Page 4 of Denial

I will still help out the ol’ ladies, but space is something that’s necessary if I’m going to remain here in Pine View. That won’t ever change. I grew up knowing that the club comes first and we have to help one another out when things get too hard. I’ll be there to help babysit the kids for Annabell and Savannah when the girls aren’t available to watch them. Ava, Chloe, and Miracle have been doing a lot of babysitting for them and it’s only when they’re at a game, competition, or something school related those three girls don’t take care of the kids in the club. They love them and it shows with everything they do to keep the kids entertained. I love watching them too. I’ll also still help out with the cooking and other shit for cookouts and other things they have at the clubhouse or for the club.

Printing out a few apartments that interest me, I grab my phone and send a message to Vault. If I have him on my side, the conversation with my dad might go over a little easier than it will now.

Me: I’ve got to talk to you about something. Do you have time when I get out of work? I should be done in about an hour or so.

Putting my phone back on the desk next to me, I work on finishing up the paperwork that I need to put into the computer so I can finalize the order we need to place. This weekend I’m taking a full inventory of the store so I can be sure the numbers are accurate and things aren’t being stolen. Yeah, we have a security system in here and cameras all over the place, but people become desperate and they always will. It doesn’t take long for my phone to vibrate on the desk next to me.

Vault: I’ve always got time for you, Hope. We can talk when you get back from work. Are you okay? Nothing has happened to you, has it?

Me: Nothing has happened. I’m okay, Vault. I just made a decision and I need to talk to you before anyone else.

Vault: Okay. I’ll wait for you in the common room. We’re all taking a day off if we can today after being on the go for so long.

Me: Thank you. I’ll see you soon.

Setting my phone back down, I get to work so I can head out and have this conversation with Vault before calling my dad. If anyone can help me get this taken care of, it’s going to be Vault. He’s been around my dad long enough to know how to word things to him in a way that doesn’t come across as me trying to rebel or anything else. It’s been known to happen between my dad and me because of the past and his need to control every aspect of my life. I get why he did it, but it doesn’t change how I feel about things. So, if I can have some help, I’ll take it any way I can get it.

The last hour flew by as I put the final bit of information into the computer before making sure everything is saved so I can shut it all down for the day. I’m the first one here every single morning followed by Raptor and Court. The rest of the guys, Maddox, Bronx, and Liam, aren’t Prospects of the club or anything. They simply lived in Pine View and needed work. The guys hired them after doing an extensive background search and found them passing with flying colors. I know Bronx is helping his mom out and all of his paychecks go to taking care of her and his younger sister. He’s a really good guy and a little quiet when I’m around the store. The only time I hear him talking is if I’m in the back and he can’t see me. Then, Bronx is funny and so damn smart. He can listen to a customer and diagnose the problem with a vehicle and recommend the proper part without anything else. I have yet to hear about him being wrong.

Walking through the hallway to the front of the store, I take my time and make sure I have my keys and phone before actually paying attention to what I’m doing. Before I make it to the main floor, I hear a conversation Bronx is having with someone and stop dead in my tracks to listen. Yeah, I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but when my name is dropped, I’m gonna listen.

“So, I wanted to ask Hope out. She’s a good person and has already done so much here. I want to get to know her better,” Bronx states, my heart rate increasing a bit with the thought of Bronx wanting to ask me out.

“What’s stoppin’ you?” I hear Raptor question him as I lean against the wall. “Hope is a great girl. She’s sweet, lovin’, independent, understandin’, and so much more. You would be lucky to have her at your side.”

“Well, I mentioned it when I was at The Den last night to Liam. We went out for a drink after work and were talkin’ about her. Jinx overheard us when he was cleanin’ the table next to us and told me not to even fuckin’ think about her. She’s off limits and no one is gonna date her or ask her out for any reason,” Bronx says and it takes everything in me to hold in the gasp wanting to escape with this information.

Why the fuck would Jinx of all people tell Bronx to leave me alone and that I’m off limits? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Jinx has had plenty of chances to talk to my dad and ask me out for himself. He hasn’t ever looked at me that way and dates everyone he can get close to. He’s the biggest player I’ve ever met and always has a different girl with him. To hear that he’s stopping me from dating is something I wasn’t expecting to hear at all.

