Page 97 of Greased

“What about the other kids?” Scar asks in a low voice.

I give her a sad smile, “Unfortunately we couldn’t return them back to their families. Some of them were sold and some of them came from abusive households.”

She sucks in a breath but I continue, “A couple of the older couples in the club took in the kids that couldn’t go back to their families. They are helping them get back on the right track. They are enrolled in school and are seeing a therapist. They are okay.” I try to reassure her as best as I can.

Scarlett sighs in relief and I along with her; her shoulders dropping as she sinks back into the bed.

“For weeks we were so caught up in sorting out club business and the stress that those situations brought that we completely neglected you and I’m sorry for that.”

I trail off as Pike interrupts, “We are all sorry for that. It's a piss poor excuse and we know that but at the time we were at such a loss,” Pike sighs before looking up at Scarlett, “I don’t feel like anything I say is going to make what we did any better, but you have to know just how badly seeing those kids fucked with us. The first thing I thought when I saw them walk out of the van into the clubhouse was you,” Pike chokes out the last few words and a tear rolls down his cheek.

I turn to Scarlett and see the tears are already rolling down her face.

I take a deep breath threatening my own tears at bay, “It brought back a lot of shit we tried to push down.” My voice is sombre as I push through.

“We knew we couldn’t lose another person we loved. Losing you the first time destroyed me. Destroyed us.” I look around at the guys who all nod in agreement.

“We decided that the best course of action was just to stop all communication with you. We already hadn’t replied to your messages or returned your calls so we thought that it would just be easier.” I deflate.

Hearing the words again, the vow we said all those months ago in order to protect our girl just seems so fucking pointless now. I’m not afraid to admit how ridiculous it was. Ghosting someone that lived on the other side of the world just to protect them?

If I could smack me from nine months ago in the mouth, I would.

Scarlett narrows her eyes at us, “And you all thought that would be the best course of action? Ghost me with no explanation?”

I wince and so do the guys. She’s right.

“I’m sorry, Scarlett. Nothing we can do or say will make any of this better. We fucked up. It's something that we are going to have to make up to you every day for the rest of our lives. If you will have us,” Nicky says as he walks over and kneels in front of Scarlett. He takes her hands in his and holds them tight.

“My feelings for you haven’t changed. You have consumed my every waking thought these past months. From morning to tonight. I am completely at your whim.”

Scarlett remains speechless as she looks at Nicky with her eyes wide. A mixture of emotions run across her face as she looks at him.

Longing, hope, love but I can also see anxiety. The fear that we are going to hurt her again. I don’t blame her for being weary of us. We did it to her once before. But this time it's different.

“How can I trust you again? How can I give myself to you and trust you with my heart? You all broke me. My heart has been in pieces for months,” she says in a quiet voice and my own heart breaks seeing the raw emotion on her face.

“All we can ask of you is to just give us a chance. If you have to keep your walls up around us that’s okay,” I say as I walk towards her and kneel beside Nicky, trying to reassure her in any way that I can.

“What you say goes, Scar. No matter what we are yours. You want us to walk on hot coals for you, we will. You can us to tattoo your name on us, we fucking will,” I declare.

Her eyes widen at my words. Little does she know though that she is already tatted on me. Not her name exactly but the tattoo that takes up my back is dedicated to her.

My Star.

My girl.

The woman who will one day be my wife. The mother of my children.

Ihave to take a few deep breaths as I take in the dedication Nicky and Dacre are showing me. I look at them in disbelief. Seeing them on their knees before me, laying their feelings out bare for me in the way they are doesn’t feel real. I feel like it's a dream that I am going to wake up from.

But from the look on their faces, it's real. They want me. They love me and they are actually here to stay.

Pike walks over and bends down beside Dacre. His hand snakes up my leg, squeezing the top of my calf, “What you say goes, Princess. You determine how fast or slow this whole thing goes.”

Sonny walks over kneeling down beside them, “Mi hermosa diso,I knew from the moment I met you again, you were the person I would kneel before you for the rest of my life. I am yours, and I hope one day I can call you mine.”

I can’t help but smile. I want what he wants too, what they all clearly want. But I can’t help all of the what if’s that filter in. The doubts that still linger.

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