Dice (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #3) (21 page)

“
Y
ou’re fucking leaving
the club?” Sienna barged through my front door, throwing it open so hard it smashed into the wall. “Have you lost your goddamned mind?”

I bent into the fridge and grabbed another beer, debating if I should offer her one or keep both for myself. The fire burning in her eyes was enough to tell me this wasn’t going to end well.

I walked out of the kitchen, holding out a beer to her.

“Don’t you fucking do that,” she said. “Don’t offer me a beer like this is some friendly get together.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Don’t start your shit with me,” she spat. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Suit yourself.” I tipped the bottle to my lips and downed half the liquid.

“Were you even planning on telling me?” she asked and I could hear the pain in her tone. The betrayal in the way she glared at me. She was a fucking poker face, I’d give her that, but I knew her. Better than anyone and I could pick up on the slightest things. She wasn’t pissed as much as she was upset.

“I didn’t think you were talking to me.”

“Since when did that ever matter? I’m you’re fucking sister when you decide to make a life changing decision whether we’re on speaking terms or not you tell me. You don’t let me find out from over hearing a goddamned conversation from the prospects of all people.”

“I’m sorry.” And I was. The last thing I wanted was to hurt Sienna. To make her think that I didn’t care enough about her to include her because the truth was I did care. I cared so fucking much about what she thought and how me leaving would affect her. But then I’d see her with Kade and I knew she’d be okay. As much as it hurt me to admit it was obvious she didn’t need me anymore.

She’d be okay. We’d be okay. Life was changing at rapid speed, but for the first time I felt like it was setting us in the direction of where we needed to be.

“You’re sorry? That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me? You’re bailing. You’re leaving behind the club, my father’s legacy, the brotherhood, your job…me.” Tears welled in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away. “You’re just going to leave me? Your godson?”

“You don’t need me. Not anymore.”

“Who gives you the right to make that decision?”

“I do.”

She scoffed at me and I laughed.

“You don’t see what I see. You don’t see how much of your father is in you. All the good parts of him are a part of you. You don’t see that motherhood has changed you. Don’t get me wrong you’re still a bitch, but now you’re a bitch with a heart. You don’t see that being with Kade has made you a better person. You’re happy and stronger than you’ve ever been. You don’t need me. From that first day I met you, you were an independent bitch who didn’t take shit from anyone. You didn’t need me then and you don’t need me now. If anyone needed anyone, I needed you.”

“And now you have Allison so you don’t need me anymore.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ll always need my sister, but it’s time I start my own life and let you live yours. I can’t move forward here. I’m living in the house I lived in when I was fifteen. In a club that I joined when I was eighteen. Doing the same shit since high school. I want to see what else is out there.”

“So what you’re saying is we aren’t good enough for you.”

“No, it’s the complete opposite actually. Black Hills is my security blanket and it’s time I step out of my comfort zone.”

“I think you’re making a mistake.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said with a smile directed at her that caused a slight tug of her own lips.

“What am I supposed to do with the house?”

“I actually was speaking with Stanson the other day and when his kid gets here they’ll need a place to stay. He was looking through the real estate section of the paper when I stopped by his office. You can see if they’d be interested.”

Sienna sat down on the couch and finally accepted the beer I had offered her earlier. She brought the bottle to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes scanned across the room. “It’ll be weird not being able to just show up here when I want.”

I sat down beside her. “This was our home, but it’s not anymore.”

She rested her head on my shoulder and let out a breath. “Can we just pretend for a little longer that it is?”

“Does that mean you forgive me?” I asked.

She tilted her head to look at me, casting her famous evil eye in my direction. “I guess so.”

I kissed her head and smiled. “Then sure we can pretend a little longer.”

I closed my eyes remembering the first time I walked through the front door. Remembering my shit poor attitude and how Nick patted me on the back and said, “Welcome to the family.”

I didn’t believe him. Mom had had so many horrible boyfriends and when she married Nick, a burly biker, my expectations for any sort of normal family life was in the fucking toilet. Who knew when he said those words to me that first day he meant them? He didn’t just welcome me into his home and his life. He gave me the one thing I always wanted. He gave me a real family. He gave me my sister. Walking through that front door was the best damn thing that ever happened to me. It changed my life. Who the fuck knows where I would have wound up if it wasn’t for Nick and Sienna.

To most people this was just a house, but for me it was my saving grace. For me and Sienna it was the place we went from strangers to friends to brother and sister.

“I really am going to miss it,” I said.

“Do you know where you’re going to go?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven’t even told Allison. She’s coming over soon.”

“Then I should go.” Sienna placed her bottle on the coffee table and stood up.

“Do you think you’ll ever forgive her?”

She took a deep breath and held it before slowly letting it out. “She lied, but she is who she says she is. The background checks came back and she checks out.”

I wasn’t surprised in the least. From the minute Allison told me I knew she was telling the truth.

“So if I marry Kade or you marry her, either way she’s going to be my sister in law. I’m still mad, upset, but to answer your question, yes, in time, I’ll forgive her. Just not today.”

It was more than I expected from Sienna. The girl was known to hold grudges, but it was more proof that she grew up and was ready to face the world without me.

