Page 83 of Pieces of Heaven

Hobo steps back and watches me as if I’m the enemy. “People might say something about me that changes how you feel.”

Understanding his fear, I admit, “I’m worried you’ll see I’m a nerd who can’t hang out with the rowdy kids. We both have concerns, but I’m not staying in this house with that crazy bitch and her broom. Besides, what if she hurts Rose the Cat when I’m not here?”

“Wait, so you want to bring that cat and her kittens with us to the Pigsty?”

“Of course. I can’t leave her on her own until she’s strong enough.”

Hobo looks around the house and then smiles. “I just pictured us in twenty years with a house full of stray animals.”

Laughing at his words, I shuffle closer until he settles down and hugs me. His heartbeat is strong, calming my own fears.

“I’ll call to see if any of my club friends will help move you today. If not, I can hire people.”

Wrapping him in my arms, I squeeze until he stops frowning and smiles at my attempt to manhandle him.

“You aren’t the man I was looking for,” I tell Hobo who immediately frowns. “You don’t fit any of my dreams. But you make me happier than anyone ever has. Even when you’re grumpy like right now, I’m stronger for knowing you. Nothing that happens at the Pigsty or with your club will change how losing you would break my heart.”

Hobo thinks over my words before accepting how we’re both in uncharted territory. The reality is the only people with the power to break us apart are standing right here.

If we choose to hold on and never let go, we can face any challenge from singing cult members and broom-wielding grandmas to Walla Walla’s dick.

TOMMY

My first thought whenI woke up in this tiny house was how I needed to find a new place for Xenia as soon as possible. Though suffocated here, I felt such relief knowing she was next to me all night.

Xenia likes having me around, too. I wasn’t sure how she’d handle me in her space overnight. Every once in a while, I’d catch her getting self-conscious. Even when she was riding my dick this morning, she kept trying to cover her tits. I doubt she even noticed her behavior since she was too busy smiling.

Then, that bitch hit her in the face. I nearly snapped Velma in half like I did her broom. The urge was so powerful. The berserker part of me nearly broke free. When someone messes with a person in my circle, I lose control.

The only reason I didn’t break the old bitch was because Xenia was watching. A part of me is still afraid she’ll see me in a new light and close her heart off.

As my rage simmers with nowhere to go, Xenia sits on the loveseat, ready to cry again. I think she might be sad about leaving this tiny house. Or maybe this is how normal people react to violence. Either way, she fights sniffles before walking into the bedroom and packing her clothes.

The upside to our shitty morning is I can move Xenia into the Pigsty where she’ll be protected. As Xenia checks on the cat, I text Armor to explain what’s happening.

Like Eagle, Armor recently moved into a fancy, new house with his wife and kid. The boy is actually Dice’s by blood, but the younger man didn’t want to play daddy. I only understand the very basics about how everything went down. One day, the kid was Dice’s. The next, Gavin belonged to Armor and Yazmin. No matter how his family came together, I know Armor would rather spend his free time with them.

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