Page 25 of Outlaws' Dirty Secret

“I wish.” Nervous about opening up, I fidget with a ring I found in my grandmother’s things. It’s nothing fancy, just a gold band that looks like braided rope, but I remembered it from when I was little and going through her jewelry box. “This place is the closest I’ve ever had to a real home. I bet your birth certificate doesn’t say Dragon, but my full legal name is Willow Aurora Skye. My Dad’s from Ohio and my mom grew up here, but they like to say they’re children of the wind. They’re in Thailand right now, working at a yoga retreat for some influencer, but that could change tomorrow. I’ve lived in a van following the Dead. On a boat for a year. Inmultiplecommunes.” I count thingsoff on my fingers. “Mom does online tarot reading, and Dad builds websites for alternative communities. He’s basically the go-to guy if your coven needs a shop portal. You name it, they’ve tried it unless it involves a real job contract and a permanent address.”

“They sound… fun?” Dragon says it like he had to dig really deep to find a positive description.

I have to cover my mouth not to spit out eggs when I laugh. “Oh, they’re a blast. Honestly they’re nice people, but they had no business raising a child. The only reason I have a high school diploma is because they always came back here when they ran out of money or needed time to plan their next adventure. My grandmother put her foot down one summer when I was about twelve and it was obvious ‘unschooling’ wasn’t working. She told them either they got me a laptop and signed up for online classes, or she was going to report them to child services and fight for custody. I had to do most of it on my own, but I did it, and then when I was seventeen, I sat them down in an ayahuasca retreat and told them I felt called on my own journey and left. Why are you looking at me like that?”

He laughs, an utterly baffled sounding rumble in his powerful chest. “You seem so well adjusted, but that's fucked up. How did you end up back here?”

Talking about myself so much makes me uncomfortable. “It’s not that exciting really.”

“Fucking sounds it.” He sounds genuinely interested.

I understand why people are fascinated by my family, but I usually feel like a fraud when I talk about growing up all over. I didn’t get the rich kid travel experience. There were somegood times, but most of my childhood memories revolve around sitting alone in a dingy room while my parents were off with the other adults. That’s probably why I became obsessed with writing. In stories I could be anyone, anywhere.

“I moved to New York City because it was the farthest I could imagine from how I’d grown up, paid way too much to live in cramped little apartments with other people because I had no money, and I loved every second. I always wanted to be a writer, and I ended up self-publishing a series of books that didn’t make me rich, but did well enough to get an agent interested in my ideas.” I look around the kitchen and smile. “My grandmother was always my biggest fan. I came back here to be with her before she died, and once I was away from New York, I realized I didn’t have much holding me there. Keeping the house is a great way of saving money while I write my next books, but it’s also been nice to reconnect with my memories here. I’ve never really belonged anywhere before, you know? And maybe I won’t end up staying, but it’s worth a shot.”

He nods. “I kinda know that feeling. Not the same, but my childhood was… how do I put it nice? Independent. Mom ghosted earlier than I can remember, and my father wasn't around much.”

“I guess if he was raising you on his own he had to work a lot.”

Dragon runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “Not work. Jail. It was always petty stuff. He'd take whatever he got his hands on and try to hock it, but he was never fucking smart about it. Too much booze and too many pills. I got shuffled around a lot between foster care and relatives that didn’t need another mouth to feed. I was fourteen when I started working at that diner I told you about, and as soon as I started getting paid, I took off and never looked back.”

I reach over and touch his arm. “That's awful. I'm so sorry.”

He shrugs like it's not a big deal. “People have it worse. I’ve always been big for my age so I didn’t get hassled much, and I’ve never fucking regretted joining the Sons. They’re my family now.” Dragon's phone dings. He pulls it out and flicks through his notifications. “Shit.”

“Everything alright?”

He stands, the chair scraping on the floor. “Gonna have to cut this short. Hellfire's called Church, and I’m already fucking late.” He quickly puts the last bit of egg and toast in his mouth and chews, washing it down with cold coffee.

“Church?”

“Official club meeting. I’ll catch shit if I don’t show.” He leans down and kisses me, sliding a hand up the side of my shirt and flicking his thumb over my nipple. It’s over before I even realize what’s happening.

“Hey!” My belly tingles and my nipples are hard little points tenting the front of my shirt. I’m not sure if I’m annoyed that he did it, or that he didn’t stick around so I could decide how I feel about it.

But I definitely don't hate it.

13

BLACKOUT

“Where the fuck is Dragon?”I whisper to Skyhigh. “He was the one that pulled this information out of the guys we captured.”

Hellfire’s leaning against the altar, thumb hooked in his belt with the grip of his piece visible. “We’ve taken everything they’ve thrown at us so far and Chafik is still happy. Someone’s clearly pissed at one or both of us and trying to fuck up our partnership. It wouldn’t surprise me if the assholes from last night were connected. Good job so far, boys, but we can’t relax until we know who the fuck has a problem and make sure they’re no longer an issue.”

Skyhigh shrugs. “He brought Willow home last night and I haven’t heard from him since.”

The church is packed, every seat taken and brothers lining the walls. Only members allowed during Church, and not a woman in sight. Even Bonnie knows to keep out, though I honestly don't think anyone would fucking dare to tell her no if she wanted to be here. The back door creaks open, and a moment later Dragonslips in next to us where we’re standing. Hellfire gives Dragon a glare, but doesn’t stop to make an example out of him.

I'm itching for Church to be over so we can find out what the fuck was so important.

“I’ve got a meeting with Chafik soon and will find out if he knows anything. In the meantime, be on your fucking guard but get out there and stay visible. This is our fucking city. Don’t let anyone forget it. Stick together and keep an eye on your women, your family, and more than anything, on the brothers you've sworn to protect with your goddamn lives. We’ve already had some blood spilled and I don’t want to add more names to the wall. You fuckers got that? It goes for all of you. Even Dragon, who thinks he's too fucking important to be here.”

The crowd laughs, but Dragon just rolls his eyes.

Hellfire stands. “I'm sure he's got a good fucking reason. Pussy or something. Alright. We're doubling patrols. Ghost, Savage and Skyhigh know the assignments. Stay safe out there.”

After the meeting, me and Skyhigh corner Dragon. “What the fuck, man. Did you get lost between here and Willow’s place? Or between her bed and the door?” I grin wide at him. Dragon can take himself way too fucking seriously, so I always enjoy needling him when I get the chance. He's not the kinda guy you can put on the defensive often.

---