Page 71 of Creed

“That’s the million dollar question.” Savannah said.

Jake looked up and saw my mom and sister, so he smiled and offered them both a hug. Of course, Savannah was more than thrilled to receive a hug from the hunky Jake Meadows, saving me from answering his question.

It wasn’t but a second before we were joined by the men in my family and Creed.

“Alis, holy shit man. Damn, I’ve wanted to meet you for years. My dad kept me updated on your career, and holy shit he was proud. First it was the Green Berets and then Delta Force…” Jake rambled and for the first time, he was the fanand not the hunky superstar. I watched Creed as he tried to keep up with Jake. His eyes would grow, then he would tilt his head and slowly I watched a smile form on his face. Internally, I was clapping and giddy with joy. Maybe, just maybe, something positive would happen on such a dark day. Creed would have family of his own.

“She was the best girl, and damn, you should have seen my face when Morgan walked into the room, and I saw her for the first time…” Jake went on and on. “Then she became my closest friend but then your mom and step dad…” Yep, Jake needed to settle down. I got bored and decided to hunt down a few chicken wings and a closet to hide in for a few minutes when it looked like Leslie was looking for me.

I thought I was in the home stretch when Leslie caught my arm. “What now?” I didn’t have the patience for her.

“The services were lovely, but I’m just curious what kind of characters you plan to bring into my granddaughter’s life? Why so many motorcycle gang members? I mean, Shane was in one of those gangs and look where it landed my daughter.”

I glared at her. The woman that allowed her daughter to suffer physical and sexual abuse was asking me that question. “You know what, Leslie? Fuck off!”

She gasped. I didn’t care, and stormed off toward Axton. “Please escort that woman out.”

He gave me a nod. “Yes ma’am.”

I stormed into the kitchen, dove in between two auxiliary members, stole two pieces of chicken, then found a closet. I was so angry with Leslie, it was unreal. I ate those two pieces, avoided more drama, and calmed my nerves before I cracked the door open and peeked out. That was when I saw them. Creedstood with his arms crossed and on each side of him was my brother and Jake, who tried to mimic their hero.

“Yeah, I’m not doing this right now.” I went to go back into the closet, but Creed grabbed the door.

“What did that woman say to you?” He opened the door the rest of the way.

I hid the chicken bones behind my back. “Umm…nothing really.”

“What do you have behind your back?” Creed asked.

“Nothing.”

He was fighting a smile. “Why were you in a dark closet?” He tried to reach behind me and take what I had. He grabbed the bones and looked down at them. He chuckled. “Look what we have here, boys. I believe these are the remains of two fried chicken wings.”

I shrugged. “Nobody has to know about this, Creed.”

Patrick snorted. “Yeah, just like nobody had to know about the cousin finger fucking?”

Jake turned his head and looked at Patrick. “What the hell, man?”

Patrick didn’t even look at Jake. “Family shit. Top secret.”

Creed tried to fight a laugh and held up a bone. “Who did you have to hurt to get this?”

“Nobody, I swear.”

He shook his head, tossed the bones in a garbage then walked over to me and pulled me into him. “You are too damncute for your own good.” He kissed the top of my head. “What exactly led to you hiding in the closet? I saw you talking to Leslie and then Axton. You went to the kitchen and then the closet.”

I shrugged. “Well, at first I was heading there because I got bored with Jake’s rambling. Then Leslie tried to be a drama queen, so I thought my initial idea was a win, win for everyone. I got to enjoy my chicken and avoid unnecessary drama.”

Jake scoffed. “I don’t ramble.”

I rolled my eyes. “That was pretty much it. I trust Axton escorted Leslie out?”

“She’s gone, but what did she say to you?” Creed asked.

“She said the services were lovely, but she wanted to know why there were so many bikers. She said bikers are why Callie was killed, and they shouldn’t be around her granddaughter. She was just trying to start drama.”

Creed pulled back and looked at me then laughed. “Your lips are still greasy.”

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