Page 55 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Fifty-Two

Lexie

I stare at the giant box of letters in my hand. The one on top breaks my heart clean open. “Why did you pick me to help you with this? You have so many people close to you.”

Rachel finishes tying the little bow on her grandchild’s shower gift. “Because you’ll be able to explain it better than anyone, and just because you weren’t close to me until recently doesn’t make us any less close.”

“I don’t know.” My teeth worry at my bottom lip. “I’m not very good at communicating with people.”

She raises her eyes, giving me her full attention. “You’ve had to let go of one family to embrace another. I have complete confidence you can do this. You are my angel, and this little trinket is proof.” She taps the box.

When she sees my reluctance, she tries again. “I heard you were there for my brother last night.”

I laugh harshly. “He drank a whole bottle of whiskey, and I couldn’t stop him. I think that should be proof I’m not the right person for your mission.”

“He cried.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Do you know how often that happens?”

“I’m going to guess not often.”

She chuckles sadly. “He has this obsession with being the tough guy. The one that everyone can depend on never to falter, but we all deserve to feel what we feel. Even Dirk. You must have felt like a very safe space if he cracked.”

I shrug and brush my chin over my shoulder. I don’t want her to worry I’ve shared more than she was ready for. “He wanted to know what we were doing during our “sessions.” I told him you were preparing to say goodbye.”

“You didn’t lie to him, and I’m sure he respected that.”

She stares out the window for a long moment, lost in thought. “They’re going to have a hard time after I’m gone, at least for a while. It’s not your job to fix it. I’m just asking you to nudge them toward the people who love them. Remind them they aren’t alone.”

I nod, wiping my eyes. Life is so unfair. I don’t understand how she can be so content with her situation.

She reads my mind and smiles. “Lexie, I’ve lived the best life.

It hasn’t always been easy, but man, has it been worth it.

It’s time for me to see what is on the other side.

I’m grateful to be a part of Raffe and Jackson’s story, but they have to move on to the next chapter without me.

It’s going to be a beautiful one. I just know it. ”

Someone knocks on the door, and we both turn to see Jackson peek his head in the door. “Where’s my favorite momma?” he asks.

She laughs and waves him in. As he’s hugging her, I close the lid on the box.

“I’m going to head out,” I say, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot.

He pulls away from her. “Don’t leave on my account. I just stopped by on my way to collect rents.”

“Is Willow with you?”

“No. She’s back at the farm. Jesse is starting on the mural today.”

I nod, moving toward the door. “Tell her hi for me, and I can’t wait to see how the baby’s room looks when it’s finished. I have to head out. Ash and I are having dinner with JD and Elizabeth.”

He flashes me a grin. “I saw Ash at the bike shop. That fucker is on cloud nine.”

My cheeks pinken, and I dip my head.

Rachel pulls him down to sit on her bed. “Let the poor girl be.”

When I get home, I see a car in the driveway I don’t recognize. Elizabeth steps out of the greenhouse. “Can you help me a minute?” she asks, her eyes going to the house before coming back to me.

“Uh, yeah. Sure.” I reluctantly follow her inside.

I can tell she’s quickly trying to make up a reason for calling me in here.

“Here, can you help me move this pot? It’s too heavy for me.”

As we’re carrying it across the room, I sense she’s stalling me from going inside.

“Whose car is that?” I ask.

She brushes her hands down her pants. “It’s Anthony’s. He’s married to my friend Danielle.”

“Oh, yeah. They were staying with you when I first went to the cabin. That’s why you couldn’t stay with me. I remember.”

“Yeah, he just stopped by to say hi.”

“Don’t they live in California?”

“Um, yeah. He’s just going through on business.” Her fingers are flying across her phone screen.

I glance around. “Well, if you don’t need anything else …” I begin to back away.

“Wait.”

I stop, but when her phone dings, she visibly relaxes. “Oh, never mind. That was all I needed.”

“Okaaaay.” Why is she acting so weird?

When I get inside, the men are relaxing in the living room, laughing and having a beer.

JD jumps up to introduce me to Anthony. The man looks so out of place in his designer suit here at the junkyard. JD keeps his hand on my back, reassuring me that I can trust this man.

“This is my daughter, Lexie,” he tells him.

Anthony takes my hand in his. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Wait, what? Even my own parents never introduced me as their daughter.

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to get on the road,” Anthony tells us.

I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor as JD walks him out.

Elizabeth hurries in. “Oh my gosh. I didn’t realize how late it was getting. Ash will be here soon. Can you cut some vegetables for the kababs? Willow told me they were Ash’s favorite.”

I spin in a circle, shaking my hands in front of me.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, coming to my side.

“JD told Anthony I was his daughter.”

She laughs. “And that surprises you?”

Everything comes rushing back to me. I remember hearing JD yell as the EMTs loaded me up. “I’m her father!”

“Honey,” she says, rubbing her hands up and down my arms.

“How am I going to leave you guys?”

The slight creases at the corner of her eyes soften. “Lexie, JD and I know what you and Ash want to talk about tonight. Word gets around in the club. Don’t worry. We’ve been expecting it.”

JD walks in and finds us in an embrace. He doesn’t say anything. He just joins us.

“I’m sorry,” I tell them, tears streaming down my face.

He hugs us tight. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m proud of you for choosing you for once. Ash is a good man. I don’t have a problem with this, Lex. But you better bet your ass I expect you to come over for Sunday dinners every week.”

“And maybe Wednesday’s too,” Elizabeth says, squeezing me tight.

“Okay, but only if you guys come to my house on Fridays.”

They both laugh, and I can’t tell you how much it fills my heart. Every day it grows with love from the people around me.

Ash knocks and steps inside, freezing in his spot when he sees us.

“Oh shit, they know.” He takes a step back and glances at the door. He’s preparing for a quick getaway.

The three of us laugh at the look on his face.

“Get your ass over here. We’re having a family hug,” JD says, letting go of us with one arm to invite him in.

Max bounces around our feet happily, excited because we are. My mind drifts to my conversation with Rachel as I hug them.

Nothing is ours to hold forever … but for now, these people are mine. I’m going to cherish every moment I can with them.