FORTY

Mel

“Talk to me, sis.” Hooch rubs his eyes with his free hand, holding his phone over his head with the other, judging by the angle of the FaceTime image.

“Did I wake you up?” It’s well after ten in the morning.

“Long night,” he says on a yawn.

I lean back with my knees bent in what’s become my favorite spot: the lawn down by the back fence of the Lincoln clubhouse. “I’ve got a question for you.”

“Mmm,” he mumbles.

“I want Dog to come stay with us.”

He blinks a couple of times, rubbing his eyes again. “That’s not a question, Mel. It’s a statement.”

“Leave her alone,” comes from the background. “You know what she’s asking, so just answer her.”

I call out in sing-song, “Hi, Dagne.”

“Heya.” Her head pops into view briefly.

“Why do you want that?” Hooch asks. “I thought you weren’t fuckin’ him?” he prompts.

Silence stretches between us: me biting my bottom lip to stifle my nervous giggle, and him staring wide-eyed at the screen.

“Mel?”

“Little brother?”

“I ain’t so little when I kick his fuckin’ ass for touchin’ you,” he growls.

“Hooch …”

“What, Mel?” he drawls.

“I’m a grown woman. I have sex.”

“Stop.” He holds a hand up to the screen. “I don’t need to hear it, especially when it involves one of the guys. No. Just no. I do not need that visual this early in the mornin’.”

I prop my phone between my knees. “So, is that a yes?”

He pushes his head back into the bedding, groaning. “Yes, Mel. If King’s okay with it, he can come down here. Whatever gets you home, baby girl.”

I go to thank him, but he cuts me off.

“But, no fuckin’ around. If he’s here, he’s serious. I’m not havin’ that asshole screw you around, okay?”

“Don’t worry,” I say. “He’s serious.” I look down at the head that lies in my lap and match Dog’s smile.

He winks back up at me.

“When can we expect you back?” Hooch asks, clearly still unaware Dog’s there.

“A few days. He’s got some things to sort out here with family, and then we’ll bring the truck down too. King said he’d get a prospect to drive it so they can bring it back after.”

“Generous of him.”

“Yeah.”

Hooch yawns for what feels like the millionth time. “If that’s all you wanted, Mel, I’ll let you go. We can catch up when you get home.”

“Sure. Go get your lazy ass out of bed,” I tease.

“All in good time.”

“Thank you.”

Hooch twitches a small smile. “Anythin’ for you, sis.”

He disconnects, and I set my phone to sleep. Dog rolls beside me, his body at a ninety-degree angle to mine as he uses me as a pillow.

“Easy as that, huh?”

“He’ll save the real grilling for when we get down there,” I warn. “Be prepared for the whole shotgun speech.”

He chuckles, reaching up to place a hand behind my neck. “Give me a fuckin’ kiss, woman.”

I lean down as he pushes up, and meet him half way. Dog nips at my bottom lip, gently soothing it with a sweep of his tongue. I place one hand on his head, tugging at his hair the way he likes, and deepen the connection as I run the other hand over his chest.

A month ago I couldn’t see my future. I felt so lost and at odds with the world I grew up in. But all it took was the hand of a kind man, and I managed to steer my way through the emotions being back brought with it.

Sure, I still get upset and shed a tear when the emptiness that accompanies the loss of Daddy and Dana hits. But at the same time, I’m not afraid to let that grief in, to allow it work through when I know that I have such amazing support around me.

From Dog. From my club family. And from my brother.

I’m one lucky bitch, that’s for sure, and I intend on never letting that privilege go to my head ever again.

“Baby,” Dog whispers as he rests his head, breaking our kiss. “You gotta stop.”

I lean left a little, running my palm over his flat stomach, relishing the feel of his abs as they tense beneath my touch, anticipating what comes next. Dog groans low in the back of his throat as I cup my hand over the bulge in his jeans and squeeze.

“You know, we could take a few days and get away again.”

“I have to stick around in case the lawyers call,” he moans. “Bastards, keepin’ me from my woman.”

I chuckle, running my right hand through his hair as he unleashes the power of those rich chocolate eyes on me. We sit in silence for a while, simply looking at each other, and it’s the best few minutes of my life. So much can be said without words, so much given in our actions.

Dog taught me that. Pulled my confidence out from where I’d misplaced it and showed me it’s okay if I don’t have any physical skill that helps this club. Because what I have, compassion and love, is worth more than any material thing I could set a value on.

And in a world as unpredictable and sometimes volatile as ours, love is the only thing that’ll keep us together.

Love and the knowledge of who we do this for.

Our family. By name and blood. Our love.

Our men, or women, as the case may be.

Our everything.

My everything.