Chapter Thirteen
“Thank you so much for this, Sinner. I really do appreciate it,” Lexie said.
He tucked in her blanket, and made sure her books were within reach. “You know the club adores you, and no one minds helping you out. You help with everyone at the club.”
“I hate this. I love being involved, and right now I feel like a loser.”
He chuckled. “Don’t be.”
“I’ve not met her, Sinner. I would love to have met her.”
Sinner took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “You do not need to deal with what is going on.”
“You’re probably right. So, how are things with you and Lola?” Lexie asked.
“They’re good. Do you know that she had quit her job?” He made sure her window was closed so that no cold air got into the room.
“Yes. I also know she has all of her stuff in the spare bedroom. I can’t believe Devil has made you go home rather than be here.”
“It’s a good thing. We’re still working through our problems, but I think we’re almost there.”
“You have issues?” Lexie asked, frowning.
“Not personal issues with each other, just problems that have caused us to separate.”
He took a seat on the end of the bed as she patted it for him to. “When she first left, I was so damn angry with her,” she said.
“Why?”
“She was giving up. At least it felt like it. She had been doing better, more than better, and yet, she was going to throw it all away. I know how good this club is. I know you’ve all done bad things. I get it, I understand it, all right? Some women, they really can’t live with that knowledge, but I know how much Devil loves me and our children.”
“I don’t want you to hate Lola,” he said. “She went through hell. You and I, we don’t know what happened completely when she was taken by him. She was young. I’m a big man. I shouldn’t have become so fucking miserable.” He shrugged.
“You’re both back now?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He looked around her room. “I’ve missed this place, and no, I don’t mean your bedroom.”
“You’re not going to go back on the road?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m done. I think I’ve done what I really needed to do, you know? I was meant to be with Lucius, and help him through. Lola’s back, and she’s not going anywhere.”
“Are you going to give her a reason to not leave?” Lexie asked.
“Of course. Now, you’re going to rest, and we’re going to deal with this, okay.”
“Yes.” Lexie flumped back. “Oh, there has been a change of plans for Christmas as well. Because I can’t go anywhere or do anything, some of The Skulls are coming here. I believe Angel, Lash, and her kids are coming. She’ll be making dinner, obviously.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing. All you’ll be allowed to do is sit and look pretty.”
“Rude.”
“You know you love it.” He left the room, whistling as he went. The house was clean completely, and he was rather pleased with his ability to find order around chaos. With a bunch of kids running around, he was surprised to see it was kind of clean.
He found Devil in the kitchen.
“Are you heading to the hospital?” Sinner asked.
“Yes. Vincent is outside waiting for me.”
“Are you sure you don’t want any of the brothers with you?”
“Vincent’s part of the club. You know that. I’m going to go and see her. How is she?”
“I think she’s looking better to be honest, much, much better.”
“I don’t want her stressing.” Devil left him alone, and Sinner took the time to make himself a drink.
This was crazy what was happening.
Humming to himself, twenty minutes passed before Devil came down. He had a smile on his face.
“I take it that conversation went well.”
“Being with my woman makes me smile. She doesn’t want me to have the procedure, but every time we’re pregnant, she doesn’t want to be in bed all the time. So, away I go. Take care of them for me.”
“Of course. You know you can count on me.”
****
“It’s about time that you remembered me,” Paris said.
Lola opened her arms. “Can I have a hug?”
Paris had Aria in her arms, and she changed her to one hip, and then pulled Lola in close. “Of course. I’ve missed you so much. I had to hear everything from Lacey. Why did you stop calling me?” she asked.
“I don’t know. It just didn’t feel right to be calling anyone. I stopped calling Lexie as well.”
“Are you here to stay or just for a visit?” Paris asked.
Lola took Aria from Paris as they entered the kitchen. “Wow, you’ve grown so big so quickly.”
“Yes, she has. She’s been a total blessing though.” Paris smiled at her daughter, and Lola saw all the love in her eyes. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m here to stay. I’m not going anywhere anymore.”
“Did you meet a handsome man on your travels?” Paris asked.
“I didn’t do much traveling. When I went out with Sarah and Belinda—they were friends I met at work—there were some guys, but I wasn’t interested to be honest. I never left Sinner. Not in my heart, I love him. I do.”
“You left so quickly.”
“I felt I had to. You know. You were able to deal with everything so quickly and swiftly. I thought I was the same, but I wasn’t.”
Paris shrugged. “We’re different. I know Sinner was never the same without you. Spider, he was worried about him all the time. You took a big part of Sinner when you left.”
“I’m back, and Sinner’s back. We’re not going anywhere.” She kissed Aria’s head.
“Have you talked to your parents?” Paris asked.
“Not you as well?”
Paris held up her hands. “I come in peace, and all that. They call me from time to time to ask about you. From what they tell me, you don’t talk to them, not one bit.”
Lola sighed. “It was easier that way.”
“They’re still your parents. They love you.”
“They were always looking at me as if I was fragile. I hated it.” She stared into Aria’s eyes, at the innocence of her. Lola was overcome by how protective she was of the little girl.
