Page 54 of Faking it with the Bad Boy Bikers

I held on by his hair and bit his shoulder. “You’re such a jerk, Mills. What happened to you?”

“Fuck, Nellie!” He tried to grab me and ended up going down to his knees. “If you three idiots are claiming her, would you get her the hell off my back? She’s like a fucking raccoon attacking me!”

I felt big arms lock around my waist and tug me off Mills. “No, let me kick his ass!”

“Relax, baby.” Henry’s voice was soft against the side of my neck. “We’ve got company and I don’t think you want Way seeing you climbing all over your brother.”

I froze. Sure enough, there was Waylan sprinting down the street towards us. Her face was set with a grim determination I’d seen enough to know whatever she was planning wasn’t good. Mills had just climbed back to his feet and swung around to face me, not aware Waylan was there.

“You haven’t changed a fucking bit. The day before we left for bootcamp, you climbed me the same way.” He swallowed. “You’re a little heavier now.”

“Don’t hurt my Mom!” Waylan sprang through the air like a squirrel and would’ve latched onto Mills’ back if Seth hadn’t caught her mid-flight. “Leave her alone! Let me go! I’m going to kick his ass!”

“That crabby little apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?” Mills put his hands on his hips and studied Waylan. “I’m not going to hurt your Momma, kid. Didn’t you see that she was winning the fight?”

“You’re not nice uncles like Dean, Lennon, and Reed. You make Mom sad.” She let Seth hold her, content to cut my brothers down while being held like a yappy little dog. “I don’t like you.”

Vera gently grasped my arm. “Nellie…”

I jumped into action, horrified by the entire situation. I put myself in front of Waylan and cupped her face. “I’m so sorry, Way. You shouldn’t have seen any of this. I’m not on my best behavior.”

“Grandpa Blade never cared if you were good or not.” Her jaw was set in a stubborn line. “He never yelled at you.”

I heard Mills swear from behind me and looked back to see his face pinched in regret. I had to take a deep breath and look away to blink away the tears which threatened to fall and never stop. I missed Blade and Virginia so much right then that I wasn’t sure I could take another breath without screaming.Grandpa Blade never cared if you were good or not.He hadn’t.

“Your Grandpa Blade was a good man, sounds like.” Mills forced a deep breath out. “I’m sorry, Nellie.”

West’s hand rested on my shoulder. “I should’ve been paying more attention to you and not the ranch. I’m sorry.”

Tate met my gaze and grunted. “You know how Mills gets. But I’m sorry, too, kid.”

I wiped my eyes and looked away. “I just want you to be happy that I’m here.”

Mills suddenly yanked me into a tight hug, his thick arms crushing me. “I am. We are. Come over. It’s time we all sat down and talked.”

I wanted to give him a doubtful look but Waylan was watching and if she was ever going to have a relationship with her uncles, I had to start keeping the grown-up stuff from her. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

Waylan was still in Seth’s arms. “And we can go back to Ms. Vivian’s house? With the pack?”

They said they loved me. Was it possible?

Vera cleared her throat. “Of course, you’re going back. Your Momma needs time to talk to the pack.”

Mills sighed. “Nothing I can do to stop you from having that talk with these idiots?”

Woodrow stepped closer. “Nope. Did you miss the part where we love her?”

Waylan’s eyes went wide and she whispered. “Love?”

Seth eased her down but he never took his eyes from mine. “Yep. Love. We love your Mom.”

She giggled. “Gross.”

There was too much happening at once. There were too many men around me acting like they cared about me. I bit down on my lip and looked to Vera for help. I just needed a minute.

It was Henry who came to my rescue, though. He gently took my arm and pulled me out of the tight little circle we’d formed. He bent down and spoke quietly so only I’d hear him. “Go with your brothers. We’re not going anywhere, baby. Whether you think you want us to, or not.”

I didn’t. I wanted them to stay forever. I just needed some time to think, to sort out my feelings. The anger, lust, betrayal, need, love, it was all so jumbled inside me.

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