But the blank screen just stares back at me.
Pulling up to the clubhouse, the scene that played out a few days ago plays again in my head. I see the pain and hurt in her eyes as I brush her off of me and leave the grounds. The pain in my chest continues as I park the bike, swinging my leg off of it and walking back into the clubhouse for the first time. Everyonequiets downas I walk into the war-room before they glance over to Ash and Oz as they sit towards the front talking. Turning his head as he sees me enter, Ash nods towards me, setting everyone in the room at ease.
My brothers move out of the room, but I watch as Caroline barrels in and looks at me, cutting her eyes, and then at the front of the room. She fucking scares me. Then Billie walks in, who doesn’t really scare me, but is so fucking sweet I don’t move.
“You three, sit.” Billie points towards Oz, Khan, and Ash, who are still standing at the front.
“Girls, what is this all about?” Oz asks, causing the two of them to laugh.
“You didn’t fucking see her the other day.” Caroline shouts, her face is slightly pale and I can tell that what Ash said this morning about her not feeling well is wearing on her. “She was a mess. She was fucking broken hearted. And all 4 of you are to blame.” Then she turns to look at me and lets out a sinister laugh. “But I want to say that I told you, you would end up getting punched.” I can’t help but laugh at her comment.
I don’t even have to look over at Ash; I swear I can hear the air coming out of his ears as if it was a train horn. “You fucking knew?” He shouts at her, but it doesn’t even phase her.
“Yes, I fucking knew.” She looks back at him. “I know everything. I mean, I didn’t know that it had happened, but I knew it was bound to.” She just shrugs.
“You didn’t fucking tell me?” He shouts again.
When I speak, to explain to Ash, I hear Caroline speak again, “No, I didn’t tell you because you weren’t really pleased with me when I found out.” Everyone stops and looks at me again. I can see the anger on their faces as they continue to stare. They all understand what she is saying. That they were not back together yet when Caroline found out. Her face falls when she realizes what she said.
“What the fuck do you mean—“
“Ash,” I shout, looking over at him and his eyes nearly budge out at me. I swear if I was closer, he would hit me again right now. “Look, we’re family. Everything’s out now. I’m going to tell you everything. Ask me whatever you want too. I will not hold back.” I shrug at them. “Decide if you want me out then.” I tell Ash, specifically. “Caroline didn’t really know. She assumed that there was something maybe lurking when I brought her up to see you when you were still in a coma.” I turn and look at Oz. “I know you didn’t want her going up there, but not going up there was eating her alive. She imagined a worst-case scenario and before I knew it, somehow she had talked me into it.” I tell him honestly.
“She was 17.” Oz nearly snaps at me.
“I know. Nothing happened.” I pause, groaning, before I look back at them. I said I wouldn’t hold anything back. “That’s not exactly true. When we left the hospital, we were both upset. I wanted to make sure she was okay enough before leaving her alone and pulled around the side of the grounds. We ended up kissing.” I can see Oz’s face redden. “I broke it off. She got pissed, called me a coward, and stormed off. I purposely tried to hurt her, to push her away, later that afternoon when she came into the clubhouse and a girl was in my lap.” I keep it vague. They don’t need to know every tiny detail, right?
“Why’d she call you a coward?” Billie asks me.
“I told her I couldn’t. She asked me what the difference 8 weeks makes. I tried to explain to her, it wasn't just the reason that once she was 18, it would still be a betrayal.”
“But you still did it, anyway…” Ash cut out, as he glares at me.
“What was your reason?” Caroline asks me this time, glaring at Ash and changing the subject.
“What was your reason?” Caroline asks me this time.
“What?”
“8 weeks. What difference did 8 weeks make?”
“A prison sentence.” I’m surprised when all three men at the front of the table have to look away because smirks linger on their lips. “At least, that’s what I told her. But honestly, that's not the reasoning. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”
“So, when did this all start?” Caroline asks me and I realize she’s trying to get all the information out there without the men skinning me alive.
“She called me on her birthday. Her and her friends had gone out partying. Shit.” I mumble as I inhale, remembering the promise I made to her. “She had called me because she was freaking out and she didn’t feel safe. Ironically, the club she was at, a friend of mine from high school, owns. I called him. He let her hang out in the office until I got there. My mom’s house is nearby. She was out of town, so I took her there, let her dry out.” They’re all looking at me as if I’m about to reveal some massive information and I guess maybe I am, so I pause before looking up. “We didn’t sleep together until the next day. She was completely sober. We had an amazing day. Where she got over her hangover. We watched TV. Somehow we ended up laying together on the couch—”
“And then she finally broke him down.” Caroline adds and I look up to her, shocked. “See,” she turns and looks at the men as she looks to her confused, “the part that he will not tell you guys is that every time she has seen him for the last 2 years she has made a pass at him.” Oz just looks at me, shocked.
“Care—” I try to warn her.
“No, Axe.” She turns and looks at me. “Up to this point in the story, you are a good guy. Most men wouldn’t have given a shit. Most men, especially with a partial-erection from making out with a beautiful girl, would have thought a few months shy of 18 is close enough.”
“Caroline,” Oz snaps out.
“I’m not saying anything about her.” She pauses. “I’ve been that girl. I’ve done that. She’s almost exactly how I am. It’s how I knew she left town, and it’s how I know that she’s not coming back unless someone goes and drags her back. And when you do, you better have a fucking damn good reason.” She pauses as she takes a deep breath and I see Ash look at her, slightly concerned. “Oz, you raised your daughter around an MC and you expected her to never fall for one of them.” I look at Caroline and I can see Khan’s eyes glare at her. I’m sure, understanding that if he stays with the club, that fate will probably happen with his own daughter. “She was 500 feet from the house most of her life. I’m not saying that it’s bad, but you showed her that this life was okay.”
“Wait,” Ash looks at me, “if that’s when… then that’s who…” he cringes without me having to answer his question.
