Page 58 of Tinsel & Chrome

I cleared the lump in my throat when Wren began to sob in his arms.

Charlie left the bar, approaching with tears in her eyes.

Zero and Wren began to laugh joyfully, wiping away the tears from their eyes.

Even after 10 years, there was no doubt Zero knew when he looked into Wren’s eyes that she was his long-lost sister.

Joy grabbed my fingers with her little hand and stared at her mother, crying and hugging a man she’d never seen before.

When Zero released Wren from their long embrace, she turned to me and Joy, wiping away her tears. “Baby girl, I want to meet my brother, Atlas.”

“He’s my friend. You’ll like him,” I reassured Joy.

She let go of my fingers and walked up to Zero. Using her most grown-up voice she could muster, “Hello, Uncle Atlas, I’m Josephine, but I prefer Joy. Are you my Uncle?”

Zero knelt, just as I did, and smiled, a tear falling down his cheek into his dark beard. “Hello, Joy. Yes, I’m your Uncle Atlas, and I’m so thrilled to meet you.”

CHAPTER 4

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WREN

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The moment my older brother held me, I broke down and sobbed—all those years of dealing with the pain of never seeing him or my mother again.

I was alive.

I was home.

Atlas introduced me to his ole lady. Charlie was stunning with blonde hair cropped at her shoulders and blue eyes, and tall. She was a great match to Atlas who stood at six feet five inches. We hugged, and I felt her warmth and sincerity as she expressed her delight at finally meeting me.

My brother’s face turned grim. “Wren, I need to tell you some things, and I think we should go talk in the back office.”

I left Joy with Charlie and Cameron and followed Atlas toward the back of the immense clubhouse to an office. When we entered, I saw a large desk with computer screens displaying live video images from the security cameras installed outside every corner of the clubhouse.

Atlas closed the door, held my shoulders, and said, “I need to tell you what happened to our mother.”

“I know our mother is dead, Atlas,” I said, my voice monotone. “Our father killed her. I didn’t run away. I was kidnapped ten years ago, walking home from the bus stop. He sold me. Our father, a monster, sold his child to dangerous, evil men who were monsters like him. I hope he’s suffering with every breath he takes in his prison cell.” All the words just cameout, the sound of my voice monotone, reliving the nightmare that was my life for all those years.

I felt dizzy, and my knees buckled as I howled like an injured animal. But Atlas was there, catching me, holding me tight so I could let it all out.

“I tried to kill the man once and gouged his eye out,” Atlas said, his warmth surrounding me as he mumbled next to my ear. “He was lucky once, and there have been a few attempts over the past few years to kill him, but they were unsuccessful. The miserable piece of shit must have nine lives. But luck’s run out for our father because next time, very soon, I’ll make sure he’s dead and gone forever.”

Atlas held me until my sobs turned into hiccups. I wiped away my tears, pulled myself together and we left the office.

But time doesn’t stand still, and the world keeps moving.

People started arriving at the clubhouse, celebrating Bike Week. Samson was there too and told me and Atlas he had checked us out of the motel. I shook his hand. “I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me and Joy.”

“You’re the President’s sister, and we’re the Merciless Few MC. That makes you and your kid family.”

It was a bit unsettling to be amongst the crowd of Atlas’s friends and club members, and it triggered my anxiety. The palms of my hands became sweaty, my heart racing.

Atlas understood how I felt without even asking me, so he settled me and Joy in one of the bedrooms down the hallway. “I want you and Joy to sleep here tonight so Charlie and I can get the extra bedroom ready for you to move in tomorrow. The clubhouse is equipped with surveillance cameras at every corner of the building and the parking lot. I’ll ask Mammoth—”

“You don’t even need to ask. I’ll be here all night, too. You and Joy will be safe,” Cameron interjected appearing in the doorway.

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