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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

DRAKE

G riz gave me a lift to the compound, where I had a spare ride to get me home. His hands strangled the steering wheel.

“She’s all right,” I told him.

“If this shit sets her back.” Hands tightening again, his knuckles turned white.

“It won’t. Over the last few weeks, we’ve all noticed a difference. It’s like she wants to live again. Like the heartbreak has settled enough inside her that she can breathe. Even after that crap happened and we got outside, she relaxed again.”

“She’ll have to tell us when she wants to go places. She’ll need protection anywhere else other than here, work, the compound—if she goes back there—and her therapist.”

“I doubt she’ll put up a fight about havin’ someone with her.” Now she’d do it so she didn’t worry the rest of us.

Griz grunted.

What he didn’t know was that I’d be at my little birdy’s beck and call every damn day if she gave me a chance.

But I’d been placed in the friend zone, which continued to be a knife to the heart. Still, I’d have her time, her smiles, her laughs in any way I could get them.

She’d stolen my damn organ years ago.

It’d crushed me when I saw her with Lockland. The love of her life. But it’d shattered me when I heard her cries from the car after she’d lost him.

My beautiful birdy was slowly putting her soul back together after the devastating blow. She was not only stunning but strong. She probably didn’t feel it, but I could see her strength. Everyone around her did too. All we could do was support her in every way possible as she tried to find herself again.

“You’re Talon’s son.”

I stilled for a beat, then glanced over to Griz, who was watching the road. “Not somethin’ new to me, brother.”

His jaw ticked. “Your father is the closest friend and brother to me. Hell, we’re more than brothers. We’re all family.”

Where was he going with this?

“And?”

His upper lip flickered as he glanced over with a glare, then back to the road. “And if you fuckin’ hurt my daughter, no matter who your dad is, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you.”

What the fuck?

“Don’t know what you’re on about,” I tried.

How the hell did he know I was in love with his daughter?

“Boy, I ain’t stupid. I see the way you look at her. I know you’ve been watchin’ her after her sessions with the doc to make sure she gets to her car, because I’ve been there a few times too. She might not have a clue, but I saw it clearly, and you, boy, need to be goddamn sure your feelin’s are true and not some twisted little kid’s?—”

“I’m twenty-fuckin’-two,” I reminded him. Hated it when they called me boy. Christ, sometimes I even felt older than I already was.

“I fuckin’ know that. You sayin’ this isn’t some schoolboy crush? That if she’d have you, you’d claim her as your old lady?”

“Yes,” I clipped, pissed he thought I was too young to have these strong feelings for the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. In our world, we didn’t know how long our lives would be. Lockland was proof enough. Anything could happen. More so when being a part of the club.

That first moment Swan took my breath away, I knew I’d do anything to make her happy. Even if it wasn’t me she wanted.

Which was why I told Griz, “But she’s gotta find herself again through all the sorrow, and I know that’s still gonna take a long time. I won’t put any pressure on her. Hell, I won’t even confess my feelin’s. She’s in control. If her path leads to me in the end, then I’ll be damn blessed to have her as mine. If it doesn’t and she finds another, then, even if it fuckin’ kills me, I’d wish her well and leave her be.”

“Fuck you, brother,” Griz ground out.

I jerked my head around to him. “What the hell for?”

“For makin’ me think that if my daughter does choose you, she’ll be in good hands. I hate that I fuckin’ like you, Dragon. I wanted to hate you for havin’ those feelin’s for my girl, but you made me see she’ll be lucky to have you. Hope it works out for the both of you.” His grip tightened once more around the steering wheel.

I snorted. “Do you really hope that, ’cause the way you’re stranglin’ that wheel makes me think you wish it was my neck.”

He grinned coldly. “A man can still dream. You gotta remember, in my eyes, she’ll always be my little girl.”

“I know, Griz.”

He grunted again as we pulled into the compound driveway, waiting for the gates to open.

It was damn nice to know Griz gave me his blessing. But that was only if the woman of my dreams saw me as more than a friend.

* * *

My brother, Cody—Coyote was his club name—moved in with his woman, Channa, a long time ago, leaving his apartment above his Harley store free. That was until he’d offered it to me a month ago.

My twin, Ruby, had been pissed I got offered over her. Cody didn’t ask her, as he didn’t want to enable her and Dillon’s relationship.

Chuckling at the thought, I shook my head as I unlocked the door.

It was too late for that since their relationship was already heading towards marriage. Made me sick with how lovestruck Dillon was when he looked at my sister.

At least he was a good guy.

Thank fuck for that, or it wouldn’t only be me after him. I still remembered the first time he’d come to our place for dinner. Dad had taken his knives out and threatened him. Cody had backed Dad up with the threat, and later, I’d tested him to see how he’d take a little teasing. He handled it well until I’d picked on my sister, and then the dick had punched me.

Good times , I thought as I walked through the store to the stairs that led me up to offices and then out the back where my place sat. I entered the open-plan dining, kitchen, and living area.

It was a good apartment, which was why I’d jumped at the chance for a space without the rest of my family in it. I was a selfish arse when it came to my alone time.

Now I could jack off whenever I wanted without risking Mum, Dad, or Ruby walking in on me.

I had my first sexual encounter when I was sixteen. Not that anyone knew. It’d been a girl from school, and I’d gone back to her place to play some video games. I never thought we’d be screwing until it happened.

