Page 19 of Revelations

“First of all, a man puttin’ his fuckin’ hands on you for any reason isn’t cool. I don’t care if you call him every name in the book, tell him he’s got a micro cock, or anythin’ else you say. To have two men put their hands on you and do the damage I’ve heard was done is fuckin’ brutal and those three should be taken out without hesitation. I’m not surprised to learn Matie isn’tyour son or that you took him in with no thought of how it would affect you and your life. You’re a young woman and should be out partyin’ and havin’ the best years of your life. Instead, I have a feelin’ you remain at home with Matie and the only time you leave is to run errands and go to work,” Caleb says, knowing I’ve never been big on going to parties or any of that bullshit.

I mean, a big part of that is probably because I’ve never been invited to a party a day in my life. Even in high school when all of the kids in my grade started going to boy girl parties, I was never invited. I was the girl everyone could go to if they needed help with a paper or homework, but no one ever wanted to be my friend. Oh, they pretended to get the help they needed, but that’s it. Once they were done with the work, they were done with me.

“I would never turn Matie away. From the second he was born, he’s had my entire heart and absolutely owns me. I’ve loved him the way Melinda should have and did all I could to protect and love him from afar. Ricky didn’t like me hanging out at the trailer they shared so I only visited a few times until he finally banned me from going over there at all. The only time I saw him is if I happened to run into Melinda when she was out of the trailer with him and that wasn’t very often at all,” I inform Caleb as he stares out at the yard in front of us.

“I know you wouldn’t, Genesis. You’re too sweet and pure to do anythin’ but take him and love him the way your foster sister couldn’t. I’m glad she gave him to you instead of someone who would hurt him in ways he can’t come back from. Some things are too horrible to ever forget no matter how young you are. Anyway, from what I’ve seen and heard at the clubhouse, the guys are doin’ what they can to find Ricky. Do you not believe they’ll protect you?” he returns, looking at me as I try to figure out how to answer the question I’ve asked myself so many times over the last few weeks.

“To a certain extent I believe the club will protect Matie and me. The only reason for that is because I’m an employee of their strip club. I know they protect those who are under their employment and others in the community. This situation is different and I know no matter what Ricky is just going to keep escalating his attacks against me until he gets the information he wants or kills me. Then Matie will be all alone in the world and if Ricky gets his hands on that sweet boy, he’ll treat him like shit and beat on him until he’s just as evil and vile as he is,” I state the truth as I know it while taking another drink of my water.

“You really have no clue what’s goin’ on. My brother and Wade are fuckin’ stupid and are gonna wait too long for what they have right in front of them,” Caleb says, confusing the hell out of me as he turns in his seat and starts rocking while looking at me. “Do you have any clue of the power you have over Wade and Dylan? Everythin’ they do is for you and that baby in there. I’m guessin’ my brother is inside right this minute givin’ Matie his lunch and makin’ sure he’s cleaned up for his nap. For two men who haven’t had anythin’ to do with babies or all that goes with that, they’ve adapted their lives to keep him on schedule. One that you put in place and they did it without questionin’ you at all. From what I’ve been told, they filled their entire home that was previously unfurnished with furniture so the two of you would be comfortable.

“The club will step up and protect you because in Dylan’s and Wade’s eyes, you’re their woman. They’re takin’ shit slow and gettin’ to know you as you slowly open up with them. They’re also lettin’ you get rare glimpses into their lives and the relationship they share with one another. I know they aren’t together right now, but you’re one of the only people who know. It might have been an accident how you found out, but you know about them. Everyone in the club knows how they feel about youand will step up because of them. You’re becomin’ a part of the Phantom Bastard family and it’s only gonna get worse once our parents get here,” Caleb states with a smirk on his face as I stare at him with an open mouth.

“They don’t want me like that, Caleb. I’m not skinny or pretty enough to be the girl a biker chooses for more than a random fuck to say they had sex with the fat girl,” I tell him, averting my eyes and looking down at the porch in front of me.

