Ruined 15

Avery

This was a bad idea.  As soon as I saw the bikes outside my father's house I started having second thoughts. 

It was one thing telling them all that thirteen years ago they had kicked me out with Ruins baby growing in my belly. Most of them had already guessed that anyway. It was totally another to walk in next to him. My hand in his. And I knew he would want to touch me because he hadn’t let go of my hand since our earlier conversation. 

His woman, though? He had some nerve after everything that had happened between us but I would have been lying if I said it didn’t send goosebumps down my body. And it had nothing to do with our past. My body reacted to Ruin like it craved him. There could be o denying we wanted each other.

It was just when he opened his annoying mouth that I couldn’t stand him.

But I would do whatever it took to get my child back. Because if my ex didn’t have him, it didn’t bear thinking about. 

I just wanted Parker back. And I would do whatever it took to make it happen. Even play the part of Ruin's woman for a few weeks until he got bored of me. He would get bored, he had never had a serious relationship. He had said so himself.

“Av’” Finally he let go of my hand but only to turn my face to him and it was only then that I realised we had stopped. I had been so wrapped up in my own head that I hadn’t even noticed. “You doing ok?” The rough pad of his thumb brushed down my cheek. His eyes searching my face as if he could learn all my secrets that way. “Believe in me ok?”

Part of me did that was the crazy thing. If anyone could get Parker back it was the club. “I do,” I answered him honestly.

“Not just to get Parker back….”

“Ruin….” I couldn’t do this right now. Surely he understood that?

“I'm not saying be my old lady but when we walk into that house but I want us to be a team. I want us to be solid….” he held up a hand. “I know it’s asking you a lot, I get that. I do. But at least give me a real chance… no more running from me.”

For several long seconds, I could do nothing but stare at him. “Ok.” My voice was small when I finally answered him, unsure but I let him lead me into my father's house by the hand.

He didn’t even try and hide it, as every pair of eyes turned towards us.  If anything he made more a show of it. Tugging me forward so he could bring the back of my hand to his lips.

“About fucking time.” Wicked chuckled from his place in the corner, and I shot him a look. Heat flushing my cheeks.  He wasn’t alone. Truth was right there next to him.

Would he hate me for leading him on? That’s what I had done after all. But when our eyes finally met he merely smiled, giving a slight nod of his head. He didn’t look mad. 

“Shut up.” Ruin, as if sensing my discomfort, tightened his grip. It was almost as if he could tell I wanted to run from all the prying eyes. 

Wicked just laughed louder. “You have been driving everyone crazy since she got back into town, I’m glad you two are….”

I opened my mouth to tell him we weren’t together and snapped it shut, throwing Ruin a guilty look. 

“Early days brother…” another squeeze. 

“It’s pretty clear you’re crazy about her.” This time it was Truth that spoke. “Anyone with eyes….”

“And yet you stuck your tongue down her throat anyway?” 

Truth shrugged. “I would have stuck my tongue anywhere she wanted me to Ruin. You said you were cool with it.”

“I wasn’t.”

“I know but ….”

“Can we just stop?” My voice rose above their bickering. We were here to try and find out where my son was, not so two overgrown boys could argue over me. “Talking about which one of you gets first dibs.”

By my side, Ruined chuckled darkly but I was pretty sure I heard him whisper “dibs.”

I shot him a look. My eyebrows raised. “What’s being done to find my son?”

“Our son.” Ruins words seemed to echo through the room.

“Your son?” Truths eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. “Did you say Parker is your son?” He turned to his brother. “You knew about this and still let me try and get into her panties?”

It was the last straw. Why couldn’t they just stop making it about me? “Look you can all argue and gossip about me later, I don’t care. But I want… I need my son….” tears erupted from my eyes again and I swiped at them angrily.

“Baby.” Ruin was there, his voice low and soothing as an uneasy silence fell. “Baby we will find him.”

“I just can’t…” I didn’t want to fall apart, not in front of everyone. 

“I know Avery. I know.” He turned back to the room. “I’m going to get Avery into bed, but I want to know what is being done the second I am back down.  And there best be good news.”

“I’m not leaving, I want to know….” 

He cut me off. “A shower, and change of clothes at least Avery. And a tiny nap, you are exhausted.”

When had he got so bossy and yet so motherly? Every part of me wanted to fight against him. To tell him I wasn’t a child and that I could look after myself. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t push him away when he was being everything I had always wanted. What would the harm be if I just this once, let someone look after me? “Ok.”

