Chapter 19

 

I lie in my bed feeling the loneliness of not having Angel here with me. I slide my phone out and send her a text, letting her know I have a surprise for her.  She doesn’t respond right away. I lay my head back and close my eyes when someone knocks.

“It’s open.” The door opens and Aria walks in with a grin on her face.

“What are you smilin’ about?” I ask her as I scoot over. I motion for her to come over to the bed. Aria walks over, dropping down next to me.

“You are really serious about her, aren’t you?” I roll onto my side so I can look at her.

“I am. Why does that surprise you so much?” The door opens and Roc casually strolls in.

“Party in my room?” Raising an eyebrow, he nods.

“You do have my girl in here.” Noted.

“Back to my question.” Looking back at Aria, she shrugs.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Devil. Angel seems to have calmed down, but we all know what she was.” There it is. I knew that would get brought up again.

“She’s changed a lot, like me. She’s changin’ me, Aria. When I’m with her, I feel like the rest of the world doesn’t matter. She understood the reasons why I am this way. Hell, she said that she would work on it with me. No one has ever done that.” Aria watches me, not believing me from the looks of it.

“The night of your party, she gave me this.” Reaching in my pocket, I slide out the lighter Angel had made for me.

Passing it to Aria, she runs her fingers over the words.

“Always be somebody.” She reads the words that Angel had inscribed on the lighter before passing it back to me.

“That’s amazing, Devil. She’s right, you know. You need to be somebody. You let your past rule you for too long. You deserve happiness.”

“Aria. I went and sat outside my old house earlier. The past hit me like a goddamn brick. I know what will make me happy.” Aria nods before climbing over, pressing a kiss to my cheek.  She crawls off the bed when Roc gets up, and he follows behind her. No one says anything else, they just leave the room.

My heart skips in my chest knowing that I have a family that cares about me now. This club is the family I’ve never had.

Angel, is my family. 

***

“You have to go get her!” Aria skips around the house like a little girl in a candy store.

“I can’t just go get her. I need to get shit set up first.” The guys walk around, looking at the little house that I just bought.  Living in the clubhouse, has given me the money I need to pay for whatever she wants. It isn’t a big fancy house like her parent’s–but it’s ours.

“Yes, you can! Let her help pick out stuff. It will be so much fun!” I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face. It would be perfect having her here right now.

“This what you wanna do?” Dragon crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at me.

“Yeah, it is. You’ve been there every step of the fuckin’ way with me, Dragon. You gave me a home when I didn’t have one. That shit means everything to me. This is just another fuckin’ phase of my life.” He watches me, nodding his head slowly. It’s as though he’s letting that play out in his head.

“You’re a good guy. You were dealt a shitty hand. You made this club proud of what you’ve became. I guess my question is, are you still in, one hundred percent?” The guys all filter in the room when they hear him ask that. I knew it was coming.

“One thing I’ve always been sure of, is this club. My real family was shit. They hated me, tossed me to the side. This club–you guys–it’s all I’ve known. I’d never turn my back on it. I’m still all in, Dragon. You need me–you got me.” The killing will never stop. Can I curb it? Maybe.  Killing is what I do. It’s all I know. I don’t think I could be anything else.

“I’m proud of you, Devil. As our enforcer, but more so, as a man. You stand up for what you fuckin’ believe in. You made a place in this club that could never be replaced. If this is the way you move on from that bullshit of your past, I’m here for you. We’re here for you,”  Dragon says, holding his hand out, I reach for it.  Dragon pulls me into a hug. If my heart wasn’t so full of ash, I’d almost cry.

“I appreciate that shit, Dragon. You’ve been more of an influence than my own father ever was.” Dragon pulls back as the other guy’s cheer.

“Don’t go callin’ me daddy or nothin’ like that shit!” We all laugh. It’s a strange feeling laughing with the guys. I can’t say it isn’t an unwelcomed feeling either.

It makes sense.

“Look at that. The goddamn Devil, smiles!” Ghost yells as I shake my head.