“Jesus, Lyla. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. That woman went through hell.”
“What do you mean?”
I freeze for several seconds after nearly saying too much. “It sounds like she went through hell, you know, at the end. She didn’t even get to say goodbye to anyone.”
“No, she didn’t. Not that I would’ve remembered. I was only one or two. Laurel was three. Neither of us were old enough to remember anything about her. I’ve seen photos, videos, but it’s not the same. I would’ve given anything to have a mother growing up. My grandmother is the best, but she wasn’t her, the woman who loved my father and gave birth to me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Please stop apologizing. I’m sorry for throwing a pity party during your big, important epiphany. That’s what we should be focusing on right now and only that.”
“Only that?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“That and morning, noon, and night sex, of course.”
“I’m sorry it’s been so frequent. We don’t have to keep up that same pace.”
“No, it’s fine. I want to whenever you do, maybe even more often.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s like you’re paying me for my help with orgasms, which are even better than cash.”
“You sure that’s not making it like prostitution?”
“Absolutely sure. I’ve been nothing but happy with our arrangement.”
“Me too. I love having you here.”
“I love staying here,” she says with a smile that doesn’t last as long as I would’ve liked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure? You looked happy and sad all at the same time.”
“It’s nothing, really.” She picks up a mushroom and pops it into her mouth. Once she swallows it, she says, “I just…I was supposed to have an interview this week, in Atlanta.”
“Oh.”
That means if she gets the job, she’ll be moving to Atlanta?
“But it was for a crappy assistant position paying peanuts without any orgasm benefits whatsoever.”
“Lyla, if you want to go to Atlanta, I can go with you for the interview,” I assure her.
“No, it’s fine. It didn’t feel like the right fit for me anyway. I’m sure there’s something better out there. If not, I might go back to school.”
“Good,” I say with a sigh of relief because I don’t want her to leave, but I do want her to finish her degree since I can tell it would mean a lot to her. She would be the first in her family to graduate college.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Barrett
“Hey, what’s up?” Remy asks when he answers his phone.
“Hey, um, I think I’m ready for you to make that call.”
“What call?”
“The one to Torin Fury about the idea for veterans prospecting I had.”
“Oh, right. Hell, I’m free now if you want to come over to the motel.”
“Yeah?” Shit. I was hoping he would say he’s swamped and put me off until next week so I can grow a big pair of balls first.
“Sure. Why not? Avery’s gone to the grocery store, so I’m just counting down the minutes on the clock.”
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll head over. Do you have his number with you?”
“It’s in my phone.”
“Right. So, I’ll see you in a few.”
“See ya.”
And fuck, I can’t go without taking Lyla with me, which means I should probably own up to having her stay with me today while she’s there to limit the number of swear words that will come out of my oldest brother’s mouth.
He was the most adamant against me marrying Laurel. I hated admitting he was right when I finally got the divorce papers. Even through all the months of no contact from Laurel, I thought we would work it out and be fine as soon as I was back home. But I was wrong.
So, fifteen minutes later, Lyla and I are walking into the motel’s office.
“Lyla, this is my oldest brother, Remy. Remy, you may remember Lyla Perry.”
“Laurel’s sister. Yeah, I know,” Remy replies with a clenched jaw. “Can I talk to you outside?”
“No.”
“No?” he repeats.
“No. I already know what you’re going to say – that I shouldn’t have anything to do with my ex’s sister, Isaac’s daughter, etcetera, etcetera. Did that cover everything?”
“What the fuck are you thinking?”
“You know what? It’s really none of your business who I’m dating, is it?” I ask, even though dating is not exactly the term I would use for having Lyla stay with me for round-the-clock explosive sex.
“It is my business when your choices could bring down Isaac’s fury on our family and the whole goddamn MC!”
Just two uses of the word “fuck” and one “goddamn”? He’s not too pissed off. Either that or Lyla’s presence is keeping his mouth in check.
“Isaac knows she’s staying with me. He gave his approval.”
Remy’s brows furrow. “He did?”
“Yes. Call and ask him if you want.”
“Oh.”
“So now can we get back to the reason I’m here and you put in that call to Torin Fury?”
“Fine. But you better tell me if and when anything changes with the Devil Hounds, understood?”
“Yeah, of course,” I agree before taking Lyla’s hand and giving her a smile to thank her for enduring all of this.
A few moments later and Remy hits a contact in his phone, then puts the ringing phone on speaker. I keep a hold of Lyla’s hand because she’s been so supportive, and I may not be here doing this if not for my lie to her.
“Remington Fulton,” Torin Fury, the president of the original chapter, answers. “Please tell me you’re not calling to report any trouble with your Kings.”
“There’s no trouble,” Remy assures him. “My brother Barrett is here with his…girlfriend, and we’ve got you on speakerphone.”
“What can I do for you, Barrett?” Torin asks, obviously knowing we wouldn’t call if we didn’t want something from him.
“Well, sir, I have this idea to help Savage Kings and other MCs find prospects while helping veterans find connections.”
“We rarely turn down a military vet prospect,” Torin replies. “Even dishonorably discharged are approved if the rest of their background checks out with our man Reece. We offer reduced prospecting periods for men, and, ah, I guess I should also add women who have served their country.”
“Right. But I think there are so many others that the MC could help, especially right after they come home, and they feel so…” I search for a way to explain it.
“Disconnected from the rest of the world around them?” Torin offers.
“Exactly. You may remember what it was like. Suicide rates have been declining but not enough.”
“So, you want to hook them up with a new family, a place where they feel they belong?”