“I would kill anyone who would harm her,” Paris said. “Sometimes I’ve thought about what would have happened if it had been Aria and not me, and I get so angry. She’s my little girl. My life, my everything. I love her so much.”
Lola released a breath, trying to stop herself from crying. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.”
“The point is, Lola, that you’re someone’s little girl. Spider, he would destroy everyone in his path because he has the power to do it. Some parents, they don’t have that ability. They cannot kill without blinking, and they don’t have a club to help them through. Your parents were all alone. They were scared to death that they would lose you. Not only that, as a parent you want the best for your kid. Whenever your father looked at you, he knew he had failed, honey. How do you think that made him feel?”
Lola hadn’t given her father a single thought. Biting her lip, she stared at her friend, and shook her head. “I screwed up, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did. You need to give them a chance, honey. They’re your parents. They love you more than anything else in the world. I know I wouldn’t want anything to happen to Aria. It would kill me, but I tell you what, I would hunt the bastards down, and I would destroy them.” Paris finished making a drink. “Have a seat and tell me about everything.”
Lola didn’t know what to say. Paris had just opened her eyes, and when she looked at Aria, she saw her own child. What would she have been like if what happened to her ever happened to one of her kids? She would be in complete pain and chaos. She would want to kill the people herself with her bare hands.
Lola didn’t stay long with Paris, just long enough to catch up, and then she was back in her car, and headed toward Lexie’s house. Sinner was there, and they swapped places. She kissed him, and he pressed her against the wall, promising to be back later. Her stomach had butterflies with the passion in his voice and the way he looked at her.
Lexie was reading, and after delivering her some soup and bread for lunch, Lola was alone. Since being back, she had taken the responsibility of being in charge of the website, much to Natalie’s relief.
Modifying the website, she made the necessary changes and updated it. Once that was done, she simply stared at her computer and her cell phone.
If she called now, they would be home. She knew this.
Stop being a baby.
Releasing a breath, she picked up her cell phone, and tapped on the screen bringing up her parents’ home number. It would be so easy to call them. Just a couple of clicks and she would be dialing.
“She’s my little girl. My life, my everything. I love her so much.”
She had been her father’s little girl, and her mother had loved her even when she loved computers more than she loved dressing up in girl’s clothing.
Finally, she dialed her parents’ number, pressing the cell phone to her ear. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling, nor could she stop the sudden fear that maybe she had left it too long, and she had. She avoided everything with them.
“Hello,” her father said, and she froze.
Seconds passed.
“Hello, is there anyone there?”
She gritted her teeth. The desire to put the phone down and ignore it was strong, but she fought it. “Hey, Dad,” she said.
“Lola?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Honey, come quick, it’s Lola.” She heard him shout.
“How have you been?” she asked.
“Me, I’ve been fine. What about you? How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing okay. I left Piston County for a little while, and I got a different job. I’m back now. I was just so bored.” Whizz’s offer had been too good to turn down. Her life wasn’t away from the club anymore. It was part of it.
“It’s so good to hear your voice.” This was from her mother.
“Hey, Mom. How are you?”
“I’m over the moon that you’ve decided to call.”
Guilt gripped her, and she deserved it. “I’m sorry. I really am. I had a lot of things on my mind, and I took it out on you guys. I really shouldn’t have.”
“Honey, we would do anything for you. We love you so much,” her father said.
“I love you, too. It’s, I’m so sorry. I suck at this so much.” She laughed. “I’m a little busy at the moment. I’m helping out one of the girls, Lexie. She’s having a few problems with her pregnancy, but I was wondering if you would like to go for a visit.”
“We would love you to, honey. We really would.”
“Would you like to meet Sinner? I know you didn’t want me dating, Dad, but I love him, and he is part of my life.”
“You love him?” her father asked.
“Yeah, more than anything. He’s my soul mate.”
“Of course, we would love to see him. You and him both.”
She nodded. After talking a little more and catching up, she finally put the phone down.
“We’re heading out to see your parents?” Sinner asked, making her jump.
“Geez, you scared me,” she said. “I thought you were on your way to Naked Fantasies.”
“I was, and well done. You said it without a sneer.”
“I don’t like the thought of any naked woman throwing themselves at you. Sue me.”
He laughed. “There is no naked woman, and besides, the only one I want is you.” He moved close, and kissed her lips. “You want me to go and see your family?”
“Of course.” She took his hand, locking their fingers together. “We’re in this together now, right? Forever?”
“Yeah, we really are.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I wish you could come with me.”
“I need to be here for Lexie. I will get started on some food for when the kids get home. How does chicken noodle soup sound?”
“Sounds awesome. I love noodle soup.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, and she watched him walk away, heading toward the club’s titty bar. She didn’t like Naked Fantasies, but she trusted Sinner. He would never step out on her.
****
Devil was back within three days, but Lola and Sinner still stayed at their place. Lexie told Sinner that he could sleep in Lola’s room, and he didn’t have to keep going back to the club. Of course, Devil wanted to argue, but Lexie had the last word in everything, not that he minded.
Lexie was damn good for the club, and she reminded Devil that they were older than a couple of high school kids.
