Falling For The Biker: The Vice President's Girl Chapter 89

Ezra

Dread coils low in my belly when the picture and name AJ sends drops in my phone.

The familiar face strikes a chord in me, and the name.

Lydia Smith.

One of the names I came across when I dug into the Carlisle family. The same face, the same name so I can't be mistaken.

Another text drops.

AJ: Reggie is Reginald Smith. You need to be careful, bro. I'll keep you posted on any other thing. Delete this msg.

Without thinking, I call him.

"What are you doing? You know you can't just call me," he hisses. The sound of a door slamming shut echoes in his background.

"Fuck, man. I'm sorry. But, Lydia Smith is the president of your MC?"

He huffs. "I just sent everything I know to you, Ezzy. By the name 'Smitties MC', yes, they're both the founder and President of our MC."

Always so sassy.

Smitties MC, the club my brother snuck into to keep an eye out on the Carlisle's before I joined Raven Reaper's MC.

"Shit," I cuss. "So what I was suspecting is true?"

"Maybe. But listen-" his voice drops, "you really messed up Reginald. Coupled with the fact that you also almost set the other guy—Terry—on fire. Lydia is pissed, and she's coming for you guys. Heard they might need me as one of the men."

"You're saying you're gonna attack us?"

"I have to. It's the only way not to get caught out here. This people are ruthless, you have no idea."

"But you're not sure yet, right?"

"Hm."

I pace the room. The possibility of being attacked by my brother and other men from their messed up MC is getting to me.

Shit!

Things are quickly spiraling out of my control. Lydia is pissed. Reginald is close to dead. They're all fucking pissed, and they'll come for me—or Wren.

"I heard some talking once. Lydia hates the Carlisle's. All except Raymond, your best friend."

The pictures on the wall in my basement stands out to me, and so does the picture AJ sent.

That's when Wren's question comes back to me; "This woman...she's not my real mom, is she?"

And I know the answer.

No, Wren. Lydia is not your real mom, but she's Ray's.

"Fuck! AJ..."

"I have to go now. Stop calling me, man. Leave a message instead. My regards to Elizabeth and the kids, I'll always keep you posted."

"Love you, little bro."

"Ew, Ezzy. Don't do that."

He hangs up.

As soon as the call drops, I call Ray. He picks up on the third ring.

"Seriously, babe? Ezra can't wait?!" Quincy's annoyed tone cuts in through the phone.

"This better be important, EJ," Ray gruffs out.

"It is," I reply. "Your mom is the president of Smitties MC."

There's a sharp intake of breath. "Come again?"

"Lydia Smith? Ring a bell?"

"Oh my fucking god! She's still alive? It's been more than a decade."

"Apparently. And her brother...Reginald Smith. Also known as Reggie."

"You're fucking kidding me, man."

"I wish."

"But why are they after Wren? And us?" He asks.

I frown. "Beats me. Thought you'd know the answer to that. But, did you know she's not Wren's mom?"

"Yes," he mutters quietly. "I'm glad she left before Wren had any lasting trauma."

"Me too." The words slips out before I can register them.

Thankfully, he doesn't comment on it.

"So what are we going to do? What's their deal?"

I shrug. "I'll find out what I can, and let you know. But for now, Wren needs a break. And frankly, so do I."

"I doubt they'll be planning an attack anytime soon, right?"

Swallowing down the information AJ gave me, I reply, "They'll be crazy to plan one."

"Alright. Take your time, I'll call Wren later today. Take care of my sister, EJ. You know how much I trust you with her wellbeing."

"Of course."

The door opens, and Wren walks in. Before she opens her mouth though, I lift a hand pointing to my phone.

"Ray?" She mouths.

I nod.

And her cheeks redden as she holds her good hand up to her lips.

"Later, EJ. Call me anytime, and thank you."

"I've got you...brother."

My chest twists and I hang up.

Everyday that passes, the guilt weaves its way further into my chest. It's hard to sleep without picturing myself telling Ray about everything.

I've lived in my head, pictured that day, mapped out every possible scenario. Because I'm in love with Wren, wholeheartedly and I so badly want Ray to approve of us.

To accept us.

"Everything okay?" My perfect girl walks into my open arms, streaks of paint coat her cheeks and some get stuck in her hair.

Inhaling her scent, all my worries disappear. "Yea. Everything's fine. You look like you had fun."

"Yea. Safe to say everyone is worn out, and tired."

"Where's Beth and the kids?"

"I helped to bath Hannah, and put her to bed for a nap. So Beth's either with Noah, or she has retired to her own room."

"Who's gonna bath you and put you to bed, then?" I tease, stroking the paint on her cheek.

She leans further into me, peering up at me through thick lashes. "Hopefully, you."

I laugh. "Alright, sweetheart. I'm here for anything you need, sexual and otherwise."

She shakes her head on a huff. "I'm not even going to respond to that."

I chuckle.

Helping her undress, careful not to jostle her injured arm, I lead her to the bathroom.

I wash the paint off her skin, her hair. The soap sods cling to her body like pearls.

There's nothing sexual about this, but there's everything intimate about it.

Washing her, taking care of her. Making sure her arm is fine, her hair is properly washed...it's... different.

All done, and I wrap a towel around her, pick her up and deposit her on the chair in front of the vanity.

"Tell me about your mom," she murmurs as I dry her damp hair with the towel.

Her face in the mirror is fresh. Somehow, she looks younger than her age, skin smooth.

I stand, looming behind her, all tatted up. Dark hair, darker scruff, strong jaw.

We're so different.

I'm all hard and rough around the edges where she's all soft, and sweet.

A small smile lifts my lips. "Her name is Andrea. Andrea Jax."

"That's a beautiful name."

"She was—is—a beautiful woman, with an even more beautiful soul...almost like you."

Her big blue eyes meet mine through the mirror as I brush her hair, sectioning it into two.

"None of us took her soft side, not even Beth. But my mom had an inner strength, you know? After we lost my dad, she had to take care of three of us."

"It couldn't have been easy," she whispers.

Twisting the end of one braid, I hum. "It wasn't. I think that's why we're all the way we are. Forced to grow up, take care of ourselves because we didn't want my mom breaking her back."

"You were great kids."

"I guess. But Beth..." I sigh. "I think she took it on the hardest, being the oldest and all. It's why I'd do anything to protect her especially after she dated the last scum."

"Noah's father?"

"He has no right to that title. But yea, Noah's sperm donor."

"Your mom raised you all great," she says. "She did good. Look at you, and Beth. Both so amazing, strong, selfless...I'm sure AJ is the same judging by how he looks out for you via text."

I snort. "He is amazing. Though if I tell him, he'd probably punch me."

She grins but her eyes hold a longing. There's a depth to that longing. And even though Ray says Lydia didn't stay long enough to impose lasting trauma... I know Wren still feels that loss, that absence.

"I'll love to meet your mom tomorrow, baby." She smiles, giving my bicep a squeeze.

Tying up the last braid, I press a kiss to the top of her head.

"She'll love to meet you, too." I tap her bandaged arm softly. "Let's look at that wound again, okay?"

"Alright."

Then, my phone beeps.

Shoving it out of my pocket, I expect a text from Ray or AJ. But it isn't.

It's an anonymous text.

When I read the content, my world nearly tilts on its axis.

Unknown: I know your dirty, little secret. Hint; It rhymes with 'Rain' and is a kind of bird.

"If you squeeze that phone any harder, you'll crush it. Another text from AJ?" Wren speaks.

My throat closes, heart pounding.

"Yes," I lie, offering a tight smile. "It's AJ."