Page 11 of Ethan's Sky

They’re staying?I turn back to where Eli and his men are all standing.

Ghost turns toward the rest of the group with the tall blonde still nestled into his body. Her head is down, leaning into his chest. Her face is still hidden by his large hand cradling her against him.

I take a minute to check out the rest of her. She isa lotyounger than Ghost. He doesn’t act as though she’s his woman though. He’s holding her like she’s delicate, or fragile. Precious to him, like a father would hold his child. It’s not possessive so much as protective.

I get a better view of her now, minus her face.

She’s average height, slender, with curves in all the right places. Her sinewy arms are wrapped tightly around him. A feminine hand with purple nail polish grips his cut. I can hear muffled talking around me. Cash leans in, saying something in her ear. She lifts her head and turns to look up at him, and my heart slams into my fucking ribcage.

It can’t be.

Gabe’s explaining something to the club in the background, but it might as well be Charlie Brown’s teacher talking because I’m only hearing muffled sounds around me. No clear words or phrases. My sight homes in onherand everything else becomeshollow noise around me. My own heartbeat is the only clear noise I hear as it thrums in my head. Red haze fills my sight, and my inner demons scream with rage beneath the surface. My fists clench and my jaw tightens. My chest feels like it’s caught in a fucking vise.

Rage.It’s the only way to describe what I’m feeling when I see her standing there. The one who destroyed everything good in my life.

Vicious, unrelenting, unadulterated…rage!

In three strides, I’m standing in front of her, my arm outstretched, finger pointed in her face. I don’t even register the other people surrounding us as I tower over her, growling, “What the fuck are you doing here Skyler?”

3

SKYLER

I knew I was going to catch hell when I pulled through the gate of the clubhouse. The prospect didn’t even stop me, just pointed in the direction he wanted me to park. Which means someone told him to expect me, and what my vehicle looked like.

Eli.

He’s going to be pissed.

I was told to come straight to the Oak Ridge clubhouse after I got the call from Daddy and then from Eli. But I couldn’t.

I needed time to let things settle in, to feel Daddy’s presence one last time before reality comes crashing in. I knew once it did, the warm feeling would be taken away, replacing it with cold dread.

I knew Daddy wasn’t coming home. He told me as much. It’s why he sent the code out. But I wasn’t ready to be here. I wanted a few minutes to pretend my world wasn’t crashing down around me again.

I called Vincenzo and told him I wouldn’t be coming into work for a few days, and I knewhe knew.He didn’t say as much, but the way he sounded on the phone. The deep sighs. The sound of his hand scrubbing down his face through the phone and his heartfelt apology. He knew my daddy was dead.

Vincenzo offered me all the time I need, a place to stay, and a bodyguard should I want one. It was all very sweet, but I already knew I’d have more than enough babysitters once I crossed into the Kings’ yard.

Passing the old farmhouse brought back memories of an easier time in my life. It was hard not having Mama around, but at least I had Daddy and Ghost, and of course Caleb and Liz too. I didn’t have grandparents growing up. Caleb and Liz were the next best thing as far as I was concerned.

Walking into the clubhouse, Eli is the first to see me. He makes a B-line for me with Xander and Walker isn’t far behind. The clubhouse is mostly empty this early in the morning. I’m not surprised.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Eli says, pulling me into his chest. I grab the back of his cut and hang on. “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”

I sniff, nodding into his chest.

“You know Gabe is blowing flames out his ears pissed at you for disobeying an order.”

I lean back, looking up at Eli’s eyes. “I know. But one day y’all will remember, I’m not yours to command. If Daddy hadn’t asked me, I wouldn’t be here at all.”

Cash looks at me and seems a little confused. He was there the night they took me to Mountain Heights and has been a close friend since, but none of them knowwhyI was sent away and placed under their protection. Only a handful of members know. The ones who weren’t fully patched in at the time, like Cash, weren’t privy to my business.

Club business.

“Skyler!” Gabe bellows from across the room.

Eli steps back, releasing his hold, but keeping his hand on the small of my back. His way of showing solidarity to me.

---