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She nodded. “I was in college and had just moved in to my own apartment. My mom was totally against it. She told me that if I took him in, she’d cut me off.

So, she did.” Charley cleared her throat, trying to fight against her emotions.

It had been a long time since she’d revisited the beginning of the end.

“I couldn’t afford both, so I dropped out and used my tuition money to send him back to rehab.

I got a fulltime job, and he’s been with me ever since. ”

“When was last time you spoke to her?” He asked.

“Years ago.” Charley gulped. “I understand she needed to protect her new family. Cody is unpredictable when he’s using.

But I couldn’t turn my back on him. And as much as she didn’t agree with my choices, I have no regrets.

Because one day when he gets better and is finally able to see life clearly, he’s going to stay on track knowing that he always had someone in his corner. ”

Nash arched his brow. “You believe that?”

“I have to,” she whispered. It was the only thing that kept her going.

Nash sat back in his chair and smiled.

“What?”

He cupped his mouth and chuckled. “I should probably let you go. Keeping you in my world is selfish. You’re too good.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and the blood drained from her face. A cool air sifted over her skin, and her flesh broke out in goose bumps. Being open and honest was meant to bring them closer, not drive him away.

Nash’s smile faltered. “Come here.”

Charley dropped her feet to the floor, placed her glass on the table and walked around the coffee table. She was a foot away when Nash reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her down on the couch next to him..

He grasped her jaw, scanning her face and brushing his lips against hers. “I said I should. I’m not going to.”

Then he kissed her.

****

Nash circled his arm around her back, pulling her over his chest. He would’ve been fine with tabling the conversation for the night. But she had other plans.

“Your turn,” she mumbled against his lips.

The last thing Nash wanted was to break away from their kiss. But he’d promised. And for her, he’d never break one. He ended the kiss and pulled away only a fraction. He slid his hand down her neck and over her shoulder, caressing her skin.

“What do you want to know?”

She widened her eyes. “You’ll tell me anything?”

No. There would always be aspects of his life that would never touch Charley.

It had little to do with trust and loyalty.

Nash would keep her shielded. Safe and protected.

It was a mindset he’d seen with Trey, Rogue, and Oz, and he’d follow in their footsteps and their lead. But Charley didn’t have to know that.

However, he wouldn’t discount what Inez said. Keeping her in the complete dark wasn’t fair or safe. He’d balance the information given. Enough so she would openly know the dangers of his world but not enough to involve her in the Underground.

“What do you want to know?”

She snuggled in closer, dropping her hand to his thigh.

It sent heat through his blood. The last thing he was thinking of was his past. Nash had always been the type to look forward, not behind.

It had worked. But he’d never been with anyone he wanted to keep.

Charley didn’t just want the man seated in front of her.

She wanted all of Nash. And for the first time in his life, he’d give it.

“How long have you worked for Oz?”

“I’ve been with Oz since I was twenty.”

Charley shifted her eyes to his hand, and slid her finger over his knuckles. Clearly avoiding eye contact, which should’ve prepared him for her next question.

“What exactly is your role in the Underground?”

Nash steeled his response, drawing in a deep breath but calmly enough not to raise any red flags on her end.

He wasn’t sure who enlightened her to his world, but someone had.

I’d bet money on Inez. Though he couldn’t count out Penny.

There was no easy answer, and he wouldn’t give her full honesty for her own protection.

“I work directly under Oz, who runs the state.” Nash paused. “His second-in-command, some would say.”

“Illegal stuff?”

Fuck.

“Some, not all. The club is a legal venture among other businesses.”

Charley slowly nodded, but she fully understood what he was saying. Fuck, I’m losing her. Nash tightened his hold over her shoulder, and surprisingly she curled into his side willingly.

“I’m not a good guy to most people, Charley.” He curled his hand over her chin, forcing her to look at him. “But I will be to you.”

It was a promise, a vow, Nash would lay down everything, his own life, for this woman. He half expected Charley to get up, walk out, and never look back. And he wouldn’t blame her. She deserved so much more. Instead, she turned in his arms, cocking her head.

“What about before you started working with Oz?”

Nash sighed. It had been a long time since he’d revisited his past that far back.

“I lived with my father, no siblings. My mother died when I was two.”

“How?”

He slid his finger over her arm. “She OD’d.”

She shifted closer, squeezing his hand. “I’m sorry.”

Her sympathy stemmed from her pure heart, not his.

