Chapter One

***C.Rash***

Those who have sisters know how much of a pain in the ass they can be. I love them, don't get me wrong, but sometimes they just ramble and nag until I give in. And yes, I always give in, since, you know…they're my sisters.

Yesterday my younger sister Darby called me out of the blue and when I picked up she squeaked my name and told me not to freak out. Yeah, say something like that and I'm as calm as a fucking tornado. Right after there was a rustling, as if she held the phone to her chest because someone else dragged her into a discussion she needed to deal with first. Then she came back on the phone a few breaths later.

It was weird to say the least and I was heading for my bike the next instant. But her tone suddenly changed and she said not to worry, that it was all a misunderstanding and she would call me later to explain everything.

She did and strangely enough the phone call wasn't about her, it was about Magnolia, one of her friends, who needed help. Darby hadn't seen her friend in years but ran into her, and Darby demanded I should be the one to help Magnolia.

Fact is, I had nothing to do anyway. It's a week before Christmas and everyone is either off shopping, decorating, making dinner plans, or doing fuck-knows-jolly-what with their kids. I'm the VP of AF MC Ohio and even the clubhouse looks like Santa himself shit all over the damn place. So, yeah, I'm all for helping one of Darby's friends to drag me away from Christmas freaking-jolly-ness.

I've met a few of Darby's friends. Hell, I'm not ashamed to say that over the years, I picked up one or two. Don't judge, it's hard enough growing up with sisters I need to protect, so I earn some benefits in return. At least that's how I see it.

There was this one girl…yeah, not going down that road…let's just say I had a magnificent one-night-stand—I might have fucked-up a tiny bit—but she left my bed before I could get her number.

And I needed a way to contact her because of my fuck-up but like I said, she was gone when I woke up. And still, until this day I still regret the fact I never heard from her again. I always considered her "The one that got away." I've told all my brothers the story countless times.

But I sure as fuck didn't mention it to Darby. I'd rather not face her wrath and I figured the hint of running from my bed was enough of a statement not to pursue the girl. Not to mention the fact I didn't even knew her name because we might have just thrown ourselves at each other for carnal reasons.

Oh, and I wasn't even sure if she was one of my sister's friends in the first place, because it was during a neighborhood holiday party thing Darby organized. Imagine that awkwardness of me describing the girl to my sister and why I need her number. Yeah, no. I repeat, she's the one that got away .

Anyway, my sister's friend, Magnolia—the one she called me about—needs help. Unless it's club business, I wouldn't normally mess with other people's problems. But, needless to say, my sister asking me something for a friend of hers isn't club related.

Though, this friend? Years back Darby told me what happened to her. Hell, back then I didn't even know who this friend was, nothing. Just the shit that happened to her since Darby asked me to keep my ear to the ground because the cops had no lead on who did this to her.

Magnolia was kidnapped, held hostage for three damn weeks. She was beaten and left for dead alongside of the road. Darby lost touch with her a few years ago since Magnolia moved and she just ran into her again at the grocery store.

Magnolia mentioned they never caught the guy who did it and how he's still been tormenting her over the years and still the cops can't do shit. Plus, the woman seems to have a kid and is living alone, scared out of her mind about this fucked-up situation she's still in. Reason enough for me to help out.

I glance at my phone, looking up Darby's text to double check Magnolia's address. Yeah, this is the place all right. The street doesn't look high-class but it seems nice and friendly. Most of the houses have their Christmas lights up and number nine, the one my sisters told me to go to, has a large deer silhouette wrapped with multicolored lights.

I park my bike and grab my backpack from my saddle bags. It holds a few changes of clothes and some other stuff I need to stay here for the next couple of days. I have another bag with my laptop and some other technical stuff since I'm installing cameras around Magnolia's house tomorrow morning to keep an eye on things.

