I take in a sharp breath. I don’t think Sal even knows how much I needed those words. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and tug her close.
“They’d be proud of you too. King and I both are.” I kiss her forehead and give her a squeeze. “We just have to keep pushing. We’ll make them proud.”
Owen Mason aka Brick
I glance across the yard and catch her sitting with her friends and sister. I have to take a pull from my beer and shake my head clear. Where’s the girl with pigtails and that chubby-faced smile?
Fuck.
I wasn’t expecting any of this when I arrived. It’s the dress. She’s not in her baggy jeans and T-shirt. Damn. Eva is a grown woman now.
Not grown enough, asshole. She’s eighteen, you’re twenty-seven. King would kill your ass.
I swallow and turn away. My thoughts are so confusing. My gaze has landed on her so many times today. Something is off. She doesn’t look as happy as she should.
I muse on that. Cage and Rose aren’t here for this. King has thrown a hell of a BBQ, but their absence has to have a weight to it.
“What’s the deal with your cousin and that chick she’s been bringing around? You haven’t mentioned that shit since you’ve been here,” King says, drawing my attention.
I frown as I think of Jemma and Mags. I don’t know what to think of the situation. Honestly, from the moment Eva walked out of the clubhouse when I arrived, I haven’t thought about either of them.
I shrug. “I’m not sure. It’s been fun,” I reply.
King narrows his eyes at me. “Listen, be careful with that shit. Something ain’t right about them two. I know she’s your cousin. I get your history. You know I understand you, brother. Just a word of caution,” he warns.
I nod and take a sip of my beer. A peal of laughter followed by a round of curses makes me turn to look in Eva’s direction. Grim and Reap are roughhousing and cursing each other out.
I smile. I’ve never seen closer friends. I know for a fact the two would die for each other. You don’t see one without the other for long.
“Those two are nuts,” King says, jutting his chin in their direction.
“We all are, brother.” I smile.
“Nah, Eva and Sal still have a shot.” His tone has become more serious.
I scan his face. Yeah, Eva’s not for me. I could never taint her with the lost soul I am. King wants different for his girls. I get it.
You do realize he didn’t mention Misty?
Probably because she’s seen fucked-up shit like the rest of us. I reel it in. All thoughts of Eva are pushed from my mind. Maybe I shouldn’t come around this summer.
Chapter 1
Not Again
Eva
Four years later…
“Hey, you coming out of there anytime soon?” my drunken “date” growls on the other side of the bathroom door.
I roll my eyes. Just my freaking luck. I can’t believe I’ve found my way into trouble again.
King is going to kill me. I’ve been a pain in his ass since my mother became his dad’s old lady. I became an even bigger pain when King’s dad and my mom went for a ride they would never return home from.
King is nine years older than me. He was twenty-five when our parents died. He took me in without question. I’m sure he has regretted that every day since.
You probably think I was one of those sixteen-year-olds who spiraled out of control after losing the only father figure she had ever known and the mother she loved so dearly, but that isn’t the case.
I never gave King any real trouble when it came to my behavior, still don’t. Nope, that King could deal with. He would set my ass straight and send me on my way. No, the type of trouble I get into is the type I don’t even go looking for and still can’t understand how I keep finding it.
Just a few months ago, King stripped one of his brothers of his patch for getting piss drunk and grabbing me from behind. He sucked on my neck and groped my breasts when Misty ran to get King for help. King came storming out of his office, his voice rumbling like thunder.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” he had roared.
Striker, the drunk brother who was pawing me, released me right away. “Brother, I—” Striker never finished his sentence. King knocked him out cold.
All the Lost Souls know not to put their hands on me. King goes straight ballistic if anyone even looks at me or Misty for that matter. Touching one of us is like committing suicide.
However, when it comes to me a lot of guys have a death wish. Some guy is always getting his ass handed to him because of me. Since I was sixteen, I’ve had a double-D cup, with hips and ass to match.
I’m five feet, four and a half inches tall. Yes, I am going to count my half. Every inch counts for this little mama here.
At twenty-two, you would think I have learned a thing or two. It’s not my fault. It’s not like I try to bring on the attention.
Hell, I go out of my way to avoid it. I wear baggy T-shirts and loose jeans in hopes to hide my curves. I even try to hide behind the mass of my curly bush of hair.
It doesn’t work. For some reason, guys like to see if they can get the chubby little nerd to drop her panties for them. It’s a wonder King even lets me out the house these days. I’ve packed on a few pounds that have gone straight to my hips and ass.
“Hey, you all right in there?” This guy doesn’t know when to quit. He scratches at the
