5. Eli

Chapter 5

Eli

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Pike.

Whenever I thought about meeting him, I felt too many emotions crowding and tightening in my chest. He was my brother — the one I thought about when things were at their worst back in the system when I was with Kent. But in reality? He was just some guy. He was just another person who thought he’d lost something important, only to find it broken and not what he remembered years later.

That was me — broken and mangled.

And yeah, Pike blamed himself. I could see how his shoulders sagged when he looked at me and how his eyes hardened like he was looking at his own personal failure. I wasn’t here to give him absolution. No one had offered me any, so why should he get that luxury?

The truth was, I didn’t know if I wanted anything from Pike. Maybe if things had been different, if he’d found me sooner, if I hadn’t been kept in that hellhole of a foster home, we could’ve been something more. Brothers, in the real sense. But life wasn’t kind like that. I’d learned that young.

Too young.

And yet, here I was, heading to meet him. Again.

I couldn’t help it.

The sun was setting, throwing long shadows across the pavement as I walked toward the spot we’d agreed on. Neutral ground. Always neutral. I wasn’t ready to step into his world entirely, and he wasn’t about to barge into mine. Not yet. There was too much history, too much-unfinished business between us.

I kicked a rock out of my way just like Veronica had done, watching it bounce down the street before I glanced up, seeing Pike’s figure leaning against his Harley in the distance. He always showed up first, always waiting for me. Maybe it was his way of trying to make up for lost time. Perhaps it was guilt. Either way, I wouldn’t give him any points for it .

As I got closer, I noticed the tension in his posture. His jaw was clenched, eyes scanning the street as if he expected trouble. Always on guard, that one. It made sense, given the world he lived in. He was the president of the Cobra MC, and that life didn’t leave room for softness. But it was different now, having a brother who had come back from the dead. He’d also contended in the last few months with having bodies dropping around him all carved up. That had brought me endless pleasure. I never would have admitted to Victor that I’d been happy about what he’d done, but secretly … yeah … ecstatic.

“You’re late,” he grumbled when I stopped a few feet away.

“Didn’t know we were keeping track,” I shot back, shoving my hands into my pockets. “If there’s a scorecard, we know who is losing.” He flinched, and I felt a vicious satisfaction.

Pike sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, Eli, I don’t want this to be harder than it already is.”

“Then don’t make it harder.”

That shut him up for a second. I’d noticed that he didn’t know what to say to me now — probably thought I’d be more grateful or more compliant. But I wasn’t some kid and wouldn’t play by his rules, not that I ever did. By all accounts, I was always a little broken and a pain in the ass, but then the people who told me those things weren’t exactly reliable.

We stood there for a minute in silence, the tension between us almost palpable. It was like we were both waiting for the other to say something that could fix everything, but there were no magic words. There was only this — the broken pieces we were trying to force back together.

Finally, Pike spoke, his voice low. “I didn’t know, Eli. I thought... I thought you were gone.”

“I know,” I said, and it wasn’t a lie. I did know. But knowing didn’t make it better. “But I wasn’t gone.” Facts were facts. I was stuck there with a child molester, and that was that.

He nodded, his gaze dropping to the ground. For a moment, I thought he would say something more, maybe try to dig deeper into the mess of our past. But then he shook his head and looked up at me again. Silent.

“So, why are we here?” I asked, crossing my arms. “You’ve got your club and Natasha. What do you need me for?” My lips compressed in a hard line. I shouldn’t have said that and wanted to pull the words back immediately. He hadn’t asked me to stay, and I made it sound like he did. This gave him an opening to tell me to go, which I didn’t want to do. I had some things to straighten out, but I was invested now, whether it complicated things or not — I was here now.

The mention of Natasha had an immediate effect on him. His eyes sharpened, and his posture straightened. Pike wasn’t the type to let his emotions show, but I could tell by how he looked when she was brought up — she was his weak spot. It was almost funny, considering how tough he acted all the time.

“I don’t need anything from you,” he said, his voice gruff. “But I want to know you. You’re my brother.”

I scoffed and couldn’t help but say, “Brother? Now, you want to play the family card?” There was no reason to needle him or to bring up all this shit, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but to spew it all over the place every time I saw him.

Pike’s jaw tightened, but to his credit, he didn’t snap back. Instead, he just stared at me, frustration simmering in his eyes. “We’re blood, Eli. That doesn’t go away, no matter how much shit’s happened.”

“Yeah, well, blood didn’t do me much good, did it?” I snapped. “You think that matters now? ”

He took a step toward me, his eyes hardening. “I know it matters.”

I didn’t flinch, but I wanted to. There was a part of me — a part I hated — that wanted to believe him. That wanted to think maybe he was right. But I wasn’t that kid anymore, hoping for someone to save me.

I’d learned to save myself.

