Page 9 of Scar

“Our house is at the back, and it is far from the noise of the bar. Don’t worry, we have more than enough rooms. Besides, we let out rooms in the house whenever there’s a race. Next week, you’ll see this place become really lively some with all the guys from Devil's Legacy and other MCs being here. Maybe you could work here, helping Andrea out. I’m sure Andrea won’t mind,” Dad said as if he had a light-bulb moment, as he agreed with Greyson about not letting Mel leave.

I wondered when he started taking care of stray cats. If he saw one on the street, usually he would use his bike to ride them off the road. Yet here he was worrying about a complete stranger.

“I couldn’t…” she said trying to defend herself, and not give in to their generous offer.

“Bullshit!”

This time I wasn’t the only one laughing as Greyson said it, Melinda was too. And then she caught me spying on them.

Fuck!

5

Silver

Melinda was so fragile, like a newborn baby. We heard Scar laughing at the back of the bar, and then he quickly disappeared as soon as our eyes shifted to him. It wasn’t like him to hide or even be shy. Maybe this was a trait from when he was young. A part of his life which had been robbed from me. Like so many things.

“As you can see, the main house is only five minutes from the bar, so it’s no big deal. We just try not to park in front of the bar, to leave space for all customers.”

“Oh no. I’ll move my car. Sorry, I never knew.”

I shook my head, thinking that wasn’t the point I was making. I wanted her to know the rules so she could decide if she was still staying, even by judging by things, she had no choice.

I opened the door, and Andrea was behind it, as if she was heading out.

“Darn it Silver. Where you been? You were supposed to get gas and then take me to the store.”

“Andrea. Melinda. Andrea, my sister-in-law.”

Andrea’s eyes brushed over Melinda as I introduced them. She was acting like a jealous lover. A front she said she put on to keep the cats away. Apparently, I was hot property. I wasn’t sure about that, I hadn’t felt like that in a long time.

“Melinda needs a place to stay and a job. You’re always complaining that you could do with a helping hand, so I thought it would be good for you to get one.”

Her dark eyes narrowed, until I showed her the car seat that I had in my hand. And then she completely changed her tune.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Yes,” Melinda said in a whisper. Then she cleared her throat. “I understand if you don’t want a baby here…”

She didn’t even get to finish her sentence as Andrea grabbed the boy and held him in her arms. “How old are you, little fellow?”

“Nine months,” Melinda smiled.

It seemed the little icebreaker had gotten Andrea to cool down. “What you good at? Cleaning? Cooking? Serving behind the bar? Because all of these guys are useless.”

“Well, I have a garage to run. The club isn’t really a job. I have other things to do,” I said in my defense.

Andrea shook her head and ignored me, turning her attention to Melinda.

“I can earn my keep and a bit more, because baby milk and stuff is really expensive.” She repeatedly shrugged, as if she was hoping Andrea would say yes. But this wasn’t Andrea’s house, it was mine, but working in the club and house was her domain.

Mel needed a roof over her head, but I couldn’t let her stay here for free, and besides she would need money too.

“You could stay, you would help out wherever I say you should help out,” said Andrea. “We’ll go through terms. And your rate. But you need to know that whether it’s in the club, cleaning the rooms and when you’re in the club, I’ll look after this little fellow until you get on your feet. Deal?”

Melinda rushed in for a hug, not accepting the hand which Andrea had stretched out for a hand shake.

“Easy tiger. I’m holding this little guy. Silver, go dump the chair in the room to the far left. Next to Scratch.”

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