I don’t hear Caleb move as he crouches down in front of me and gently lifts my chin with his pointer finger. Anger and hurt fill his eyes as he takes a long look deep into my eyes.

“I don’t know who told you that shit, Genesis. You aren’t the fat girl no biker would have a relationship with. You’re a beautiful woman with curves in all the right fuckin’ places. I can tell you right fuckin’ now that if my little brother and Wade weren’t interested in you, I would take you and Matie out of this house and make you mine. Yes, I ride a bike and will be joinin’ one of the clubs soon. Wade and Dylan want you because of your huge heart and the way that you’ve shown them you’re loyalty when you had no reason to. Genesis, you kept their secret instead of tellin’ the world. To them, that’s more important than anythin’ else. And I know for a fact, Dylan thinks you’re sexy as fuck. Wade does too. You don’t see the way they look at you with hunger fillin’ their eyes as they watch you walk from one place to the next. So, don’t think of leavin’ Pine View at all. They’d only come find you if you did decide to leave. Stay and see where this shit goes,” Caleb says, as we stare at one another and I see the truth of his words.

I don’t say anything in response before Dylan opens the front door and takes in the scene before him. Caleb makes up some excuse as to why he’s so close to me while getting up and taking Matie from Dylan’s arms. I’m led back inside thehouse for lunch. Today, Dylan made spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and a side salad. I’ve already got a plate full of food as I sit down at the island in the kitchen. The three of us eat in silence as Caleb holds Matie in one arm while he drinks his bottle. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes before Caleb’s putting the baby in his crib for a nap. When I’m done eating, I tell Dylan I’m going to lay down for a while. This way Caleb and him can talk without me being in the middle of their conversation and I can try to process what I was just told. It’s a lot and I can’t seem to wrap my mind around Caleb’s words.

Chapter Fourteen

Raptor

TODAY’S THE DAY our parents will be here. Everyone is coming down to Pine View for a visit. Caleb stopped home before showing up here, but he didn’t spend much time there. He wanted to see his brothers and the rest of us here so he made the trip and now our parents are coming down to celebrate his return home. Caleb left the military for good and is now trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. All he knows is that he loves to ride and wants to be in a club somewhere. Caleb’s just not sure if he’ll remain with the Phantom Bastards or if he’ll start a new club on his own. None of us know what to tell him because we all knew from a young age we’d be in the Phantom Bastards. Caleb isn’t just thinking about himself though. He’s got some teammates who will want to join him in a club and that’s part of why this decision is so hard on him.

None of us are working today. The Prospects are at each business doing what work needs to be done and helping out customers. Deegan is going to work Enchantment tonight for Devil and Bronx is running the auto parts store for me today. I’m going to be here so I can hang out with my parents today. It’s been a while since I saw them and I’ve honestly missed them. I’ve also missed the girls who didn’t come down here with us. Wegrew up around them and spent every single day with the girls. Now, we’ve got a few of them here with us but it’s not the same as when we’re all together in the same place.

“You look lost in thought,” Hope says, her voice startling me out of my head as I sit alone in the common room.

“Just thinkin’ about how good it will be to see everyone. It’s been a while,” I tell her as she takes a seat at the table with me.

“Yeah. I miss everyone. I’m glad I moved here and that Carson and I got our shit worked out. It wouldn’t have happened if I stayed home and didn’t risk living my life the way I want. Now they’ll be here and it will feel like old times even if we’re at a different clubhouse,” Hope says, a smile on her face as she looks over at me. “You’ve been off for a while now. Are you okay, Raptor?”

“Yeah. I mean, no. I’ll be okay though. Just a lot goin’ on and decisions have been made for me and I feel as if I have no say in the matter. Plus I’ve been helpin’ Genesis with Matie and things are strained at the house right now. Not because of her. There are other reasons. Ya know, I never thought I’d be happy with a kid in my life who wasn’t mine. When I’m with Matie, it doesn’t even matter. I don’t think about him not bein’ my kid or anythin’. Everything I do in that house is for him and Genesis. Devil’s the same way from what I’ve heard. I’m not sure what they’re doin’ right now. I left as soon as Devil woke up,” I tell Hope, the smile leaving my face as I think about the three of them at the house while I’m sitting at the clubhouse all alone.

