I t was the last thing I thought I’d have to do at the age of twenty-five. I had put it off as long as I possibly could, but I couldn’t stand another day with that man. After everything… his words, the bruises, the emotions… honestly I was surprised he was still alive considering .

Now it was done. There wasn’t any way I could spend another minute with that creep even if it meant I’d have to move back in with my parents. Even though everyone I knew would judge me, I knew I would be safe there .

No one really knew what I had been through. I never talked about it. It made me feel like I was somehow a failure even though I knew I wasn’t the problem. But now it was time to make things right. It was time to pick myself up and dust myself off. It would take time but with their help I could get back on my feet and for that I was thankful .

What I wasn’t happy about was what moving back home would mean. I’d have to be close to the thing that had made me move away from home at seventeen years old. I was older now, I could avoid it easier, but somehow the motorcycle club always had a way of being at the center of everything .

The members were loud and hairy. All they did was drink, smoke, play with their guns, and mess around with their women. There was another thing that came along with it that no one really talked about, and with good reason… death .

I didn’t want to be around any of it, but at least at home my life wouldn’t be in danger. My dad and the MC would keep me safe if it ever came to that. Those men would do anything for my dad. Anything .

There was no way that my ex, Troy, would ever show his face around here. We’d been together for years and I could count on one hand the amount of times he’s come to my parent’s house. But now after everything if he showed up, my dad would have his ass kicked and Troy knew it. It would be the ass kicking of a life time and I didn’t think it would end with my dad. He’d call the club to help and the boys would be more than happy to assist .

“Is that everything?” my mom asked as I carried in the last box .

“Yeah… except for the things I left behind, like the TV,” I said avoiding her eyes. I could already imagine the expression she was wearing without even looking at her .

It was almost as if I could hear her head shaking as she clicked her tongue, “Josie, you know he paid a ton for that TV. I don’t know if he’ll just let it — ”

“I’ll pay him back,” I said stepping into my old room which was now my new room. It was still decorated in the same pink and purple it had been when I was sixteen. “And I’m having this room repainted!” I shouted over my shoulder .

When I turned around to close the door, he was standing in the doorway looking at me. His leathery, wrinkled face was serious as it most often was .

“Is that right?” he said sounding as if he was teasing but not looking at all like he was .

“Well, if that’s OK with you, daddy,” I grinned flashing him my sugary-sweet smile .

“Come over here and give your old man a hug,” he said and held out his arms. I walked over to him and he wrapped them around me and squeezed me tight. He was a hard ass, as hard as they come, but I loved him, and he loved me. “Missed you baby girl. Glad to have you back,” he said keeping his voice low as if he didn’t want anyone to hear him being anything but tough .

“Me too, dad… me too,” I said, and it was true. I had missed him. It had been a few rough years for me. I should probably have come back sooner, but it was the club that made me keep my distance. How was I supposed to choose between two evils? But, I guess in the end I did, because here I was. Really though, I just chose my parents, it had nothing to do with the club .

Now that I was home it felt good to be here. It felt right and as long as I didn’t look out the windows towards the clubhouse, I could easily pretend it didn’t exist .

After my dad gave me one more squeeze, he left the room, and I started to unpack. Once I had an empty box, I started to pack up the things from my teen years. If I was going to be here for awhile, I need it to be less pink as soon as possible .

* * *

F or two weeks I stayed locked inside my room. I came out at meal times but if anyone from the club came to the door to talk to my dad, I disappeared. I didn’t want to hear anything even remotely related to club business. My new motto was, out of sight, out of mind. And so far it had been working well .

But staying in my room all day and night was starting to wear on me. I knew I’d have to get out before I lost my mind. It was hard being stuck in my room all day with nothing but books, TV and the internet. The only contact I had with other people was with my parents .

I was eating dinner with my mom and dad the day I freaked out. It was probably around the one-month mark after having moved in with them. I could even remember what we were eating. My mom had cooked up steaks with a side of onions and baby red potatoes .

“OK. I can’t do this anymore!” I said dropping my fork on my plate. It clanked loudly before rattling to a stop .

“Do what, dear?” my mom asked keeping her voice calm but at the same time glaring at me to let me know she wasn’t happy about the fork hitting her good plates. But one of the things my mom was really good at was handling someone who’s temper was raging .

“Sit in this house all day!” I pushed my chair away from the table and crossed my arms. I stared at my feet, not wanting to see the look on either of their faces .

My mom shook her head, but I could feel my dad looking at me. And I knew he wouldn’t stop staring until I looked at him .

I shifted my eyes up and the look on his face hadn’t been what I expected. It looked as though he was having an idea, not that he was about to tell me how to act when I was under his roof .

The worst part of it all was that no one was keeping me inside but myself. I was worried that if I went out of the house, I’d run into Troy. If our paths crossed what would happen? Would he try to tell me things would be different, to come home? Or would it be something far worse? I didn’t want to know… under my dad’s roof I didn’t have to think or deal with any of the what-ifs .

“You should come grocery shopping with me tomorrow,” my mom said as she put her hand lovingly on my dad’s shoulder. The corner of his mouth curled up but I could tell he had something else in mind .

They were an interesting pair. My mom was gorgeous. Once upon a time she’d been head cheerleader, and Prom queen but now she was Terry Vincent’s old lady. I could tell she loved it and most of the time she seemed happy, but I also knew how much he had changed her life .

“Yeah, that’ll solve the problem,” I said sarcastically. It was almost as if being in this house made me revert back into my teen-aged-self. Even I had annoyed myself with my tone. “What I mean is, I think I need to start looking for work. A job. Something to do with my time. I can’t stay cooped up in here hiding from him forever .”

