Page 20 of The Secrets We Keep (Sovereign Sons MC: North Carolina #1)
SOPHIE
Telling Asher about Grayson went better than I could have expected. He is elated to have Grayson as his father. I was terrified that he would be mad at me for keeping Grayson from him, but in my son’s true fashion, he is just happy.
I feel an immense sense of relief now that everyone knows the truth. The last thing I ever wanted was to keep Asher a secret from his father. I had no choice, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t eat away at me every single day.
After talking with Asher, he and Grayson go take showers and get ready for the day.
Luckily, it’s Monday, so we didn’t have to send Asher to his first day of school after the news we dropped on him.
I probably would have kept him home anyways, since it’s a lot to take in, but at least now he has two days to sit with the news.
When the boys are getting ready, I take a look at the burns on my arm.
The last few days have been a whirlwind, so the pain has been a second thought.
Honestly, it looks so much better than it first did.
The burn cream is really helping it heal fast, and the pain has been at a minimum.
I’m just thankful that Flo is letting me keep my job, since I won’t be able to work for two weeks, thanks to Gray’s orders.
Asher rushes out of his room as he’s still zipping up his jeans, like he’s scared he’ll miss out on something if he doesn’t hurry. I just smile and shake my head at him.
“Did you remember to brush your teeth?”
He rolls his eyes. “Mama, I can’t be worried about my teeth right now. I just found my dad; I’m not missing anything.”
My chest aches at his words.
“I’m not going anywhere, bud,” Grayson tells him as he enters the room.
He’s fresh from the shower and sporting a dark pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
His feet are clad in black boots, and his dark hair is wavy and still damp from his shower.
He looks like sin. “But your teeth will be leaving your mouth if you don’t take care of them.
Why don’t you go brush your teeth and then all of us will go downstairs and tell everyone the good news? ”
Asher’s face breaks into a huge smile. “Yes!”
I watch as our son rushes back into the bathroom and hear the water start a moment later. It’ll be nice to have someone to co-parent with. Asher is a great kid, but sometimes he just doesn’t want to listen to his mom.
“Thank you for that,” I murmur as Grayson walks over to me and pulls me into his arms.
The move is unexpected. I know that my feelings for Grayson have never changed, but I didn’t think that he would want to be around me, let alone want to have me in his arms, after everything.
“I have a lot of parenting to make up for,” Grayson murmurs into my hair. “The least I can do is help you out.”
I sigh against his chest. He smells incredible. A perfect mix of woodsy and clean. “Do you think everyone is going to hate me? More than they already do, I should say.”
He squeezes me tighter. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, but none of them hate you.
They didn’t know the truth behind why you left; they were upset for me.
I’ll tell them all the truth, though. They deserve to know what kind of man your father really was.
My dad already knows,” he whispers, making me draw back.
“I told him last night when I was upset. I think he’s going to be really happy to be a grandpa,” he adds with a smile.
My chest aches at the thought of Grayson’s family.
His brother and sister are going to be an amazing uncle and aunt.
His parents are going to be the best grandparents.
They’re all people that Asher has been missing out on for the past six years, and I can’t wait for him to get to spend time with them. For him to finally have his family.
Asher rushes back into the great room, wiping the toothpaste from the corner of his mouth. “I’m ready.”
We break apart and chuckle at him as we make our way out of the suite. Asher doesn’t leave Grayson’s side as we make our way through the clubhouse, and it makes my heart swell in pride seeing them together. Asher is so much like his father. Not just in the way he looks, but in his mannerisms.
When we walk into the main room as a family, a hush falls over the room.
Then everyone erupts into cheers. My shoulders sag in relief and tears fill my eyes.
Rowan walks over and wraps me in a big hug and tears fall down my cheeks as I cry into his chest. Next is Axel and Chef who both whisper how happy they are.
Grayson’s voice booms through the room drawing everyone’s attention.
“I have an announcement to make!” The room falls silent.
“Some of you have already found out, but for those of you who don’t know, this is my son Asher!
” He calls out as he pulls Asher into his side.
