Page 5 of Bound by Family
Nox looks up at our father, nods once, and stands up, moving away from Deke. Deke spits out curse words, no doubt feeling like an ass as he stands up.
Just as he’s about to charge again, he halts at his mother’s voice.
“Deacon Alexander Gavelson!” Angel yells, marching through the grass. GT gives a slight chuckle. “What the hell?”
Deke’s eyes are on my brother, nostrils flaring, the animosity still burning bright. This is definitely not over.
“We’re going home,” Angel announces, walking up to Deke and grabbing his arm. He rips it out of her grasp, and she gives off a gasp as she steps back from the force.
When GT comes up, Deke’s face remains pensive, but the small twitch in his left eye tells me he’s scared shitless. He should be. GT’s a fierce motherfucker, and he sure as hell won’t let anyone disrespect his woman, especially not his own kids.
“Show’s over,” GT tells the crowd then marches Deke to the car they just bought him for his birthday that I doubt very highly he’ll be driving anytime soon.
GT shoves Deke in the passenger seat, slams the door, gets in the driver’s seat, and speeds off.
“Well, hell, that can’t be good. Nox, come with me,” my mother says.
Nox looks at our father, who lifts his chin, and then follows Mom into the clubhouse.
“Never a dull moment.” Ryker clasps me on the shoulder, laughing, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
He patched in with Ravage a couple of years before I did, and we got pretty tight since I joined officially three, almost four, years ago.
“Such is life.” Giving a shrug, I turn toward him. “What’s the plan?”
He inhales then blows out the smoke. “I don’t give a shit. One of the brunettes wants me to meet up with her later, but the bitch is getting too needy, and I need to cut her off.” He’s referring to one of the club mommas who hangs around. Their names all seem to intermingle after a while. Sex with them is release, plain and simple. There’s no emotional attachment, no relationships, or any of that.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect them, but I have yet to find one who I want to change that outlook for. I’m not looking for anything more than to get off. As soon as one of them thinks there’ll be more, she’s out.
“I’m ridin’ for a while.”
Ryker crosses his arms, tattoos splaying. He gets closer then opens his mouth, baring his teeth while moving his head back and forth.
I step back. “What the fuck are you doin’?”
He chuckles. “Checkin’ my teeth. Those mirrored shades you wear are perfect for it.”
“Asshole. You just wish you could pull this shit off.”
“Nah, I’m hot enough.”
I laugh. Ryker is definitely comic relief.
“Coop?” I hear my sister call as she walks up to us. Her eyes are on Ryker, though, and not me.
Austyn’s had a thing for Ryker for years now, and I wish she’d get the hell over it. He’s about nine or ten years older than her, so it’s not happening. Hell, even if they were close in age, it still wouldn’t happen. I love Ryker, but that shit’s not cool with me.
“Yeah?” I ask.
She sweeps her long, dark hair behind her ear, her big blue eyes coming to me. I fully admit she’s pretty, and I’ve seen more than one guy stop and pay her attention, but no fucking way.
“Dad wants to see you,” she tells me before glancing back over at Ryker.
“Hey, little one.” He ruffles her hair.
Her fists clench and shoulders tense. “Hey,” she growls before stomping off, running her hand through her hair.
I just shake my head and move into the clubhouse. Either Ryker is blind or is damn good at ignoring it. Either way, I’m good with the way he’s playing it.
