I want to kill my brother for getting me into this shit. I twirl a lock of hair around my finger and sigh heavily.
Faye smirks. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing too bad.”
I stare at her face and wonder how she wound up where she is. “How did you end up as Sin’s old lady?”
She smiles. “Long story short, Dex and I used to be neighbors when we were growing up. We ran into each other one night at a bar and ended up hooking up. That’s how I became pregnant with Clover. I was leaving the city, planning on being a single mother, when Dex found me and brought me back. He actually brought me to the clubhouse, so I was thrown into this world just as you’ve been.”
“That’s quite a story,” I say, blinking slowly, trying to absorb that information.
She nods. “To be honest I didn’t know if Dex could give me what I needed. But we fell in love and there’s no one else for me; he’s it. I accepted the club with him, and I love these guys. They’re my family now.”
I could see that her words were the truth. They were one huge, unconventional family.
“They’re all good guys, I could tell that from the start. Rough, but good nonetheless.”
Faye smiles, her eyes shining. “They are that. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to be on their bad side.”
I laugh. “Yeah, definitely not, but they’re loyal to those they care about. To be honest, I was surprised at how easily I was accepted here by the men. They welcomed me with open arms just because I was Rake’s sister. I think Sin was the one who was most cautious around me, to be honest.”
Faye tilts her head to the side, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I think Dex didn’t want Rake to get hurt in case you decided you didn’t want to have anything to do with us. This isn’t the life for everyone, you know. So I think he was a little wary. As president he takes things a little more seriously than he used to. He cares about each of his brothers and takes a lot on his shoulders, wanting everyone to be happy. He also knew Rake was forthcoming with you, and didn’t know if he could trust you with information about the club. But trust me, he knows now that you’re a good, honest woman and that you love your brother and would never betray him.”
I swallow. “I never thought of it that way. But you’re right, I’d never do anything to hurt Rake or this club.”
Arrow walks back into the room, looking pissed. Jill walks into the living room trailing behind him, sliding next to him. He moves away from her, punches the wall, and then storms out of the room. Faye and I exchange glances.
“I’ll go talk to him,” Jill says, fixing her hair before going in the direction Arrow went.
“Clueless,” Faye mutters under her breath. “Where the fuck did he find that one?”
“Toxic?” I guess, referring to one of the popular strip clubs in the city.
She laughs. “He doesn’t give a shit about her.”
That didn’t make it hurt any less.
“She didn’t sleep in his room though; she’s been sleeping with the girls.”
I knew that. In fact I have a feeling Arrow was making sure I knew that, because last night he told Jill in front of me that he was going to bed alone.
“You were a little standoffish with me,” Faye blurts out. “Or was that my imagination? I kind of thought maybe you didn’t like me.”
I bite my lips. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like you. I guess I was kind of jealous.”
Her eyes widen. “Jealous about what?”
I rub my cheek, wondering how best to explain it. “It was stupid, and it really had nothing to do with you exactly; it was just that you and Rake had spent a lot of time together and were so close. As close as he and I should have been, but we were still getting to know each other again, and Rake was trying to protect me from everything, including his true self.”
Her eyes flash in understanding. “Trust me, your brother loves you more than anyone. I think he just took a little time testing the waters, hoping that you would stick around in this crazy place with these crazy-ass people.”
We both laugh.
“He told me he didn’t want you to leave again, so he was stuck between wanting to show you the man he is now and not wanting you to cut him out of your life if you saw something you didn’t like,” she explains further.
“He should know me better than that,” I mumble.
Faye shrugs her shoulders. “You were gone awhile. Time changes people.”
She could say that again.
“I love my brother, and I guess I was acting a little possessive,” I say, when the realization hits me. “Great, I’m more like him than I want to admit.”
Faye laughs at that. “As the president’s old lady, I take care of all my guys. I think half of them already love you, and I hope you stick around. It’s good to have a woman to spar with, one who can take my hits and return them full force.”
I smirk. “Women bonding over violence, what a great pair we are.”
“Biker women, baby, we have to be tough,” she says. “If we’re not, we end up being treated like her.” She cocks a thumb at Jill, still knocking on Arrow’s door.
“Fuck off!” I hear him bellow.
Faye and I cringe.
Jill starts crying.
Just my first official day in the biker clubhouse.
TEN
ARROW paces the game room of the clubhouse, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I should be there with them.”