One Hundred and Thirty-Six Scars(79)

They both nod their head, removing their jackets and hanging them on the coat hanger before following me to the kitchen. Flicking on the jug, I pull down five heavy ceramic mugs from the top cupboard. Placing them on the counter, I turn around and lean against the kitchen counter as I wait for the jug to boil. Both girls are sitting there watching me closely.

“Can I ask you something?” Asha says, playing with the rings on her fingers.

“Sure,” I answer though I’m not sure what she would need to ask me. Asha is the eldest of the two I guess just by the way she carries herself and how Layla seems to always hang back behind her.

“I used to be Beast’s favorite girl,” she begins, her eyes not faltering.

My eyebrows shoot up as I turn and begin spooning cocoa into the mugs. “Okay,” I answer, internally having a one-on-one chat with myself to calm down.

“He’s always been about business and the club, never once gave any clues that he was looking to settle down with an Old Lady…”

Stirring the hot water in the mugs, I pick them up and carry them back to the table, placing one in front of each of them and smiling at Layla, who picks up the mug and blows on it, the steam blowing her bangs slightly.

“Beast and I met a long time ago. That’s all I’m really going to say about that,” I answer politely, pulling my seat out and crossing my leg over.

She smiles and nods, leaning into her chair and taking her mug in her hands.

“Do you need a shower or anything?” I ask both of them.

Asha shakes her head but Layla nods. “Yes please, I feel like death.”

Asha scoffs. “That’s because you killed someone.”

I smile, taking a drink of my hot cocoa and pulling out my cell phone to text Beast.





Me – What’s the plan?


Beast – They want revenge. We’re going to have to keep them here until I sort something out.


Me – They can stay here, we only have another week here anyway?


Beast – Your time here is undecided.


Me – I need to go home, Beast. I can’t stay here forever.


Beast – Why not?


Me – Why not what?


Beast – Why can’t you stay here forever?




Is he serious? I pause my texting, running my eyes to the wall and narrowing them.

Is he fucking with me? He must be.

“You okay?” Layla asks, her head tilted.

I smile, nodding my head. “Yeah, I’m fine. You can go and take a shower, the towels are in the bathroom cupboard and I can get something for you to slip into.” I look to Asha. “You may as well, too. Beast is keeping you girls here I think… at the clubhouse.” My phone vibrates in my hand and Asha nods at me. “Thanks.” She smiles, pushing back her chair and rinsing her mug in the sink with Layla following behind her.

I open up the message.





Beast – This discussion isn’t over. Be back soon.




Dropping my phone onto the table, I get up from my chair and walk to the sink to rinse my mug. He wants me to live with him? He’s got to be kidding. There’s no way we’re ready for that. Yes, things are comfortable with him, but it’s still early days regardless of what my body thinks it’s doing when he’s around.

After getting the girls their clothes, they take a seat on the sofa in the living room as I walk into the kitchen to pour us a wine. Walking back in, I hand them their glasses. “So,” I say, taking a seat. “Sisters?” They both laugh, nodding their heads. “Yeah, pretty screwed up, hey,” Layla jokes. “I’m sure Daddy is real proud of us, both turning out to be a failure.”

Asha scolds her. “Shut up, Layla. He’s not here, we do what we have to do to survive and that’s all that matters.”

I smile. “It’s okay, I know a bit about that.” Bringing the wine glass up to my mouth.

Layla smiles. “It’s nice seeing Beast with someone.”

“How long have you known him?” I ask both of them.

Asha answers, “Five years. Shelby took us in when she came across us with our bags sitting under a bus stop. Not knowing what our next move was.”

My eyebrows rise. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but how old are you?”

“Twenty-one,” Asha answers, placing the glass on the coffee table in front of her. Breaking Bad is playing in the background, reminding me of Melissa. So I pull my phone out quickly to check on her since she wanted to play mischief and stay at the clubhouse.

“You were sixteen when Shelby found you?” I ask, opening up a message and sending a quick one to Melissa before placing it on the table.

She nods. “Yeah. We had nowhere to go and didn’t have another move.” Her answer is clipped, and I guess there’s a whole lot more to that story but it’s not my business to pry.