Page 51 of Found Through Fire

I start to put food on my plate and ignore them until I start to hear the happy noises that the guys around me make when they first start eating, making me smile. Cooking has always been my happy place, and I love it when people appreciate my work. After I take a few bites of the homemade mac n’ cheese, I set down my fork and decide to restart the conversation.

“I think I should stay at my house. The idiots go back in a few days, and you have a bunch of contracts coming up. I know that you have a lot of catching up to do after everything, andI’m not going to let you take time to babysit me. What would be the difference between me being alone at my house and being alone at yours? Especially when the soldiers are going to be gone anyway? I need to catch up on my businesses too, and I want a chance to get close to ‘normal.’ I want to do that in the home that I have worked hard on.”

I finish my argument and look between my dad and the idiots. I want them to understand and see my reasoning. They are not going to be happy with it, but I don’t want them to freak out about it while they are gone. I hate making them worry.

“No one has gotten through the security at base yet. They have here,” Grey says like he gets an opinion on my safety.

“Good observation skills, Greyson, but if you noticed, there are pictures of me coming and leaving base, showing that they know where it is and that I’m there regularly. And we have the same security system at both homes. If they got through mine, they could get through that one if needed,” I reply as sweetly as I can just to annoy him. I’m not even sure why the asshole is still here. My dad is now looking between me and Grey while John smirks. Grey is just giving me a death glare that makes me smile. He is so easy to annoy; it’s slowly turning into one of my favorite hobbies.

“I did set up a backup feed so it doesn’t happen again. I’m going to try and set up one or two more backups before I leave,” Gig chimes in. He isn’t exactly on my side, but he will give all the facts, even if they swing the argument in my favor.

Him and the other two idiots are pissed that this happened right before they have to report back to base. They are supposed to leave in the next few days, and I know this is going to be hard on them, especially because it takes a while to get messages to them. After this, I can tell that they are going to want more than the weekly phone check in with me until this blows over. I don’t mind talking to my idiots, but I’m trying to get a sociallife at some point, and I don’t really want to have to spend the small amount of free time that I have calling my brothers and staying on the phone with them until they are certain that I’m fine. Sometimes, they can be high maintenance—they should honestly thank their lucky stars that I love them.

“I can promise to call and text you more than I already do so you can make sure I’m okay. You know I can handle myself, but I need to start having my own life,” I say, hoping Dad can understand exactly why I want my own space. I need to try and detangle myself from my family a little. I feel like there has been one crisis after another my entire life, and we needed to lean on each other for those times. But I’m twenty-four now, with multiple businesses and my own home. I want some independence. My dad puts down his fork and remains quiet.

“I would feel better if John or someone was here at night, just until I get back from the few jobs that we have coming up. You usually work during the day, and it would just be until I get back, and can be fifteen to thirty minutes away if someone was able to get in again,” he responds.

“Sorry, Willow, but I have to go visit my sister for two weeks, minimum. The shop wasn’t due to open until the end of the month, so I was going to go visit her while I’m still retired,” John says, not looking up from his plate as he cuts his food and shovels it in his mouth. I swear I see a small smirk like the old man is up to something. He has always been known to meddle in everyone’s business, and retirement has not helped.

“I can do it.” Knox’s voice comes out of nowhere, and the entire table goes silent. I look at him with the same shock as everyone else. Well, Grey just looks pissed off, but I’m convinced that’s just how his face is.

“We have the bike expo that we have to go to,” Jackson says with a face that now just looks as pissed as Grey’s.

“Only one of us has to go, and we both know you’re the one that deals with all of the behind-the-scenes bullshit at the shop anyways. I’m just there for the build and the paint. I’ll be in town, and I can keep Willow safe,” Knox says in a confident tone, like it makes the most sense in the world.

My heart starts to race as I think about this man staying with me. I’m going to be a nervous wreck the entire time! He flirts with me now—well, I think he does. But is that how he acts around anything with a vagina that’s in the same general area as him? I’ve seen how the guys act at Uncle Mark’s clubhouse, and I’m not sure if I could start something with a man that has access to club girls and sees cheating as “a part of the life.”

