The club took a liking to Fern when we first met her and Charm. And when the girls’ spa had been burned down, my brothers and I decided to help them out. We got the building repaired. The only good thing to happen the day of the fire is how quickly the fire department diffused the situation. They were able to get it out in under two hours, and somehow the entire building wasn’t a complete tear-down. By the time Fern was released from the hospital, we had the place fixed up to the point they could redesign the spa how they wanted it. I didn’t have to help ‘em out, but it felt right.
Charm moved Fern into her house when she moved in next door to Fenrir’s. From what I know, it’s been working out, but I’m guessing from the sound of how upset Charm is, something’s happened. From the sounds of it, Fern isn’t letting anyone help her. I understand it to a point, but Fern needs to get out of the house. She needs to have a purpose, a reason to leave. If she doesn’t get outta there, depression will take over her.
“No, I’ll figure something out to get her to open up,” Charm mutters, shaking her head.
“Want me to go over and talk to her?” I offer before I can stop myself. I gotta admit, I’m worried about her too.
Fern’s not just Charm’s friend, she’s all of ours. I don’t only want to help because she’s important to the club. Before the shit hit the fan, Fern and I locked lips a bit. I sure as fuck thought we’d seal the deal, but shit kept happenin’ at the worst times. We never went further than heavy petting, and one time we had some intense foreplay. Fuck, her lips wrapped around my cock like a damn vacuum. I swear the world is out to cock block me.
“What?” Charm asks, startled to find me standing here.
“Want me to talk to Fern? I’m heading out anyway. You guys have your hands full with the kids. I can do it if you want.” I shrug, actin’ like this isn’t a big fuckin’ deal.
“What about Tor?” Fenrir grumbles. He’s the only one I’ve confided in on what my son’s been through.
“He’s good,” I mutter, nodding in the direction of the rooms. “Says he plans to chill in his room, playin’ Call of Duty with a few of his friends.”
Nodding, Fenrir furrows his brows. I shake my head to let him know I’m not talkin’ about it right now. We both know Tor’s not good.
“If you don’t mind going and talking to Fern, that would be great,” Charm says, bringing both my and Fenrir’s attention back to her.
“Alright, I’ll head that way,” I state, leavin’ the two of them to talk.
Stalking to the door, I reach up, grab my sunglasses from the collar of my shirt and slide them into place. I push through the front doors into the bright sun. I have to give Florida one thing, and that’s the fact the weather is unpredictable. When it’s sunny, the sunbeams hit you with force lettin’ you know it’s there.
I get to my bike, swing a leg over to straddle my girl. Straightening the bike, I kick up the kickstand and fire her up. She comes to life with a rumble. I back up from where I park at the clubhouse and point my bike in the direction of the road. Hitting the throttle, I lift my feet to the footpegs.
My mind swirls with thoughts of Fern and what the lawyer told me. A plan comes to mind, and I grin, hoping it all works out. We have court in a few weeks, and I need to be able to show them I have the stable home I promised them. No matter what, I have to convince them I’m nowhere near as bad as the sinister ass bitch who gave birth to my son.
Chapter Four
Fern
A knock on my door causes me to go back downstairs. I grumble under my breath and pray it’s not Charm. I need time to be by myself. The last thing I want to do is go out right now. Not when I feel so down. Sometimes I pray she’ll understand why I feel the way I do, but the fact of the matter is she won’t. No one would be able to unless they were in my position, which means I’m shit out of luck.
I get to the bottom of the stairwell and spot a large, muscular frame on the other side. Instantly, I freeze, worried it’s him. I haven’t seen him in years, but he’ll forever haunt my nights, and I’ll constantly be looking over my shoulder. Even this many years later, I’m still paranoid he’s right around the corner.
“Fern, I can fuckin’ see you. Open the damn door.” Runes’s deep-throated growl makes me take a breath. I go to the door, unlock it, and open it for him.
“Sorry, I thought you were someone else,” I murmur, sure to shield my face away from him. We’ve seen each other a few times since the day of the fire, but I never stick around long enough for him to get a good look at me. I don’t want him seeing what I see.
Runes grabs onto my left hand and forces me to turn. He looks me up and down, causing goosebumps to form all over my skin. It feels odd for him to be staring at me like this. It makes me feel like I’m a freak show, and he’s paying to look at an exhibit in the circus. Sure enough, he runs his fingers over my forearm, where I’m scarred for life. “When’s the last time you moisturized? Your skin’s dry.” His tone is condescending as hell and only serves to make me angry.
I yank my hand away and glare at him. “I don’t know why you’re asking, since it’s none of your business.” I cross my arms and try to cover myself up, but I’m in a tank top and yoga pants. He can see my entire left arm where I’ve been marred.
“It’s not hard to tell, is it?” His words don’t make any sense to me.
“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.
“That I give a damn about you, which is why I’m askin’. Fuck. All the articles I’ve read have said to moisturize after burns as bad as yours. If you don’t, it can slow down the healin’ process and cause skin tears and blisters.” What in the world? He’s researched this? I mean, obviously, he has since he just said what he did.
“Why are you reading articles, Runes?” I’m taken aback by his words, not understanding why he’d even go this far into it. It’s not like I’m his woman or anything. Before I became a malformed monster, he and I kissed a couple times, and one time we went down on each other, but it never progressed more than that. It’s not because I didn’t want to, because I did. Hell, I still do, but I don’t have a chance with him. Not anymore. He’s so handsome with his big muscles and tattoos, and he wears a silver chain around his neck with a wolf head made of obsidian. Fuck, he even has a thick beard. A beard that felt so good brushing against my lower lips when he drove his tongue into my entrance. God, why am I even doing this to myself? He’s so far out of my league now.
He scoffs and shakes his head, shutting the door to my house. He heads in front of me and paces the hallway. Silence passes us by for a couple minutes, so I speak up again. “Are you just going to walk around like a broody man or what?”
“I seem to remember you liked my broodiness,” he grunts, staring directly at me.
I swallow hard and clear my throat. He’s calling me out. “I don’t remember saying I didn’t like it,” I quip. I hate nothing more than when people put words in my mouth.
A sinister smirk pulls at his lips, and I get a flash at his pearly whites. “Exactly what I thought. Anyway, I didn’t come here to talk about the way you sucked my cock, sweet thing. It’s time you and I have a talk, though, ‘bout some serious matters.”