Page 10 of Going Home

"It's going to destroy my family. Notusbut my family."

"That bad?"

"Let's just say I was in a position where I couldn't say no even though every cell in my body screamed it. My life is going to be a living hell for at least a month. Gotta love being dubbed the strongest person anyone in this fucking club knows. I really hate that accolade."

He runs his fingers through her hair. "If it's going to make your life hell, say no, baby. Change your mind. Isn't that what your kind is known for? Women always change their minds."

"I can't say no, baby. Even if I could, we're stuck here. We have two teenagers we can't take out of Griffin’s Beach. And before you say we can make other arrangements, you can't dangle a carrot like a stable life in front of them and rip it away if their home was as terrible as you say it was. That's not fair to them."

His eyes close, and he rests his forehead against hers. "I hate this, Lex."

"I just need you to trust me that I'll tell you as soon as I can. I just... I was specifically asked not to say anything to you or anyone else. I do need to talk to Jennings, though. You have no idea how much I wish I'd never answered that call."

He kisses her forehead, and she knows he knows it's not club related. It's family, and the shit people do for family tends to reach beyond reasonable depths. Especially in a motorcycle club. "I trust you. More than that, I know others know they can trust you. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."

They walk back inside, and Lex waves Lucas and Noah inside. Once they've taken a seat on the couch next to Hailey and Calla, she lets out another breath. It's the only thing she can manage to do to keep herself from curling up in the fetal position and rocking back and forth right now. "We've made a change to the sleeping arrangements. Lucas, we're going to have you stay in Noah's room with the bunk beds. Hailey, you'll take the bed in the extra room to give you some privacy."

"You don't need to do that," Hailey says. "Seriously, I told Colt we didn't need the bunk beds, either. We're fine with sleeping bags."

Moving to sit beside her, Lex takes Calla and accepts the hug her daughter gives offers, fighting back the tears springing forward. "If you're going to live here, you're going to actually live here. But there are going to be rules. First rule is that we need you to watch the kids when we're not here."

"Done," Lucas says. "And we don't need to be paid for it."

His sister whips her head to the side and glares at him. They share a look that tells Lex they're communicating in a way the rest can't understand. Whatever it is has Hailey's mouth remaining shut. Which seems pretty amazing.

"Well, I'm glad you've offered that because I need to cash in on that pretty soon."

"Fuck," Colt says and grimaces. "Ky just texted SOS with a thousand exclamation points. I need to take off soon."

"Like in an hour or so," Lex clarifies.

Laughing, he looks at the teenagers. "Aren't you glad you chose to break intothishouse to stay?"

"I really wish we'd stayed at the last one," Hailey mutters.

Her brother smacks her arm. "I like it here. I'm cool sharing a room with you, too, dude."

"Sweet!" Noah says, and Lex hates how badly his sandy hair needs to be cut. Another thing to add to her list of things to find time to do.

Shaking his head, Colt groans. "That kid has spent too much time with Bodie."

"Can you do me a favor? Reach out to Jennings and ask him to meet me at the clubhouse? I should be there in about an hour. I'll follow you shortly—"

A familiar redhead running into their house interrupts Lex, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Lex!"

"Lacey, what's wrong?" she asks, handing Calla to Hailey before jumping up and helping catch Lacey as she nearly collapses on the floor. "Are you okay?"

Taking a few deep breaths, she clings to Lex's biceps. "I'm okay. I'm, well, I'm not okay. I'm freaking out. But... who are they?"

Her bony finger with bright red polish points at the teenagers, and Lex laughs. "They're... foster kids. I guess that would be the best way to describe this unique situation. Hailey and Lucas."

"You're fostering kids?"

"It's a new thing," Colt says with a smirk that makes Lex swoon.

"Let's go out on the back porch and talk. Guys, we'll finish going over the ground rules later. Are you good with the kids?" Lex asks.

Hailey nods as Calla bounces on her lap, high fiving her. "Yeah, we're solid."

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