Alex Read online

  She watched as he talked about the kids. He really loved them. It made Michael’s absence really hard for her to imagine.

  “I look forward to it.”

  “Do you want kids?” he asked.

  “Yes, someday. I don’t think it’ll be right away, but I want them.” She closed her mouth when she realized it could be sooner than she thought seeing as they hadn’t used any protection against kids.

  “It’s okay.” He took her hand. “We’ll deal with everything they’ve got to throw at us.”

  Minutes later he pulled up outside of her parents’ house. “If you want you can wait here,” she said.

  “I’m happy to come in with you. I’ve got nothing to ashamed of.” He turned off the car and together they walked up to the front door. She’d not confronted her mother or father about what she’d found out that day.

  Her father, Hank, opened the door.

  “Sunshine, I’ve been so worried.” He pulled her in for a hug. Sunshine accepted his hug, seeing her mother standing behind him. “We tried to call you—”

  “I’ve been with Alex.” She pointed toward him. “He’s been keeping me safe.”

  Hank turned to Alex. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near my little girl. You’ve got no fucking right to her.”

  Sunshine saw past the words. Hank was pretending to show his fatherly concern, yet he didn’t have the right to.

  “Dad,” Sunshine said. “I’m with Alex willingly.”

  “Honey, don’t say that,” her mother said.

  “Look, I’m only here to pick up some clothes. I don’t want to argue with either of you or get pulled into anything. I’m staying with Alex, and that’s final.”

  “No, it’s not final. I will not have you near hi—”

  “You don’t have a choice, Dad. You lost that chance when you put me up for sale, remember?”

  Hank looked toward Alex. “You told—”

  “No, he didn’t tell me. I’ve known all along the deal you made. Don’t try to make this about anything but yourself. I only want the last few of my belongings, and then I’m going with Alex.” She stepped past her father, not even looking at her mother. Running upstairs, she didn’t hear them talking.

  Gathering up a couple of her books and diaries, she packed only what she wanted. On her way out, her father was standing, waiting. His shoulders were slumped as he took in her suitcase and then her room.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “Dad, I’m not angry.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “I don’t know. I only know that I want to be with him. I’m not angry at you, and I don’t want you to hate him. I’m happy.” She walked past her father then her mother. Alex was waiting at the door. He took her case the moment she was outside. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I will be.”

  Chapter Nine

  The weekend passed without any event at all. Preston didn’t make a show, and nothing happened to the club. Baker replaced Fighter, but Adam stayed around. Alex believed Preston wouldn’t show up until he was vulnerable. The New Year was already past, and soon the celebrations for Valentine’s Day would be starting. This wasn’t how he anticipated spending the beginning of the new year, being in the hospital and then confined to his home.

  Sitting on the edge of his bed Monday morning, Alex glanced over at Sunshine. She’d been in his bed for the past couple of days. He’d fucked her every chance he got. All of the women in his past, he’d grown bored after three fucks or a couple of weeks. Sunshine was different. She was underneath his skin, and all the yearning he’d once had was starting to fight back. Everything that he once wanted out of life that he’d shut down over twenty years ago was starting to rear its ugly head and demand notice.

  Getting up from the bed, he quickly pulled on some sweats and made his way downstairs. Eva was going to arrive any minute. He knew her time schedule and would be dropping the kids off really early. Running a hand down his face, he walked to the kitchen. There was no sign of Baker and Adam. He didn’t mind. Alex actually missed being alone in his kitchen. They were around somewhere keeping an eye on things. He didn’t treat them like bodyguards. Both men knew what they were there to do.

  Putting the coffee pot on, he was just grabbing a cup when his door went. He opened the door to Eva juggling bags and children. “Can I thank you again for doing this? Everyone else is so busy, and you’ve got two prospects here to keep everything safe.”

  “You don’t need to thank me. I like looking after the kids.” He opened the door, taking Miles and Tabitha’s hands.

  “Tiny wanted me to get one of the girls to watch them or get a babysitter. They’re all busy.”

  A flash of pain struck Alex hard at Tiny’s obvious need to kick him out of the club that he’d helped start.

  “He’s entitled to want the best for his kids.”

  Eva hugged him. “I know they’ll be more than safe with you, even with a crazy man trying to ruin our lives again.” She placed their bags down. “Where’s Sunshine?”

  “She’s sleeping.”

  “You both just disappeared on me the other day. I’d made you both a sandwich, and by the time I was ready to give it to you, you were both gone.”

  “We had to take care of some business.” He led the way into the kitchen, picking Miles up and placing him on the seat, then Tabitha.

  “Okay. Alex, are you all right?” Eva asked.

  “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” He stared back at her, waiting for her to say something more.

  “Nothing, sorry, I just, I don’t know. You seem distant?”

  Tiny’s trying to kick me out of his life so the club can vote me out. You don’t know shit of what it’s like for me to be distant.

  “Everything’s fine. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

  “They can’t have too much sugar. We went to the dentist, and he warned that their teeth are going to rot if I keep giving into them.” Eva was backing out of the house as she listed her little demands.

  Following her, Alex ticked them off in his head. “Go, have fun. Take Tiny for some dinner. Get him to relax.”

