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Dad turned, smiling softly. “She has that way about her where everyone likes her.”
“Not everyone,” I reminded him.
He scowled. “Fuckin’ teens.”
“What happened?” Tech asked.
“There was a group of girls who absolutely hated me because I talked too much. They were popular and had these guys hassle me. Used to stick things in my locker, corner me in the hallways, push me, punch me, spit in my face.” Dad’s hands fisted at the memory. “Relax, Dad, you guys took care of it.”
“Only after you’d been dealin’ with it for years. She’d go to school like nothin’ bad was happenin’ and put up with everythin’ because she thought that one day they’d get over whatever they hated her about and become friends.”
“Yeah, yeah. I learned that not everyone is nice. It hurt my heart to know that they could hate someone because they’re different. So, when Dad, Mum, and Texas found out, the first thing Dad had to do was lock Mum down since she was so mad she would have actually smacked some kids around and got into trouble for it. Then Dad, Texas, and some of the other brothers rode to the high school.”
“Did you kick their asses?” Saint asked.
I giggled. “I’d already heard my family arrive, so when the last bell rang, and I knew they’d come to hassle me again, I raced outside. They followed, of course. You should have seen their faces when they saw me surrounded by my family. Best day ever. Dad stalked up to the group and threatened that if they didn’t leave me alone, they’d deal with the brotherhood.”
“They left you alone after that?”
“Yep. They sure did, and that was when I started to learn how to fight so any other problem I had, or someone else who was different had, I could step in to help.”
“How in the hell have you stayed so positive when you’ve dealt with the shit you have in life?”
“Because I’ve been surrounded by people who love me and have shown me it’s okay to be who I want to be. I don’t need to be defined by a prognosis. I’m just here living life and enjoying every moment I can while helping protect those who have trouble standing up for themselves.”
“Christ, Rommy,” Tech said. “You’re like a ray of damn sunshine, and I mean that in the best way possible. You’ve warmed so many damn lives, my sister for one. She’s been brighter since you’ve come into her life, and I can’t thank you enough for it.”
I waved him off. “That’s sweet. Thank you. But I don’t think I’ve done anything special. I just wanted to be her friend and help her see that her man is scrum-diddily-umptious.”
Saint snorted. “You’re a good egg, Rommy. Though, your taste in guys needs to be checked.”
“Hmm, if I wasn’t attracted to Quake, then I’d say the next guy I found hot would have been Gun.”
Saint glared. “Back the fuck off, bitch.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes. Even Dad and Tech were grinning wide.
“And now I’m pumped to hurt someone,” Saint commented.
I stuck my tongue out at him, which made his lips twitch.
“That’s good then, since we’re here.” Tech pulled the car to a stop outside a rundown weatherboard home with long lawn and weeds. Even the porch looked like it could fall at any moment.
“Was this where you and Eve lived?” Saint asked.
Tech hummed under his breath, taking in the house. His jaw clenched before he unlocked it to say, “Let’s get this shit done.” We all climbed out and made our way to the front door.
When Saint stepped onto the porch behind Tech, it groaned, and Dad quickly pulled Saint back just as a piece of wood collapsed.
Tech didn’t knock. He lifted his foot and kicked it in with a loud crack.
“The fuck?” Jim yelled.
Tech entered, and we quickly followed, jumping the porch to get inside.
“Remember me?” Tech demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.
“That bitch ran to complain to her brother. Get the fuck out. Don’t want anything from you.”
