Page 118 of 12 Months of Mayhem

He lowers his forehead to lean on mine and exhales. “Can we do this later, if I promise to tell you as much as I can? I want to enjoy the weekend and that shit is so heavy and I can’t deal with it right now.”

I place both palms on his cheeks to get him to look at me. “What happened to you?” I whisper, knowing it’s not a question he’ll answer right now but wishing like crazy that I could take his pain away. It’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to think that he wasn’t living it up somewhere, having the time of his life after ghosting me and everyone else in his life. I was selfish to think him leaving was about me and now my mind is circling with all of the possibilities of what he could’ve been doing for so long that he either can’t tell me or he’s afraid to.

“I will wait. Tell me when you’re ready.” This time I use my hands to guide him to kiss me. I’m not sure that’s ever happened before but it works. We’re just about to escalate it when there’s a bang on the bedroom door followed by a few more a few doors down the hall.

“It’s lake time, bitches.” I can tell that it’s Grady yelling by the loud screeching howl that follows.

“It’s decision time. Do you trust that bikini enough to wear it bouncing on a boat when I try like hell to get you out of it? I’ll fly across that water looking for every wave just to see your tits bounce.”

“I thought you weren’t going to allow me to wear it.”

“I didn’t say there would be anyone else with us. If you’re wearing this, I’ll make sure we don’t have anyone else with us.” He starts kissing my cleavage and tracing the outline of the bathing suit with his tongue.

His dominant energy hasn’t wavered yet and I can’t say that it doesn’t feel good having someone other than my brother be demanding and focused about protecting me. “Mmmm. How about I put on a cover and you can imagine what’s going on underneath.” He grips my ass cheeks and lifts me around his waist once again, making sure to slide me over his hardened cock and reminding me of the piercings I will have to investigate the next opportunity I have.

“Deal. I’ll still get rid of anyone who tries to come with us. Don’t forget your sunscreen. You’re going to need it.” He gives me one last kiss before lowering me so that I’m standing in front of him once again. I forgot how tall and massive he can be when I’m in his arms. He’s all consuming and everything I remembered him to be. He’s just a little older now and all of those features are more defined and prominent now. I don’t know if I can allow my walls to fall completely after what happened in the past but dammit if he’s not already reminding me how much he feels like my safe place. My home. It’s nice to be home again.

Chapter Six

Zayne

She hasn’t noticed my tattoo yet. It’s one that’s caused me some trouble in the past but, in the end, I always knew it would be worth it. I can see why a girl not named Charlise would have a problem with another girl’s name scrolled all the way across the waistband of a guy she’s going down on. It was deliberate and a real reminder that anyone who isn’t my Charli, wouldn’t be around for long. It hasn’t even been five hours with her and I already know that I could never walk away from her again. I will just have to figure out a way to run the club and still be able to give her everything she deserves.

Finally breaking through Charli’s pissed off demeanor and allowing her to feel some of my truth told me that she might be better at understanding than I give her credit for. She has to know what goes on in the background of the club, even if she hasn’t seen it first-hand. She’s still wrapped in my arms with her head on my chest as I continue to admire us through the bathroom mirror. This is the exact picture I had in mind when I thought of what I wanted for my life. My father has always thought there isn’t room for someone in your life if you’re truly committed to the club. I will just have to prove to him I can do both.

My phone vibrating has Charli stepping back so I can pull it out of my pocket. When I see the number, I move away from her so she can’t hear what is being said on the other side of the call.

“Yeah.” I answer with my serious, all business tone like I always do with one of the club officers.

“Clubhouse. Bring Theo.” Ace is direct and demanding, ending the call without waiting for me to respond and leaving zero room for discussion. Even though I’m looking forward to taking Charli out on the water today, I know I have to prove that I can handle club responsibility first and foremost, so this is not a dilemma.

“We’ll have to do this another time. I have to go.” She looks disappointed, so I take a few steps forward to kiss her. “Are you going to be here when I get back?”

“Depends.” I raise an eyebrow at her, questioning her response. “I have a bonfire with my friends tonight. It’ll depend on how long you take.” I don’t like that she’s still planning to do something else on my first night back but I’m not about to tell her she can’t go. That’s a sure-fire recipe for fuckin’ disaster with Charli.

“Keep your phone nearby, so I can text when I’m done.” She nods as I give her one last kiss on the forehead, so I can leave.

It doesn’t take me long to find Theo. He’s the one trying to get everyone into the boats and get this damn party moving. “We have to go.”

“Fuck. Can we not just have a single weekend?” I get why he’s frustrated. He should be glad he’s made it this far into the day without a call. After the past few years I’ve had, this has felt like a full day off. That may have everything to do with Charli though.

“Apparently, not this one.”

“Who made the call?” He’s pulling his jeans over his swim trunks as we talk.

“Ace.”

“Why’d he call you?”

“No clue.” It’s odd but not completely crazy. I’ve learned to not try to make sense of the orders that come from any of the club officers. The club rolls deep, nationwide with about half of the clubs being used to calling me to handle some sort of business for them.

If what my father said is correct, he plans to have me step in as President of the Crowder Division soon. Maybe Ace is getting on board with it already.

Theo and I make our way to our bikes and quickly head to the clubhouse to make up for a little of the time we both wasted. It doesn’t take us long to get there and we both notice the eeriness of the quiet clubhouse. I know at least half of them are out at the cabin but there’s a good percent of the guys that are from Pop’s generation and none of them were out there.

“Table.” Ace walks up, continuing to be a man of very few words. He always has been. Theo and I have always known our fathers have been through some shit so that maybe we wouldn’t have to. At least when we were younger. I can’t say that about myself now. I’m not sure about everything that Theo has been through since I’ve been gone. We don’t usually talk club business over the phone. Most of the time that is done in a secluded place where we know there’s no possibility of any technology or other ears nearby.

We walk through the chapel door to find seven of the elders sitting around the table. My father sits at the end with Ace to his right. Slim is on the left and then Pappy, Eddy, JoeJoe and Vinn. I’ve learned to expect the worst when I get brought to the table, so I swallow hard and wait until someone speaks.

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