Chapter 14

Fourteen

Fletch

A kid. I have a kid. I groan and knock a fourth whiskey back. "Enforcer, there's a visitor," Grizz shouts from the doorway.

"I ain't taking visitors," I snap.

"Do I look like your fucking secretary?" he barks. "Deal with it yourself."

I sigh heavily and step out the clubhouse. As I get closer to the gates, I see Gemma's sister and I groan. "If you've come to talk on her behalf, I'm not interested," I snap.

"I haven't," she rushes to say. "Gemma doesn't know I'm here."

I roll my eyes. I can't be mean to a kid. "Open the gate," I tell Smoke as I pull out my phone and send a text to Gemma.

Me: Your kid sister is at the clubhouse. Come and get her now.

"Where's Gemma?" I ask her as we head inside.

"Working."

I show her over to the couch, and she sits. I sit opposite her. "So, what brings you here?"

"She said you didn't want to know me."

I frown. "Huh?"

Her eyes widen. "Oh god, she did tell you, right? She said she told you." She buries her face in her hands. "Shit. Now, I look crazy."

"You're Gemma's sister," I say slowly. "Right?" She looks up and shakes her head. My fuzzy brain takes a few beats to catch up as I stare her down. "But you're not . . . you can't be . . ."

"Your daughter," she says quietly. "I'm your daughter."

The whiskey is making my head spin, and with this news on top, I need to lie down. I lean back on the couch and stare at the ceiling. Fuck.

"I know it's a shock. I'm shocked too, but right now, we're kind of in the same boat, so I thought we could at least talk."

"Yeah, I don't really do that kind of talking shit," I mumble.

"Well, listen instead," she says, suddenly sounding unsure. "I love Gemma. She's always been the best big sister. She's my safe place when my parents . . ." her voice trails off. "When Mark and Sarah were being dicks."

"Language," I mutter absentmindedly.

She gives a small laugh. "You sound just like Gem. My point is, I'm heartbroken she lied, and I suspect you are too, but she thought it was for the best. That's what everyone around her told her, and she believed them. Mark is an awful man. He treats us both like an inconvenience. But now I know the truth, I'm kind of relieved."

"Good for you."

"And you should be too."

"And why's that?"

"Because now you know the truth, you can get to know me and see I'm not so bad."

I instantly feel guilty and sit up slightly so I can look at her. She looks like Gemma. They have the same dark hair and blue eyes. "It's not because I think you're bad," I mutter.

"Then what is it?"

"I just . . . I don't want kids."

"Tough," she says with a shrug. "I'm already here."

"I won't be a good dad," I tell her honestly. "I don't even know how to do that sort of thing."

She rolls her eyes. "And I probably won't be a good daughter some of the time. We can learn together."

"Fuck, you're stubborn just like me."

"Can't we just give it a try? Together?"

We stare at one another for a solid minute. There's a million thoughts going through my mind, and then the door opens and Gemma storms in. "Ruby," she hisses, "what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to Fletch," she says, standing. "But I'm done."

"I asked you to leave it," Gemma snaps. She turns her sad eyes on me, and I almost crack. "I'm so sorry about this. We'll leave."

"It's fine," I say. "She can stick around for a bit."

Ruby smiles wide. "We have a deal?" I nod, and she laughs. "Good."

"Not good," says Gemma. "You can't just hang around here. We'll make proper arrangements."

"I'll be fine," says Ruby. "Go back to work."

"No," snaps Gemma. "You can't stay in a biker club."

"And why's that?" I ask, arching a brow. "Bikers are suddenly not good enough in your eyes?"

"I'm responsible for her, Fletch. This is a biker club. Do you want her around criminals and sex workers?"

I scoff. "Wow. Now, you're showing your true colours."

"It's not the place for a teenager."

"Or a copper," I spit, "so leave."

"Ruby, let's go." Gemma heads for the door, but Ruby stays rooted to the spot. I smirk when Gemma looks back to find her not moving. "Ruby?"

"I want to stay a while longer, Gemma. I want to get to know him. You owe me after everything."

