3. Skylar

Chapter 3

Skylar

"Breaker? You know?—"

Panic hits me. I feel it spreading through my system, but I can't allow it. I have to do damage control and try to salvage this. I put my hand on Torin to stop him. He recoils under my touch and puts distance between us, making my heart physically hurt. With a sigh, I walk over to my big brother. "Tone it down, Mattie," I snap. "It's not what you are thinking," I kind of lie.

"Sure as hell looks like something is going on," he counters, staring at me like he wishes he could choke me right now. The truth is, he probably does. "It looks like my kid sister is sitting too fucking close to a man who is supposed to be patched into the club next week. A man who is also way too fucking old for her, not to mention it's way past your curfew."

"Curfew?" Torin asks, and now I'm getting pissed off.

"Yeah, curfew. It's what kids who are still in school have because they're underage and shouldn't be sharing a meal with a fucking prospect who is twice her age."

"Mattie, stop it right now. He's not twice my age. Plus, you dickhead, I graduated from high school last week. Although, I can forgive you for not realizing that since you, nor Thea either, could manage to be there," I huff. I also let him hear how much it hurt me that they didn't even bother to show up. Normally, I would never let any of my family see when they hurt me. Mostly because the majority of the time, they don't mean to. Right now, however, I'm hoping to drive home the fact that Mattie did hurt me and divert his attention away from Torin.

"Fuck. You graduated?"

"Don't act like that. You're in the group family chat. Plus, I know Mom called you."

He frowns and then lets out a sigh. "We were on a run and didn't get back until late. Dad was?—"

"Hmm?" I hum, knowing what's coming next.

"Fuck, Skylar, did Dad miss your graduation, too?"

"Mom was there," I answer with a shrug. There's really not much more to say about the matter. It won't change anything.

"Damn, sis."

I shrug. "It's okay, but you need to quit acting like a neanderthal. I had a bad evening because my brother was supposed to pick me up after work and wasn't answering his phone. He's kind of forgetful like that. Especially since he's the one that took my car to the garage and they still have it, even though it was supposed to be done yesterday." I keep up with the theme of piling on Mattie's guilt. Besides, it really hurt me, and I want him to know. I actually think I'm being nice. I could add that it was something Mattie could have fixed quickly but didn't want to be bothered. I huff out a breath. I know I can be bitchy to my siblings. It's just, I don't think they see that they treat me like I'm an annoying fly that they swat out of their way quite often. They also don't realize that I'm not ten anymore. I have legitimate opinions and ideas that are not childish at all—even if they don't agree with them. I'm no longer their kid sister who begs for them to spend time with me either—even if it would be nice if they offered occasionally.

"Shit, Skylar. I'm sorry. I got held up running patrol yesterday. I didn't forget, though—at least not this time. I asked Dom to pick your car up. He probably fucked around and forgot. He's been screwing up more and more lately."

I let out another sigh. I don't know if I'm hurt because he passed my needs off to someone else, or if it's another sign that Dom will never be the man my sister deserves. She'll never completely let him go—even if she thinks she has.

"It's done now. But that's why I had a friend drop me off at the Wolf's Den so I could get my brother to run me home, because I knew he'd be there." He might forget about me once in a while, but he always goes to the Wolf's Den to relax with his brothers in the evening. He never misses that.

"Still not sure why that makes a bad day," Mattie mutters, still looking at Torin.

"Because, before I could let you know I was there, I ran into my now very ex-boyfriend, Chad."

"What did the fuckwad do now? You swear you're done with him?"

"Definitely, seeing as he was balls deep inside Kristine Pomeroy."

"Jesus."

"Hm … Anyway, we fought, and he pushed me to the ground and tried to get physical with me."

"You were there, Joker?" Mattie asks, looking over at Torin.

"He was," I answer for him. "He kept Chad from hitting me. Then offered to feed me. Given that I've been working since early this morning, I agreed."

I take a breath and spare a glance at Breaker. His face is red, his eyes are glimmering with anger. A small shiver of fear runs through me. When my big brother gets ahold of Chad, the man will be lucky if he's still breathing afterward.

"That piece of scum tried to hit you?"

"Yes, but Breaker?—"

"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch. He knows who you are. He knows what hurting you means. I'm going to fucking kill him."

"Mattie, calm down?—"

"Hell no, I'm not going to calm down," he barks.

Joker stands up and walks over to us. I notice, however, that he doesn't stand by me. He goes to the other side of Mattie, making me frown. What the hell?