Roxy had deteriorated and was refusing to see a doctor. Jessica went to visit her, and warned them all to be prepared, that it wasn’t good news at all.
Everyone was waiting for that call of doom, and around it, Sinner was in fucking heaven. He wanted to feel guilty about his newfound happiness, but he couldn’t. Lola, she had found whatever it was she needed, and now he didn’t feel like he was the only one that wanted to be a couple. Every step of the way, she was there, she was making decisions, and she was even initiating sex, which was fantastic. It was like the past Lola had been nothing more than a shell. Living her life without really being passionate about anything. Looking back, Sinner finally realized that he’d not had Lola then. No, she wasn’t with him. Now, she was with him, and their relationship had gotten stronger for their period away from each other.
Late one night after making love to Lola, he turned her to face him.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I don’t want us to ever regret a moment of being together,” he said.
“I don’t.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips, and stared into her eyes.
“This is about Roxy?” she asked.
He nodded.
“She told me to never have any regrets. She doesn’t want me to live thinking about tomorrow, but to live in the now. I’m going to take her advice about that.”
He held onto her hand, and ran his thumb across the finger that would hold his ring if they ever got married.
“Marry me, Lola?” he asked.
“Sinner?”
“No, I’m being real right now. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t give a shit about everything else. Yes, I sometimes leave the toilet seat up, and you leave your towel on the floor. We share a toothbrush at times. None of that matters. We’ve wasted so much time already. I don’t want to waste anymore. I love you, only you.”
She cupped his face, and he waited. “Yes. I’ll marry you. There is no one else that I would want.” She pressed her lips against his, and they moaned. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, and knowing in his heart he never wanted to let go.
****
Lucius finished reading the trashy romance book and could just about vomit. This was what women were reading nowadays. Men were not fucking like that, and if they were, he was surrounded by a bunch of pussies.
There was a knock at the door, and he frowned seeing as it was quite late.
Heading toward the door, he opened it up to see the frumpy woman in boys’ clothing. Her hair was in two ponytails, each one trailing down her breasts. She was curvy, and pretty in the girl next door way.
She was also smiling at him. “Hey, I’m Natalie.”
“Hello, Natalie. Sorry to bother you and all, but Roxy asked for me to bring you this.” She handed him over a thermos.
“Why the fuck would she want you to do that?”
“It’s from her recipe. I was here earlier today when you were out for a smoke. She asked for a favor, and I’m not one to turn down an opportunity to give.”
He took the thermos, and she stepped away.
Nodding his head, he thanked her, and watched as she left. Not once did she try to get on her knees to suck his cock.
Closing the door, he made his way into the bedroom. Roxy was lying on the bed, resting her head on a pillow, her eyes open.
“Why?” he asked.
“You never eat properly when you’re upset, and I know how you like your food.”
“Are you trying to matchmake?” he asked, not interested in the frumpy girl.
Roxy shook her head. “No. She’s got her hands full with two men here.”
“She fucking two men? She didn’t seem the sort to be that kinky.”
“Not two men at once, you big oaf. Two men who want her.”
“Who?”
“I think those romance books have gone to your head.”
“Have you read them?” Lucius said. “Yuck.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bet you got a couple tips. I know you, Lucius, you’d do anything to make you the best lover in the whole world.”
“So, you still didn’t tell me who?” he asked.
“Fine. It’s Slash and Butler. They both like her, and they have both hurt her because she’s not like other women. She doesn’t understand them one bit.”
He opened up the thermos and took a deep inhale of the liquid. “This is so good. Thank you.”
“I’m always looking after you.” Roxy sighed. “Tell me you’ll be okay.”
“Let’s not do this, okay? You do not have to worry about me at all. I’ll be fine. You know this, and you know me.”
She gave him that sad smile, and he forced the pain aside. This wasn’t about him. This was about her.
****
Natalie wrapped her jacket around her as she stepped out into the cold. Roxy had asked her to make the soup that had a little hint of spice. It was something that always brought Lucius comfort, and right now, he needed it.
She closed her eyes, feeling the loss of this woman that she had known for a handful of hours. Life was cruel. It was unfair.
“You okay, pet?” Slash asked. She would recognize his voice.
Opening her eyes, she saw Slash near one bike, and turning her head, she saw Butler next to the other. This was not happening. She wouldn’t get drawn into this game.
“I’m fine,” she said. Butler was near the front of her car, while Slash was near the back. She hated this. “I came to drop off some soup. Are you guys following me now?”
“We wanted to make sure you’re all right, and I wanted to apologize,” Butler said. “I shouldn’t have told you about Slash.”
“And I shouldn’t have told you about Butler.”
“It doesn’t change anything,” she said, looking between the two of them. “I appreciate that you came with me, honestly, I do, but I can’t do this. I don’t know what you expect of me. I’m not used to this. I don’t want to be caught in the middle with either of you, and I don’t want to have to choose either. I care for you both.” Why did it have to be complicated like this?
“What if you gave us both a chance to win you?” Slash asked.
“It’s not a competition, not even close. I just want to go home now.” She went to her car, and without looking at either of them, she drove away.