“Don’t be. I don’t remember her.”

Charley slid her hand up his chest, stilling over his heart. “That doesn’t matter. You still lost her. Had to live your life without your mom, not knowing her.” Her eyes welled. “I’m sorry, Nash.”

He clenched his jaw. Fuck, I don’t deserve her.

“And your father raised you?”

Nash snorted, breaking out into a smile. Charley was different from him. Raising him was a stretch.

“I lived with him, yes. Learned the family business and joined when I was fourteen.”

She smiled and sat up. “What kind of business?”

“Drug dealing.”

Her shoulders sagged and the corners of her mouth pulled down in a severe frown. For someone like Charley, who’d lived a somewhat idyllic childhood, this would be unrelatable.

“Oh,” she whispered. “You sold drugs for him?”

“Yes.”

For Nash it had been a way of life and the only one he knew. Obviously, he was aware most kids his age weren’t working the streets like he did. But it was his norm, and he hadn’t thought much of it. Seeing Charley’s response hit him to the depths of his soul.

He cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. He made an effort to relax his features. The whole conversation was bringing on stress, and he wouldn’t add to it.

“That’s not a childhood.” She muttered.

No, it wasn’t. Nash had been robbed of his youth.

He strummed his thumb over her cheek. “Keep asking.”

“What happened to your dad?”

“Enjoyed the product a little too much. He followed the same fate as my mother when I was nineteen. I had connections, worked my way into and within the Underground to prove myself.” Nash slid his finger across her cheek. Charley was completely invested in his story. In me.

“I was pretty tight with Ace and Cross. They were with me when I got my first bike.” Nash smirked. “The one you like.”

Her mouth fell open, and she smiled. “Really?”

“Yeah. Worked under Inez for a while and got close to the club. Could’ve stayed with them. But I was given a few opportunities by Oz. I liked working under him. Saw a future so I chose that path with no regrets.”

Not one. Nash had made the right choice in following Oz’s lead.

Her eyes widened. “You could’ve been a biker?”

That’s what she was focusing on? He laughed, shaking his head.

“Would you rather I’d been in the MC?” he teased.

“No,” she blurted. “Of course not. I’m just glad you kept the bike.”

Me too. All he’d gone through, everyone he’d met along the way, made him who he was today. He’d never be society’s idea of a good man. He didn’t have to be as long as Charley saw him that way. She wiggled on the couch, moving in closer. Exactly where I want her.

Charley suddenly got quiet and the mood shifted.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

Charley drew in a breath. “Do you know where my brother is? I mean, with everything he was hiding and the cops trying to set Zeke up, which I don’t know if it’s true, but…” She glanced up at him. “Do you think they lied about him being in rehab? ’Cause Zeke said he called him.”

Ah, fuck. Nash knew this would eventually come up but he hadn’t prepared for it just yet.

Everything pointed to Mitchell and Becker still having Cody with them.

That was a good sign. Nash had no doubt they’d find them all, but it would take some time.

He wasn’t about to allow her to stress over it until then. Sometimes a lie was necessary.

“Zeke lied. Your brother is in rehab. I’ve confirmed it.”

She exhaled and her lips spread into a smile. “Thank you.”

Nash was making it his top priority to find her brother. What he would actually do to him was still up in the air.

“Can I ask you another question?”

Nash need to shift the subject.

“Me first.” He slid his finger over her cheek, brushing the stray hair away. It had been a something he’d pondered for the last few hours. Asking Oz was fruitless, he wouldn’t share but maybe Charley would.

“What did Oz whisper in your ear in regards to Noelle?”

“That’s between me and Oz.” Charley broke out in a smile. “You two have your secrets and now we have ours.”

Touche.

“Was that one of things he told you to say if I asked?”

Charley shrugged, clearly biting back her chuckle. He’d let it go. For now.

“You’re up. What do you want to know?”

She scrunched her nose. So fucking cute. And all fucking mine.

“It feels a little late to ask considering everything we’ve been through and done, up until this point.”

Nash was intrigued. “Ask.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Is Nash your first name or last name?”

Oh kitten, you’re in for a real fucking treat.

“Middle. It was my mother’s maiden name. I’ve always gone by it since I was little. My last name is Sorrento.”

“Oh.’ She smiled. “And what’s your first?”

Nash smirked. “Charles.”

Charley blinked.

Yes, kitten. Charlie and Charley.