Southern steel- Mack

9. Mack

Christ! I have to get my shit together. I think about chasing her down but to say what? I meant what I said. Titan and Trigger will kill me if they knew I took her virginity. I wish she would have told me. I never would have done it.

Wondering out to the common area I see some of the guys. I walk past Titan's office and hear him yell my name. Immediately I'm on alert. Does he know how bad I fucked up? What I did with his sister? Time to face the music.

Walking into the office, I see him sitting at the desk. He looks up at me and doesn't seem pissed off. Maybe she hasn't told him anything. I need to talk with her. I hate leaving all this up in the air. I just can't make her promises right now and until then it is best if we keep this under wraps. When I told her it had never been like that with anyone else that was the truth.

Maybe our ages don't matter. Maybe Titan would be cool with it as long as Eden was happy. Titan interrupts my thoughts. "I need you to run to the garage. We got a shipment of some parts that aren't what we ordered. They are cheap knockoffs from the brands we buy. I have some shit I need to go handle and if you could go check on the parts that'd be great."

"Sounds good. I'll get it handled. Anything else?"

"Nope. Just let me know what happens, and if we need to find a new place to order parts."

"I'll keep you posted." After walking out of the office I breathe a sigh of relief. I'll give Eden time to calm down and tonight when I'm done with the club's stuff I'll go talk to her. I want to make sure she is alright. Last night was incredible, and we do have a connection. If she is willing to hear me out we could have some fun and maybe it will turn into something more.

I hop on my bike and head out of the clubhouse to check on things for Titan. The entire ride my thoughts are filled with Eden. Never did I imagine I would come home and have this reaction to her. I had no idea her and my dad got so close while I was gone. It means a lot that she was there to take care of him when I didn't even know he was sick or suffering.

When I think about it though that is exactly who Eden is. She is fiercely loyal and protective. Even as a kid she was never afraid to take care of others and protect those around her. Dad was the same way. He looked out for those around him. His life was his family whether chosen or blood.

I get back to the clubhouse once I get everything done. I see Titan's bike isn't here so it's probably safe to try to talk to Eden. I head over to Pops' and Cora's house. I go to knock and Pops opens the door before I have a chance to do anything. The look he's shooting me tells me 2 things. He knows, and he wants to kill me.

"I wondered if you'd have the balls to show up here."

"Pops I just want to talk to Eden. I know you want to kill me right now, but I need to see her." I don't even see the punch coming until it connects with my jaw.

"Holy fuck Pops!"

"I don't want to kill you son." He gets slightly closer in my space. "I want to gut you like a fish. That girl is basically my daughter. I want to hang you up and slowly slice you open. You deserve to feel every ounce of suffering and pain she has ever felt in her life."

I hang my head. "I know you're right. It was a horrible mistake. I messed up ok. I just need to talk to her. I do care about her."

"You got a real funny way of showin' people you care about them. I'd love to go get her for ya so you all could have a chat, but she's not here at the moment."

"When's she going to be home?"

"Oh I'm not certain, four years maybe? I mean I hope she comes to visit before then, but the way she was tore up and wanted out of here there just ain't no tellin."

"Four years?! What the fuck are you talking about? Where is she?"

"She decided to take off early for school. Cora and Wilder moved her out a little earlier today."

"I thought she was going to UT in Knoxville to stay here."

"She was, but she also got an offer from Northwestern. She wasn't going to take it, but apparently something nudged her in that direction."

"Pops don't fucking play with me right now. I need to know where she is!"

"Boy, you better watch how you're speaking to me. If she wanted you to know. I guess she would have told ya. Her and Cora didn't give me details, but I caught enough to know you fucked up with my little girl. Here's the issue she's not a little girl anymore."

"I'm well aware she's not a little girl anymore."

"Are you? You sure didn't treat her with the respect a grown ass woman deserves. Now here's what's going to happen. You're going to leave her the fuck alone."

"Respectfully isn't that up to her?"

"Respectfully I'd say she's made her opinion pretty clear by moving states away from you. You're going to leave her alone son. She's never got to live a life for herself. She never had a childhood that wasn't locked in a room worrying when the next hit was coming. She's never got to make decisions for herself. Her entire life has been based on need and survival. I feel like you may have been one of the first things she tried to choose for herself and happiness, and you fucked that shot at happiness right up the ass without any lube didn't ya?!"

Pops comes in close and softens his voice. "You've always treated her more like a kid than she felt. She had to grow up faster than any kid should. No teen should have to fight off a rapist, let alone in their own home with their dad in the next room." Just the thought makes me want to burn the whole town down for her.

"She deserves a chance to live life carefree and have adventures, discover who she wants to be and not who she has to be. Maybe even find love."

"Over my dead body.."

Pops interrupts me. "You aren't grown enough for her. You've had it made your whole life. Girls fell at your feet. You were surrounded by love and a family since you were born. You didn't appreciate the family and friends you had and dropped everyone without a thought. You have some growing up to do. There are consequences to not considering others. You did whatever you wanted and knew the club and your dad would always be here to support you. It's time you see that the decisions you make have consequences. When you're grown, and you deserve her you'll fight. You'll fight for her. You would have walked right up to me, Trigger, and Titan and claimed her. Consequences be damned. She just wants to be someone's choice. I'd take a bullet in the face for my Cora. I'd protect her with my last breath and that includes her heart. I'd protect her with my last breath because she is the air I breathe. Let Eden go live her life. Let her rise like the phoenix she is."

"I messed up. I know! Can you at least let me know she is safe and ok?"

"Shes good. We'd never let her be unsafe."

I nod my head and walk out towards the clubhouse defeated.