  “I doubt that. This Preston business has him tied up in knots. Thank you for doing this.”

  She spun away, going to her car. He saw Tiny in the driver’s seat. Now that was a first. He wasn’t even going to get out and greet him. His days in The Skulls were numbered. For some reason, it hurt a hell of a lot more than he thought it would. He cut all feeling off, throwing the pain away. Pain didn’t help him any. Locking the door, he cut out the sight of Tiny and the past. The club came first, and if the club wanted him out, he’d leave. He wasn’t helping anyone, anyway. The Skulls only resented him for being there. It was starting to lose all focus as to why he’d done what he’d done in the beginning. He’d never fit in with the club, not really. None of them really knew what he’d done for The Skulls. They all thought he’d used his relation to Tiny to get into the club.

  “Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” he said, leading the way back to his kitchen. Tabitha and Miles had climbed down off their chairs to see their mother off. He helped Tabitha onto a seat again, watching as Miles climbed up onto his. They really didn’t need any assistance, but he liked giving it anyway. “That’s awesome, Miles.”

  The younger boy beamed at him.

  Clapping his hands together, Alex pulled a funny face at both the kids before turning back to the fridge. “What are we in the mood for? Pancakes or cereal?”

  “Pancakes!” Both kids squealed at the same time.

  Adam chose that moment to walk into the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. “Shit, sorry, kids.”

  Neither Tabitha nor Miles said anything. Both were pulling books out of their bags onto the counter.

  “You’ve got babysitting duty?”

  “I wouldn’t call it a duty. I like taking care of the little terrors.” Alex gathered together the ingredients to make up the pancakes. He loved takin
g care of kids and had learned to cook pancakes for them. It was one of the few recipes he knew. Alex left them alone after he grabbed his coffee. Mixing up the batter, he started to fry up the pancakes, loving the look on each child’s face as he flipped them over.

  Tabitha squealed, clapping her hands together.

  “Again, again.”

  Laughing, Alex did another for her, serving them all up. He made several pancakes putting some aside for Sunshine for when she woke up. He’d kept her pretty busy last night, and he didn’t anticipate her waking any time soon.

  Sitting down at the counter, he watched them eat, scarfing down each of their pancakes. Tabitha gave him a thumbs up while Miles only smiled.

  After Alex cleaned away the dishes, Miles climbed down, heading toward the games room where Adam was.

  “It looks like it’s just you and me, sweetheart,” he said, taking a seat. “Don’t you want to head back into the games room with your brother?”

  “Nah, I don’t like games.” She smiled up at him.

  Nodding, he watched her color in a mermaid.

  “Uncle Alex, just because Mommy and Daddy are angry at you, doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”

  Alex stared down at the young girl. “I know.”

  “They shout at me and Miles all the time, but they kiss and cuddle us.” Pressing a kiss to her temple, Alex didn’t know what to say. “They’ll kiss and cuddle you soon.”

  “I don’t know, honey. I’ve really upset them.”

  “Daddy won’t stay angry for long. Tate makes him so mad, but he loves her.”

  “Tate makes everyone mad.”

  Tabitha chuckled. “She’s my sister. We got different mommies, but she says that don’t matter.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  She started coloring for several minutes. “Uncle Alex?”

  “Yeah, honey?”

  “Why don’t you have any kids?”

  “I’ve got Michael?”

  “I know. You’re not married. You don’t have an old lady like Mommy? Do you love my mommy?”

  “Eva’s married to your dad. I care about her, but I don’t love her.”

  “Do you love me?”

  “Of course I do. You’re my little Tabitha.” He pinched her nose.

  “Do you want a mommy like mine?”

  Alex frowned, working through her words. Finally, he got what she was trying to say.

  “There was a woman I did love, yes.” This was way before Sunshine, long before The Skulls, and even before Patricia and Tiny.

  “Where is she?”

  “She’s married with a couple of kids now.” Tabitha tilted her head to the side. “Well, you see, I met this girl, and she was so beautiful, a wonderful woman. I, erm, I was going to propose, make her my wife, my old lady.”

  “What happened?”

  “Your father happened, honey.”

  “Huh?”

  Alex let out a sigh. It was over twenty-five years ago. He’d started up the casino and intended to sell it on for the first person who offered him enough. At the time he had a business plan, sell his business, make a fortune, settle down and have lots of babies.

  “Tiny came to see me asking for my help. I always liked your father, and I couldn’t turn him away.”

  “Why couldn’t you have your wife?”

  “There were some sacrifices that were necessary.”

  “But you don’t have a mommy.”

  Alex chuckled at her confusion over a wife and a mommy.

  “Uncle Alex, are you sad?” Tabitha asked.

  He stopped chuckling to stare at the young girl. “You’re a little too observant for your own good.”

  “You’re lonely.”

  “No, I’m not lonely.”

  There was so much he regretted about his decision twenty-five years ago, but when he looked in Sunshine’s eyes and was near her, everything felt perfect to him, better than perfect.

  Tabitha reached over, hugging him close. “I love you, Uncle Alex.”

  “Love you, too, baby girl.” He kissed her head, turning away as tears filled his eyes.

