Page 22

TWENTY-TWO

EVELIN

“Don’t leave the clubhouse,” Fire commands before joining the rest of the members of the club behind closed doors.

Without everyone in the room, it feels just what it is . . . empty. Not that it’s exactly empty. My mom is still here, though she’s moved to the bar and at the moment was pouring herself a drink. Scotch was also sitting on one of the stools.

“What are you still doing here?” I ask, making my way toward him.

“Was waiting to make sure you were good before heading back,” Scotch remarks, holding a beer in his hand.

“You’re drinking a beer? Now?” Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Okay, so maybe there’s a little something wrong with it. I mean, it’s barely noon.

“Yeah, you know it’s five o’clock somewhere.” Scotch shrugs.

“Oh, give me a break,” Mom snaps and looks at me. “He’s not looking forward to getting back to the clubhouse and filling Irish in on the fact you now know the truth.”

“It’s not something he wanted out there,” Scotch admits and takes a sip of his beer, eyes on me. “You gotta understand, the woman who birthed you both started out as one type of woman, got what she wanted, and ended up being another type. No one knew she was pregnant with you until Herja came and spoke with Irish’s pops. The club was dealing with some serious shit at the time. Now, with Pops gone, Irish just wants the past to stay in the past.”

“Great, so my biological brother wants to keep his past in the past, and that includes the fact I was born,” I say a bit harshly. “I can’t blame him though, I’m not?—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Evelin,” Mom snaps, her hand coming down on top of mine with a stinging swat. “You’re wanted, and you’re more special than you realize.”

“On that note, I’m heading out,” Scotch announces, sets his empty beer bottle on the bar top, and gets to his feet, eyes on me. “You be careful, darlin’. You need anything, you know my number. Same goes for Irish. He might be pissed the info is now out there, but he’s loved you all your life.”

Scotch leans in, kisses my cheek, and walks out of the clubhouse without so much as a glance backward.

I wait a long moment for the door to close behind him before looking at my mom. “What do you mean more special than I realize? I don’t understand.”

My mom takes a moment, like she’s deciding her words, and leans down on her elbows. “You know, once Fire claimed you, you became his. Not just with this club, but in life in general. The moment you two connected, his life sealed itself to yours. More so than just that, the child you’ll carry within your body will be about to weld the gifts of not just his father but Freyja herself. Twins, if I remember correctly. Each set of twins will have a set of their own.” She waves a hand nonchalantly and continues. “Each twin will hold the gift of the father or mother and that of their grandmother, but not all of Freyja’s. Each child will share one of each of hers.”

“Okay, it’s freaky, you talking about one child, let alone twins, Mom, but that’s not happening right now. I’m on birth control, and we’re nowhere near ready for something as important as being parents. It also doesn’t say anything about why I’m so special, I might note.”

“Don’t you get it, sweetheart?” Mom doesn’t wait for me to answer. “What makes you special is that you were meant for Fire. To be by his side. To carry the children you will carry. But more importantly, that you are who you are. Just being you is what’s special. Fire has always seen you as special, just like your brother and each member of this club who has watched you grow into the woman you are. Just as I knew the moment I held you in my arms the first time.”

Tears swell in my eyes at her words. I know my mom loves me. She’s shown over the years that I was loved, but she’s never said anything like that to me before.

Mom moves from around the bar and comes to me, pulling me in her arms.

Our moment was broken by women snickering across the room, causing both of us to look in that direction. I inwardly groan at the sight of the skanky bitches.

My mom must read my vibes because she pulls away and cocks a brow at me. “What did they do?” she demands.

Sighing heavily, I tell her about the kiss Chellie planted on Fire after we got to the clubhouse. It still bugs me she did that, but what she and her little friends did yesterday morning gets to me most. I don’t understand why women have to be so ugly toward each other. They have to be conniving and backstabbing toward one another. Unlike men who just go fist-for-fist, they do sneak attacks.

I guess I have my mom to thank for not being like them. She raised me to face my problems and surely not to act like a skanky hoe.

“You need to teach those hora s they don’t fuck with you,” Mom announces, eyes narrowing.

“I told Fire that I would if they tried anything again.” In truth, I want to shred their eyes out and slam their heads against the tables, maybe even break some chairs while hitting them with them.

“Nope,” Mom snaps, shaking her head. “You need to deal with this now. Screw the consequences. I’ll deal with them for you if need be. But you have to prove to those horas that you’re not to be messed with. They need to know their place is not ahead of you. You’re an ol’ lady, and they’re no more than a pair of legs to spread at any given time. They’re definitely not ol’ lady material for any of the men here in this club.”

“What do you want me to do? Waltz over there and beat them up?”

“That’s exactly what I want you to do.” She nods, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. “Go over there and teach them you are not a woman to be messed with. You’re an ol’ lady, but more, you’re the daughter of a Valkyrie, and we don’t back down or give in. Now, do it.”

With a slight shove, I make my way across the room, eyeing each of the women sitting there. Chellie is the first to stand, the others following suit.

What happens next, I’m totally blaming them for. They had it coming and need to know I’m not going anywhere.