“Harley, baby, you aren’t weak. Everything you went through was traumatic and I get that. You have to understand something about yourself, something I’ve already come to realize. You take the weight of the world on your shoulders without asking for help. We all should have seen it a long time ago, what you were fighting within. You’re strong, Angel Eyes, you just have to see in you what I see. I don’t see a weakling I see a woman who’s dealt with a lot of shit recently and couldn’t handle it on her own yet refused to bring the troubles upon anyone else. And as I said that stops. You need something, to talk to someone, come to me, or any of the guys. When you feel comfortable, go to one of the women. We’re here for you, especially me.”
Harley keeps her eyes locked with mine the entire time I speak but when I stop she closes her eyes and leans her forehead against mine. “Thank you,” she says quietly letting me know she heard every word I said.
Chapter Ten
Harley
After Neo and my heart to heart, a knock sounds on his door interrupting our conversation from going any further.
“Yeah,” Neo calls out, not moving me from his lap. A lap I was currently straddling. I’d never in my life been in such an intimate position.
Whenever I was with a guy it was slam bam thank you ma’am style. So to me, the two of us sitting like this means a lot to me.
There’s a lot to be said when it comes to Neo and I feel I made the right decision in believing I can trust him.
The door opens a smidge. “Jesus fucker, I don’t need to see Harley straddling you,” Venom snipes, making me giggle.
“Well, you’re the fucker who is interrupting a deep conversation between my woman and myself,” Neo mutters.
“Deep conversation my ass, you could have at least asked me for my blessing in you being with her, dick, I did after all claim her as my little sister you know,” Venom says, stepping all the way into the room, his eyes soft as he glances at me.
“Whatever, Venom, I’d claimed her long before you did as my ol’ lady so you’ll have to get over that little fact. Now, what the hell you doing in here? Everything go okay?” Neo asks.
“Yeah, went good. Prez asked me to come get you. I figured you can see what he wants, and I’ll spend time with Harley Quinn here,” Venom states.
Narrowing my gaze on him, I point my finger in his direction. “Call me that again and I’ll punch you in the balls,” I snap.
Venom’s eyes widen slightly as he grins. “Fuck, babe, you are feisty when you don’t like something. Alright HQ is left for when I feel like pissing you off. Now, come on and come hang out with your big bro for a while. I might even know where Harlow keeps the cookies stashed.”
“Hey, fucker, you been holding out on us?” Neo demands, helping me to my feet.
“Yep. I’m lucky enough to have stumbled upon them when I did. She keeps it stocked. Good thing about pregnant women. They seem to love their chocolate,” Venom chuckles.
“Um, I think that’s all women. But I prefer cookies ‘n cream ice cream. Plus, I have to watch the foods I eat to make sure it’s not cooked in peanut oil or have any type of nuts in it,” I blurt out.
Neo pulls himself up off the bed and wraps an arm around my back. “I’ll remember that bit of info,” he mutters. “Now go enjoy yourself with Venom I’ll find you when I’m done and remember don’t be scared if you need to say something say it.”
“Okay, Neo. I’ll try.” I nod my head.
With a swift kiss to my forehead, Neo hands me over to my now so-called brother and heads out of his room to find Stoney.
“Well, peewee, it looks like it’s just you and me, come on,” Venom says, putting his arm around me as he leads me out of Neo’s room. “You don’t need anything out of his room, do you? None of us leave our doors unlocked is why I’m asking.”
“Nope, my suitcase is still in Neo’s monster truck,” I say, making Venom chuckle.
It’s not a monster truck, you’ve just got short legs and can’t climb in it. Means Neo has an excuse in order to put his hands on you,” Venom explains.
“Whatever, I can’t help I’m barely 5’5 and don’t have legs a mile long,” I grumble in my defense.
Venom is still laughing as we make our way into the main room of the clubhouse. An overwhelming sense of self-preservation takes me over as my demons bang against the walls of their cage. Memories of . . . of that woman try to seep in.
Venom must have felt the change in me as he turns me in his arms and cups both sides of my head. “Don’t go there, Harley. Look at me,” he commands and I do as he says. “Good. Now focus on me. See that you’re not alone. I’m right here. Neo’s not far away. Shadow and the rest of the brothers, we’re all here for you. Take deep breaths and release. We’ll get you through this.” His voice is soothing me all the while beating the demons back.
Tears well in my eyes as he pulls me into his chest. I’m unable to stop myself as they fall from my eyes and soak his t-shirt.
“What’s going on?” I stiffen at the feminine voice behind me.
“Raven, what are you doing here? Thought you were
