Page 4 of Bound by Destiny
It’ll never happen.
Bringing my clone here was a bitch move. And why is he even here? As much as he talked shit about the club, why would he even think of coming here? While part of me wished he would come back, that was before. Now, I wish with everything he would just go away. More than anything, I just wish it didn’t burn so damn bad, which tells me that I still care and I don’t want to becausefuck him.
Unfortunately, this is his family too, and nothing is going to change that. It’s surprising his father, Tug, is talking to him without a scowl on his face. I’d seen it many times over the years during their exchanges. Tug has made no secret that he is disappointed in the choices his son made.
Having a child, a boy especially, not want to be part of the Ravage family, cut Tug and Blaze to the core. While I know it’s not water under the bridge, the hope on their faces is there bright and shining. They want him to come back into the fold, to reclaim his place within the family. Not that I can blame them, but Micah has a lot to atone for. He’d do it, if that’s what he wants, because once Micah sets his sights on something he follows through. He is driven, determined, and so very smart. There isn’t anything Micah can’t accomplish when he sets his mind to it. Unfortunately, it is his strongest trait to be so unwavering and undaunted. If he were anyone else or if time had been different between us, I would be so happy for him to return. Given what’s gone on between us, I can’t help the pain deep inside me that he is, indeed, here to reclaim his place within the club.
I’m torn because I know this is a good thing for him and the club; this selfish side of me just wants to scream at him to leave and not come back. But that’s the irrational side, and one thing I’m not is irrational. This is another thing that I’ll deal with. And who’s to say that he’s coming back in the fold of Ravage anyway?
This could be a one-off thing because he wanted to see his parents. It could just be a one-time gig and he goes back to college. If he’s here, he’s here—I’ll deal. He’s not—he’s not, and I’ll deal. Such is life.
Lately, I’ve been living in a sea of anarchy, nothing quite fitting together completely. Sure, now that Deke, my brother, is home and my dad pulled his head out of his ass, it’s slowly getting there. But my dad has been hit hard with the consequences of his actions in keeping his son away from home. GT, as the club calls him, is the strongest person I know. That’s what made what he did hard to witness. He’s repenting, but it’ll be a long time before that wound is healed. For all of us. It’s put a strain on all of our relationships and could be the reason I’m a little over emotional about Micah just showing up out of the blue. Add in my mother’s remission with cancer and life just needs to chill the hell out for a while.
If I let myself think too hard or too long, I feel like I might drown in all my emotions.
Rylynn, Rhys and Tanner’s daughter, comes over at the perfect time, pulling me out of my raging thoughts. She’s two years younger than me and is a knockout. Her dark hair is pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head and her face is clear of makeup. She’s the type of beauty that doesn’t need a single thing on her skin to look amazing. She’s the woman you love to hate because she’s so fucking beautiful everyone looks at her. But I love her. She’s hands down my favorite person after Austyn.
She shoulder checks me. “Hey, bitches, how’s it hangin’?”
A chuckle escapes. Leave it to Rylynn to break the tension around us. She’s always been a watcher and observer, a lot like her scary as fuck father. It’s an admirable trait because she thinks before she acts.
Even at nineteen, she’s honing that talent down tight. “Hey,” both Austyn and I greet while pulling another shot. This one I can feel in my head right away telling me I need to chill before Austyn has to pick me up off the dirty ass floor. Ah, what the hell will another do.
“Set ‘em up,” Rylynn calls out as Austyn reaches out doing the honors. Ry leans down to my ear. “Say the fucking word and I’ll slit his throat.”
My head falls back as unstoppable laughter rumbles through me. Tears form in my eyes as my stomach cramps. God, I love her. The thing is, if I said the word, she would go over and take care of Micah for me. This is what it means to have family at your back. To have those around you who only want what’s best for you. Ry is one of those people.
Heads turn to me as I cover my mouth from the spittle that just came out. Damn, I’m drunk.
“What!” Austyn yells. Ry winks at me and leans down to tell Austyn, who can’t let the laughter stay inside of her either.
I needed that to break all the tension around us. It’s like everyone is waiting for me to blow up or something with Micah. That’s not me.
I’m not that kind of chick. He hurt me, yes, but I’m not about to make some scene here over it or over him. It’s over. Hell, it never really started. It just stings that he brought someone here.
Ry holds her glass up, and we follow suit. “To mayhem, man-buns, and mischief. May our drinks go down, spirits go up, there be orgasms a plenty and the hair Gods be ever in our favor.”
My chest hurts from laughing, and it takes me a bit to calm down before shooting the tequila. There goes myI’m not totally drunkidea.
As the night progresses and the liquor of the gods loosens me completely up, I feel really good and happy I didn’t quite listen to myself about taming it down. Just because he’s here doesn’t mean I’ll change me. Any other party, I’d drink with Austyn, do a few shots with Deke or his woman, Rylie, and have a ball. That’s exactly what I’m doing.
Ry keeps cracking jokes left and right, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have sore stomach muscles tomorrow. But it’s all worth it.
The night is in full swing and it’s the exact time that Micah and his new flame approach us. Everyone stills. I want to laugh. I’m too drunk for this.
“Hey, Austyn, Emery. How’s it goin’?” he asks as I down another shot that is totally not needed because I’m floating on a fucking fluffy white cloud. What I do know is the booze tastes like water. My dad always told me that if you’re drinking and it starts to taste like water, you’re way past done. I’m there.Maybe just one more.I mean, I’m beyond the limit so one more can’t hurt, right? If I’m going to drown my sorrows, might as well do it right.
“Good. You?” Austyn answers while I stare ahead at the bar. The lights from the room twinkle in the mirrors behind all the colorful bottles. They glow like a kaleidoscope, twisting and twirling. They’re pretty. Patrick, one of the prospects, is manning the bar, but he’s preoccupied down at the other end. My head starts spinning as the loose feeling consumes me.
“Good. This is Jacklyn,” Micah introduces, and I can see him in my peripheral vision. Austyn gives a small wave.
It’s my turn and I never back down from anything, even if it’s uncomfortable. Because well, fuck him. He’s had way too much of my time over the years and it’s time to cut the strings, like when parents send their kids off into the world—they have tocut the cord.
Turning, I have to blink my eyes a few times to make the room stop moving from turning too quickly. Yep, way too much booze. I’m going to feel it in the morning. “Hi.”
“How’re you doing, Emery?” he asks, still holding the hand of the girl next to him like she’s a lifeline and one word from me and they’re going to blow up. Ha! Like that would happen. But it’s his jutted out chin that gives him away. He’s a bit uncomfortable, but I can’t tell if it’s because he’s here or because he is around me.
“A knife to the neck, arm, and stomach… Doin’ peachy. You?” My fingers point to the scars on my body, the ones that I’ll never be able to hide. Another situation I wish I could drown in the bottom of a bottle, but like Micah and his woman here, that won’t happen either.