I stop those thoughts in their tracks. Who even said that he was interested in “starting something” with me? He is surrounded by beautiful, confident women, and even though I’m confident in my skills, that’s about it. I’ve never considered myself sexy or anything special. I’m plain, except for the random scars all over my body that I have collected over the years. I could stand to lose a few pounds around my ass or that stupid cellulite that won’t fucking budge, but I refuse to make the sacrifice of sweets in order to do that, so at this point, it is what it is.

“I don’t think Will would want a stranger in her house,” Tell says, trying to come up with any argument, and it’s starting to piss me off. They are all trying to make plans to keep me safe like I’m a scared little girl again, and I have not been her for a very long time.

“Will can decide for herself,” I say in a quiet but strong voice, trying to hold back my annoyance. I know they are all worried about me, but come on! I’m not a damsel in distress. Mom always said that if you had to yell, that meant that no one was listening. “I think you guys forget that I am a grown woman who can defend herself. I am giving you the reasons why I would liketo stay in my own home. Not to ‘convince’ you, but to give you the reasons why I’m making the decisions that I am. I love you guys, but you do not get to decide what I am going to do. You can give thoughts and input to my decisions, but in the end, they are mine to make,” I say, looking between the four men in my life. “I will be staying in my own home, and to compromise with you guys, I will take Knox up on his offer to stay with me in one of the guest rooms if he does not mind, until Dad gets back.” I finish my rant and just wait for what they will try to pull next.

“You just offered me two weeks off to make up for being gone for two weeks with Willow. I can stay at night. We already know how to live together, and she is probably more familiar with me than the biker, and I’m actually trained to keep people safe. I didn’t learn my skills on the street.” Grey now speaks up, and I’m not sure if I am more shocked or annoyed. Him and Knox are looking at each other in disgust. I have no idea what to make of it, but everyone’s eyes are bouncing back and forth between the two of them like they are watching a bad soap opera.

“I’m good. I think it’s best for your health if we aren’t in a confined area for a while after dealing with you for the last two weeks. It honestly shocked me that I didn’t stab you. I don’t think we should keep testing my patience. I’m not a saint. I would rather take my chances with ‘the biker’ than deal with your ass in my personal space,” I say to Grey.

I’m done with putting up with his shitty attitude and keeping that from my family. I was willing to let it go in the beginning because I figured he was just settling in, and I didn’t want to rock the boat for him. But with his constant speaking down to me and treating me like I am some kind of spoiled princess, I’ve had enough. I would rather risk embarrassing myself in front of Knox every day than have to deal with the inner battle of wanting to stab Grey and wanting to climb him like a tree—it’s exhausting. Damn hormones!

“Does anyone else feel like they are missing something?” Ben chimes in after being silent for the entire conversation. He then continues, because he has never been the best at reading the room. “Grey pissed you off while you were on the job, didn’t he?” He then turns to Grey. “That sucks, man. She is like a pissed-off kitten if you get on her bad side: adorable, but likely to claw and bite the shit out of you out of nowhere.”

“More like a tiny demon,” Tell corrects him.

“I’m going to miss you guys when you leave, but you should really get a head start now. Wouldn’t want to be late getting back to your bases,” I say in the most sarcastic tone that I can.

“Back to the discussion at hand,” John says, trying to rein us all back in, like he’s been doing since we were kids. “This is a big house. How about both of them stay with her?” John looks at me while still smirking. I swear, that old man loves drama more than an old lady at a country club.

“No,” comes from everyone at the table except John.

My dad looks irritated and beckons me to make the final decision. He would never force me to do something that I was not comfortable with.

On the one hand, I know having Grey here would make him more comfortable since he knows him. But on the other hand, he would probably be really mad at me if I stabbed one of his employees. I’m not sure, but I feel like that could end in a lawsuit or something. I really should ask my lawyer one of these days.

I let out a sigh, still making eye contact with my dad, and ask, “How long are you going to be gone for sure?” I know contracts can take longer, and I am not going to put up with this for longer than a few weeks.

“Two weeks, max. I will only be supervising the more intricate ones,” he replies. I look up at the ceiling, hating that I’m about to do this, but it’s for my dad to not have to worry aboutme while he’s gone. I don’t want him to have any distractions during possible life-or-death situations.

“Fine,” is all I say after I have accepted my fate for the next two weeks. I look forward to the men staring at me in question around the table.