Page 31 of Baja
It feels like we are the only two people in the room. I lean into her and whisper, “Elliot would have liked you, ya know. You have that never-quit spirit he had.”
Alice smiles, and for a beat, the ache I get in my chest whenever I talk about my brother isn’t so heavy.
A soft giggle dances through the air, and a tug on my cut jolts me from my haze. “Are you going to kiss her like the prince kisses the princess?” Lorelei’s laughter bubbles up again, and I turn to meet her sparkling eyes.
“What do you think? Should I go for it?” I play along, and Lorelei beams at me, her smile wide and contagious.
“Yes, silly!” she chirps, bursting into giggles that brighten the moment even more.
With a playful grin, I pivot back to face Alice, wrapping my arm gently around her waist.
“You’re incorrigible.” Alice smiles at me.
“Damn right, I am, baby.” With a swift yet tender motion, I press my lips against hers, drawing approving cheers from those around us.
After breakfast, my brothers filter out the clubhouse door one by one. I turn to Alice. “I’m steppin’ out for a beat. You good?”
“Yeah. I’m going to help clean up.”
I draw her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. “Don’t go overboard.”
“I’ll be fine, Nash. I need things to return to normal as if none of this ever happened.”
“Somethin’ did happen.” I don’t hide the sharp edges of my tone. I get Alice wants to move forward, but I’m unwilling to let go of what she went through so quickly.
Alice rests her palm against my chest, grounding me like before. “And because of you and the club, I’m safe. Ricky is no longer a threat to me.” She searches my eyes, and I can tell without her asking that she already knows the bastard is dead.
“Let me hear the words again.”
Alice rises on her toes, closing the distance between us. “I’m yours,” she whispers, pressing her lips to mine.
Sage saunters over. “We got it from here, loverboy. She needs some TLC from us women.” She waves her hand, shooing me away.
With one last kiss, I leave Alice with Sage and step outside. I pull out my pack of cigarettes and light one. The burn of the first drag settles deep in my chest as I look at the white stick between my fingers.I should quit. Salem steps up beside me, smelling of weed. “Everything handled with the cop?” I exhale a stream of smoke.
“That’s why I motioned for us to convene outside. Figured you’d want to know somethin’.” He takes another hit from the roach between his fingers and holds it in for a beat. “Vehicle is at the bottom of a lake,” he informs me.
“And his body?” I ask.
Harlem claps me on the shoulder. “What motherfuckin’ body?”
I smirk at his statement and gaze at the jagged headstones across the churchyard, knowing the old stones silently witness every sin the club has buried here. Harlem’s words hang heavy as I stare at the moss-covered graves a beat longer. They churn something dark inside me. It’s not guilt but a deep resolve. I did what needed to be done, and so did the club.
The cop crossed the line, and he paid for it—with his life.
I flick the ash off the end of my cigarette, then take another deep drag, feeling the smoke curl in my lungs.
I’d do it all over again with no hesitation.
13
ALICE
It has been a week since the night of my attack and since Nash and I made our relationship official. I admit I was a little concerned about what sort of judgment we’d face, but to my surprise, I was worried for no reason. When you spend years being judged and ostracized, you expect that kind of treatment at every turn. I was a fool to think Sukie would be anything but happy for me, and after getting to know the type of men Nash surrounds himself with, I see now that they are the least judgmental group of men. Sure, they like to tease, but the ribbing comes from a place of brotherly love.
It also feels incredible to be a part of a family after being alone for so long. Growing up an only child to parents who had me late in life, I was robbed of so much time when they passed away. Don’t get me wrong, I adored my mom and dad, and I’m thankful for the years and memories, but they were all I had until I met Sukie’s father and Grandma Pierce. Then I was sent to prison, robbing me of precious time with my daughter, but I had given Sukie the same fate I had endured. To this day, I sometimes lay awake at night, wishing I could turn back time. I’d do things differently and be a better person and mom. Lately,I wonder how Sukie’s life would have turned out had I been smarter and done things differently.
Would she have found Harlem? Would she have met Sage and Juniper, had a sense of belonging, or found people who accept and protect her? Perhaps the hardships we go through are the stepping stones to our true destiny, preparing us and making us stronger for what’s to come.