My dad sat there with his hands folded in front of him. He stared at me and started rubbing at his bearded chin .

“I think I might have the perfect solution,” he said placing his hand on top of my mom’s perfectly manicured hand. They’d always been affectionate with one another. Neither of them ever hid the fact that they were in love from me .

My dad was more than just in love with my mom, he was simply infatuated with her. And even time didn’t change that. If anything it only grew stronger. He assumed every man on the planet wanted to be with her, so he treated her like a queen. If she was happy he was happy. My dad would have done anything in the world for her, but she never asked him to do a single thing. Except maybe take out the trash .

I looked at him worried about what his perfect solution might be. Somehow I just knew it had to be club related because what else would my dad have for me to do? He lived and breathed for the club, it was the only thing he knew. I knew whatever his idea was it would somehow involve The Brother’s Rebellion .

“Before you shoot down my idea,” he said holding his palms up towards me, “hear everything I have to say .”

“Now I’m worried,” I said, but I was also intrigued and also a little excited to shoot down his offer. He knew when I moved in that I wanted to have nothing to do with the club. Nothing. To me it didn’t exist .

“I could use a little help in the office — ”

“Uh-uh! No way!” I said standing up even though I wasn’t finished with my dinner. But I was sure the more he talked the more of my appetite I would lose .

“What didn’t you understand about waiting until I was finished? Hear me out, Josie,” he growled as he stood up. He was nearly a foot taller than me and I knew he was trying using his height to show who was in charge .

My dad placed his hands down at the edge of the table and leaned forward. He was tall, broad and intimidating whether he meant to be or not .

I sighed and crossed my arms in front of my chest. My mom walked into the kitchen as if she was afraid there might be some kind of explosion and she didn’t want to witness it. I tilted my head and waited .

“You’ll work in my office in the house. You won’t have to into the clubhouse or even see anyone from the club, well, except for me,” he said as if he could see the checklist of pros and cons that was inside my head. “But I really could use some help with the books. I’m behind. I really don’t have time to keep up with myself and I don’t really want to find someone outside of the club to do it. It wouldn’t take you long to get up to speed. You’re good at that stuff .”

I opened my mouth to argue but something stopped the words from coming out. Maybe it wasn’t actually a horrible idea. It might actually be a good place to start. I wouldn’t be out in the world but I could keep myself busy while building up some skills that would help once I had to get back out there in the real world .

“What does it pay?” I asked thinking he’d laugh and tell me it pays for my food and rent. Which would be fair but if I could make some money that would definitely help. I could plan to actually move out and get a place of my own .

“How much were you thinking?” he said smirking at me .

“Same as I made before I had to quit my job and move back home .”

“I… I can do half of that,” he said looking as though he was nervous I’d say no. He actually wanted and needed my help, which made this even harder. I didn’t want to let him down if he needed me, especially after when I needed them they were there for me and let me move back home .

I put my finger on my chin as I thought it over. The money didn’t really matter, but I was holding out on him. I wanted to see how much he really needed my help or if he was just saying it to try to get me used to being around club things more .

“I won’t do anything illegal,” I said narrowing my eyes at him .

“Josie!” he said as if he already knew I was going to accept his job offer .

“And I won’t step foot into the clubhouse.” I started pacing with a hand on my hip, “They better not come in here either .”

He took two large steps in my direction and pulled me into his arms. I smiled as he squeezed me against his big solid chest .

“I didn’t say yes, yet .”

“Yet,” he said with a big smile on his face. He knew he had me. I looked up at his aged face and his gray hair. His life had been rough, and it showed. He looked older than he was, but he was still a fairly decent looking man. My mom must have thought so too since she married him and stayed with him even with all the horrible club stuff she most likely heard about .

“They’ll stay away, although you might still have to see me,” he said putting his hands on my shoulders and pushing me back so he could look into my eyes. “You aren’t going to regret this, Josie. I’ll get the office ready for you tonight so you can start in the morning .”

“Ugh… OK,” I groaned even though I was happy about my choice. At least I think I would be. And at the very least, accepting his offer made him happy. I liked seeing my dad happy .

My mom had appeared in the doorway grinning at us. I knew she had been listening to every word. She loved both of us more than anything else in the world. We both looked at her and laughed .

“Shut up. The both of you,” she said as she wiped at the corner of her eye before she disappeared back into the kitchen .

I couldn’t help but smile at her back as she walked away. She was a tough woman, but she was also the biggest softy I knew. Especially when it came to our family .

Our moment together was interrupted by a knock at the door. My dad adjusted his cut and ran his hand through his hair before he stomped over to the door .

“What is it?” he growled as he looked out at the club members. One of them was nervously shifting his weight back and forth from one leg to the other. The only one that didn’t look even a little intimidated was Stone, the club’s VP .

He’d been in the club for as long as I could remember, but what I hadn’t remembered was how incredibly out of the world hot he was. He’d sure changed since the last time I’d seen him .

I sighed and caught his eye when he glanced over my dad’s shoulder to see who had made the noise. His serious expression didn’t change and his eyes were back on my dad in a heartbeat .

“It’s the Henchmen, pres,” Stone said and this time when he looked at me, he made it very obvious. But it wasn’t because he was looking at me for any reason other than he didn’t want to talk about club business with me standing so close by .

My dad glanced at me briefly before he stepped outside and closed the door blocking me from club business. The thought to press my ear to the door and listen crossed my mind, but deep down, I didn’t want to know. Yeah, I was nosy but the less I knew the better .

None of this was a world I wanted to be part of even if I was a little curious what kind of business they had that could be so important at this time of night. The Brother’s Rebellion was something I had been born into whether I wanted to be part of it or not. But that didn’t mean I had to like it, or participate in any part of it .