She’d thought long and hard about where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. She loved art and wanted to learn more. “I applied to a couple art schools. The School of Art Institute of Chicago offered me a full scholarship.”
“T, you don’t need to go halfway across the country. The University of California in Valencia has a great art program and it’s only a few miles from here,” her sister argued.
Tiana nodded, pulling her hand away. “Exactly, which is why I don’t want to go there.”
“Did you apply?” Ayesha argued.
She blew out an angry breath, hating the way she had to explain herself. “Esha, I don’t want to stay here. I can’t,” she whispered, using the nickname she’d always called her sister when she’d been a child.
Slim arms came around her from behind. “Maybe if you went back into counseling?”
Tiana pulled away, pivoting on her heels, needing her sister to see the truth as she spoke. “Ayesha, this is your home. King and Legend are your home. I love you and love all you’ve done for me. I’ll always be grateful for King and—the guys who rescued me. But I need to go somewhere where people don’t look at me as the girl who fucked up and nearly got herself sold to the highest bidder. I need a chance to be me, Tiana, the girl who is just a girl, not a victim.”
“But Chicago is so far away. You’re going to miss Legend’s first—everything.” Two tears slid down Ayesha’s cheeks, followed by more.
“Please don’t,” Tiana cried, her own eyes burned with unshed tears.
“What the fuck is going on in here?” King’s deep voice interrupted their conversation.
“Tiana’s going to Chicago to attend art school.” Ayesha sniffed and ran over to King, burying her face into his chest.
Tiana met King’s hard stare without flinching, which was difficult because the man was so dang dominant it oozed from his very pores. She was aware of her sister and the man’s...proclivities. It had shocked her a little in the beginning that her sister would not only allow King to spank her and do other kinky things, but Ayesha loved it. To each their own, but she wouldn’t ever be comfortable in that kind of situation again. Not that she ever had been.
Nope, not going there.
“When did you decide this?” he growled.
“I applied several months ago. The acceptance letters came in at the end of last term.” She didn’t see any reason to lie. A full scholarship to one of the best art schools was an honor she wasn’t willing to throw away, because Mr. Badass was glaring down at her.
“And you didn’t think to come to your sister or me to see what we thought?” he asked in an lower tone.
Ayesha turned within the circle of his arms, showing their solidarity. “King, I think she knows her own head, and I...I get it. She needs to test her wings and like the saying goes. If you love someone, then you let them go. You need to let them fly and if they come back, then they were meant to be here. If they weren’t then—”
“Bullshit. That’s a fucked-up poem that was written by a dumbass. You let something go and if they don’t return then they don’t love you? Fuck that. T, you aren’t a prisoner here. You’ve never been caged like a damn bird or butterfly, or whatever fucking analogy that poet was using. If you need to fly, baby girl, then fuck it, go. But know this. You always have a home here. If you don’t want to live in this house, I’ll have one built anywhere on the property you want. You can choose the design and everything that goes in it. You don’t need to go all the way to Chicago.”
She was too choked up to answer, so she settled for nodding. Luckily Legend decided to fuss, saving her from making an ass of herself in front of the two people she respected the most in the world.
“I got him,” King offered.
“Unless your boobs sprouted milk, you can’t,” Ayesha said with a little hiccupping laugh.
King’s eyes went to Ayesha’s chest. “Yeah, that would be a no, but I can’t say I don’t love watching you feed our boy even though he’s a greedy little shit.”
“What was going on out in the kitchen.” Tiana decided to change the subject, knowing her brother-in-law and sister could go from angry, to fucking in the blink of an eye. She had no doubt little Legend could easily be the first of many if they wanted.
King’s eyes narrowed. His head swiveled from her to Ayesha who was cuddling Legend against her chest. “It’s club business. We’ll talk about you leaving and get your travel plans squared away in the morning. I need you both to stay in the house no matter what you see or hear. Feel me?”
His words were another reason she needed to get away. As an outsider, she’d be one of the last to know anything, yet fear for Mick made her want to beg for answers. She bit her tongue hard enough she tasted blood. She gave a jerky nod, then walked over to the bed and placed a kiss on her nephew’s head. Tiana didn’t try to speak, knowing her voice would betray her. Her sister said she was going to miss a lot of firsts. Legend’s first birthday was coming up, she’d miss that, but what she wouldn’t miss was being treated as if she didn’t belong.
The door shut quietly behind her as she walked out, their voices cut off as the thick door enclosed them, shutting her out.
MICK HIT THE INTERSTATE, wondering if he’d make it to his destination in one piece or not. The fuel tank was almost full thanks to the fact he’d stopped and filled up earlier before his little circling of his home.
His phone rang, connecting to the Bluetooth in the helmet. With one little touch on the side, he connected the call. “Yo,” he said.
“Nice,” Keys answered.
“I’m a little busy you know.” Mick swerved into the other lane, passing an SUV with an obnoxious symbol, letting everyone know they’d paid an obscene amount on the rear-end.
“Truth. I got you some friends who should be finding you shortly. I assume you’re already on the interstate by the sound of it?” Keys was tapping away like usual.
“Yep. I should be to the clubhouse within the hour, give or take a few.” He had no problems driving on the shoulder if he had to, which was why he’d taken the motorcycle instead of his pickup.
“Sounds good. You packing?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods?” His reply earned him a snort.
“Keep your eyes peeled for stupid fuckers. I’ll keep you posted on our friends. Don’t get dead.” Keys disconnected as he repeated the phrase.
Mick chuckled at the words and thought Keys should probably get them tattooed on his body somewhere.
With the throttle twisted, he headed back toward Santa Clarita. Shit. What if he brought the danger to their doorstep? King and Duke could handle just about anything that came their way, but they had ole’ ladies, as did several other brothers who were all living on the large property and with kids as well. At the exit up ahead, he had the urge to get off. And do what? Sure, he could go back to his apartment and sit there waiting for the next attack, or he could nut up and remember what being part of the brotherhood meant. He gave the Harley’s throttle a little more of a twist, rocketing forward, passing the exit. Two other bikes came up on his right from the on ramp, their hands lifting in the familiar greeting most riders gave. He recognized their distinctive cuts. Keys was good.