roamed over Jace. Something Kaz saw often enough to recognize in an instant.

“Fucking hell,” he mumbled under his breath.

Ares stalked toward Jace who turned, leaning back against the railing, head tilted to the side as he narrowed his eyes.

“You want to get him off the railing and back inside?” Ares said, hands grasping Jace’s hips to jerk him against his bigger body. “I know just the way.”

“Ares,” Jace complained, though his next words were cut off by Ares’ mouth on his.

Kaz swung his legs over the railing and jumped down onto the balcony floor, taking off toward the door, and rolled his eyes only because he knew Ares couldn’t see it.

He was reaching for the handle when Ares spoke again.

“Kaz?”

He didn’t look back, knowing he’d likely have to bleach his eyes at the sight of those two with their hands all over each other.

“Tell them they can enjoy the rest of their night by polishing all the bikes.”

Kaz was smirking as he stepped through the door and into the hallway. He was going to do exactly that and then he was going to make sure all his hard work was worth the colors on his back.