Wreck Me Forever (Polished P & P Book 1) Read online

  “Ah, thanks.” I smiled; it may have been wobbly from my nerves, but I meant it. Though Death was my brother’s friend—they all were—they’d been nice to me so far.

  This night felt so draining, and it wasn’t even eight yet.

  “You need to jump higher. Higher,” the prospect guy said loudly as he shifted to the edge of his seat. Wreck grunted but otherwise ignored him. “Go up. You gotta go up. Jump, Wreck, jump.”

  “Double-tap to jump higher,” I suggested. Wreck did, and he went higher on the jump, getting the star Mario needed to collect.

  “This yours?” Wreck asked in his deep, rough voice.

  “Yep?” I said hesitantly, which made it sound like a question, nervous from having his attention on me.

  He looked at me and then back to the screen.

  I moved closer. They both seemed engrossed in the game, which was good to see. Mario would always be a favorite played by many, but the old Mario game was still the best. I glanced over my shoulder into the kitchen area. Zion already looked my way; he gave me a chin lift with a smile. I knew what he was saying, even without the words. “Go on, get in there, and play. You know you want to.”

  I did because, well, it was Mario. I hadn’t expected a biker would want to play. Wreck’s large hands seemed awkward as he tried to press the buttons on the small controller. Admittedly, I feared for my controller.

  My nerves twisted my insides as I shifted closer again and sat on the couch armrest. I bounced my leg up and down, so I didn’t reach out and grab the controller from Wreck’s hands.

  Wreck.

  What type of biker name was that? How did he get it? From wrecking people’s lives? From wrecking women’s bodies?

  I nibbled on my bottom lip and pushed all thoughts of Wreck in the bedroom from my mind.

  Yes, he was more than good-looking. He was throw-my-money-at-him and bow-before-the-stunning-god, but I refused to allow myself and my lust to get in the way. He was straight, well, I was fairly sure he was since I’d never seen a gay man who could scowl so much. So, he was beyond my orbit, and it would do me no good to keep thinking of him in more ways than eye candy. My emotions liked to glue themselves to unattainable men, and since the last one crushed me into the dirt, I wouldn’t let my emotions control me.

  Elliot had been one of my friends at high school. We’d been close, and I’d been in love with him for a year, but as soon as I hinted toward liking guys, he’d screwed his face up, told me to fuck off, and that he never wanted to see me again.

  Huh, maybe that was another reason why I didn’t like people knowing I was gay.

  “Wanna play?” came a growly bedroom voice. Damn, I had to stop that. He didn’t have a bedroom voice.

  I glanced at Wreck to see he held the controller out to me.

  The prospect harrumphed, “It was my turn, or we could just do two-player like I suggested.”

  Wreck ignored him and stared at me. His gaze penetrated me in ways I wished wasn’t the only thing penetrating me. Something only one other had done, and that was two years ago, and the experience had been horrible. Still, it was one I wanted to try again with the right person. I blushed and shook my head, “Ah, it’s, um, okay, he can have a go.”

  Wreck’s brows dipped. He said nothing else and dropped the controller onto the prospect’s lap.

  I had to get away. It would be best for my sake to stay far away from the man who’d captured my attention. Far away.

  I got up and walked into the kitchen. Death greeted me with a smile as he handed me a beer. “Here, kid, suck this down.”

  We heard a snort from the living room and then “Think he’d rather suck something else down.”

  I stilled as my face burned more than it was. I focused on Zion; his face had darkened. He looked thunderous with his upper lip raised and aimed in the living room.

  “Fuck,” Death muttered, his eyes over my head.

  We all heard a cry of pain. I spun back to see Wreck had picked up the prospect, thrown him across the room, and was stalking after him. The men around me raced into the living room where all I could do was stand still and witness the power behind Wreck. All while trying not to pee myself.

  “The fuck you say?” Wreck demanded low.

  The prospect scuttled back on his hands. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. It wasn’t supposed to come out. Fuck, fuck, sorry.” He glanced at me. “I’m sorry. Shit, I didn’t mean to say it.”

