Page 6 of Acid

Steal grins. "Last time I checked, it was me kicking your ass at Halliwell’s.”

I scoff, "If you lying on your back means you kicked my ass, then sure, whatever you say, and why am I here anyway? I haven't done anything. Lately."

Steal raises a brow. "Like trying to burn my father?"

I groan, running a hand through my hair, and admit, "I didn't fucking mean to. I was trying to throw it through the window. How in the fuck was I supposed to know he was going to stand in front of me at the same time? And besides, he's forgiven me for that shit anyhow."

I hear people snicker before a man who looks a little familiar walks up to me. His light green eyes assess me, eyes that remind me of my mother’s before she found herself on drugs.

He nods at me and introduces himself, "The name’s Canine. I uh, your mother was my sister." My mouth parts in shock, my eyes wide as his jaw clenches. "Your father wouldn't allow me or my mother, your grandmother, Meredith, any contact after Paige married him. We only know she died because of a friend I have at the morgue."

I scoff, cross my arms over my chest, and admit, "That doesn't surprise me. He probably didn't want you to know that he kicked the shit outta me and my brother for years, forcing us to steal so that he didn't have to get a job."

"What the…?" Anchor, Steal's best friend, stutters in shock, his dark brown eyes wide, and I shrug.

"It is what it is." That is all I say, not wanting sympathy.

I've done my fucking hardest to ensure my brother doesn't get the same treatment I did growing up; having those women's fucking hands on me while men held me down.

Fuck no!

I've also tried to fuck those memories out of my body, but it's not fucking working. I always feel dirty afterward, and have to scrub my body red fucking raw.

Hammer clears his throat, getting everyone's attention, his gray eyes serious. "His brother, Elijah, still has a year until he can legally leave. Child Protective Services, for some reason, are on the fucker's side." He looks at me. "I have a friend who is good with computers. Every complaint against your father was removed from the system, and when Canine tried getting custody of you and your brother, the judge on our payroll denied it."

That shit doesn’t surprise me. Pamela, the woman who always got the complaints, is the same woman who would come around, using my body against my will.

Hammer tilts his head, trying to read me, but I keep my emotions off my face.

No one can find out what I went through for four years—fuckingno one, and definitely not my brother.

As far as he's concerned, I was only beaten until he was old enough to start stealing, and Aiden focused on him instead.

Eli may hate me for it, and even resent me, but if he ever was to find out about the other things Aiden made me do, it would destroy him.

Hammer eyes me for a second before speaking again, "I managed to buy the house Oliver and Elijah live in, so that won't be a problem over the next year, but I want to try and get Elijah here as much as possible so Aiden can't touch him."

"Can't we just kill the fucker?" a man I don't know says, his skin covered in tattoos.

Hammer shakes his head. "No, Art, we can't. He's got friends high up, and we can't make him vanish just yet, but we can make sure he barely touches Elijah, now that Oliver is out of that house."

I look at him sharply. "I'm not out of that house. I put off college so I won't leave Eli alone."

Hammer nods. "I know, but Canine and I have managed to get you onto a business course so you can take over at the Huntsmen Grub.” He holds his hand out, and a guy in a plain cut, the word prospect on the right side, hands him something. He holds it out to me and says, "We brothers all had a vote, and several of us argued about who got to sponsor you, and of course, Steal won. We want you as part of the club."

My mouth parts in shock as Steal steps forward, giving me a grin. "You have to do a year of grunt work, but you will be paid, and once the officer brothers think you're ready and believe you've gained the club's full trust, you'll become a brother. I have every faith in you, Oliver, and as soon as you've done a few years of regular club duties, and getting your degree, I'll make you my road captain once I’m prez."

I swallow hard, eyeing the cut, and rasp, "But I tried to burn you, Hammer…."

The brothers chuckle while Hammer grins. "Showing just how far you'd go for your brother, and that is the kind of loyalty we look for."

I take the cut, gently rubbing my thumb over the prospect patch.

Anchor speaks, making me look at him, "Put the cut on prospect." He grins. "It'll be good to get payback for all the times you kicked the shit out of me in the ring."

I snort before taking a deep breath, and putting the leather on. The men in the room all cheer, and I make eye contact with Hammer. "I promise I won't let you down," I swear, and he nods with pride.

"Well, this has to be a cause for a celebration," Steal announces, making me chuckle.