Page 79 of Renascence
“I can’t tell you who to be friends with, and I sure as hell have no say over what Raven does.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m trying to worm my way into your life.”
“I don’t think that.” He sighs, shaking his head as he pulls over. I still can’t look at him. “Look at me, Emily.”
Fuck.
I slowly turn to face him. He’s conflicted and I don’t blame him. This isn’t what he signed up for.
“This…relationshipthing… I don’t know how to do it. I didn’t exactly have a positive example to learn from.”
I sit back, absorbing his words. Am I finally getting some meaningful conversation?
“My parents were always busy with one thing or another. I saw them separately more than I did together. When they were in the same place, all they did was argue. Mostly over me. I joined the Army right out of high school, then got shipped off to Afghanistan. I haven’t seen them since then.”
“Since you were eighteen?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow.”
“I vowed I’d never go through that. I’d rather keep women at a distance than try and fail. People will only end up getting hurt.”
“I’m sorry, Venom. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“Things have been good for me these last couple of years. Before I came to Stony View, I was working at some accounting firm in Atlanta. I loved my job, but I still felt like something was missing. Then one day, I met Gage and Chopper in a diner. I asked them about their bikes because I was thinking about getting one. We ended up talking about the MC and they invited me down to check it out. I stayed, prospected for a year, and the rest is history. They gave me something I didn’t have with my own blood—a real family.”
“I can see that.”
“I’m sorry, Em. I’m being a dick. Go. Have lunch with Raven. Hang out with the women as much as you want. Maybe they can be for you what the guys are for me. After what you’ve been through, you deserve to have some people in your corner.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive, darlin’.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Just don’t rat me out to the prez.” He gives me a smile and a conspiratorial wink. “I know what he told you last night.”
“Oh, yeah.” I return his smile. “He did say to tell him if you were being a dick. I bet I could get you into a lot of trouble, mister.”
“But you won’t.” He glances behind him, pulling back onto the road.
“What makes you so sure?”
“All the future orgasms I’m going to give you.”
“Hmm… you make a compelling argument, Mr. Hughes.”
“I do. Now let’s go see a man about some tests.”
CHAPTER 13
***Venom***
I needed to think.
I don’t know why I came to the clubhouse to do it. Maybe it’s because I’m most comfortable here, around my brothers. The fuckers don’t know the meaning of personal space, though. Short of going to my room, I won’t get a moment’s peace. Razor, Crow, and Rico are around the pool table, rowdy as fuck. Each of the Hounds has tried on separate occasions to either suck or fuck me. Funny thing is, it’s all put things in perspective for me.
