Page 53 of Ethan's Sky

I thought me and George were close. He was like having a second father since mine was never around. So why hide Skyler from me all this time, then bring her back here out of the blue and not warn anyone.

Warn me. Why didn’t he warn me?

He was protecting his daughter. I get that. Though I don’t know what the hell from. What I don’t understand, among other things is, why would he have her come to Gabe when she was already set up with Eli and his men in Mountain Heights? Why not leave her there under their protection? Why drag our asses into whatever the fuck this is?

She’s a woman. We protect women. It’s the Kings’ code.

These are all things I know and stand by, but I wish we were protecting someone else.Anyone else.Someone who didn’t betray me and my sister while trampling all over the future we were supposed to share, shredding my heart in the process.

God, I think I’ve grown a vagina.

If I wasn’t so concerned about the blow back from Pres, I wouldn’t have gone to the funeral at all. I would’ve paid my respects to George on my own terms. But unlike Eli’s men, my loyalty lies with my brothers. I won’t let anything come between us. I’ll never let a woman ruin what I have with the Kings.

They’re all I have.

Why do I feel like I have to keep reminding myself?

Since the funeral yesterday, I’ve avoided Skyler. Hell, I wouldn’t be here now if not for Pres calling church. I’ve got shit to do, thing to keep me busy enough to avoid both Skyler and the clubhouse for weeks on end if they’d let me.

I’ve got work, my training schedule, and miscellaneous shit around the gym I need to get done. Hell, I’ve been so wrapped up in Skyler’s return and George’s funeral, I’ve neglected the gym. Shit, I haven’t even had a chance to get back to the Pearl to see Scarlet.

Maybe that’s what I should do tonight? Go see Scarlet and get Skyler completely out of my head.

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around everything. To make sense of the shit swirling around in my mind. So many things just don’t add up and the two people who could clear it all up for me, refuse to tell me.

Last night was the first night I’ve been out with the guys in a week. Even going out for a few beers with them doesn’t feel normal anymore. Especially not with Eli and his guys hanging around, talking about Skyler, revealing all sorts of new things about her.

More secrets.

Remembering the conversations from last night, I felt like an outsider. I felt like the woman they know and the one I fell in love with so many years ago are two totally different

people.

I hated it.

“How’s Skyler holding up?” The conversation at the other end of the table draws my attention. “She’s not giving me anything except attitude about having a babysitter, so I’m going to have to rely on you for intel.” Gabe chuckles. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was one of you fuckers, always bitching.” Everyone laughs, except me. Gabe scrubs his hand down his beard. “Seriously, does she need anything? Anything we can do to make her more comfortable while she’s here?”

While she’s here… gives me hope it’s not permanent.

“She’s doing all right. Cash and the boys have been watching over her, making sure she’s eating, sleeping, and working off her anger.” Eli says.

I don’t even want to imagine how Cash and the boys would see to Skyler working off her anger. The thought of it is enough to have me seeing red. They’re always standing close to her, touching her. Making her smile and laugh. Fuckers.

“You mean pissing her off.” Walker corrects, smiling. “She doesn’t like being fussed over.” Cash laughs. Just seeing him makes my jaw clench. He’s not a bad guy. I’ve never had an issue with him until now. He’s cool, usually. A lot like Hawk. After seeing how he is with Skyler, how close they seem, I’ve decided he’s an asshole.

“She was pretty shaken up when she got the call to come home, but she followed the plan, sort of, and had been keeping her shit together. She’s still adjusting to being back. It’s going to take some time. She’s determined to stay though. I offered to take her back with us. I mean, she’s got a pretty good life there for herself if she wanted to go back to it, but she doesn’t want to leave. Says she promised George when she came back home, she would stay.”

Not if I have something to say about it.

“How is she emotionally? Losing someone you love isn’t easy. She was tight with George.”

That tidbit caught me by surprise. Especially since, for the last six years I was under the impression they hadn’t seen or spoken to one another since Skyler left.

Even George was keeping Skyler’s secrets.

“She’s not like normal chicks. We hardly ever see her cry or lose her shit. This trip is the most I’ve ever seen her cry, and even with everything she’s got going on here she seems to have a lock on herself. At least she does unless Ghost is hugging her. Before that, I don’t know when the last time I saw her cry was. Maybe she’ll let it all out after we leave,” Xander offers seemingly amazed at how different she is from other women. “But then again, in all the time I’ve known her, she’s been good at keeping her feelings locked down. Until you finally manage to piss her off. Then all bets are off.” He laughs.

Emily called it her superpower. Skyler would let anything roll off her back, until you hit just the right button and then there was no holding back her wrath.

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