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I stare at her until she caves.
"Fine," she huffs, taking the seat I vacated. "You need to eat too," she fusses.
I stroll over to the spread of food placed on the counter, grab a plate, and pile on bacon, biscuits with gravy, and scrambled eggs, then return, taking a seat beside Ember. Giving me a soft smile, Ember picks up her fork and eats. Across the table, Quinn chews his food, staring at me with the same grin he gives whenever there's open interaction between Ember and me. Quinn says nothing. He doesn't have to. I know what he's thinking. All of them are waiting for me to stake my claim on Ember.
Our friendship works for us as-is. At least, that's what I keep trying to convince myself.
4
EMBER
Alderman Phillip Rhoads Announces Candidacy for Governor of Georgia
I close the laptop without bothering to read beyond the article's headline. Whatever the media wrote isn't anything I don't already know. My sister texted me yesterday with the news. She also told me the reporter who came to the house to interview my father inquired about the eldest Rhoads daughter. Scarlett said Dad deflected like he always does. Over the years, my parents have done an excellent job lying about their daughter and what she's been up to. As far as the public knows, Bailey Rhoads lives abroad. While volunteering one summer, I fell in love with Europe and decided to stay. What a fucking cliché. But it's not like I expect Phillip and Caroline Rhoads to disclose their daughter currently resides in Montana with a well-known motorcycle club.
Not even their closest friends know. If it got out that Bailey Rhoads was a club girl for Kings of Retribution and what that entails, it would ruin my parents' reputation and my father's political career. I'm the well-hidden black sheep of the family. When I was a child, my parents had my future mapped out. Bailey Ember Rhoads was destined for greatness. But I never wanted to be great. I only ever wanted to be me. Instead, I got a childhood filled with loneliness, private schools, tutors, and enough extracurricular activities to fill every second of my free time from when I was seven until I decided to leave.
It wasn't until I met Jake and the club that I found an actual family dynamic that I fell in love with. With the Kings, I'm free to be whoever I wish to be. That's not to say I don't face judgment from the outside world. To outsiders, I'm no more than a whore. Sure, other clubs refer to their women as whores but not the Kings. To them, I'm a club girl. I'm respected and never treated with anything less than kindness. The same goes for the other club girl Raine. However, the most important aspect of club life is loyalty.
Jake runs his club with an iron fist and demands respect and devotion from all who step foot onto Kings' territory and from those he lets into his club. Over the years, people have tested the boundaries, and they didn't live to regret their choices.
Two of whom were former club girls. All that remain are Raine and me. As far as I know, Jake has yet to make plans to add to the family by bringing in more women. All the brothers, aside from Blake and Grey, are settled down and married. As each man found the love of his life and started a family, I became increasingly worried about my role in the club. I'm terrified of losing the people I consider family. Grace, Bella, Alba, Mila, Emerson, and Lelani accept Raine and me and have from day one. I have an unspoken rule: the club's members become off-limits when one of the brothers finds a woman.
It was only a short time after Austin brought Lelani to the club that Jake caught me looking at apartment listings one afternoon.
"What ya doin', sweetheart?" Jake strolls up behind me, where I'm sitting at the bar, and looks over my shoulder at my laptop.
"Oh, I'm just looking at apartments." I try for a nonchalant shrug. Jake freezes, turns me on my stool, and pins me with a stare. "Come again?"
I try holding eye contact, but I can't. I begin to fidget in my seat. A few days ago, I decided it was time to move out. Moving out of the clubhouse breaks my heart, but it's time.
"Eyes, Ember." Jake's tone is gentle yet firm. He remains silent as I lift my eyes to his. "My office, now." Jake walks ahead, and I hop off the stool and follow. He rounds his desk and sits as I sit on one of the chairs in front of him. I wait while he lights a cigarette, takes a drag, and leans back in the chair. "You want to tell me why you're looking at apartments?"
I rub my palms along my denim-covered thighs. "I was thinking it's time."
Jake takes another drag. "Because?"
"Well, because…there's no reason to stay. You know."
The chair squeaks under Jake's weight as he shifts forward. "No reason to stay? Are you not happy here, Ember?" Now his tone is one of concern.
"No, no! I've never been happier. I love living here."
Jake squints. "Then what's the problem?"
"There's no problem." My throat begins to close, and I can feel the tears threatening to spill at any moment.
"Darlin', what's this really about?" Jake asks.
"It's just. Maybe it's not right for me to be here anymore." I sniffle.
A light goes on in Jake's head, and I see the moment what I'm talking about dawns on him. He snubs his cigarette, stands, walks around the desk, and squats down in front of me. "Ember, you're family."
"I know, but—"
He cuts me off. "Over the years, the dynamics of the club have changed, but the foundation remains, sweetheart. We are family, and there will never be a time you aren’t welcome in this family. Do you understand?"
I nod. "Yes."
