Page 123 of 12 Months of Mayhem

“We’ll work on that.”

“My dad is dying. He has less than two months.” I lift my head off of his chest and look up at him.

“I’m sorry.” He lowers his lips to my forehead and presses a long kiss, no doubt taking a moment before he says anything else.

“Me too. He’s always been around. Not the greatest dad… but I always knew he’d be there if I truly needed him. It’s going to be different with him gone.”

“Everything is going to be different. Some of it excites me and the rest of it terrifies me.” I don’t know how else to explain what I’m thinking. He seems to understand because he’s nodding as I talk. “I’m excited to start over with you but I’m terrified of what you could do to me.”

“I will work forever to make you trust me again.” He palms both of my cheeks and looks me right in the eyes as he says it. He keeps us both in the same position as I continue.

“I’m excited that you’re back but I’m terrified that the club will change you.”

“The club has already changed me.” I swallow at his confession.

“I’m excited that you want me beside you but I’m terrified that you’ll never actually let me in.”

“All of these are very fair concerns. I can only promise that I’ll share everything I can with you. You’ll have to trust that I know the line that shouldn’t be crossed.”

“What can you tell me about the past four years?” I decide to ask the question again, hoping he will finally share some of what he went through so I can stop imagining the possibilities.

“The night I left was the first time I had to kill a man. I’ve been working for the club, taking care of unfinished business and proving my loyalty. I’ve done some fucked up shit and I may have to do even more if the time comes. The best part of stepping into my father’s role is I can order shit done instead of doing it myself.” Even I know, the club tends to protect the President. I would expect that same treatment for Zayne. “Can you handle the man I’ve become?”

“I can handle it if I don’t know the details. I’ll just imagine they’re all bad guys and trust you to make good decisions for the club and our family.”

“Our family. I like the sound of that.” He leans in to kiss me on the lips and this time it’s slow and sensual, a contrast to the rushed and craved kisses we shared earlier today. He finally takes his hand in mine and begins to lead me into the house.

“Theo will be my Vice.” I’m not sure that makes me feel any safer about anything but at least I can trust my brother and Zayne to have each other’s backs. They have for as long as I’ve known them.

He opens the front door to a completely bare house. There’s nothing on the walls and not a single chair to sit in. I spin around to take it all in and start to let myself see the potential here. “Our bedroom is this way.” He pulls me in the direction of the bedroom down at the end of the hallway. Once we walk through the door, it’s like we’ve walked into a different universe. The bedroom is fully decorated and the giant bed is covered with pillows and a cozy looking comforter. There’s a walk-in closet that has about ten shirts and a few pairs of jeans hanging in it, taking up maybe ten percent of one side. Curtains touch the ground at each window and the art on the wall could be straight out of an art museum. “I love it.”

“I was hoping you’d like it but change anything you want. The only thing I want to make sure is in here… is you. The rest can go.” This time I initiate the kiss and before I have the chance to try and lift myself around his waist to deepen it, he is lifting me to my spot. This feels like home. Not the house he bought… but being wrapped up in his arms.

Chapter Eight

Zayne

I’m stretched out in the bed with Charli tucked against my side. She’s resting her head on my chest and tracing my tattoos with the tip of her finger. We’ve been fucking all night and neither one of us has slept. This is my favorite kind of exhaustion.

I know she’s finally seen her name when she sits up quickly. “What did you do?” She’s so shocked that it makes me laugh.

“I wanted your name on me forever.”

“Across your waistband? My dad is going to shit.”

“Your dad will be fine. You should trace that one with your tongue.” She smiles before she lowers her head to send chills through my entire body. “Jesus. I should’ve had you start there yesterday.” She lightly bites my stomach and crawls between my legs, making me exhale in anticipation of what she’s about to do to me.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand beside me and even though there’s not a doubt in my mind I’m about to make some core memories with the love of my life, I reach over to see who is calling. Theo’s name lights up and I know I have to answer it.

“Yeah.”

“We need you out at the cabin. I’m on my way to get you. We’re taking your Pops on his last ride.” She must hear what he says because she stops what she was doing and sits up in the bed.

“I’ll be ready.” I swing my legs to the side of the bed and lean over as the realization of what’s about to happen weighs me down.

She slides across the bed and presses her chest against my naked back, hugging my neck and whispering next to my ear. “I’m so sorry. Can I come with you?”

“Yeah.” I take a deep breath knowing my father well enough to know that this will be the way he dies. He’s too proud to let Cancer be the cause. I guess I can’t blame him. He’s dedicated his entire life to this club. It’s only fitting that he goes out still riding with the club.

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