Joanna Wylde - Devil's Game

EIGHT YEARS AGO

COEUR DALENE, IDAHO

EM

For fucks sake theyre like weasels in heat. Im gonna puke.

I nodded, agreeing with my sister one hundred percent.

Barfing was the only reasonable response to this shit.

We stood in our dining room, which connected to the kitchen through a pair of pocket doors. Dad had Mom up on the counter, legs wrapped around his waist, his tongue so far down her throat it shouldve triggered her gag reflex.

You do realize were watching you, right? Kit asked loudly. Dad pulled away and turned his head to glare at us. Mom winked, but she didnt have the grace to blush.

Take another ten minutes to fix your hair or something, he said. Then come back down for breakfast.

Kit growled next to me. She had Dads temper. I wish I did. I always followed the rules, and it kind of sucked. Kit called me a daddys girl and maybe she was right. But I just really hated pissing him off.

Its the first day of school and I dont want to be late, she declared. You can screw each other any time, but this only happens once a year. Im hungry.

Dad stepped slowly away from Mom, turning toward us and crossing his arms. His faded tats told a hundred stories, and most of my friends were a little nervous around him. His black leather cut, emblazoned with Reapers MC colors, didnt help. Lucky uswe couldnt have a normal dad who worked at a bank or something.

Nope.

Ours had to be the president of a motorcycle club.

According to my best friend Quinn, Dad was a badass motherfucker, and she was right. I knew no matter what happened, hed always be there for me. Secretly, I liked the fact that the Reapers would back him up. The sight of Dads tats and patches made me feel sort of safe, but Id never admit it. None of that made finding him and my mom practically doing it in the kitchen any less disgusting. I mean, I made sandwiches on that counter. Now where was I supposed to make them?

For once, Kit said, narrowing her eyes, would you please act like normal parents and just ignore each other during a meal?

Sounds boring, Dad muttered, narrowing his eyes right back. Mom and I locked gazes, and she made a face. I hated this partDad and Kit could turn anything into a fight. Mom said they were way too similar, and I agreed. She was the oil that kept our family running smoothly, defusing situations before they got out of hand.

I dont like being bored, he added. Go do whatever it is girls do in the bathroom for a while, and then you can come back down. My house, my rules.

I grabbed Kits arm, tugging her away before she fired back at him. She was only twelve and I was fourteen, but she always stood her ground. Sometimes that was a good thing But she needed to learn to choose her battles.

Just come upstairs, I hissed at her.

Theyre too old to be screwing in the kitchen!

Were not screwing, Dad said. But if we were, that wouldnt be any of your business, either, kiddo.

I dug my fingers into Kits arm, dragging her out of the dining room and up the stairs. I heard Dad laugh in the background, and Mom gave a little squeal.

Theyre so disgusting, Kit said, flopping down on my bed. We had our own rooms, but she spent a lot of time in here because it was bigger. It also had a tree branch we could use to sneak out Not that we ever did, but Kit had big plans for high school.

I know, I replied. Hes right, though. Its his house.

At least you arent stuck in dumbass middle school, she said, sighing heavily. I cant believe youre going to be gone! Its not fair.

Only one more year and youll be there, too, I said. Figuring I might as well take advantage of the delay, I studied my hair in the mirror on the waterfall vanity Mom had given me when I turned thirteen. Itd been hers growing up. Id always loved sitting at it as a little girl, putting on her makeup and pretending to be a princess. And Im sure it wont be that great. I mean, freshman year is kind of lame.

Beats the hell out of eighth grade, she said. But you wont get to do much anyway. Do you really think Dadll let you go to any dances?

Of course he will, I said, even though I had my doubts. Dad could be intense Kit opened her mouth to say something but then snapped it shut as we heard the roar of Harley pipes coming down the drive.

What the hell? I asked, going over to the window. Outside, six of the Reapers were pulling upat seven thirty on a Tuesday Not good. The guys in the club didnt tend to be morning people.

Shit, Kit muttered. Something must be going on.

We looked at each other, and I wondered if she had the same sick feeling in the pit of her stomach I did. Something going on could mean anything in our world. Dad didnt generally let club business overlap with family life, but Id seen enough growing up that I couldnt just pretend things were fine and dandy when a third of the brothers showed up without warning.

Im going downstairs, Kit said, her voice grim. I shook my head.

They wont want us around.

Fuck that.

We crept down the stairs like junior felons.

I expected to hear hushed voices, to feel the kind of tension in the air that only came when things fell to shit. Instead I heard men laughing and talking in the kitchen. We entered the dining room to find our uncle Duck sitting at the table as my mom brought him a cup of coffee. Dad sat next to him, along with Rugerthe very hot young prospect whod been with the club about four months. I had to look away before I started babbling or blushing or something.

When I grew up, I was totally marrying Ruger.

This was not something Id be sharing with my father, no matter how much of a daddys girl I might be. Ruger had graduated from high school a year ago, and Quinn had told me shed caught him screwing her sister, Nicole, in their living room when her parents were out for the night. Id pretended to be horrified, but I made her share all the gory details and there were a lot of them. Quinn hadnt run away when she found them. Nope. She stayed hidden and watched the whole thing, which, according to her, wasnt a quickie.

Not even close.

Quinn also said that Ruger had a pierced dick, and that her sister cried for three nights straight because he never called her back afterward. When I was old enough, hed be calling me back. I had big plans for us.

Morning, Duck said, smiling at me. He wouldnt tell me why they called him Duck, but I always thought he looked more like an old bear. Big and hairy, which wouldve been intimidating if he hadnt been giving me airplane rides and sneaking me candy for as long as I could remember. You look beautiful, Em. Youre gonna do great in high school.

He glanced over at my dad.

I still cant believe our girl is old enough for this.

Ugh. I hated it when they did this, especially in front of Ruger. Everyone seemed to think I was a baby, but I was fourteen now. In less than two years Id be driving. Well, driving legally. Id been driving on the property for years

Appreciate you coming out, Dad said to the guys. Em, grab some breakfast. Were gonna give you a ride to school this morning. I dont want to be late.

My mouth dropped open and I heard Kit make a startled, choking noise.

We? I whispered, hoping Id heard wrong.

All of us, Dad said, offering me a broad smile that didnt reach his eyes. Youre turning into a young woman. I figured it might not be a bad idea to remind those little pricks at your school who your family is. Go ahead and set things straight from the start.

I actually felt dizzy.

Daddy, you cant be serious! Kit burst out. If all of you guys show up, youll scare the crap out of the boys! How will Em ever get a date that way?