  “Tab, come on,” Miles said, running into the kitchen. “This is totally wicked.”

  Alex watched as Tabitha climbed down off her chair and rushed out of the room with her brother. Running fingers through his hair, he got to his feet. “How long have you been standing there?” he asked, turning around.

  Sunshine came around the corner. “Long enough. I’ve, erm, I’ve never been great at sleeping in. I like to get up and get involved in everything that’s going on.” She tucked some hair behind her ear.

  “You heard all of it.”

  “Pretty much.”

  Alex sighed, walking toward the oven. “Here, I made you some pancakes.”

  “Are you angry with me?”

  “No, baby, I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with myself.”

  “Kids, huh, they’ve got a way of getting some of the truth out of us.” She cut into her pancake, but her gaze stayed on him.

  “When you’re finished, there’s something I want to show you.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m just going to check on the kids. I’ll be right back.” He left the kitchen unable to face the woman he loved. The last time he’d been in love, he’d walked away for the good of the club. He was terrified that he’d be forced to repeat himself, and walk away from Sunshine.

  ****

  Finishing the dishes, Sunshine leaned against the counter while she waited for Alex to get back to her. The house was so large that she hadn’t even heard Preston come into the house. That’s what scared her the most, the lack of awareness in the house.

  “Hey, are you ready?” Alex asked. He offered her a hand, and she took it. She’d always take his hand, waiting for him. Over the last few years and even the months they’d gotten to know one another, she’d fallen for him, and fallen hard. She didn’t know how he felt about her or even if he felt anything toward her at all.

  He wanted her. He wanted her body, but did he think about having more with her?

  “Where are we going?”

  “To where I’ve locked away a shitload of memories.”

  She nodded. The only place she’d ever found anything that could be considered memories was the attic.

  Tightening her hold on his hand, they made their way up to the peak of the house. He turned on a light as they entered, lighting up the attic. It was well insulated, so the cold wasn’t a problem. She stood watching him as he looked around the small space.

  “What are you looking for?”

  He moved several boxes into a corner until he came to one. “Here, take a seat.” He placed her on top of one of the suitcases. It didn’t give under her weight, and she waited for him to tell her what this was all about. “When I was a kid I used to live in Fort Wills during the time it was okay. Over the years it got bad, and my parents decided it wasn’t a good place to bring up a boy and a girl, me and Patricia. I’d known Tiny, been friends with him, and we both promised to keep in touch. I got a college education and set up my casino in Vegas. I’ve got a few casinos spread around the world, but my most lucrative is the one in Vegas.” He stopped, and she could see he was struggling.

  “You don’t have to tell me any more if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I want to tell you this. With you, Sunshine, I don’t want there to be any secrets with us.” He took her hand, locking their fingers together. “My casino was going well, and I met a woman, Claire. She was a lawyer and had dealt with all my business expenses. I loved her. We’d both agreed to let the casino take off and when we were ready, we’d marry, settle down, and have lots of babies. She loved her job but wanted to be a mother. I wanted to be a father more than anything.” Alex let out a breath.

  Jealousy struck her hard. “I take it you didn’t get married.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “What happened?”

  “I got a visit from Tiny. He ca
me to the casino and asked me how I felt about Fort Wills. I’d always loved this little town. I loved the open fields, the beauty, the feel of the place. I always thought I’d settle down in a place like this.” He stopped talking, and she watched as he opened up an album. “That’s Claire.” He pointed to a beautiful slender woman with raven hair.

  “She’s beautiful. Why didn’t you marry her?”

  “Tiny told me how bad it got. The town was being ravaged by fucking bastards known as The Darkness.”

  “I remember them from when they came back to town.”

  “Yeah, well, Tiny needed help to get the club set up. He wanted to overrun the town, and for that, he needed money and investment.”

  “He needed you.”

  “Yeah, he needed me. Claire thought it was a good idea, and then it became a problem. Fort Wills is a great place to run drugs, guns, and all kinds of shit the moment you get the cops on your side. They turn a blind eye, the town goes to shit. During my time running a casino, I learned there was a fucking load of guys who’d do anything to take over the club, Fort Wills, all of it.” He rubbed at his temple.

  “You had to protect the club from the outside?”

  Alex nodded. “I had to protect Tiny and the club. I set up the runs with Ned Walker, all the time pushing shit through to keep my casino running, and also providing allies for The Skulls. The nomads where Adam, Twisted, and Happy came from. They took a lot of the slack while I channeled everything I could to give The Skulls the reputation they needed.” He stopped talking, and he turned the page in the photograph album. Sunshine gasped as pictures of a beaten woman in a hospital bed was seen. “That’s Claire. A deal I had going to run guns went sour, and she became the price for me turning my back on them.”

  “Why do you keep these?”

  “They’re memories so I don’t bring another woman down with me, Sunshine. I had to let her go. I had to let that dream of being a father, a family man, go. Tiny, he came to me with an idea, and I had to make sure it worked. I couldn’t let it fail.”

  “Patricia, she wanted to marry him, didn’t she? That’s why you had to make sure Fort Wills was protected. Your sister?”