* * *

A
month later
, Allison’s car was packed to the brim, and we were getting ready to set off toward California. Sienna and Kade let me keep my bike at their house since I had Miles’s bike now and the thought of leaving his bike, his baby, in a garage nearly killed me.

Sienna loved the idea of me keeping my bike with her. She said it was a guarantee that I’d have to come back. Aubree had Martha cook us up a bunch of food to take with us, and I placed it in the front seat of the Prius.

We said goodbye to the whole club earlier and now, at Kade and Sienna’s, we were down to the people who I couldn’t imagine not seeing every day. Who made me rethink my decision only a few dozen times.

Sienna, Kade and Cash were people I had known since I was a punk ass teenager. They were constants in my life from the day I moved to Black Hills. How did I say goodbye to those who had always been there for me?

“I can’t believe you guys are leaving,” Aubree said, taking Allison in her arms and then me.

“They’ll be back in a few months for the wedding,” Cash said, giving Allison a kiss on the cheek before holding his hand out to me. I took it and pulled him in for a hug.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I said, patting Cash’s back. When I stepped back, I realized I was still wearing my cut. It was so much a part of me that I completely forgot to take it off. I grabbed either side, and went to take it off, when Cash’s hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me.

“I don’t care how many fucking miles you put between us. You will always be an Outlaw.”

Gratitude filled me completely, reminding me of the vow I took so long ago. “Thanks,” I said, pulling it back into place, knowing that I didn’t have to wear it anymore, but not ready to take it off just yet.

“Take care of yourself, brother.” Cash patted my shoulder as he joined Aubree and draped his arm across her shoulder.

Kade walked over to us, my godson on his hip. “Hey, little man!” I said, and the emotion I had been able to keep at bay pushed forward. “Don’t forget about me, okay?” I tugged at his foot and he responded with a huge squeal, making me laugh.

I took him in my arms and held him for a few moments, savoring the baby powder scent and that gummy smile of his. “I’ll miss you, buddy.” I kissed the top of his head and Allison came over, taking him in her arms.

“Give me my nephew,” she said with a smile. “I know you won’t forget me. And I’ll be back soon to take you to the park and to have a picnic…” She walked away, still talking, and bouncing him in her arms.

“We’ll miss you around here,” Kade said. “And, just so you know, I’m changing the damn locks so you have to fucking knock when you come visit.”

We both laughed as he patted my shoulder and drew me in for a hug.

“I’m pretty good at picking locks,” I said as we pulled away from each other.

“Then I’m dead bolting the fucking thing.”

“Keep my godson and my sister safe, will you?”

“You have my word. Call us when you reach Cali.”

“We will.”

“Now, let me go say goodbye to my sister,” he said, and walked over to Allison who was spinning DC in circles. He drew them both in for a hug, and it made me so fucking happy that Allison found her brother and Kade had accepted her.

The past few weeks since Allison came clean, she and Kade had been spending more time with one another, filling each other in on their lives and everything they missed, promising each other that there would be no more missed holidays.

I glanced over to the porch and Sienna pushed off, walking over to me and reminding me of the first day I moved into her and Nick’s house. So much had changed, yet her inner bitch still shined bright with each step she took.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lip. “I guess this is it.”

“I guess so.”

“What am I going to do without you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Have some peace and quiet.”

She laughed and shoved at my shoulder. “I was never a fan of quiet.”

“I know, but luckily you have DC to take that place for me.”

She shook her head. “No one can take your place.”

“I am kind of amazing.”

“And kind of an ass.”

“An amazing ass.”

“Promise me this isn’t goodbye,” she said, as tears pricked her eyes and strangled her words.

“It’s never goodbye. Not with us.” I held my arms out to her and she stepped into them. “We might not be blood, but you’re my sister and there is nothing in this world that’ll change that.” I kissed the top of her head and held her a little longer.

Finally, she stepped away, angrily swiping at her eyes.

“Are you crying for me?” I asked, slapping my hand over my heart.

“Shut the fuck up, asshole,” she muttered.

“Love you, sis.”

“Love you, too. Call us when you get there.”

“Of course.”

“And make sure to video call DC once a week. I don’t want him forgetting who you are.”

“I promise.”

She bit her lip, and I knew she was trying not to cry. Six months ago, I never would have been able to leave her, but she’s stronger now. Nick’s death nearly destroyed her, but she came out fighting like she always did. And now she had her own family to take care of her, to love her, to be there for her. Kade would take a bullet for her and DC, and I couldn’t be leaving her in better hands.

And, now that she knew the reason behind the missing money at work, her hours had cut down drastically. She had time again, and really didn’t need Allison to nanny anymore. And, for the times that she did, Martha was quick to step in and offer her time.

Allison came over to me, taking my hand and smiling that gorgeous smile at me. “You ready to hit the road?” she asked.

I looked around at all the familiar faces who had been with me every step of my life for so long. It was going to suck without them, but they would always be here, and I could always come home.

I turned my attention back to Allison, her cobalt eyes so full of life, and I knew our journey together was only just beginning. I couldn’t wait for the ride to start and to see where it would take us. “Absolutely,” I said, pressing my lips to hers, counting my lucky fucking stars that, for whatever reason, this beautiful, amazing woman wanted me.

We said our last goodbyes, and Allison got in her Prius, while I hopped on Miles’ bike. With one final wave, we took off, driving away from my past and heading toward our future.