I’d had a few other women since then, until I spotted Swan one day at the compound and the air had lodged itself in my throat from the sight of her.

She’d been in a red top, which left her back exposed, and a pair of blue jeans with bare feet.

The clothes weren’t anything special, but they were clinging to her beautiful curves as the sun had shone down on her, almost making her glow.

Her hair had been near white when she was younger. It had darkened over the years, and she’d since dyed it at a salon. She must have just had it done that time that everything changed for me. It fell in waves over her right shoulder. She’d had her elbows to the picnic table and a book in her hand. I didn’t know if she knew, but her lips slightly moved sometimes when she read.

I hadn’t been able to tear my eyes away from her.

My cock had swelled. My heart had jumped around under my ribs like it was on crack. I’d wanted to touch the back of her neck and run my fingers down over her warm flesh to where her jeans covered her round arse.

That was the day I’d woken up.

It was the day I finally saw what beauty really was.

And since then, I’d been a goner for Swan Daniels.

She thought my flirting was me just trying to be an idiot or test out lines on her. It never had.

Sometimes I even cringed at the shit that came out of my mouth, but I’d just wanted to see her smile or get her to blush or laugh or playfully shove me as she rolled her eyes.

I honestly scared myself by how much I wanted to be around her. If I could glue myself to her, I would. That shit was messed up. She didn’t see me as anything but a friend.

And even if her feelings changed and she grew to love me, I couldn’t ever let her know just how possessive and obsessed I was over her.

“Christ,” I bit out as I stalked to the refrigerator and pulled open the door. I grabbed out a beer and unscrewed the cap to take a long drink.

When would I get to see her again? I wanted it to be tomorrow and the next day and the next. But I wasn’t too much of a stalker yet.

I hung back when she went in and out from her appointments. I was there in case someone recognised her in her vulnerable state and started hounding her. The only time I’d made myself known was when I’d seen her crying, and I couldn’t help but fulfill the need to comfort her.

My sweet little birdy was in pain.

I wanted to fix everything for her, but there was nothing I could do.

Sighing, I went to the couch and pulled out my phone before I slouched onto the leather. I scrolled through some sites, typing in Swan’s or Lockland’s name to see if anything new popped up.

Nothing did, thank fuck. It burned my gut knowing that she’d seen some of the crap people had spewed online about her.

No one knew her like I did. Like her family did. Like the club did. She’d never hurt a damn fly, and I knew she wished it’d been her taken away instead of Lockland. But I wasn’t sure I would have survived without her. I was that gone that I worried I’d want to follow.

There was no one else for me. Swan would be the only woman I loved.

Even if she didn’t love me back.

So if I could, I’d thank Lockland for his sacrifice to keep her alive. He’d always be her first love, but I could only hope I’d be her last.

Ruin’s name popped up on my screen. I pressed Accept and put the phone to my ear, saying, “Hey, brother. What’re you doin’? Besides Wolf, that is.”

“How do you know I’m not doing him?” Wolf’s sophisticated and slightly accented voice came through the phone.

“Doesn’t bother me who’s givin’ or takin’,” I said.

Ruin chuckled. “Anyway, neither of us are balls deep, and why the fuck would I call you when we were?”

“I don’t know all your kinks.”

“You know some?” Wolf asked with an edge.

“Relax, I haven’t touched your man, and I never will. Before Wolf wants to kill me?—”

“Too late.”

I laughed, knowing he was full of shit. He’d never hurt Ruin in any way. “What’re you callin’ for?”

“The first weekend of next month we’re headin’ to Pick and Billy’s bar. Want to come along?”

A ride to Melbourne sounded like fucking heaven. At least I had enough time to organise a free weekend.

“I’m down.”

“Wicked, brother. Already got Texas to keep that weekend free. He’ll bring Maya no doubt, and I told them to talk Swan into it. Josie, Nary, and Rommy would love to see those girls.”

Could Maya talk Swan into it? At least the pub was a club-owned business. It meant there’d be more protection for the women.

“Already lookin’ forward to it. Are we welcome to stay at the mansion, Wolf?”

The man huffed. “I suppose I could fit you all in.” There was a kissing sound.

I snorted at his words. “Fit us in.” Right.

Wolf’s place was like a damn palace. Hell, I’d only been there a few times, and I got lost whenever I walked through the joint.

“I’ll see if Ruby and Dillon want to join too.”

“As long as your father doesn’t hunt us down if they share a room.”

Scoffing, I said, “Dad already knows I’ll keep a good eye on them.” And I would, but those two were already going at it like rabbits. I’d caught them one day, and it’d scar me for the rest of my life.

I didn’t mind being the cockblocker for my sister one bit. It wasn’t like she could be a brat to anyone I was interested in.

As far as I knew, it was only Griz who noticed my interest…. Fuck me, what if everyone knew but Swan?

No one had said anything.

After a goodbye to Ruin and Wolf, I ran a hand through my hair. My fingers snagged on a few knots. I really had to get it trimmed. But that was a concern for another day. Right then, I was too tweaked thinking that everyone else had read me like Griz had.

How the hell did I find out if others had figured it out? I couldn’t exactly ask them. Unless I hinted at an attraction to someone and heard what they said.

But who did I start with?