I watch on with a smile as Asher beams at his dad.
Then Grayson’s smile falls on me. “Sophie didn’t have a choice in leaving,” he continues making my breath stutter in my chest. “I think that you all deserve to know the truth about John Parker. He loathed his daughter for no fault of her own. He was desperate to have an heir for this club, and Sophie could never be that for him. We all know that John could be an asshole, but I don’t think any of us knew the extent of his issues.
He found out that Sophie was pregnant before she was able to tell me.
He choked her. Hit her,” he says through clenched teeth.
“He threatened her. He threatened our son. He threatened me. Sophie left because it was the only thing she could do to keep all of us safe. Not because she wanted to. John would have been able to keep tabs on her every move because of his connections with the club.”
He reaches out a hand for me and pulls me toward him until his arm is wrapped around me and Asher is in front of us.
“Sophie was always mine and now that she’s back, that’s not going to change.
I’m claiming Sophie as my old lady.” His proclamation is met with boisterous cheers . I’m left speechless.
“Old lady” is the title given to wives and serious girlfriends of a member.
Sometimes the men don’t even claim their wives as their old lady.
It means that the woman is it for you. She’s your person.
There will never be anyone else for them.
It’s bigger than marriage or kids. It’s forever in the MC world .
The cheers in the room finally die down and then laughter fills the room. “That’s rich since you were with me last night,” Candy’s voice calls out.
My stomach plummets. Grayson doesn’t owe me anything, we aren’t together, or we weren’t until he publicly announced it today. Hearing that he spent the night with Candy is like a knife in the chest. Until I remember that Grayson came to my room last night.
“Candy,” Grayson’s dad’s voice booms through the room.
Kurt strides into the room and through the growing crowd.
He stops in front of us and turns to face her.
“Don’t fucking lie. I saw you lead a very drunk Grayson away from the stairway and toward the guestrooms. I followed you because I saw how Grayson could hardly stand.
When you put him in the room and tossed him on the bed, I heard him say no.
I saw you lower his jeans and briefs after that.
If I hadn’t been there, you would have sexually assaulted the president of this club. ”
Murmurs break out amongst the crowd as Candy’s face pales.
“You thought that you could lie about what happened and make my old lady feel like I betrayed her?” Grayson growls.
“It’s a good thing you’re here, though, because you already would have been being dealt a punishment after what you did last night.
My dad told you as much. Now, you’ll also be dealt a punishment for lying to Sophie. ”
Candy’s anger is palpable as she strides forward. “You could have been a great president. John wanted that for you. He saw your potential. That’s why he set me up to be with you. He knew that I would lead you in the right direction. Away from her,” she spits in my direction.
My blood boils. My father wanted her to be with Gray? Abso-fucking-lutely not. I step forward to take care of her myself, but Grayson pulls me back.
“I told you that if you messed with Sophie again, you’d be out of here.
I told you that if you kept pursuing me, even though I was clearly uninterested, you’d be out of here.
You tried to assault me while I was intoxicated and trying to go home to my woman and child.
As president of this club, I have the power to ban you for life.
” Candy’s gasp rings out. “Candy. You are no longer welcome in this club, effective immediately. You will leave now. One of the guys will pack up your shit. This is a lifetime banishment. If you try to come around, I’ll actually let Sophie handle you. Now, get out of my fucking sight.”
With that, he turns us around and leads us toward the sitting area. We can hear Candy struggle as they take her out of the clubhouse. We take seats on the large sectional and Rowan and Kurt join us.
“That lady was really mean,” Asher says after a moment.
Kurt chuckles. “Yeah, she was.”
“Asher, I want you to meet your Uncle Rowan and your Grandpa Kurt,” Grayson introduces them.
Asher turns a little shy at that moment and the guys sense it.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Asher. I know that your grandma is going to be so happy to meet you,” Kurt tells him softly. Asher gives him a small smile in return. “How would you guys feel about coming to dinner? We can have the whole family together.”
“Family,” Asher murmurs reverently.
“Yeah, bud,” Grayson rasps. “Family.”