Blood Ties

Two

River was sitting in the black out suv. His hand resting on the lowered window, a cigarette between his lips. The drive from New York to Texas fucking ridiculous, but River had done turn and burns that meant he was on the road for a few days.

Carter had gotten himself in a boxing tournament and the Don was worried. So here he was, pulling into a gym parking lot Monster in his hand as he got out. There was several bikes here. He dropped the cigarette and stepped on it as he headed towards the entrance. Sticking towards the shadows, he watched the man he grew up easily trading blows with another man.

River had to stay put, only there to check on him and if seen, to tell him that his father wanted him home. It wasn't easy for him to stay back, to stay quiet. He wanted to root for him, let him know he had more fans in the crowd then the motorcycle club he was now with.

The easily spotted Reaper tattoo wasn't hard to miss on Carter's shoulder blade. Something River found fitting for a man who used the tarot card of death as his killing signature. Too fitting for him, if he was being honest. River didn't know this Carter, but he knew Death and he knew what he use to be.

Age, despite what people think, hardly changed men who tolled out death as a day job. They were callous, cold hearted and ruthless when it came too it. All of that still present, ten years later, in Carter. The name fit him well, better than Nicholi.

A sip from his Monster, a shake to find it gone. River tossed it into a garbage can and leaned back against the wall. His eyes glued to his friend, until his name was being screamed. A confused look as he turned to duck out, not wanting to be creepy if some kid's mom was calling for their child and he showed up instead.

A warm body, weight on his waist. Lips on his. A familiar tone when he heard the female whisper she had missed him. River was fucked. This was bad. He pulled back, gave the most shit eating grin he could muster and replied, "Bella.."

Feeling the weight of her ease up, her feet on the ground. River took her in. All those feelings, feelings thought to be buried after ten years came rushing back.

"Why are you here? Why are you looking at me like that, River?" She asked, a soft smile head tilted to the side. Same question she had asked him when he barged into the pool shed when she was fourteen.

He swallowed a bit. "Uh.. I'm here to talk to Carter." It was the truth. He couldn't answer why he was looking at her the way he always had. River loved her, and now he knew why there was two cards given to him from the Don. A family obsessed with the divination of tarot cards.

"Well, I dropped the bomb he was out so you have time? Lifes been hell and I could use some pillow talk." She said and River just nodded, offering to get coffee since Carter was still fighting and he was noticed. It couldn't hurt, could it?

River found himself sitting with a black cup of coffee across from Bella and the child that accompanied her. This was going to go two ways, River was certain of that. It would go well or he'd end his ass back in a coma. There wasn't much if a inbetween for his life. It just never worked in his favor. Ever.

He barely had a drink in before she said it. "You never came for me, River." Bella started and River just sat the cup down. "I know it's hard for you being here, but I was angry. I ended up in a MC."

"You don't understand how hard it was, and is for me to be here right now." River said evenly. "I couldn't come for you because it was the only way I could keep you safe." He said, knowing had he gone to her they both wouldve been dragged right back by her mom. Letting the events of that night unfold to her.

It was easier reliving it, knowing Bella was sitting there when he came out. He had gone home, Bella's mother was there. Carter was there. Rivers father was there. They were pissed, and well, River took the beating that Carter dealt. He fucked his little sister, he deserved it.

Though, River hated to admit that he was surprised when Carter left that the Don's wife didn't. River picked himself up, like always. It was that or face death in most cases. The next beating wasn't quite the same as the first. It held no meaning, no lesson to River.

Other than. You can't even trust blood.

"River that was my battle too." She growled at him. Her blue eyes seemed to hold a burning fire. Something River loved but hell, he couldn't exactly say that in public. If she escaped this far without being dragged back, he wouldn't blow her cover.

"Was, Isabella, was." He pointed out her key word. "Its still mine. Your father breaths down my neck to know where you are. When you're coming home. And I can't tell him, because I don't know. I don't want you there. Not when we have no clue where your mother is." River took the moment of silence to down the now icy coffee.

She started asking if her dad knew he was here, that she was with the father of the child in her presence. River nodded. "He doesn't know you're here. Only reason I was sent to see Carter. They think you're in Oregon still, with your tattoo shop." Crafty of her to sneak out undetected. Her next question had him snorting a laugh.

"Anyone special? You know what I do. What I was taught from a young age. No. There's no one in my life that's special." A lie. He knew it, so did she. River was looking at what was special to him and even through it was so close, she was untouchable to him.

They exchanged a look, something that didn't need words. A stray tear went down her face and River knew he needed to get out of there. "If he asks, quit protecting me. It's unfair to you, River..."

"My life had never been fair. You of all people should know that, but I can't complain. I'm nearly thirty and I've done whatever I've wanted after four months of you being put on that bus." River snapped. He couldn't put ice in his tone with her, never. The warmth, his love, just came out with every fucking word to her. "The family comes first. Your protection is included in that."

She took his hand. She didn't care about her dad, but she was worried about him. About River, the same one who put her on a bus and never came. Who had to pretend he was alright when he saw her with another man on a hit in New Orleans.

River was already hurt, but he was over it. It helped him thicken his skin, helped him not let things like that get to him. Seeing Bella, crying apologizing for shit she had no control over. It was like he was nineteen again, comforting his best friend's baby sister.

"We were idiots in love back then huh?" She sniffled, letting River rub his thumb over her knuckles.

"You grew up." He said. River didn't. He was an idiot in love with what he couldn't have, something he would never ever have. "I should get going." He said standing up. River placed the card face down on the table. He knew why the Don had given him two and it was painful walking away now that he realized why the Lovers had been placed into his hand before he came. The Don knew she'd be here, knew he'd run into her. It fucking tore him to pieces to have to leave on that little note.

She was crying, begging him to stay. River couldn't. He knew he couldn't. He turned and hugged her softly. "I told you. I'd love you until my last breath..." he whispered, kissing her head. River pulled back, shaking his head and leaving her to drop onto her knees crying for him to come back.

He pulled a cigarette from his pack and headed towards the door lighting it. River wanted to look back, but kept control of that instinct to make sure she was okay. He couldn't chance seeing her and making shit worse. "He's a lucky guy." Was all he managed to say.