But that doesn’t always keep fear away.
“I don’t know what happened to you,” Opal’s voice pulls me back into the moment, “and you don’t have to share with me. But I know it was something bad. I know you’re running from something because of the way you sometimes look over your shoulder like you expect a demon to be nipping at your ass.”
My mouth falls open, surprised at the accuracy and the raw venom in her voice when she says demon. That’s exactly what he was. I snap it closed because I’m not ready to share that with her and especially not here.
“I’m only saying this because I want you to know I see you and how difficult this is for you. You’re trusting me to not put you in a bad situation. I don’t care what the people in this town sometimes whisper about this club, I know what it is.” Opal’s eyes are filled with an intense sincerity, and it makes me wonder.
“What is it?” The question slips past my lips easily.
“A family.”
My eyes slide closed, and I think about what it means to have a real family. I was always an inconvenience to my parents, and they never let me forget it. My childhood was filled with people paid to take care of me, to teach me, to show me love and affection while my parents never considered whether those people actually liked me.
Sometimes they did and I got lucky. Other times…not so much. I’m not sure which was worse to endure—the indifference of my parents or the cruelty of strangers who I always knew were being paid to spend time with me.
I’ve never known what a real family is. That void, the obvious hole in my life and my need to be loved completely, unconditionally, is part of why Sylvester was able to tear me down so easily. But, of course, that was only after he gave me justenough to hook me, just enough affection, just enough attention, just enough love.
It was never real.
When I open my eyes, Opal is there. She is real. She’s never lied to me, and she’s never tried to hurt me.
“I know they’re important to you,” I whisper the words.
“They’re the only family I’ve ever known, always there at my back, never letting me walk the world alone.”
I ache with Opal’s words. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“Come on,” she gives my hand another squeeze and reaches for the door, “everyone’s out back. Let me introduce you.”
The first few minutes are a total blur. There were names and faces. Hot faces. Every brother I was introduced to was handsome, even the older guys who had their arms around a woman’s shoulders.
“This is my dad, Warden, and my mom, Patsy,” Opal’s words finally pierce the veil and I’m able to focus just enough.
I smile at the couple who have curiosity written all over their faces. My gaze flicks to Warden, but there’s something warm about Patsy which makes me want to gravitate towards her. Something safe.
“It’s really nice to meet you both,” my voice comes out softer than I would like it to, but I can feel eyes on me. I try to glance around to figure out where they’re coming from, but don’t see anything out of place. Then again, how would I even know? “Opal has told me so much about you and the club, thank you for welcoming me.”
Patsy’s smile is soft and she moves slowly when she reaches for my hand. When she touches me, some of the tension in my shoulders ease. My eyes flick back to Warden, but he’s so tall and broad. I hate how fear tries to take hold. He hasn’t earned it.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Patsy drawls. “I was starting to worry Opal was telling me about her imaginary friend.” She looks over at her daughter with so much love and affection that I push away the jealousy that licks at me. I don’t begrudge her a happy home life; everyone should be so lucky. “It wouldn’t be the first time,” she teases.
“Mom,” Opal holds out the word while her dad chuckles, the sound low and throaty.
Patsy just laughs and winks at her daughter. She’s about to say something else when a trio of men walk up to us, the one in the middle with dark hair styled in a faux hawk and gray eyes, is glancing between Opal, Patsy, and myself.
“Snake,” Patsy gushes and the man grins at the woman before wrapping her up in a hug. “Good to see you, son,” she murmurs.
I take a second look at him then. He’s muscular, but his body is leaner than some of the other guys around us. Both the guys with him are bulkier, one is so much so that I have no doubt he would hurt me if he wanted to. The thought has me swallowing hard.
Warden steps a little closer to me and when I glance up at him, he’s not looking at the guys, he’s studying me. Even though it makes no sense, I do feel safer with him close. He feels almost like a shield. I’m tempted to hide behind him.
“Have you met Graycie, yet?” Patsy asks as she releases Snake, whose cut declares him as the Vice President.
When I look up at him, his gray eyes are already on me. There’s something about the way he’s looking at me, like he already knows how this meeting is going to go, which sets my teeth on edge. I’m not sure if it’s a sensation I like or one that I want to run away from yet.
“I hadn’t made it around to him yet,” Opal pouts slightly.
She clears her throat, but she doesn’t start with Snake. She points to the man who is almost the most muscular, but not quite, out of the three. The way he’s looking at me is a mix of curiosity and suspicion. There’s a severity about him which isn’t helped by his shaved head.