“So that’s why no one’s comin’ around her. I’ve been wonderin’ what’s goin’ on. I’ve seen the looks she gets from guys when they see her. It doesn’t matter where she is or what she’s doin’, guys fuckin’ flock to her. I kind of thought everyone here didn’t have the balls to take on a biker’s daughter if I’m bein’ honest. I know that’s not the case with you though,” Raptor says, his voice full of wonder as he thinks of his brother and whatever game he’s fucking playing.

This is my fucking life and he’s stopping me from living it. That’s not something I’m going to tolerate for any reason. If he fucking wants me, he can quit fucking around and make a move. Since he won’t, he has no right to stop anyone else from asking me out or being in my life. He’s made it more than clear that Morgan is his girl and that’s perfectly fucking fine.

“I didn’t know she was with him,” Bronx says, defeat lacing his voice as I look around the corner to see him leaning against the counter in front of Raptor.

“She’s not. My brother supposedly isn’t with anyone. I don’t know what the fuck his deal is. Hope asked King if he was the one keepin’ all the guys away from her and he swore he wasn’t. If she finds out what my brother has done, she’s gonna fuckin’ gut him and leave him where he stands,” Raptor says, his voice filled with laughter because he knows he’s not wrong.

“I wouldn’t wanna be him,” Bronx adds in as I clear my throat a few seconds before making my presence known to the guys.

“Hey, Hope. Headin’ out for the day?” Raptor asks me as if they weren’t just talking about me and Jinx.

“Yeah. Gotta talk to Vault about something before I call home. I might need to take a day or two off, Raptor. I’ll let you know as soon as plans are in place and I know what’s going on,” I state, not wanting him to know what’s going on before I’ve had a chance to talk to Vault and my dad.

“Okay. Let me know and we’ll work it out,” he says as I wave to them and leave Phantom Auto to get in my car.

Tears fall from my eyes as soon as I get in the driver’s seat and put my key in the ignition. Frustration and being hurt fill me and I know that whatever feelings I have for Jinx need to disappear so I can move on with my life. If this is the game he’s gonna play here, maybe I need to think about moving somewhere else. My dad is only going to let me go so many places. He’ll want me close to a club he knows will protect me. That leaves the Wild Kings, Satan’s Anarchy, and maybe one or two other clubs that they’ve formed alliances with over the years. Anywhere is better than here at this point.

Wiping my tears away hastily, I start my car and make my way to the clubhouse. It doesn’t take me more than fifteen minutes to get to the compound and park my car. Grabbing my things, I make my way inside to find a few of the guys, Annabell, Savannah, and a few Phantom girls in the common room. I try not to look at anyone as the tears still fall and I know I just walked in on the middle of something happening. When I get to the stairs, I turn my head to find Morgan placing her hand on Jinx’ arm in an intimate way. She’s smiling at him before he even turns his attention to her as I slide the blank mask back in place and race up the stairs to my room.

Unlocking the door, I close it softly behind me and lock it once again so no one can just walk right in. There’s no way King didn’t see me crying and he’ll want to know what’s going on. I don’t want to deal with him right now, but he doesn’t deserve me ignoring him either. I just hate that Jinx is his best friend because when I talk to him, it will put King in the middle of this situation and that’s not right. Heading for my bathroom, I turn on the faucet in the sink and fill my hands with cold water to splash on my face as I fight back anymore tears from falling. It doesn’t take long at all for me to hear the pounding on the door and know it’s King. He has a very distinct way of knocking that’s more pounding and less knocking. I’ve heard it a million times over the years and always tease him about it.

Walking to the door, I unlock it and let him in. King isn’t alone as Vault enters my room with him. They move to sit on the couch in my room as I take a seat on my bed. None of us talk for a few minutes as I continue to fight the tears that want to fall.

“I thought you said you were okay, Hope?” Vault finally asks me, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard it when he’s not talking to Annabell or their kids.

“I was okay when I messaged you. It’s what happened after that has me upset. That’s not what I want to talk to you about, Vault. I’ve been thinking and it’s time for me to move out of the clubhouse. I want to get my own apartment here in Pine View. At least for now. I need your approval to do so before I even think about talking to my dad. Maybe if you or one of the guys go with me to check these places out, Dad will be more likely not to lose his shit,” I tell him, not looking at King because I can already feel the tension filling him as he stares a hole through my head.

“Why do you want this all of a sudden, Hope?” Vault questions me, still not raising his voice and talking to me as if I’m a wounded animal that’s going to spook easily and run from him.

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