   ***

“Come here.”

One tug and I was in his arms and we were tumbling onto my narrow single bed, I don’t think he meant for us to end up there but we did anyway. 

“Ruin….” I started to say and his lips silenced me. It was the slightest of kisses. A barely brush of his lips over mine. “Let’s get you ready for bed.”

“I’m not a child Ruin.” But I lifted my arms to let him lift the hem of my T-shirt over my head. He tossed it away but didn’t make a move to get me something to cover myself with. Instead, he stared at me, his eyes drinking me in. Feasting on me. And I scrambled to cover my breasts. 

It wasn’t the first time he had seen me in a bra, Hell it wasn’t even the first time he had seen me in a bra this week. But it was the first time he had ever looked at me with some much hunger in his eyes. 

“How are you so damn beautiful.” He reached a hand out, his finger sliding down my throat and over the swell of my breasts, moving my hands away where I tried to cover myself. “It’s not fair, how perfect you are.”

“I’m not perfect, I have stretch marks and … Ruin what are you doing?” I pushed his hands away where they slid across my stomach. “Will you stop touching my mum tum.”

“Avery now isn’t the time, because we need to get our boy back but as soon as all this is sorted. As soon as Parker is home, you best believe I am going to kiss every single stretch mark you have. I am going to make you see yourself how I see you.”

I swallowed hard. “When did you stop being such an asshole?” 

He laughed. “Oh I’m still an asshole Avery, I just want to be your asshole.”

For a heartbeat, I could do nothing but stare at him. This Ruin was new and somehow even scarier than the asshole who I was rapidly getting used to. I just didn’t know how to take him. Or even if he was being genuine. But then again what did he have to gain by lying?

Me in his bed? I had already done that once and he knew I would no doubt end up there again.

“Ruin, I can’t make any…..” His lips sliding over mine silenced me, and somehow this kiss was different. I couldn’t put my finger on how it was different it just was.

“I’m not asking you for any promises Avery, I’m giving you one. You can make of that what you want. I can’t make you trust me. I know I don’t deserve it.” He shook himself, and the stony veneer he usually wore slipped back over his face. “But I will do what needs to be done to make sure Parer gets home to you, whether you decide to let me in your lives or not. I owe you that much.”

Yeah, he owed me that much after everything he had done. And I was going to let him make good on his promises. It was probably foolish, I should probably allow the police to handle it.

But what could I say? It was hard sometimes to forget where I had come from. And if anyone could find my son it was the Black Aces.

***

My fathers living room was almost empty when I finally emerged from the shower. Ruin had been right, I was exhausted but a shower and clean set of clothes had helped. There was no way I would be sleeping anytime soon. 

Not until I knew Parker was ok.

But it wasn’t Ruin I found sitting on the old overstuffed couch it was Wicked. He was nursing a cup of coffee like it was the only thing keeping him alive. I froze in the doorway, with my hair still dripping down my back as his usually friendly eyes settled on me.

“Wheres everyone?”

“Out”

Sucking in a breath I stared at him. what the hell was his problem now? It was like he was purposely trying to start a fight. And on today of all days.  I wasn’t going to bite though. If he wanted an argument he would just have to go and start somewhere else. I had much more important things to deal with today. 

“Ok.” I shrugged. It would have been nice for Ruin to let me know he was leaving but I wasn’t his old lady. He didn’t have to tell me shit.

It just would have been nice,

“Do you mean Ruin or Truth?”

My head snapped around. So that’s what his problem was.

“I meant everyone” I flopped down on to the chair opposite him, my eyes meeting his.

He gave a shrug but I knew it was far from over. I could tell just by the hard set of his jaw. 

“If you have something to say Wicked, just spit it the fuck out”

Something changed in his face then, a smile spread his cheeks apart. the kind of smile that a shark gave a seal before it took a bite.

“Its nothing important, well nothing new. I knew what you were like the first time I met you Avery and the years haven’t changed you. You may have Ruin and my brother fooled but I can see straight through you.”

My eyelids fluttered as I blinked rapidly. What the hell was the meant to mean.?  He knew what I was like.?

“You don’t know shit.”

His laugh filled the air, “Oh I know you fucked around with my brother to prove some point to Ruin, and then went home with him anyway. I know you being here is ripping this club apart” His eyes narrowed, and even though he didn’t raise his voice, or be threatening in any way I shied back from him. “I know you should go and stay gone this time.”