Page 114 of Shattering Nash

“And your father raised you?”

Nash snorted, breaking out into a smile. Charley was different from him.Raisinghim was a stretch.

“I lived with him, yes. Learned the family business and joined when I was fourteen.”

She smiled and sat up. “What kind of business?”

“Drug dealing.”

Her shoulders sagged and the corners of her mouth pulled down in a severe frown. For someone like Charley, who’d lived a somewhat idyllic childhood, this would be unrelatable.

“Oh,” she whispered. “You sold drugs for him?”

“Yes.”

For Nash it had been a way of life and the only one he knew. Obviously, he was aware most kids his age weren’t working the streets like he did. But it was his norm, and he hadn’t thought much of it. Seeing Charley’s response hit him to the depths of his soul.

He cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. He made an effort to relax his features. The whole conversation was bringing on stress, and he wouldn’t add to it.

“That’s not a childhood.” She muttered.

No, it wasn’t.Nash had been robbed of his youth.

He strummed his thumb over her cheek. “Keep asking.”

“What happened to your dad?”

“Enjoyed the product a little too much. He followed the same fate as my mother when I was nineteen. I had connections, worked my way into and within the Underground to prove myself.” Nash slid his finger across her cheek. Charley was completely invested in his story.In me.

“I was pretty tight with Ace and Cross. They were with me when I got my first bike.” Nash smirked. “The one you like.”

Her mouth fell open, and she smiled. “Really?”

“Yeah. Worked under Inez for a while and got close to the club. Could’ve stayed with them. But I was given a fewopportunities by Oz. I liked working under him. Saw a future so I chose that path with no regrets.”

Not one. Nash had made the right choice in following Oz’s lead.

Her eyes widened. “You could’ve been a biker?”

That’s what she was focusing on? He laughed, shaking his head.

“Would you rather I’d been in the MC?” he teased.

“No,” she blurted. “Of course not. I’m just glad you kept the bike.”

Me too.All he’d gone through, everyone he’d met along the way, made him who he was today. He’d never be society’s idea of a good man. He didn’t have to be as long as Charley saw him that way. She wiggled on the couch, moving in closer.Exactly where I want her.

Charley suddenly got quiet and the mood shifted.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

Charley drew in a breath. “Do you know where my brother is? I mean, with everything he was hiding and the cops trying to set Zeke up, which I don’t know if it’s true, but…” She glanced up at him. “Do you think they lied about him being in rehab? ’Cause Zeke said he called him.”

Ah, fuck.Nash knew this would eventually come up but he hadn’t prepared for it just yet. Everything pointed to Mitchell and Becker still having Cody with them. That was a good sign. Nash had no doubt they’d find them all, but it would take some time. He wasn’t about to allow her to stress over it until then. Sometimes a lie was necessary.

“Zeke lied. Your brother is in rehab. I’ve confirmed it.”

She exhaled and her lips spread into a smile. “Thank you.”

---