“Are you sure?”

I looked across at Blake and handed him his t-shirt.

“Yeah, Blake, I am sure.” I gave him a small smile as I pushed open the car door. I walked around to his side and leaned into his window. “Thanks, for everything.”

He let out a low sigh and kept his eyes locked with mine. “If they hassle you, or you want to come back to me, call ok?”

I nodded my head, while buttoning up the last button on my jeans. “I will. I promise.”

Blake shot me a weak smile and I could see the debate in his eyes as he thought about leaving me here. His hands hovered over the key, not turning it; just fiddling.

“Go, Blake. I’m fine.” I stepped away from his side of the car, and he twisted the key in the ignition, bringing the engine back to life.

I loved Blake, but we could never be what we were. We both knew that, but it didn’t stop us from going out with a bang, if you get my drift.

I took another step away from his car, and he slowly began to crawl away from me.  I would always love him, and it was easy to fall into old habits. Being with Blake was easy, but we both knew that easy wasn’t a good thing.

I watched his tail lights slowly disappear up the driveway, and I slowly turned around to face my house. The mansion was in darkness; it was only after ten at night, so it surprised me that no one was up.

Slowly, I walked up the porch steps. I didn’t know how my brothers were going to react to my sudden return. I paused with my hand on the door knob, and then went ahead and twisted it. They didn’t seem to be home. Good. I had more time to pull myself together before I faced them.

If I’d had my way, I wouldn’t have returned tonight, but, I knew if I went back to Blake’s, I wouldn’t have been leaving anytime soon.

I cracked the door open slowly, and crept through the hallway. The house was in darkness, like I had expected. In the night light, the house looked almost haunted. The moonlight flickered across the photo frames that hung in the foyer.

Sighing softly, I walked through the foyer and into the lounge room. I didn’t bother to flick the light on; I went in and sat down on the couch.

Laying back down and hanging my feet over the end of the couch, I stared up at the ceiling.

My fingers went under my t-shirt and I ran one finger lightly over my scar. Where did I go from here? What was I meant to do with my life?

The dull rumble of motor bikes broke me out of my thoughts. My heartbeat sped up, and suddenly I felt nervous. I knew my brothers would always love me, but still it was hard to face them.

I listened closely as all the engines died, and I heard the crunching of gravel. I froze as I heard the door swing open. For some reason, I shut my eyes tightly.

“So, are they coming around here then?” Tyler’s voice sounded slightly drained as he spoke.

“Yeah, when they knock off or something,” Jax replied.

The front door closed and I remained still on the couch, my feet no longer swinging over the edge.

“Well, I am going to bed, you guys have fun with that,” Tyler yawned, and I heard his feet pounding up the stairs.

The foyer lights flicked on and the overcast spread lightly through the lounge room, bringing only dull light into the room.

“I heard El was coming to pay you a special visit Jax,” Adam said, sounding smug.

“Whatever,” Jax grunted. “Women are only good for one thing. I’m going to shower.”

Another dull set of footsteps stomped up the stairs and I thought over Jax’s words. Women were only good for one thing.

“Did you give Amber another call?” Troy’s voice was huff.

“She blocked it again,” Cole scoffed. “I think we should just storm the guy’s house.”

“We all agreed we would give her space,” Adam quickly snapped. “We owe her that.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Cole grunted. “She could be dead for all we know.”

I flung my legs back from over the couch and stood up, walking from the couch.

“We would know if she were dead,” Adam said, sounding annoyed.

“I am alive,” I announced, leaning against the doorframe, crossing my arms, bringing myself out of the shadows of the lounge room. Troy and Cole were sitting on the bottom step, and Adam was standing with his hands in his pockets.

All their mouths dropped open, as they saw me standing casually against the doorframe, keeping my nerves in check.

“You’re back,” Adam finally managed to croak.

I nodded my head and kept my arms crossed. “That I am.”

Cole got up abruptly. “So… sick of playing happy family with Blake the gangster then?” He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at me.

Inhaling sharply, I pushed myself away from the doorframe and shouldered my way past him, walking up the stairs.

“I’m going to bed,” I shot over my shoulder, not looking back. Cole could say what he wanted about Blake, but he was the only person I knew who wouldn’t judge me.

“Wait Amber, we haven’t seen you in weeks!” Adam took the stairs two at a time, and wrapped an arm around my upper arm. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I glanced at his hand and then back up at him. “I’m going to go to bed,” I announced again.

“So, that’s it then. No small talk with us?” Cole shot up at me from the bottom of the stairs.

“What would you like me to say, Cole?” I looked around Adam to look down at him, eyebrow arched sarcastically.

“Are you back with Blake?” He yelled up behind me as I kept walking. I stopped to respond, but the doorbell rang, and Cole let out an annoyed grunt as he spun around to open it.

The door flung open, and about six or so females stood at the door. I didn’t know them, but given the way they were dressed, it wasn’t hard to guess what they were all about. Pornstars.

“Pornstars?” I said out loud, slightly amused, and looked at my brothers pointedly. “I thought you guys had taste.”

The girls slowly walked in, and closed the door softly behind them. The boys, however, wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“I thought you were going to bed, Amber,” Troy shot at me, but still wouldn’t meet my eye. I guess your sister meeting your one night stand wasn’t particularly a high point, but they were bikies and, of course, girls like them always clung to the tough bad boys.

“Right, night!” I turned around and Adam let go of my arm. Walking silently up the corridor, I heard the conversation starting up as I walked to my room.

Coming to a stop at my bedroom door, I paused and shot a glance at Jax’s closed door. I bit my bottom lip; I couldn’t believe he had said what he had earlier, but then, what did I expect? He was a bikie; a tough lady’s man bikie. I knew all too well now, when it came to love, it didn’t rank very high on a criminal’s list of priorities.

They wanted sex, they didn’t want love. I twisted my door knob and walked into my room. It was cold and dark, and I flicked my bedside light on and closed the door.

Love was over-rated anyway, I thought, as I walked to my bed. Criminals and bad boys were nothing but work so I ignored the feeling that burned in my stomach; that made me want to hurl something across the room. All when I thought about Jax with other women.