I shrugged, breaking the tension. “Whatever. I didn’t come here for this.” I tried to focus on why I came instead of past bullshit that shouldn’t matter.

Pike narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Then what did you come here for?”

“Information.”

“What kind of information?”

“Veronica.” The name rolled off my tongue, and I watched Pike’s expression shift, his protective instincts immediately kicking in.

“What about her?” His voice was low, dangerous.

I could see it in his eyes, the warning that came with messing with someone he cared about. But I wasn’t here to hurt her. No, I was here for something else .

“You don’t need to get all worked up,” I said, holding my hands in mock surrender. “I just want to know more about her.”

Pike’s gaze sharpened. “Why?”

“Because,” I said casually, “she interests me.”

That got his attention. His whole body tensed like he was ready to throw a punch. I could almost see the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what angle I was playing. But I wasn’t playing anything. Veronica was more than just a curiosity to me. She was... something else. Something I couldn’t quite put into words.

“Stay away from her,” Pike said, his voice like steel. “She’s not part of this.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Part of what?”

“Whatever game you’re playing, Eli.”

I smirked. “Who said I was playing a game?”

Pike took a step closer, his face inches from mine now. “I mean it, Eli. She’s not like us. Veronica is innocent. She doesn’t deserve to get dragged into this shit.”

I held his gaze, unflinching. “Maybe she’s already in it, and you just don’t know.” It bothered me more than I’d let on that he’d say Veronica was separate — untouchable. I knew that. I didn’t like it pointed out. It wasn’t going to stop me, though. I’d take what I wanted. “It’s not up to you.” My lip curled derisively. I knew she was too good for me, but I wouldn’t let it stop me.

For a moment, I thought he might hit me. His fists clenched at his sides, his muscles taut like a coiled spring. But then he exhaled sharply and stepped back, shaking his head.

“I’m not gonna fight you,” he muttered. “Not over this.”

“Good,” I said, my voice calm. “Because there’s nothing to fight over. Nothing you could do to stop me.”

But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t true. There was plenty to fight over — secrets, family, betrayal. And Veronica? She was right in the middle, whether Pike wanted to admit it.

And I wasn’t going to walk away.

Pike’s shoulders dropped slightly, the tension easing just enough to show he wouldn’t walk away from this conversation. I saw his jaw clench and unclench like he was weighing the consequences of giving me what I wanted. He had that look in his eyes — the one that said he was about to make a decision he didn’t like .

He crossed his arms, muscles bulging under the black cotton of his t-shirt, his leather cut barely containing the rest of his bulk. “Fine,” he said, exhaling sharply through his nose. “What do you want to know?”

I saw this was costing him and took a tiny, twisted bit of satisfaction. The almighty president of the Cobra MC, brought low by a little curiosity about his girlfriend’s sister. He was too smart not to realize I had more than a passing interest in Veronica, which probably drove him crazy. If I weren’t an asshole, I’d put him out of his misery and explain why I wanted to know. I’d reassure him that I wouldn’t hurt her, but I wouldn’t give him that. The balance sheet between Pike and I wasn’t even, and I didn’t owe him shit.

“Her health,” I said, voice flat. “I want to know more about it.”

Pike’s expression tightened again, and I could tell this was a sensitive subject. I’d hit a nerve.

“Why?” he asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “What’s it to you?”

I shrugged, trying to appear casual even though my insides were wound tight. “I’ve seen her outside, coughing up a lung. Doesn’t take a doctor to figure out something’s wrong.” Instantly, I chastised myself for mentioning that I’d seen her outside. Veronica wasn’t known for going outside, which was an instant red flag. Pike’s forehead creased, and I thought he might mention it.

Pike’s fists flexed, and for a second, I thought he might throw a punch after all. Instead, he sighed again, running a hand through his hair, then rubbing the back of his neck like he was trying to scrub off his irritation. “She’s had health problems for a while,” he admitted, though his voice was still guarded. “She had leukemia when she was a kid.”

The words hit me harder than I expected.

Leukemia. That’s what Natasha had said on the one occasion I’d had to speak to her, but I’d been partly dazed at the time. I’d just killed Victor, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Honestly, I didn’t want it to be true. It explained the pale skin, the fragile way she moved sometimes, like her body might give out on her if she pushed too hard.

“Leukemia,” I repeated, testing the word in my mouth like it was some foreign language. “She beat it?”

Pike nodded, eyes scanning my face like he was trying to figure out why I cared. “Yeah, she’s in remission, but... it left her with some lung issues. Some of the medicines they give you, I guess fuck you up. She has asthma, chronic coughs, and she’s got weak lungs. Natasha says it can get bad if she pushes too hard or gets sick. She’s delicate. I’m not the one to ask if you’re concerned.”

