Page 5 of Grease's Guide

“No, don't touch her. I promise you that's the last thing you want to do,” I warn.

“You know the crazy lady?” he asks.

“Yeah, that's my mama.” We hear a growl coming from the direction of the gate. The prospect pulls his arm from my touch like I burned him, but I don't have time to care at the moment.

“Mom?” I question, running to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, sweet baby, I came right away, but I think it's time for us to go,” she tells me, and my legs nearly give out. All the blood drains down to my toes, and I feel like I might pass out. No, I can't lose it now.

“Now hold the fuck on. What the fuck is going on, and why the hell are you even entertaining the idea of leaving?” Grease asks, fuming. I don't think I’ve ever seen him this furious before.

“They found you?” I ask, not bothering to even look in his direction. My life here, with these people, in this town, is done. It has to be.

“Toots, what's going on?” he asks, moving closer to the gate. That nickname with that nearly panicked tone has tears rushing to my eyes.

“They found me. Which means it's only a matter of seconds before they find you,” Mama says, sadness and sympathy pouring out of her. “I know you loved it here. Loved these people.” She looks back at the people I’ve so quickly fallen in love with… she scans her eyes over the crowd but stops on Grease, and I know my cheeks are probably heated.

I can't think of that. Turning to Swift, the man who gave me a chance, I speak:

“I didn't mean to bring danger to you or your family. I was caught up in an incident with some really powerful people. The best place to go unnoticed was with an MC. I appreciate the protection and the home here. I love these children and all of you, but it's time for me to go. Please tell the children I love them.” I choke on that last sentence but clear my throat, needing to get it out. “Tell them I love them. That I wouldn't leave if I had a choice.”

I want to tell them so much more. Tell Bronx to keep him and Jett out of trouble, not get them into it. To tell Jett to keep up with ballet, she’ll be able to do the prettiest pliés just like Rae and Paisley real soon. I want to tell Rome to not hold back his emotions and love. To tell Rae she is stronger than she knows, and even if she doesn't know where she fits so much right now, she always has her family with her. I want to tell Paisley all my ideas for her Marvel birthday party. I want to watch Zara andthe triplets grow. There’s so much I want to do and say, but I’ve simply, or not so simply…. Ran out of time. With any luck they will find the letter I left in the room I use when I stay here in case this ever happened. I would be okay if it took them years to find it. I just want them to know, eventually.

I turn and rush to Mama's apparently new or possibly stolen car. With my mama, you can never tell. A voice rings out and clutches my heart and soul.

“Tootsie, you stop right the fuck there. Open this mother fuckin’ gate. NOW!” Grease yells as he pounds and punches the metal.

I open the passenger door and look back at him with tears in my eyes, and for the first time ever, I give him something I know he’s wanted for years, but was always too proud and cocky to ask for. I give him a real, genuine smile. One that hopefully conveys every emotion I feel for the man. One that is from deep within my soul. I’ve shocked him so much that he freezes, and that moment of hesitation gives me just enough time to escape. Leaping in the car, I turn away from him.

“Drive, mama. Hurry! Before they can catch up to us, too.”

And with that, she takes off, and I leave my heart, soul, life, and love in the rearview mirror of a stolen 93’ Ford Bronco.

Chapter Five

Grease

Earlier that day:

This morning starts out so shitty. Drowning my sorrows and loneliness with a bottle of Jack did me no favors this morning. So basically… Normal, like any other. I'm getting ready to go into the garage, showing my little protégé Rome how to work on cars. The kid really looks up to me, and I always hate it when I disappoint him. So, even with a hangover, I crawl my ass out of bed and head to work.

I keep my head down, my plain black tee in my back pocket, reminding me to grab my cut from the garage when I leave. I have a habit of leaving it in my office since I don't want it messed up with all the grease and shit. Yawning, knowing I need a cigarette before I can string two sentences together, I head through the back door. Unfortunately, I run dead into someone leaving the kitchen, and just like that, scalding hot coffee is running down my chest like red, hot lava.

“Mother fucker!” I yell, looking down into the startled eyes of our little babysitter.

“Toots, you have the worst fucking timing,” I tell her, but notice she isn’t hearing anything I say because her focus is on my barechest. Her gaze is slowly crawling lower to the open top button of my jeans.

“You going to lift that coffee cup so it stops spilling all over me, or is your plan to get my jeans soaked so I’m forced to take them off? If you want a show, you only have to ask.” I know the smirk and smartass remark will snap her back to the present. Hopefully, before she burns my dick off.

As I suspected, it brings her back to me, and she gives me those hard, steaming, mad eyes. There’s my toots in all her heated glory.

“The day I willingly ask to see your infested rod is the day I join the circus,” she says before turning and walking away. With that wake-up call, I decide to head into the shop. I’ll shower and change there, hoping Rome won't be waiting too long.

***

“Don’t forget to make sure the nut’s tight, Romeo. Don’t want it popping off.” I grin at my scowling nephew, knowing he knows exactly what he’s doing out here but still needing to give him a hard time.

“Keep your dress on, old man, I’m getting to it.” His remark has me scowling. He’s not just becoming a pro in the art of motor vehicles, but apparently in smart-ass fucking remarks as well. I open my mouth to retort but see Prez, Hitter, and Loki heading to the gate. Some faint yelling is coming from the front, and I decide to check it out.

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