How many times has he told me that story? A hundred times? A million? First as my own personalized fairy tale as he tucked me into bed at night. When I became scared of the dark at eight, it was the fable to show me what would be won if I found courage, then he recounted it several times over the past two years to inspire me to fly.
Well, I’m somewhere new and I’m flapping these new wings like crazy, and you’re right, Mom’s not going to spill. “Everything’s fine, Dad, but I don’t think Olivia and Mom like each other very much.”
Oz
MY BIKE PURRS beneath me and the wind blows through my hair. No helmet this morning and Mom will be pissed, but I don’t care. The open road calms me and since Emily’s popped into my life, I’ve been restless.
The first light of dawn peeks out in the east. Emily and I never did see that sunrise. Truth be told, I don’t know what to think of her. She’s hot, has an attitude, can kiss and she sure as hell is handling this insane shit better than I expected, meaning she hasn’t gone psycho and shot any of us yet.
It’s been three days since she said goodbye to her parents. I’ve been around but mostly keeping my distance, and I’m not the only one. Emily’s silent as a church mouse and spends most of her time in her room. At least she does when I’m at Olivia’s.
I downshift and ease near the group of motorcycles parked by the clubhouse. Standing beside the bikes are their owners. Some smoke cigarettes. A few drink from steaming mugs.
With coffeepot and foam cups in hand, Mom flutters about with a smile on her face. Her black hair is drawn back into a messy knot and she wears her Terror Gypsies cut. The Terror Gypsies support the Reign of Terror and their membership is made up of the Terror’s old ladies. Can’t be a member unless you’re an old lady and you have to be an old lady who plans on sticking around for good.
Because Eli only does one-nighters and Olivia had to relinquish her duties, Mom is now the highest-ranking member of the Terror Gypsies. Most of the time, Mom doesn’t mind the job. Dad loves the club and she loves Dad. As I said before, women like her are rare gems.
Eli nods his chin at me as I shut off the engine and swing off my bike. He leaves the circle of guys he was talking with and flicks his cigarette into the yard as he strides toward me. “Morning, Oz.”
“What’s up?”
Eli scans the yard to confirm no one else is listening then turns his back to the crowd. “Until I get back, you’re Emily’s last line of defense. I’m trusting you with her and I’ll be real fucking pissed if she gets hurt, you read me?”
Like a book. Eli told me last night how he’ll have other guys posted near the main road, but he doesn’t want Emily to feel imprisoned. “Stick with her, but give her room and don’t let her know you’re carrying. That could scare her. You can let Emily wander the woods as long as you’re with her, but she doesn’t leave our property.”
“That would require her to leave her room.”
Eli freezes ice with the glare he gives me. “Cut her some slack. This isn’t her world. I’m hoping when we leave she’ll relax and at least open up with Olivia.”
Doubt it. Emily’s withdrawn already and she hasn’t even seen what the club is really like in action. Cyrus and Eli ordered everyone to stay away to allow Emily room to adjust so the clubhouse has been empty when usually it’s streaming with people.
“Are you getting me on how you need to handle things?” presses Eli.
“I got it.” Just like I understood it last night. Keep Emily happy and in her helpless unrealistic bubble.
“One more thing,” he says. “You keep my past a secret. If Emily wants to know about me then you dodge the question. If you hear anyone talk about me, Meg or anything involving the two of us you steer Emily clear.”
“So Emily lived here for two years of her life. The end result’s still the same. What’s it matter if she knows?”
Eli tugs on his earlobe. “Because it’s not the story Meg told Emily and it sure as hell isn’t your place to ask.”
I hold my hands up in surrender.
“She’s my daughter. The only one I have and the only child I’ll ever have. I see the fear in her eyes, I sense her hesitancy, but when I get her to smile it makes up for all those moments in between. I got this one chance. My last chance. I don’t want to blow what little time I have left with her so no, I don’t want anyone rocking her world.”
I nod my understanding, but remain silent because there’s nothing to say when he tells it like it is.
“Keep her in the dark,” Eli says. “And consider that an order. Tell me you understand and tell me now.”
“I got it.”
He claps my arm. “You’re a good man. It’s why I’m trusting you with her.”
“That mean I’m a prospect?”
Eli releases a crazy-ass grin as he walks away. “Don’t push your luck.”
It was worth a try. A pat on my back and I glance beside me to spot Dad. “You must have been discussing Emily.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Eli only looks like someone split his rib cage wide-open and stole his heart when he talks about her...” Dad doesn’t end the sentence as if a period belonged at the end. He said it as if there was more, but he’d decided to stop. “It’s a place of high honor and esteem for him to trust Emily with you.”