Page 16 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Fourteen

Ash

D elivering coffee to my girl was one hundred percent worth the ass chewing I got from Dirk. He told me I was supposed to be taking this time to get acclimated. I am. There isn’t a better way to adjust than a camping trip in the great outdoors.

I’m back in town now, calming everyone’s nerves, but I’m really in town to pick up a new phone for Lex.

Dirk told me that she had him destroy her old one, but I don’t want her to be without.

Plus, this gives me the chance to program it safely.

At least that’s what I tell myself when I set it up so I can track her.

But don’t worry, she’ll also be able to see my location. This isn’t one-sided.

I bump into JD as I’m headed out the door.

“Ash, it’s good to see you brother,” he says, hugging me with a heavy pat on the back.

“Damn, man. Married life looks good on you,” I tell him. He’s as happy as I’ve ever seen him. He fucking deserves it, though. He’s a good man. I’ve spent many late nights in deep conversation with him.

“I’m just grabbing a new phone charger. Our puppy chewed the fuck out of mine. Why don’t you head over to the house? I’ll grill up some steaks.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” I’m anxious to get back on the mountain.

“Come on. My old lady really wants to meet you.”

I would like to talk to her about Lex, but …

“I’m not taking no for an answer, fucker. Get going.” He swats my ass with his hat.

“Alright. I won’t scare her pulling up unannounced, will I?” My sister told me Elizabeth went through some pretty traumatic shit in her past. I sure don’t want to trigger her in any way.

JD places a hand on my chest. “Thank you for your concern. I’ll give her a call and let her know you’re heading over.”

I start to back away from him.

“Damn it’s good to see you out and about,” he says again as he opens the door.

We give each other a parting wave before he disappears inside.

I’m anxious to meet the woman who’s made a connection with Lexie. As soon as I pull in, I see her waiting for me on the porch. Holy shit. Way to go JD. The woman is incredibly beautiful. A golden retriever puppy jumps excitedly around her feet.

“You must be Ash.”

My gaze bounces around the junkyard. “The one and only, but I’m not sure where I’m at.”

She laughs. “It looks a little different around here, huh?”

I nod, running my hand over my mouth. “I like it though.”

“Come on in. I just pulled a fresh batch of cookies from the oven.”

The promise of a warm homemade dessert has me jogging up the stairs. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

JD’s house has always been welcoming, but his new wife’s presence seems to make it even more so.

“I’ve been excited to meet you,” she says over her shoulder as she arranges cookies on a plate. “Coffee?”

“Yeah, that would be great.” I lower myself into a chair. “I’ve been anxious to meet you too.”

She sets everything on the table and then takes the seat across from me. We’re quiet for a few minutes as we each enjoy our refreshments.

“These are good.”

“Thank you. Baking helps keep my mind busy.”

Her smile widens when I reach for another one. “Did my sister have a hand in planting the trees out front?”

“Oh my gosh, your sister has been invaluable to me when it comes to our plants and trees. Willow has quite the green thumb.”

Warmth settles in my chest as I listen to her talk about my sister so kindly with love in her eyes. I’ll forever be in debt to Willow for bringing us here.

Elizabeth continues to tell me about her and Willow’s plan for planting wildflowers around the community and countryside to help the bees.

She pauses to take a breath. “I’m sorry. I could go on for days about my silly little projects. Oh! Wait here, I have something for you.”

Her puppy follows hot on her heels. I hear some shuffling, then she’s back by my side.

“I’m knitting one for all of the club members. I was going to give it to you at your party, but since you’re here … I couldn’t wait.”

My fingers dip into the softness of the blanket she places in my hands. It’s army green.

“Thank you for your service,” she says softly.

Everything makes sense now. I see why Lexie loves her.

“Thank you.” I unfold it, admiring her gift. “A woman of many talents.”

A slight blush graces her features.

“I came here prepared to ask you a lot of questions, but you’ve already answered all of them.”

She helps me refold the blanket. “Your questions are about Lexie?”

“I think she’s been pretty upset about the club watching over her. Your arrival seemed to help her accept it a bit better. She feels safe with you.”

“Oh, I don’t know. She … well, she needed someone, and I hadn’t had anyone need me in a long time. Lexie helps fill a hole in my heart.”

“Well, thank you for helping her. I know she can be difficult.”

Elizabeth curls one leg under the other, settling back in her chair. “Aren’t we all?”

I laugh and take another cookie. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“She doesn’t think she deserves to be with someone like you.”

When I don’t respond to her statement, she continues, “Lexie deserves the best. No less. Can you offer her that?”

Her pleasantry disappears, and a hard gaze narrows on me. She’s a mama bear showing her teeth. I have no doubt she’ll bite to protect her newfound ward.

“I’m committed to her. I can’t say that I won’t fuck up from time to time. In fact, I’m sure I will, but I can promise you I’ll always correct where needed. I’ll never give up on her and me.”

My answer seems to be what she was looking for, and tears begin to pool at the bottom of her eyes. “My heart just sank when the movers carried her stuff in. I can’t bear to watch her get hurt any more than she already has.”

Movers?

Elizabeth must see the confusion pulling at my brow. “You don’t know?”

She takes the blanket from me and sets it on the table. Quietly, she takes my hand and pulls me through their house. We stop in front of a door. When she pushes it open, my heart stops beating.

“She moved out of her house?” I ask, still puzzled as to what I’m seeing.

All her stuff is packed in boxes like it just happened. I step in and spin in a circle, finding the closet full of her clothes.

“Her parents kicked her out.”

“What? What for? Did they find out she was drinking?”

When she doesn’t answer, I spin around, finding her in the arms of JD. She’s crying quietly.

“Her parents are pieces of shit,” JD spits, his nostrils flaring slightly. “I’ll never let them take advantage of her again.”

I plop down on the bed, running my fingers through my hair.

“When we took Lexie up to the cabin, she told us her parents were on their way home. We left them a note to call us. They never did, so Jackson and I went over there to talk to them and let them know she was safe.”

“They didn’t even know she was gone, did they?”

He shakes his head sadly. “I’m not going to lie. I lost my shit on them, Ash.”

“Rightfully so.”

“They looked contrite for a moment, but instead of facing their mistakes, they turned the tables and blamed her for not protecting their property and letting … and I quote …” He raises a finger. “A bunch of dirty bikers into their home.”

My heart breaks for Lexie. “Does she know?”

“She does.”

JD releases his wife and drops to a knee in front of me. He sets a hand on my shoulder. “Elizabeth and I talked about it. We want Lexie to stay with us.”

I open my mouth, because I want her with me. She can stay with me at the warehouse. But as the thought comes to mind, I realize that’s not what I want either. When we move in together, I want privacy. I want what JD has here with Elizabeth. What Jackson and Willow have out at the farm.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be together. But Ash, we’ve got a rare opportunity to give her a real family. Elizabeth and I don’t have much, but we have a room for her, and I promise you we will love her as our own.”

I groan, because I know he’s right. “She deserves that,” I admit.

He nods, ruffling my hair as he stands. “She does.”

I slap my hands on my knees, coming to acceptance. Now that the shock of learning her parents kicked her out begins to wear off, I realize this is a good thing. Lexie is finally going to get some real love.

Love that isn’t contingent upon what she can give back. Love that’s unconditional.

Love that doesn’t hurt.