Chapter 9: Evie

9

EVIE

I was hot. Really hot. And slightly uncomfortable. I was also on my stomach, which was odd because I usually slept on my back or on my side. I moved my hand to push myself over and froze when it landed on something that felt more like a person than the mattress it should have been.

Slowly lifting my head, I opened my eyes to find myself looking at Edge's sleeping face. Seconds later, internal panic ensued. I didn't know what to do. Getting up might wake him, but I couldn't exactly stay there and go back to sleep. Could I?

Before I could make a decision, the arm resting across my back tightened around me while he brought his other hand up to cradle the back of my head. "It's okay, baby. Go back to sleep," he said sleepily.

Ignoring the way my heart fluttered when he called me baby, I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes. We were just sleeping. Nothing more. I had almost convinced myself that was the case when he slightly shifted his position and I felt him gently kiss the top of my head.

That little kiss did a better job of waking me up than any cup of coffee ever had. While he drifted off to sleep, I laid there wondering what, if anything, it meant. Did he mean to do it? Was it a sleepy accident? Would he even remember?

Then I moved on to the self doubt portion of my internal debate. Why would he even be interested in someone like me? I wasn't like other women. And not in the stereotypical "I'm not like other girls because I'm unique and special" way. In the very real "my life is a mess and I have a boatload of problems with even more baggage" way.

Finally, after who knows how much time had passed, I reached the "I have to pee but don't know how to get up without waking him" stage. Furthermore, I had another slightly pressing issue. If I had known he was going to spend the night, I wouldn't have agreed to Taco Bell for dinner. But I did, and well, I really needed to fart. At least, I hoped that's all it was. I also knew there was no way I could pee without passing gas, but I was running out of time.

Carefully extracting myself from his arms, I got to my feet and tiptoed down the hall to the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I used a towel to fill the small gap under the door and turned on the water in the sink as high as it would go. Then, with every muscle clenched as tightly as possible, I sat down and took care of business, praying for a whoosh of air instead of a thunderous reverberation. After all was said and done, the universe had smiled in my favor, but I learned my lesson. No more Taco Bell unless I was alone.

When I came out of the bathroom, Edge was awake and sitting up on the couch. "Morning," he rasped.

"Good morning. Would you like some coffee?" I asked and immediately held up my hand. "Never mind. I know the answer."

He grinned. "Thanks. Mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Not at all. It's right through there," I said and pointed toward the bathroom door while silently thanking the powers that be for my odorless morning gas. Meanwhile, I tried to make as much noise as possible while he was in there so I didn't hear anything that might or might not be happening.

I was so focused on being loud that I didn't hear him come out of the bathroom and startled when he spoke behind me. "Sorry about last night. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"You don't need to apologize," I said and handed him a mug of coffee. "I fell asleep, too."

"I blame all the carbs from dinner," he said, grinning as he took a tentative sip of coffee.

"You're probably right," I agreed and finished making my own cup of coffee. I felt awkward and didn't know what to do about it. It was like the morning after sleeping with someone for the first time, but without the sex.

Edge didn't seem to have the same issue. He made himself comfortable at the kitchen table and started looking at his tablet. "Do you want to check out some of these cars today?"

I didn't exactly want to, but it was my day off and needed to be done. "Sure," I said with a little too much excitement.

He laughed. "I hope you don't think that was believable."

I shrugged and told him the truth. "I don't want to spend the day shopping for a car, but I have the day off, and you've offered to help, so I don't want to waste the opportunity."

"I have a feeling today will be better than yesterday."

I was glad he thought so, because I didn't. I didn't have much faith in anything anymore, and if it weren't for Irene, I probably wouldn't have any at all.

He finished his coffee and rinsed out his mug before placing it in the sink. "We can get started whenever you're ready."

"Do I have time to take a shower?"

"Do whatever you need to do," he said. "There's no rush."

Still, I felt bad for making him wait, so I hurried through my regular routine and opted to braid my wet hair instead of drying it. I was quite proud of myself when I managed to be ready in record time. He seemed surprised when I told him I was finished, but he didn't comment.

Thirty minutes later, it was my turn to be surprised when he briefly stopped in front of an iron gate before it opened for him to drive through. "Where are we going?" I asked and continued to survey my surroundings.