I see in her eyes she's going to drop it and leave. Ruby gives me a subtle smile, and Gemma rolls her eyes and stomps back out.

Once she's gone, we talk and it's surprisingly easy. She tells me about her childhood and how it was hard but not unbearable. She speaks of Gemma a lot, and how she's been her biggest cheerleader. Now, it all makes sense. But most of all, she talks about how, up until now, she's always felt something was missing, and so maybe deep down, she knew.

When Axel steps from his office with Grizz, he comes over. "She a little young?" he asks, concern lacing his words.

"It's not what you think, Pres," I mutter, standing. "She's Gemma's . . . erm, she's mine and Gemma's daughter."

Both men stare wide-eyed with shock. "Are you shitting me?" asks Grizz, looking back and forth between us. "You have a kid with the copper?"

"I just found out today."

"And now, she's here," says Axel slowly. "Did you check her for a wire?"

"Of course not," I snap. "She's just a kid. Look, it's complicated. I'll explain later."

"Or we can go to the office, and you can put my mind to rest," he insists, stepping to one side. "Grizz, go find a babysitter. In fact, get Lexi. She can sniff out a lie."

Gemma

My mind is full of Ruby and Fletch. I can't concentrate on work, so when I get called into my father's office, it's a welcome relief from the piles of paperwork I have on my desk.

"I assume this is about Operation Sapphire?" I ask as I sit down. I've been waiting for him to tell me the plug's been pulled on the entire investigation.

"I think we both know that's been a huge failure."

"I put my report in with Karen. I tried everything and followed all the right procedures. You can't pin the failure on me." I already know the book stops with my father—he gave the go-ahead for the operation, and he cleared every raid and stop and search.

"Actually, that's not entirely true, is it, Gemma?"

I shrug. "I put it all in my statement. I can't help that the club was clean."

"This is off the record," he warns, and I sit straighter. He never gives me inside information, so I'm intrigued. "They found a tape at the clubhouse. It was in the safe."

"Okay."

"And although I've not seen it personally, I've been told you're on it."

My blood runs cold and the visits to the clubhouse and garage race through my mind. I wasn't exactly careful sometimes. "I had my car done at the garage," I say, "but Karen knows that."

"It's not that."

"And I went to The Bar on a hen night before I knew they owned it."

"Gemma, you were recorded without your knowledge."

"Okay."

"With him," he spits, and I allow the words to sink in. "Karen is waiting for you in her office."

I push to stand on unsteady feet. I feel like my entire body is shaking as sickness swirls in my stomach. He must be wrong. Fletch wouldn't do that. He wouldn't.

I don't know how the hell I made it to Karen's office, but as I knock on her door, I feel weak enough to collapse. I try to remember the times I've been with Fletch and work out what he could possibly have recorded. "Come in," Karen orders, breaking me from my thoughts.

She straightens when I enter, and I see the disgust in her eyes as I take a seat.

"You've spoken with your father?" I nod. "Were you aware of the footage?" she asks coldly, and I shake my head. "Fuck, Gemma, what were you thinking?" she hisses.

"Where was it?"

"The sex or the fucking recording?"

I want to vomit. He recorded us having sex. "Recording," I whisper, fighting the urge to retch.

"In the safe, which the president helpfully pointed the officers to."

Tears build in my eyes, and I angrily swipe them away. "What happens now?"

"It's out of my hands. Another force is on the way to take over the case. They'll check everything, every phone call, every text message, to see if you messed up the investigation."

"I texted—" I begin to say, but she cuts me off.

"Don't tell me. Save it."

"Can I see it?" I whisper.

She sighs and shakes her head. "It's in evidence."

I groan, wondering who the hell would have watched it in the station. "What will happen to me?"

"At the very least, you'll get the sack."

"Everything was aboveboard," I whisper, "except one text."

"You told me you weren't like Lexi Cooper. You said she was a rookie and you knew better."

"We had history," I mutter.

"I don't give a shit," she screams. "And now, the entire force will be looked into."

"I'm sorry."