  Before I could answer, Wreck had a grip on the prospect’s tee and pulled him to stand. He shook him. “You disrespectful motherfucker. In Saint’s home, you say that about his blood brother. His family.”

  “Wreck,” Zion called.

  Wreck shook the prospect again. “Who the fuck you think you are?”

  “No one. I shouldn’t have said anything.” His eyes slid to me again. “Sorry, I…. Fuck, it just popped out since I thought he was good-lookin’. I was gonna ask him out.”

  With that bomb dropped, the room fell silent. My heart beat frantically behind my ribs. He’d thought I was good-looking and was going to ask me out. Not that I would have said yes. He wasn’t my type, unlike the man holding him, but it was nice to know I wasn’t repulsive.

  Heck, I was still in shock by his admission, even if it was fake or not, and it seemed I wasn’t the only one. They all stood around, staring at the prospect like he’d grown a dick on his forehead.

  Though, they could be thinking he was an idiot for telling everyone what he’d just said or for even thinking it. Maybe he was the first gay or bi biker they’d come across and were trying to understand what language he was speaking.

  “Well shit,” Death said, then chuckled. “Wreck, put the dickhead down.”

  Wreck didn’t. It seemed like he wasn’t listening to anyone, and I didn’t want anyone’s death on my conscience, so I moved closer. “Hey, ah, Wreck… it’s… he’s— You can put him down. I know I say some things without thinking all the time, and, um, he says he didn’t mean to say it aloud.”

  “I didn’t. I swear.”

  Wreck dropped the prospect to the floor. He turned to me, glared, and then walked right to the front door. As soon as he was out, he slammed it closed after himself.

  A hand slapped to my back. Zion pulled me aside while the others warned, and then teased, the prospect. “Don’t worry about Wreck. He’s a little protective of people in the club since we’re his only family.”

  “But… I’m not in the club.”

  Zion smiled. “You’re my kid brother, you’re family. Plus, he also doesn’t like fuckheads. The prospect has been gettin’ on his nerves all day, and that was the final straw, obviously.”

  All I could think of to say was “I’m not a kid.”

  Zion chuckled and went back into the kitchen, where his other friends had drifted off to. I jolted when I heard next to me, “Yeah, sorry again about that.” The prospect stood beside me, a slight pink to his cheeks. “Do you think they give a fuck I just outed myself?”

  My eyes widened. “You… they, ah, you’re gay?”

  He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Bi, actually. Was worried about how’d the brothers would act, but they seemed protective of you.”

  This was all too much for my little but smart mind to handle.

  I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about them.” At least I hoped not. I didn’t know how many were involved with the club, but if they were anything like the men in the house, then he shouldn’t need to worry. I really had to find out more about my brother’s friends.

  He smiled. “Name’s Kylo, and I wasn’t playin’ you when I said I was gonna ask you out, but I know it’s a shit time now after everything. So, friends?”

  Taken back again, my eyes widened as I looked down at his outstretched hand. Slowly, I took it and shook. I nodded. “Friends.” Because going on a date with him was the last thing on my mind when it hadn’t finished processing what had happened since I w
alked into the house.

  “Cool. Wanna play?” He tilted his head toward the Nintendo.

  “Sure,” I replied hesitantly because this whole experience seemed as if I’d been kidnapped and placed on a different planet where everyone was accepting and amazing and scary and hot.

  Once I sat on the couch, Kylo passed me a controller and got onto the area where we had to pick another player. “Heard Zion say you were at college. What do you study?”

  “Medicine. I’d like to become a doctor. A pediatric doctor, in fact. Um, what do you do?” I asked as I picked Luigi to help Mario through the worlds.

  “I work in a gym owned by the club.” He shrugged. “I like it. I get to use the equipment whenever I want.”

  Zion had said the club owned many businesses, but he was just one of the club members who had put money in with the brothels. I took a quick glance at Kylo’s body. Only when I lifted my eyes, he was already looking at me and smiling.

  He winked. “What do you think, has it paid off?”

  My face ignited. “Ah, yeah?”