"To my house so I can shower and change," he said.

"You live here?" I asked in surprise. We were driving through what appeared to be hundreds of acres of farmland.

He chuckled. "Yes, but it's not what you're thinking. Phoenix owns the property and everything on it. There are numerous businesses scattered throughout the land, including a dairy farm and a counseling center, but there's also quite a bit of housing. Phoenix lets club members live here for free, so I have a house here and a room at the club."

"Like a compound?" I asked.

"Yes, but there's nothing fishy going on. All the businesses are on the up and up, and we're free to leave whenever we want," he explained.

I continued to stare out the window while he drove through the property to his house. The place was huge. I'd never seen anything like it. "What's that?" I asked and pointed to what looked like a red barn in the distance.

"That's the horse stables. They board and train horses, give riding lessons, and offer equine therapy. There's another barn behind it you can't see from here. That's where Keegan breeds and raises racehorses."

"Really? That sounds amazing."

"After we get your car situation squared away, I'll be happy to give you a tour of the place," he said and pulled into the driveway of a beautiful Cape Cod style house.

"You get to live here for free?" I blurted.

"Yes," he said. "Some members bought their own homes elsewhere, but I thought it was too good of a deal to pass up."

"No kidding," I agreed. "Can I become a member?"

He laughed, but I was only partially joking. I would totally join a motorcycle club if I got to live in a house like his for free. Well, if it was a club like the Blackwings.

I followed him inside and had to consciously keep my mouth from falling open when I saw how nicely decorated his home was. "Wow," I breathed. "Your house is gorgeous."

"Thanks," he said. "But I can't take credit for it. Shortly after Phoenix took over the property, Ember took it upon herself to have all the homes upgraded and redecorated." He waved his hand around the room. "This is all her doing."

"She did a great job."

"I'll be sure to tell her," he said and gestured to the large sectional sofa in the living room. "Make yourself comfortable. I won't be long."

I sat down on the plush sofa and fought the urge to get up and explore his house. It was the kind of home I'd only ever dreamed of having, and I wanted to see more of it. The entire compound seemed like something out of a fairytale.

I was staring off into space daydreaming about rolling green hills and fields of wildflowers when Edge reappeared downstairs, freshly showered and looking sexy as hell with his messy wet hair.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I mean, yes, if you are," I stammered, mentally slapping myself and telling myself to get it together.

"I am," he nodded and opened the front door. "After you."

As we were walking to his truck, a black SUV came to a stop at the end of his driveway. Instinctively, I stopped walking forward and stepped behind Edge to shield myself. I held my breath as the car door opened and closed.

"Hey, Edge," a familiar voice called. "Is that Evie with you?"

Edge moved to the side and placed his hand on the small of my back. "It's okay. It's just Ember," he said before answering her. "It is."

"I thought so," she smiled and waved as she came closer. "What are you two doing today?"

"Evie's car died, so I'm helping her find a replacement."

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" she asked.

"No. Just something reliable and affordable," I said.

She looked at Edge and cocked her head to the side. "What about my old car?"

"How much do you want for it?" he asked.

She turned her attention to me. "If you want it, you can have it."

I blinked at her in surprise. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," she nodded. "It just sits in the driveway, taking up space and costing us yearly taxes. No one ever drives it, so it probably needs a tune up and a new set of tires, but it's in good condition. Do y'all want to come over and take a look at it?"

I was at a loss for words, so I deferred to Edge. "Sure. When's a good time?"

"We can go now if that works for you." When we both nodded, she pointed to her SUV. "Hop in. If you don't drive away in your new car, I'll bring you back."

"Thank you," I said and climbed into the back seat. It didn't take me long to realize her SUV was the same kind as the loaner I was driving. As she drove to her house on the property, I noticed several more of the same exact SUV parked in various driveways. "Do you guys get some kind of deal on these SUVs?" I asked. "It seems like there's a lot of them around here."

Ember laughed. "Sort of. My dad buys them in bulk. Most of them are business vehicles, but he adds extras to his order for anyone who wants to buy one. Usually, they're white, but he chose black the last time, and now we look like a fleet of federal agents at any family gathering."

