Page 115 of 12 Months of Mayhem

“What do you know about Charli’s boyfriend?” Zayne says as soon as he kills his bike.

“Zayne, it’s not Theo’s business who I date.” My glare tells him it’s not his either, but he ignores it.

“He’s harmless. Name is Bryce Long. I’ve already had him detailed. Looks like a trust fund kid that has a little money. Nothing on his record. She’s been out with him four times in the past two weeks. Other than he has a dick and probably wants to use it on my sister, he seems decent.” Theo surprises me with the run-down of everything about Bryce.

“Where does this Bryce Long live?” Zayne stares at me when he asks the question.

“Out at the Hill Mansion. He’s Nora Hill’s new son-in-law’s kid brother or some shit.” Theo keeps running his mouth, digging a deeper grave for Bryce. “What’s the deal?”

“Nothing. Just making sure you’ve got shit under control here.”

“Everything except getting the alcohol here for tonight. Charli is going to get it now. The girls will be here around six.” I roll my eyes knowing what kind of girls he’s talking about.

“I’ll go with Charli to get the alcohol.”

“I can handle it myself. I’m going there now. You two can sit out here and plan your whore party while I do all the work. Don’t mind me.” I put the truck in drive and purposely send dust flying when I pull away. Both of them can kiss my ass. I’ll just get the liquor and drop it off. It’s best if I don’t spend the weekend at the lake with everyone anyway. I’m not exactly feeling the urge to be social.

Chapter Four

Zayne

I’m trying to let go of the murderous urges I have just thinking about Charli having someone who might deserve her. I’m very aware that I don’t and that’s been a lot of my problem when it comes to Charli. My fate was sealed the day I was conceived. I was born into the club and will die in the club after living a life fighting for the club.

My dad knew I was falling for her and I know that’s why he sabotaged what we had started four years ago. Leaving her without an explanation back then was tough. Explaining why I did it will be devastating for her and I’m afraid she won’t see me the same. I can’t imagine explaining what happened in a way that she can both comprehend and forgive me. She can’t know the monster that I am now and I know I’ll have to protect her from the one I have the capabilities of becoming when I take over the club. She will not understand.

“You fucking my sister again?” Theo surprises me even though I should’ve known he has better intuition than I gave him credit for. It’s part of what makes him valuable to the club.

“You gonna have a problem if I am?” Having Theo’s permission isn’t a requirement but it will make things easier if I want to be with Charli. The truth is I want her nowhere near me or the club and that would mean she needs to be away from her own father and brother as well. Even though I know she’s grown up around the club too and it’s the club that can keep her the safest.

“Maybe.” I can’t even look at my best friend. I’d kick his ass if he was fucking around with my sister. Good thing I don’t have one… that we know of anyway.

“It’s not something I planned.”

“Yeah, I get it. My dick has accidentally fallen into the same girl more than once before too.” This fuckin’ jokester.

“When did you know?”

“Four years ago. Actually the tension between you both was intense years before that.”

“Yeah. I guess it was.”

“You fuckin’ broke her last time. I kept the vow of not spilling any information about you to anyone outside the club but fuck that was hard to watch her look for you. She would wait for your call and every time a bike passed the house, she was running to the window to see if it was you.”

“Yeah, I had to toss my phone because I almost called her about twenty times in the first day. Her voicemail was rough to listen to.” She thought I ghosted her because she wasn’t a good fuck. Jesus. She’s only the face I have to imagine to be able to get off, no matter who I’m with.

“You sure you want to bring her in?”

“She’s already in. You’re her fuckin’ brother and Ace will always be her dad.”

“True. Can you maybe wait ‘til you’re sure. She’s still someone I have to protect and I’ve been able to keep her safe from everyone but you.” I take about half a minute to really think about what my life has been like without Charli and I don’t want to do that anymore.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” I look Theo straight in the eyes to let him know how serious I am.

He nods, “let’s also try not to kill Bryce. I don’t think there’s anything there and the club doesn’t need that kind of publicity. She seemed bored as hell on their dates. Give her time to cut her losses. She never keeps them longer than three weeks anyway.”

“You telling me there’s been a line of ‘em?”

“None worth getting twisted over. It’s always been you, Brother.” Theo has constantly been the calm to my storm. He’s good at reading people and will make the perfect Vice when I take over. I know I can trust him with anything and he will be loyal to the club and to me. He will also protect his sister, who I fuckin’ love more than life itself. Shit. I just said that in my head.

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