  He chuckled and bumped my shoulder with his.

  “So, ah, the way Wreck was with you… were you worried?” Because I couldn’t help but think that if I’d been Kylo, I would have crapped my pants. Yet, even though his voice had been high in worry, other than that, he didn’t seem too concerned. Unless those types of situations happened all the time. I didn’t know how bikers acted or what their lives were like. Maybe I should have watched Sons of Anarchy when it was first out, then I could have some insight into what to expect.

  Kylo snorted. “You haven’t been around brothers before?”

  I shook my head. “No. I’ve been busy. I knew Zion was in a club, but until tonight, I’d never met anyone before.”

  “Strange, your brother’s been in the club for ages.”

  “Four years, but again, I’ve been busy. School has ruled my life for a long time. It still does because I know what I want in life, and I want to achieve it.” I shrugged, suddenly feeling bad because I should have known more about my brother than what I did.

  “Don’t stress. I can understand that. You’re focus-driven. It’s cool. To answer your question though, you gotta understand the brothers in the club are… shit, how to explain?” He went quiet for a moment. “It’s like these men protect in their own kinda way. They have their own laws, and they stick to them. They’d do anything for anyone in the family, no matter the cost, because they believe the brotherhood, their families, are everything. They live and breathe the club. It’s their life. I’ve never had structure in my life. My parents are fucked-up drug dealers. An old friend of my father’s got me out of it and brought me into the fold by takin’ me in. I’ve been around their ways, and it suits me perfectly. It’s why I wanted to patch in and become a member.”

  I nodded, not really knowing what to say.

  He went on. “They deal in respect and don’t like being fucked around. It surprised me the way Wreck was, but I understood I went too far. They don’t like shit bein’ said. Wreck was only teachin’ me a lesson. Yeah, he might have been rough, but it’s their way, and by doing it how he did, I know I’ll never make the same mistake again.”

  “But, ah, wasn’t it a shock he did it over you saying something that was, well, small?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, it was a shock, but I disrespected you in front of your own brother and in his home. It wasn’t right.”

  I still wasn’t sure I completely understood. I didn’t think I ever would, but who was I to judge them and their ways? I couldn’t and wouldn’t. If Kylo wasn’t upset over the incident, then I couldn’t be. Also, a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach emerged, knowing I’d been protected by a stranger over something so insignificant.

  I felt Kylo’s eyes on me and heard his chuckle. “It’s okay. You’ll get used to it.”

  Again, I wasn’t sure I would. However, now living with Zion, I guessed I would maybe bump into more of his friends—brothers—if they dropped by, so in time, I could understand what it was all about being in a club as such.

  Or maybe I would stick to asking Zion about it since he was my brother, and it would be better if I wasn’t around his good-looking friends and making a fool of myself.

  My attention went back to the game, and as we traveled through the worlds, we chatted about everyday things. It was different, already it felt easy, like I’d known Kylo for a while. I glanced over my shoulder when I heard footsteps and found Quake and Death coming our way.

  “Prospect, my turn now,” Death said.

  I stood, holding out my controller. “It’s okay, you can have this one. I’ve got to go make a call anyway.”

  I caught Zion looking at me from the kitchen. I wasn’t running off if that was what he was thinking.

  “You sure?” Death asked.

  “Yep. I need to call our parents, and it should be morning there in Australia.”

  He tipped his chin up and took the remote with a smile. “Cool.”

  I started for my bedroom. “Yo, Lucas,” Zion called. “Tell ’em I said hey.”

  “No problem. I’ll also tell Mom about the women constantly showing up for a piece of—”

  He actually paled as he barked, “You’d better not say shit.”

  Laughing, I told him, “Don’t fret. I’ve got your back.”

  He studied me for a moment before smiling. “Yeah, and I got yours.”

  I went back into my room and pulled my phone out of my pocket. It was funny how a shitty day could turn into an all right night—a night where things could change. And if it wasn’t for my brother’s faith and trust, I wouldn’t be calling our parents right then to tell them something they already knew but hadn’t heard from me.