She pulled into her driveway a few moments later. She also had a Cape Cod style house, though hers was much bigger than Edge's. I was torn between gawking at her house and watching her walk to the covered vehicle parked at the end of her driveway.

"Here it is," she said and started removing the cover. Edge went to the other side of the car to help her. Moments later, the cover was off, revealing a shiny, white sedan that was much nicer than I was expecting. In fact, it was so nice that I couldn't possibly accept her offer to give it away for free.

"Before you say no, I want you to know I didn't pay anything for this car. It was given to me. So, I'm not losing anything by giving it to you. Actually, I'll be saving money because I won't have to pay the taxes on it anymore," she said.

"But you could sell it and get a decent amount for it," I countered.

"I could, but I don't need the money. I'd rather give it to someone who needs it and maybe make a difference in their life."

"That's very kind of you."

"There was a time in my life when the help of strangers saved me from a horrible future and changed my life in ways I never thought possible. If I can do something like what they did for me, even if it's on a smaller scale, I'm going to do it," she explained. "So, shall I go inside and get the keys?"

My vision blurred as my eyes welled with tears. "If you're sure," I said, my voice clogged with emotion.

"Of course I'm sure," she said and pulled me in for a hug.

"Thank you," I whispered and tried to get a handle on my emotions.

She went inside to get the keys, leaving Edge and me alone in the driveway. "I can't believe this," I said.

He smiled. "I can. Ember's one of the nicest people I know. She's like Irene in a way. Helping others is something she genuinely enjoys and it comes naturally to her. Years ago, she convinced her dad to let her grow hydroponic plants and organic fruits and vegetables to create jobs for a large group of people who had recently become unemployed."

"I feel like this is too much," I admitted.

"I understand why you feel that way, but as far as Ember's concerned, it's not. She wants you to have it. If you don't take it, she'll have someone park it outside of your trailer and leave the keys on your doorstep."

"He's right," Ember said, reappearing with the keys in her hand. "I would totally do that."

"Thank you doesn't seem like enough," I told her.

"The smile on your face is all the thanks I need," she said and held out the keys. "Here. Take these and go enjoy your new car."

I took the keys from her and hugged her once more before I nervously climbed into the driver's seat. Although she said the car had been sitting in her driveway for a long time, its interior was clean and it had a fresh smell inside. Evidently, someone took care of the car even though no one was driving it.

I was still in a state of disbelief when I started the car and backed out of her driveway. Edge had to direct me back to his house, but it was a smooth ride the entire way. I highly doubted the car needed much work, and I was beyond grateful for the gift.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked when we pulled into Edge's driveway.

"Sure."

"Ember is Phoenix's daughter, right?"

"She is," he confirmed.

"What did she mean when she said she had to rely on the kindness of strangers to help her?" It was none of my business, but for my own sanity, I needed to know why strangers helped her instead of the MC.

"It's a long story, but she didn't know Phoenix was her father until she was eighteen. He didn't know about her either. Annabelle was told Ember was stillborn. Phoenix thought Annabelle was dead. It was a mess. The strangers she referred to were actually the Blackwings. She met Reese in high school, and Reese brought her to the clubhouse to get help. Phoenix agreed to help her, and they figured everything else out shortly after," he explained.

"Thank you. I know it's not my business, but I had to ask."

He reached over and squeezed my hand. "I know. Normally, I wouldn't share those details so freely, but I figure if we keep showing you we're the good guys, you'll eventually believe us."

I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "I don't think you're bad guys."

"I know, but you shouldn't blindly trust us, either. And I don't expect you to, especially after what you've experienced with the Mad Dogs."

I shivered involuntarily at the sound of their name and fought the urge to gag. Just thinking about them and what happened that night made me sick to my stomach.

"On a different note, how do you want to handle the registration?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"If you want to stay under the radar, I don't think you should register it in your name," he said. "If you want, you can put it in my name until you get your situation settled."

"I don't know," I said hesitantly.

"If you're worried about me running off with your car, we can sign a contract that says the car belongs to you. Then we'll transfer it into your name whenever you're ready," he offered.

"I don't think that's necessary. I'm more concerned about insurance," I said.

"I'll add it to my current policy, and you can pay the difference."