He briefly mulled it over and added, “I’ve not known her long, but she seems to be doing well. She gets checkups and stuff.” That was vaguely unhelpful but not unexpected. He hadn’t been in their lives that long, and I shouldn’t have thought he’d have detailed information. Still, I was disappointed.

The protectiveness in his voice was evident, and I could tell how much he cared about her. Pike had adopted her into his weird, messed-up world of loyalty and protection. But he didn’t see it like I did.

“Okay,” I said, more to myself than to Pike, thinking about how she moved around the house — quick to sit, always catching her breath. She could hide a lot of it, but she couldn’t hide from me or my cameras.

“She’s tough,” Pike corrected, his eyes sharp. “A hell of a lot tougher than you think.”

I smirked at him, amused by his defense of her. “ Is that why her sister babysits her like a porcelain doll?”

“Watch your mouth, Eli.” Pike’s voice again had that low, dangerous edge, but I wasn’t fazed, not by him, not by his threats. I knew he wouldn’t hit me. I wish he would, honestly. I’d made a killing — no pun intended — fighting. Pike wouldn’t stand a chance.

“What?” I said with a mock-innocent shrug. “Just saying, the girl’s been in bubble wrap her whole life. How long do you think that’s gonna last? Veronica doesn’t strike me as the type to stay sheltered forever.”

Pike’s eyes narrowed, and I could see the calculation in his gaze. “She doesn’t need you getting involved in her business.”

I snorted. “Who said anything about getting involved? I just like knowing what I’m dealing with.”

Pike’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wasn’t buying it, not for a second. “You’ve been leaving her those gifts,” he said suddenly, his voice quiet but firm. “Shit on her patio. She told Nat.”

My stomach twisted, but I kept my face blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He was watching me closely, waiting for a crack, but I wasn’t going to give him one. I had a moment where I wondered what she thought about when she saw my little presents. Did they excite her as much as they did me?

“Gifts?” I asked, tilting my head, pretending I didn’t care what he was talking about. “What gifts?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Eli,” Pike growled, taking a step forward. “You’re lurking around the house. I know you’re leaving those little ‘presents’ by her patio door.”

I clenched my jaw, irritation flaring in my chest. “You don’t know shit.”

Pike’s eyes darkened, the frustration bubbling to the surface again. “You’re messing with her head, Eli. That’s not okay. She’s been through enough.”

I let out a sharp laugh, unable to hold it back. “ I’m messing with her head? You think I’m the one doing that? Last I checked, she’s not exactly living a normal life. What, with Bratva guards lurking around every corner and her sister keeping her locked up like some princess in a tower?”

“Veronica’s got her reasons for staying inside,” Pike shot back, his voice tight. “And it’s not your place to question it. What are you even talking about? Why do you even care.”

“Maybe,” I said, looking him in the eye. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit on the sidelines and watch her suffocate in that place.”

Pike’s jaw twitched, and I could tell he struggled to keep his temper in check. “You don’t know her, Eli. Not like you think you do.”

I stared at him for a long moment, letting his words sink in. Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn’t know her — not fully. But there was something about Veronica that pulled me in and made me want to protect her, not in the same way Pike did, not with cages and walls. I wanted to give her the freedom she deserved, to help her break away from the chains that held her down.

“You’re wrong,” I said quietly, my voice steady. “I know enough.”

Pike stared at me, his eyes searching mine for some answer. But he wouldn’t find it. Not yet. I wasn’t ready to lay all my cards on the table. Not with him.

“Just stay away from her,” Pike finally said, his voice weary but firm. “She doesn’t need your kind of attention. ”

I didn’t respond, letting his words hang in the air. Maybe he was right. Perhaps I was poison. But I wasn’t about to walk away from Veronica, not when she was the only thing that made sense in this screwed-up world.

“What does that mean exactly,” I shot back. “My kind of attention?”

“She doesn’t date.” Pike ran his hand to the back of his neck, and I almost cringed at the memory of him doing that same motion when I was small.

“So?”

“She should date, but I don’t get the idea that you date,” he said pointedly.

“I don’t.” There was no reason to beat around the bush on that one. There were several reasons I didn’t “date,” for fuck’s sake. Only jerkfaces in creased pants did that. The way I was raised had never meant that I got to go on regular dates and shit. If Veronica needed something, I’d be the one to give it to her.

“Exactly. Not sure what you do,” he muttered the last bit under his breath, but I heard him loud and clear. I rocked on my heels a bit and gave a shit-eating grin .

“Wow, you’re just as fucked up as I am. I’ll see you around, brother,” I said, turning on my heel and walking away, feeling Pike’s eyes on me the whole time.

But as I walked, I knew one thing for sure — I wasn’t staying away from Veronica. Not now. Not ever. Dating? Did she want to go on a date? Like holding hands? What did that mean?