  It rang a couple of times before my dad answered with “G’day, cobber. Struth, it’s a hot one.”

  Closing my eyes, I ran a hand over my face. “Dad, have you actually heard anyone talk like that since moving to Australia?”

  He chuckled. “Well, no, but if I keep doing it, I’ll bring the trend back in.”

  “I highly doubt it. Now, is Mom awake?”

  “She’s awake and—”

  “Is that one of my boys?” I heard yelled. “Gerry, is it one of my babies?”

  “She’s coming this way,” he finished.

  There was a scuffle, and then through the phone came, “Hello? Lucas? Zion?”

  “It’s Lucas, Mom.”

  “Oh, my dear boy, how are you? I miss you and your brother so much. I never should have moved so far away. Gerry, we’re moving home. I want to go home.”

  “Lucy, you promised me another six months. We’re staying another six months.”

  “Fine,” she snapped. “Lucas, tell me everything that’s going on. How’s living with Zion?”

  “It’s good, Mom. I actually need to talk to you both. Can you put me on speaker?”

  “What is it? Are you hurt? Is Zion okay? Did you steal drugs off some pimp, and now they want to sell your body?”

  “Jesus Christ, Lucy, where did that come from?”

  “I write books for a living, Gerry. My mind tends to overreact.”

  “Overreact my ass. You’re just crazy.”

  Sighing, I sat down on my bed and waited until they stopped yelling at each other. If I didn’t know they loved one another, I would worry about their marriage.

  Things calmed down after Dad said, “You’re an amazing author, honey. I just worry about your sanity.”

  “So do I.”

  When I heard lips smacking together, I yelled into the phone, “Mom? Dad?”

  “Sorry, dear, what were you saying?”

  Shaking my head, I told her. “You don’t have to fear, Mom, I didn’t steal anything, no one wants to sell me, and Zion is well.”

  “That’s great to hear. Then what did you have to tell us?”

  “I’m gay,” I announced before they started running off with any other thoughts.

  “What did I nee
d to say?” was whispered by Dad. “Got it.” He cleared his throat. “What, boy? You’re gay?” he yelled. I rolled my eyes and let it play out. “I can’t believe this. It’s such a surprise. I don’t think my heart can take it. Oh look, your mom has fainted from the shock. I think… and I’m sorry to say this… but I need to disown you.”

  “Are you done?” I asked in a flat tone. Mom’s giggle sounded through the phone.

  “I think so,” Dad answered. “Am I done, Lucy?”

  “Yes.” I could tell she was smiling from the lightness in her voice. “Honey, we’ve known you were gay for a long time. Why it took you so long to tell us, I’ll never know. But now you have, and no matter what, you should know you have our love.”

  Warmth spread through my chest. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip because it threatened to tremble.

  “But,” Dad added, “like we’ve told Zion, the same rules apply to you. Even if it’s a guy you’re bringing home to meet us, make sure they’re not drug dealers or takers, ex-cons, or pimps. Wait, lawyers. We don’t need any lawyers in our family. Your mom dictates enough around here.”

  There was a slap, and then Mom cried, “Hey.”

  Laughter burst out of me. I’d been so scared because of all the bullshit I’d seen and heard about other people. I should have trusted my family.

  “Love you, guys,” I told them.

  “Aw, we love you too,” Mom cooed.

  Dad grunted. “Yeah, what she said.”

  “Say it, Gerry.”

  “Lucy.”

  “Say you goddamn love him also.”

  “Fucking hell. I goddamn love you too, kid.”

  By the time I hung up the phone with them, I was still laughing. More weight had lifted from having such an amazing family.

  Chapter Three

  Lucas

  I had my head buried in my books at the kitchen table when I heard, even over my music, the front door open. Of course, I was at the other end of the table from where I saw Zion going at it, while trying to put that moment far from my mind. Thankfully books distracted me when I got in the zone. I flicked to the next page and lifted my foot onto the chair while leaning onto my opposite arm on the table as I absently called, “Hey,” when I felt my brother move closer.