Page 30 of Striker's Yield

My parents took a quick liking to Lila. Dad thought she was something else. The way she talked about preparing to go to college and even admitted she’d gotten into the school of her dreams but hadn’t told her brother yet.

“He’s going to lose his mind, Autumn, I know he is,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings when I tell him.”

I’d been about to tell her something when my mom intervened. “Sweetheart, if he loves you, it won’t hurt his feelings.” Smiles and looks between the two of us. “I don’t know you or your brother, but I’m betting he loves you dearly and would do anything for you. Even if it means letting you go to the school of your dreams.”

Lila blinked at her then looked back to me. “You think she’s right? Striker will let me?”

“I don’t know, but your brother does love you,” I told her and walked behind the counter, not needing this conversation right now.

Thankfully, she hadn’t pushed and got back to working.

That had been just thirty minutes or so ago.

Now, Striker was here. My parents were here. Inwardly I’m freaking out.

I slowly spin to face him as the door closes to see him embrace Lila as it seems is his way. I think it’s sweet how he doesn’t hide his affection for her. I didn’t know much about how it came about him taking full custody of his little sister. Only what she’d told me, and I didn’t like the parts she shared.

Their parents were drug addicts and were more about the drugs than they were about taking care of their kids. I mean to each their own, do what you must, but when you have kids, you need to put them first. Their needs. Their lives.

“To get out of your punishment, you decided to come to work, huh?” Striker’s gruff baritone sends shivers down my spine at his teasing while talking to Lila.

“Can you blame me?” Lila asks in return, pulling out of her brother’s arms.

“Naw, can’t blame you. Better you here than you completely disregarding me and going to your friends,” he says, “How about tonight, instead of dinner at home, you, me, and Autumn go out to celebrate you getting into that college?”

“You know?” she squeaks out.

“Horse told me,” Striker confirms. “I might not like it. I don’t want you that fuckin’ far from me, but if it’s what you want, then best believe I’m gonna do what I’ve gotta do to make sure you stay safe while there. Means you gotta agree to the rules.”

“I can do that,” Lila squeals and wraps herself around him again.

Seeing the way he is with his sister melts something inside me I didn’t know I was holding back, which scares the daylights out of me. I mean, if he can be like this with his sister, I think how he could be with . . . nope, I don’t want to go there.

Striker lets Lila go, eyes locking on me. “Hey, Mama.”

That shiver rolls once again down my spine straight between my legs, making me that much wetter for him than I already was from him just walking in the café.

“Um . . . hey,” I murmur as he closes the distance between us. He isn’t able to get to me completely because of the counter, but that doesn’t stop him from reaching out, curling his fingers in my hair, and tugging me forward to lay one on me. Having his lips on mine makes me feel like . . . honestly, I don’t know what exactly it makes me feel other than happy, and I find myself having to think past the guilt that wants to set it.

Just this morning, I told myself after he left, I wasn’t going to feel guilty. Not this time. Not when I want more than anything to just feel alive in his arms. He’s right. I didn’t die with my sister. We’re two completely different people. I lost her, not me. It’s time I realized that and stopped letting guilt control me.

Striker pulls from the kiss but leans his forehead against mine. “You doin’ good?”

His question tugs at my heartstrings, and rather than give him words, I simply nod.

The sound of a throat clearing causes me to stiffen slightly. I’d totally forgotten my parents were here. This is definitely not the way I wanted them to meet the guy I just started to see.

Striker jerks back and looks to my father, who’s staring at us with watchful eyes.

“Ugh, Striker, this is my dad, Adam. Dad, this is Striker, Lila’s brother and . . . um . . .ugh, my um boyfriend.”

Striker gives me a look and cocks his brow. “Baby, boyfriends are for teenagers, shit like that. I’m not a pubescent kid, I’m your man,” he says, straightening and turning fully to my dad as my mom steps closer to my dad’s side. Both of them staring at Striker and me. Striker stretches his hand out to first my dad. “Good to meet you.”

Dad looks from him to me, then back to Striker, and takes his hand. “You too, Striker. Is that your actual name or just what they call you?”

“It’s the road name my brothers gave me,” Striker answers. “Name’s Jonas Alvarado.”

Dad nods and opens his mouth to speak again, but my mom beats him to it, surprising me as she does so because she doesn’t exactly speak. Rather, she throws herself at Striker.

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