"If I were you, I'd get rid of the phone."

"Won't that look worse?" I sniffle.

"Worse than whatever that text was? Probably not."

I go to the bathroom to clean myself up. The other force had arrived to interview me right as I left Karen's office.

Sitting on the toilet, I open my phone to text Ruby.

Me: Something came up at work. Have you got your key to let yourself in at home? xx

She replies right away.

Ruby: Yes. See you when you get back xx

Seeing the kisses at the end of her text makes me sob harder. Maybe seeing Fletch has helped her forgive me slightly.

Me: I won't have my phone on me so if you need me urgently, call the station. xx

I stand and lift the back off the toilet system. I turn off my phone, drop it into a clear evidence bag, and place it in the water. Then I step from the cubicle, rinse my tear-stained face, and go back to Karen's office, where two men in suits are waiting for me.

Fletch

I check my watch. It's late as Ruby stands to leave. "I'll walk you back," I offer. "I've had a drink, so I can't take you on the bike."

She smiles, hooking her arm in mine. "Thanks."

It feels good. She's a nice kid, and she handled the brothers really well today. It's almost like she was cut out for club life.

As we leave, the brothers each say goodbye, and I'm filled with pride as we head out. This morning, my life felt empty and messy, but now, there's hope. Maybe I can be what Ruby needs, and it's not like she's asking for anything from me, just to get to know me.

We walk in silence the entire way, but it's comfortable. Maybe we've spoken so much, we're out of words. We slow as we reach Gemma's house. "Today was lovely," she says. "Thank you."

"It was," I agree. "Thanks for not taking no for an answer."

She laughs. "I think we've already established who I take after for stubbornness."

I look past her towards the house and make out a figure hunched over on the doorstep. I pull Ruby behind me in alarm and move closer, soon realising it's Gemma. I stop at her feet, and she finally looks up. Her eyes are swollen and red. She's been crying.

She pushes to stand, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "I forgot my key," she tells Ruby.

"Why didn't you call?" asks Ruby, producing her key. "How long have you been out here?"

Gemma avoids my curious stare, forcing a smile. "It's fine. I told you, I didn't have my phone. Are you okay?" she asks, sounding hopeful.

"I'm fine, but if you're asking if I've forgiven you, then no." Ruby unlocks the door. "Thanks for today, Fletch. I'll call you."

I give a nod, and she goes inside, leaving me and Gemma alone. Gemma sniffles, wiping her wet cheeks as she stares after Ruby. "Are you okay?" I ask.

She brings her eyes back to me and stares for the longest time with a range of emotions passing over her face. "Goodnight," she whispers, going to walk inside. I frown, confused by her weird behaviour, and I grab her wrist to stop her. She slowly turns back to face me. "Spend the next few days getting to know Ruby, cos next week, we're moving away."

"What?"

"I lost my job," she announces, and my heart stutters. "But I guess you already knew that part."

"Snap, I?—"

She rips her wrist from my grasp. "Don't fucking call me that."

I take a few steps back. "It wasn't personal," I mutter.

She scoffs, then marches towards me, rearing her hand back. I catch it before she hits my face and twist her away from me so her back is to my front. I hold her against me, despite her fighting to break free. "You've ruined my life," she cries angrily. "I didn't do anything to you to deserve this."

"That's not true, is it, Gemma? You lied . . . for years."

"You only just found out about that," she spits. "That video was with the police for days. Everyone has viewed it." She sobs harder. "They all know."

"You came for the club," I tell her, fighting the guilt. "You were never going to win."

She leans her head back against my chest and cries. Her body shakes uncontrollably. "Was it all a lie?"

I contemplate being honest, telling her how I love her more now than I did back then and how walking away is killing me. But even if I confessed now, it's all too late. Too much has happened, and I've hurt her again, so I deal the final blow while forcing myself to hold my head high. "Yes."

I release her, and she drops down, burying her face in her hands. I watch her shoulders shake from her silent tears and take a few more steps away. I did it before and I can do it again. Gemma Stone is too good for me.

She always was and she always will be.