Page 41 of Raze

“A condo.” I cut her off, knowing that she’s gonna bring it up again.

“Yes, Raze, I want all those things, but I want them all with you.” She drops to her knees and starts to unbuckle me, but I stand up before she can take me out.

“I promised I’d give Eden a ride back to her foster home.” I start making my way to the door.

“Seriously, can’t you get Aaron to do it? He follows her around like a love-sick puppy when she visits here anyway, plus he’s your bitch.”

“He ain’t my bitch, I’m his sponsor.” I shake my head at her, starting to get frustrated.

“Potato, potahto. He should be grateful, you’ve been putting hours of your time into him lately. Wait, I’ll rephrase that, hours of our time. I did not move out here to spend my time alone in this outdated, hovel of a room.”

The door knocks and interrupts her rant and when I open it and see Aaron and my sister on the other side, it’s obvious what’s happening between them.

“I thought I’d give Eden a ride back home, then maybe we could get back to that thing.” He raises his eyebrows at me trying to be discreet.

“It’s fine, I’ll take her, then we’ll deal with the thing,” I assure him.

“What thing are you talking about?” The girl who’s been hanging around here a few nights a week for the past month looks between us suspiciously.

“Nothin’, sweetheart, just?—”

“Don’t call her that.” I shake my head at Aaron, this girl may have only just strolled into my life but if there's a chance she is my sister, no member of this club, prospect or not, will be calling her his sweetheart.

“Come on, let’s get you home before you end up in trouble.” I leave Aaron on the balcony with a pissed-off-looking Stacey and lead the girl down to the parking lot where my truck is.

“It’s just left off Skybrooke Avenue.” She smiles awkwardly as she straps herself in.

“Nice area,” I point out. Up till now, I’ve been so preoccupied with life and what choices I’m gonna make, that I haven’t given the fact I could have a sister much thought.

“They’re nice people.” She smiles brightly. “Anna works at the school and her husband, Jerry, is a realtor. What they do for people like me is good. It’s a shame they couldn’t have kids of their own.”

“If they’re so good then why the hell did you come to the club lookin’’ for Vex?” I have to ask her, from what I’ve heard she has a good life, she’s top of her class and real talented at drawing.

“Because I want to know where I came from. When I had Mom it wasn’t so bad, but now that she’s gone I want to know him. I want to know you too.” She shrugs, a little awkwardly.

“Yeah, well, I don’t know the first thing about being a big brother,” I warn her.

“I don’t know about that, you seemed a lot like one when you spoke to Aaron just then. You know he’s always telling me how great you are, is it true that you once beat Keenan Keverlin in a fight?”

“You’re spendin’ far too much time with Aaron,” I tell her, this time in a much friendlier way.

“Why not? He’s cute and he’s thoughtful. He’s nothing like his daddy.” I can already see that she’s getting too familiar with the club and maybe I was wrong about the whole big brother thing because it sets off a protective instinct in me.

“Eden, you shouldn’t come to the club anymore, it’s dangerous.”

“But how would I see you, or Aaron? Not to mention the fact that you're still not telling me anything about our dad. Have you even told him about me yet?” She looks hurt as I pull up on her street.

“No, but I will. Now’s just not a good time.”

“And why?” She asks me the same question she did a few months ago when she first arrived at the club.

“Us Ashford men are a little different to Jerry the realtor.” I try explaining the best way I can.

“You think I don’t know that?” She raises an eyebrow at me.

“Our dad is being hard on himself right now. He feels like he caused something, and although it was unintentional, he has to learn to live with it.” I grip at the wheel and try to imagine how he must be feeling. It’s been over a year since he took himself up to that mountain in Colorado and he still ain’t answerin’ no one’s calls.

“I take it this thing was bad?”

---