"You can probably find him out behind the bar. That's where Skylar left him after she laid him out," Torin answers. For a second, I'm warmed by the way he brags about me. When I look up at him, though, I notice he's not even looking at me.

"Used some of your training on the fucker, huh sis?" Mattie asks, reclaiming my attention. He's smiling big at me, making me roll my eyes.

"I figured I should put some of the moves you and Dad drummed into my head to use," I tell him, but I'm partially lying. My weekly routine includes taking self-defense courses. I haven't told anyone—not even Mom. I just wanted to make sure I could always take care of myself.

Mattie surprises me by wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tightly. "I'm sorry Skylar. I should have been there and not sent Dom."

I hug him back and close my eyes, enjoying a small moment of Mattie's attention. I really do love him. Sometimes when he and Thea get together, I feel like I'm just a third wheel. Besides, I need his love right now. Torin is still refusing to look at me. He's making sure there is plenty of distance between us, too.

"I'm fine," I tell Mattie.

He nods, then turns his attention to Torin. "Why didn't you come inside and get me? You better not have any ideas about my baby sister. She's too damn young. There's no way. Besides, she's got dreams. Skylar isn't the type of girl for this lifestyle."

"Mattie, shut up. Jesus, I'm right here. I'll be the one living my life and I'll decide what I want in my?—"

"You two can cool it," Joker mutters, interrupting me. "Do I really look like the kind of man who fools with a kid?"

Killer—another member of the club and one of the four with Mattie tonight—laughs. "He has a point, Breaker. Joker will never settle down. Hell, he has so much fun with the twinkies that they've created a fan club in his name."

"True enough. Those bitches even fight over who gets to warm his bed all night," Raze adds, and I literally start feeling sick to my stomach. It feels like my heart was just crushed inside my chest. For a second, I can't even catch my breath. It takes all I have not to cry out with the pain I'm feeling. I don't know how I got so attached to Torin so quickly, but it's clear I have.

All of them, Torin and Mattie included, are laughing and cracking jokes about the twinkies. No one realizes they're killing me. They don't even care. I suddenly decide I need to get out of here. I just can't handle it anymore. Clearing my throat, I try to get their attention. When Mattie looks at me, the rest slowly calm down.

"If you guys are done patting yourselves on the back over there, I could use a ride home. I have to be back at the hospital early in the morning."

"You work at the hospital?" Torin asks, and before I can respond, my brother butts in.

"Yep. She's going to college in the fall. She's pre-med. She's going to be a doctor."

"Maybe," I answer, nervousness causing butterflies to take flight in my stomach. "For now, I'm working at the hospital as a CNA to get money for college. Which is why I need to get home. Tor— Joker offered to take me home earlier, so I'll let him and get out of your hair, Mattie." I need to talk to Torin alone. I'm not sure what's going on with him, but he's completely different, and I know that's not going to bode well for me.

"Joker, I can do it if you don't want to fool with it."

Torin stares at me. He doesn't have to explain. I can see it on his face. He does not want to be alone with me. Whatever magic we had between us, he's intent on forgetting it now. I wonder how he's going to react when he discovers that I'm not going to let him?

"Nah, man. I don't care. I got a date with Dallas tonight and she's bringing a friend. I can drop your sister off on the way."

I thought I was in pain earlier. Now, I feel like I'm dying. It wasn't bad enough that he refers to me as Mattie's sister, no; he had to completely destroy me by talking about plans for a threesome tonight. Was that always the plan? Was everything we shared just a fantasy in my mind? Was he playing me?

I fight with everything in me not to show the pain he's delivered.

"Sounds good. I'll see you later, Skylar," Mattie replies.

I force myself to smile at him. "Later," I murmur, hating that my voice sounds as broken as I feel.

"You ready?" Torin asks gruffly, barely glancing at me.

"Yeah," I respond, my voice monotone.

"Skylar? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Just a rough day, big brother. It was hectic at work. I really didn't need a crash course in what liars men could be on top of it," I explain, my eyes never leaving Torin's face as I explain. I'm sure he understands what I'm saying—even if none of the others do. They'll blame it on Chad, and that's fine. Torin and I know better.

"Get home and rest, then. You really push yourself too much, kiddo."

"Yeah," I answer, rolling my eyes. He knows I hate it when he calls me that. I really hate it right now because Torin is here. There's nothing I can do about it, though.

"Let's go," I add, briefly looking at Torin, before heading out of the diner in to the cool, Kentucky night air. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if Torin doesn't follow me. Right now, I'm not sure I care. I just need to try to breathe through the pain of my heart breaking.