“Why would you leave just because Devil woke up? I don’t understand what the hell is going on between the two of you, Raptor. You know you can talk to anyone here in the clubhouse about what’s going on. We’re all here for you. I know you still feel guilt over what happened to me at the store, but it wasn’t on you.Wade, you’re one of the best men I know. We can all see that you feel somethin’ for Genesis. Instead of letting Dylan be the man to have her, get the hell up there and let yourself be happy. Get the relationship you want. No matter what that looks like,” Hope says, my head snapping up to look at her with the way she says that about the relationship.

“What are you sayin’, Hope?” I ask as Caleb joins us at the table with a smile on his face.

“I told Dylan that at least one person in this club knew what was goin’ on with you. It doesn’t surprise me that Hope’s the one who knows your secret,” he says, bumping his shoulder into Hope as she leans into him for a hug while keeping her eyes locked on me.

“You know?” I question her, my voice broken as we stare at one another.

“I do. When we were still in Benton Falls, I was sitting out in my spot in the woods. Carson is the only one who knew where I went when I needed to disappear. One day, the two of you walked through and still never saw me. You were holding hands and stopped in the middle of the clearing. Devil kissed you and I’ve never seen anything so fucking passionate and sexy in my life. It’s a little weird to think of it because it’s the two of you and we all grew up together. I could tell that no one knows what’s going on with the two of you, so I kept it to myself. This isn’t my secret to tell anyone. If the two of you aren’t ready to share, then you’re not,” Hope says, her voice low as people move through the common room.

“That’s the thing. I do want to tell people about us. We still want to have Genesis with the two of us, but Devil doesn’t want to tell anyone about the two of us. I feel like I’m some kind of dirty little secret to him. It’s not fair to me. Genesis knows what’s goin’ on between the two of us. She walked in and caughtus together. At the end of the day, I can’t be with someone who refuses to talk to anyone about us. I want my family to know that I’m with Devil and Genesis. Devil is more than my best friend. He’s the guy I love and want more than anyone else. Other than Genesis of course. Until he’s ready to share the news, I’m not gonna let myself be with him,” I tell Caleb and Hope as I lower my head and try to keep my emotions under control.

“He’s ready, Wade. I have a feelin’ that when our parents show up, your secret will be out. Dylan’s scared of everyone’s reaction and I can’t say that I blame him. While the rest of us know he has nothin’ to worry about, Dylan is stuck on those who would have a problem with the two of you bein’ in a relationship. People neither one of you even know. I had a long talk with him and he came out and shared everythin’ with me. Dylan wants a future with the two of you. He wants the three of you to have children and everythin’ else. No one is gonna stop my brother once he puts his mind to somethin’. You know that as well as I do. Just prepare yourself for the conversation that’s about to be held. If it doesn’t happen today, don’t let it get to you. Dylan is gonna make sure your parents and ours spend time with everyone. I have a feelin’ he’ll want Killer there too. He looks up to him and doesn’t want him to feel different about him as a person because of who he chooses to love,” Caleb says, leaning forward as the front door opens and I watch Dylan and Genesis make their way in the common room of the clubhouse.

“My dad isn’t gonna feel any different about Dylan when he learns the truth. I know my dad and understand how Dylan would feel that way. It’s not the truth though. If anyone in this club isn’t going to judge him, it will be him. I mean he’s a firm believer in loving who you want because life is too damn short to do anything less than that,” Hope says as Dylan and Genesis make their way over to us.

“Mind if we join you?” Dylan asks, his deep voice washing over me and sending a chill through me like it has since we started seeing one another years ago.

“Free country,” I mumble as Dylan shifts Matie in his arms before pulling out a chair for Genesis to sit next to me. “You need a drink of anythin’, Angel?”

“No, thank you. I’m good I just had lunch at the house and I’m honestly ready for a nap,” Genesis answers me, her voice soft and melodic as she looks at me with a smile on her face.

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