Page 18 of Pain
Mama gave him a warm hug then turned back to us.“Come on.Iris has a room ready for you.”
All of a sudden, there was a little cry and a small figure practically flew around the corner from the club house and straight to Pops.
“Uh-oh,” Mama said, her smile widening with affection.“Here comes your girl, Pops.”
Pops turned and, spotting the child, knelt and held out his arms for her to run and jump into.She wrapped her skinny arms and legs around him in a death grip.The older man hugged her back, patting her back and rocking back and forth with her.
“There’s my girl!Guess who’s coming later?”She pulled back, a huge smile on her face and shook her head but didn’t say anything.“Venus…” He let the woman’s name hang in the air.The child’s eyes got wide and her fist bunched in Pops’s leather vest as she waited for him to tell her.I could tell whatever name Pops dropped to her better be the person she hoped it was or I might have to punch the older man for the girl.She looked so hopeful.He let the pause draw out for a moment before the girl slapped at his shoulder, her face scrunching up.Still, she didn’t say anything.“And she might be bringing Piston with her.”The little girl let out another squeal, kissed Pops on the cheek, then wiggled down and took off back around the corner of the clubhouse.
“I’m guessing she likes Piston?”I couldn’t stop the question.Watching the little girl so excited and obviously comfortable with the big, scary older man settled something inside me I hadn’t realized was upset.While I had no doubt every single adult inside this place was very dangerous, they were obviously kind and nurturing to that child.
“Piston is her favorite person.Probably even more than Iris.And Clover loves Iris with everything in her.”Mama looped her arm through mine and led us toward the large building that apparently was the clubhouse.
The interior of the clubhouse surprised me.I’d expected something darker, more intimidating, based on the rough exterior and the dangerous men who called it home.Instead, it felt warm and lived-in, with comfortable furniture arranged in conversational clusters and family photos scattered on tables.
“This is nice,” I said, meaning it.
“It is.”Mama guided me through the large room toward a wide staircase at the back.
“I confess, I wasn’t expecting this.”I waved my hand to indicate the homey interior.
Mama chuckled.“Yeah.Not what one typically thinks of as a motorcycle club’s clubhouse.This section is for the families.Many of the men here have old ladies now.The families wanted a place free of club girls.”
“Club girls?”
Mama gave me a side-eye.
“Right.Stupid question.Please continue.”
That got a bark of laughter from Mama.“I like you, girl.You’re trying to keep an open mind.”
“My whole world got turned on its head today.The people I thought were the good guys are actually the bad guys.And some of the bad guys arereallybad guys.Having said that, I have no problem giving any group of people a chance when the hardest-looking man of the bunch gets a tacklehug from an overly enthusiastic eight-year-old and he suffers it like a proud grandpa.As far as I’m concerned, you guys are great in my book.”
Mama beamed down at me.“We all love the children and would protect them with our lives.It’s the main thing we tried to instill in everyone associated with us.And to be quite honest, these men are protective as hell, so they really didn’t need much encouraging.”
Stitches was surprisingly thorough in his exam.Not in a creepy way, but in a way that showed he genuinelycared about my comfort.Once he was satisfied I was good, he sent us on our way with a warm handshake and a smile for both me and Pain.
As we walked away, I glanced over my shoulder to find Pain close behind us.He lifted one corner of his lips in a half smile as he winked at me.The intimacy of that moment struck me.I sucked in a breath, unable to take my gaze off him.Until I stumbled on the top step.Both Mama and Pain reached for me.
“Careful, dear.You’ll have plenty of time to ogle your young man once we get you settled.”
“Oh, Christ.You called me out!”I couldn’t help the laughter bubbling up inside me.“I can’t believe you actually called me out.”
“Believe it.But then, all the women in all the clubs I’m affiliated with have eyes for their men.No one expects you to be any different.Not in the Iron Tzars.Not in Kiss of Death.”
Again, I glanced over my shoulder as we walked down the hallway.Pain simply raised an eyebrow at me.“Um, you know I’m not with Pain.Right?I worked at the… uh, the facility where he was housed.He saved me, but we’re not, like,togethertogether.”
Mama stopped at a closed door, taking a card and swiping a mechanized lock panel.She opened the door and held it open until we were both inside with her.
“How about you give it a month.If you still insist you’re not his woman then, I’ll take it back.”She handed me and Pain each a key card.“Sofa unfolds into a bed.Get me a list of anything you need for the next few days -- both of you.”Her gaze flickered from me to Pain and back.“Tape it to your door before you go to bed and I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.”
“I’ll take care of it, Mama.”Pain set down my suitcase and stepped closer to me.I felt his hand at the small of my back and wasn’t sure how I felt about the touch.
At first I wanted to melt against him, to let him pull me into his arms and keep out all the bad shit that had happened to me only a few hours ago.Right on top of that was the knowledge that I was being pushed toward Pain in a not-so-subtle fashion.Immediately following that thought was, would it really be so bad?I seriously doubted he would want something more than a few pleasant days and nights.The man hadn’t been out of prison long.I was certain he wouldn’t want to be tied down.I knew I’d take what he offered for the experience, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to give in just yet.
And wasn’t that a sobering thought?I’d never been a one-night-stand kind of woman.Even in nursing school when everyone was hooking up after exams, I’d always needed more than physical attraction.But Pain… he was different.Everything about today was different.
“You’re deep in thought,” Pain murmured close to my ear as Mama left us alone, the door clicking shut behind her.