"Why would you do that for me?"

He shrugged. "Because I'm in a position to do so. Everyone needs help at some point or another."

"When have you needed help?"

"When I was younger. My older brother was headed down the wrong path, and I started to follow. At first, I didn't realize he was dragging me down with him. Soon after I began prospecting for the MC, I realized the error of my ways, and they helped me get back on the right track."

I wanted to know more, but I was hesitant to ask. Apparently, my face did the asking for me.

He chuckled. "What is it you want to know?"

"I was going to ask what kind of path your brother was headed down, but now I'm wondering how you knew I wanted to ask something."

"You tend to kind of chew on the corner of your bottom lip and your eyebrows wrinkle a little when you're reluctant to say something."

I nodded thoughtfully. "I'll try to be more conscious of that in the future."

"Only the people who know you well would notice."

I laughed. "Those are the ones I'm worried about. I don't really care what strangers think of me."

"So, to answer your question, my brother fell in with the wrong crowd. Before long, he was selling drugs and joined a gang. My parents tried to intervene, but there wasn't much they could do since he was an adult."

"Is your brother still involved with the gang?" I asked carefully. Edge mentioned joining the Blackwings after high school, indicating he'd been a member of the club for around twenty years. I was by no means an expert in gang statistics, but I was pretty sure most of them didn't live long enough to celebrate twenty years of membership.

Edge shook his head solemnly. "No, he isn't. He was shot and killed fifteen years ago. I assume it was a drug deal gone wrong or something to do with a rival gang. Back then, my parents and I never asked for details or tried to find out. Jared was dead. The story of how it happened wouldn't make it any less painful."

I reached over and placed my hand on top of his. "I'm sorry your family had to go through that. Watching a loved one slowly slip away and destroy their life while feeling completely helpless isn't something anyone should have to experience."

"It destroyed our family. My parents couldn't come to terms with his death. I guess they needed someone to blame, so they pointed the finger at each other. They got divorced, Dad moved to a cabin in the middle of nowhere and became a recluse, and Mom also isolated herself and died a few years later. The doctors said it had something to do with her heart, but I believe she grieved herself to death."

"They just left you?" I blurted, before I could stop myself. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound insensitive, because I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, but the death of one son doesn't give them the right to abandon the one that's still living."

"I don't disagree. It felt like I had a family one day, and they were gone the next. During that rough time, my MC family helped me through it. I'm not sure how I would've handled things if I didn't have them, but I'm glad I never have to know."

"I know what you mean. I don't even want to think about what would've happened if I hadn't met Irene when I did. Even though she wasn't aware of the specifics, she knew I was going through something and stepped in to help. For someone with no one, her willingness to help was life changing, and likely lifesaving."

Edge slipped his hand out from underneath mine and patted it twice. "I think that's enough of the heavy emotional stuff for today. Since we have your car situation taken care of, do you want to learn how to shoot?"

"Um, sure."

"You don't sound sure."

"If I'm being honest, it's not something I want to do, but I need to do it. Maybe I'll sleep better with a gun in the house."

Edge's face quickly filled with concern. "You're having trouble sleeping?"

"It's nothing new. I haven't slept well since Randall started coming home at all hours of the night. I hoped it would get better once I got settled somewhere new, but it hasn't. It seems like every little noise wakes me up. I tried wearing earbuds one night, but that only made things worse. I kept thinking I heard something and would take them out to listen, over and over, until I finally left them out. Another night, I tried barricading the doors, but then I convinced myself I would die in a fire and had to remove the barricades before I could go to sleep."

He reached out and gently cupped my cheek. "You don't feel safe. I'm going to help you fix that."

"Thank you," I said softly. I wanted to close my eyes and lean into his hands. I felt safe when I was with him.

Before I was ready, he removed his hand and stepped back. "We can go to the clubhouse and shoot outside, or we can go to one of the indoor ranges. It's up to you."

"Which place will have less of an audience?"

"Definitely the indoor range. We'll have at least three brothers come out and join us if we go to the clubhouse."

"Indoor range it is." Since I'd never shot a gun before, I preferred to have as few onlookers as possible in case I made a fool of myself.

"You want to stop for lunch first?"

I smiled. "Yes, please."