It's been six years since she was left for dead alongside of the road. She's scared of what the fucker is going to do this time since he comes back around the same time every year and leaves twisted messages. I'm not sure about every single detail, only the birds my sister mentioned. Along with something else I thought was weird. Something about me not being allowed to become angry and to let Magnolia explain. Whatever that means.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact this fucker seems to come back each time around Christmas. No matter where she lives or where she hides, he finds her. The asshole leaves dead birds with their heads ripped off as some kind of message for her. I try to ring the bell but there's no sound. I'm about to knock but the door swings open and a tiny as shit woman is standing there. A tiny as shit woman I instantly recognize.

"Sorry," she whispers. "Joshua is sleeping."

I swallow hard and blurt, "You left my bed without a word."

Her eyes widen and she nods warily. "I didn't think you remembered that night. Can you come inside, please? I don't want to be standing in the doorway when I explain everything."

She steps away and I go inside, locking the door behind me. I follow her into the living room and I have to place my two bags on the floor because she's holding up a picture for me to take.

I take it but don't give it a glance, because for real, "Back then…I wanted you to stay, but you left and I didn't even know your name. Hell, I didn't even know if you were a friend of my sister's so I couldn't ask Darby."

Her eyes hit the floor. "I had to leave early that day because my parents were going on a trip and I needed to house sit. I was supposed to swing by that holiday party for only a few minutes…but then you happened, and…well, obviously I didn't plan for any of it to happen the way it did. And I had the same problem, I didn't know you were Darby's brother. Not until today when Joshua and I ran into her at the grocery store. We hadn't talked in years, which was my fault because I moved and cut everyone out of my life after what happened six years ago. But, if I had known you were her brother, I would have contacted her to let you know sooner. I didn't mean—"

Somehow her words soothe me. Stupid, I know, but when a hot woman leaves your bed without a second glance it kinda bruises one's ego.

"Hey." I reach out and grab her upper arm to give it a soft squeeze. "I understand, it's no big deal."

"It is," she whispers. "Look at the picture. I'm sure you'll regret what you just said, but do remember I didn't plan any of it, and I would have told you if I knew who you were or how to contact you. I mean…I also went back to the motel but…yeah, let's just say that didn't help."

The corner of my mouth twitches. "I paid cash, and the motel we picked isn't very well known for keeping their administration up to date."

"I'm sorry," she says as she grabs my hand and guides it up, making my eyes land on the picture I'm holding. "When they eventually found me alongside of the road I was taken to the hospital. After all the tests and exams they told me I was pregnant. The timeline pinpoints back to our night. I couldn't…I didn't want…he's been the only good thing in my life. I wish I had a way to contact you sooner, I would have."

It's as if I'm holding a picture my mom took of me when I was about five years old. Except…it's not me. It is me . But it's not. Fuck. Reality comes crashing down as realization sets in. I stumble back and manage to place my ass on the armrest of the couch. My head starts to spin. I have a kid? A fucking kid?

"I'm so sorry," she croaks, making my head whip up.

"Stop saying that," I snap and rub my eyes. "Dammit, I don't mean to snap at you but it's not your fault. It's…fucked-up to say the least. Shit. Fucked-up. I did. If anything, this is all my fault. The second time we fucked I didn't put on a condom. I forgot. I should have said something, but the way we ravished each other that night? Yeah, I'd say there wasn't any time to put it on but I should have. So, I'm the one who's sorry."

She gasps and it makes my head swing her way. "You wiped away your stuff to hide the fact we didn't use protection?" A low growl rumbles through her chest and she starts to pace back and forth. "If you had said something, I would have asked for your number. Or left mine, whatever. I would have made sure I had some way to contact you. I can't believe I bought that shit you said about cleaning up the taste of rubber so you could eat my pussy."

A noise has both of us swinging around as both our eyes land on a little boy standing in the doorway. His eyes are wide and he points a finger at me. "Mom?" His voice is shaky and his eyes start to water. "Is this man going to eat Ketchup?"

Ketchup?

The little kid runs around me and I watch how he drags a black cat from its peaceful sleep as he quickly backs away from me.

"For fuck's sake," I grumble, making Magnolia glare at me, probably due to my cursing but for crying out loud, how is this insanity my reality? Talk about some fucked-up secret Santa shit.