Bomber, page 2
part #1 of War Brothers MC Series
Misty gives me a small smile before she enters her bedroom.
After I get changed into shorts and a shirt, the sound of someone clearing their throat makes me hastily turn. Mom is standing awkwardly by my bed.
“You scared me.” After I get over my shock, I ask, “What’s wrong?”
Mom looks at the floor before staring at me. “Do we have to have the talk?”
My eyebrows furrow. “What talk?”
“The talk. Now that you’re eighteen.”
My stomach drops. “Mom, no! The talk is not needed.”
“Should I take you to the doctor to put you on the pill?”
“Mom!” I cringe and my cheeks burn from embarrassment.
“Well, I’m here if you ever want to talk about it or go to the doctor.”
I attempt to smile at her in thanks and wait for her to leave the room. I wait ten more minutes to ensure that I’m not bright red before I walk downstairs.
An hour later, the limousine arrives. We travel through the suburban part of town, toward the amusement park on the main strip of road close to Crown Beach.
Excitement shoots through me—I love the amusement park. We’re always guaranteed a good time, and Misty and I both see it as our happy place. It’s where Knox and I and Misty and Kane had our first double date. The restaurant, with its ocean view, is where our families have celebrated special occasions over the years.
We walk to the available ticket booth. When the worker sees us, his eyes widen.
“I’m Zara. This is Misty,” I glance between the guys. “This is Knox and Kane. Their mother is Audrey Crown. We’re here to get the VIP passes.”
The employee blinks a few times, then pushes his glasses up his nose. He looks at Knox and shuffles back in his seat like he’s scared of him. His colleague, who has finished serving a family at the next window, looks over and says, “Billy, the Crowns own the amusement park. Just give them the VIP passes.”
The guy turns away, picks up the passes, and places them on the counter. He clears his throat. “Have a good day.”
As we walk through the clown-face entryway, I’m greeted by a variety of carnival music and laughter. In the distance is the top of the red-and-white Ferris wheel, and to my right is a large roller coaster.
As we walk toward the food shops, the scent of coffee wafts to me first, followed by the smell of something oily and deep fried. Then I smell popcorn and candy floss, which makes my stomach rumble.
“I want ice cream. You want some?” Misty asks, her eyes darting between the three of us.
“Yes, please,” I answer.
“Kane, come help me carry them back.” He moans under his breath but follows her to the ice cream stand.
Misty and Kane stroll back to us and hand us our ice cream.
“Can you hold mine for a second?” Misty asks me with a wicked glimmer in her eye.
She hands me her ice cream cone and glances at Kane. When he brings the ice cream up to lick it, her hand bolts out and she smashes it into his face.
Misty, Knox, and I burst out in laughter as Kane stands and blinks a few times with his mouth open wide. Chocolate ice cream is everywhere—all over his face, even in his eyes. It drips off his face onto his shirt.
The shock evaporates, and a slow, evil grin paints Kane’s face. Within seconds, he hurls himself at Misty, who screams. He rubs his head on her neck, spreading the ice cream into her hair.
It isn’t long before Misty’s in the bathroom cleaning herself up while cursing Kane.
I put my hand under the tap and then run my fingers through her hair to try to get the stickiness out. “You’re not going to get all of this out now.”
She whines loudly, still trying to rub her shirt with water. “I give up. I want to go on the rides before DJ Mesah starts.”
When we return to the guys, Misty checks her watch. “Okay, we have time to go on two rides. What to choose, what to choose?”
She wiggles her eyebrows at us, exaggerating the hard choice, but we know what she’ll choose. “Bumper cars to make the guys happy.” She gives me a pointed look. “And our favorite, the carousel?”
Kane groans. “What is with you two and the carousel? It’s a kids’ ride.”
Misty has been dragging me on the carousel since we were young kids. It’s our thing.
Misty snorts at Kane. “Funny, because you’re the biggest kid here.”
He rolls his eyes. “What about the sledgehammer or big dipper roller coaster?”
Both being thrill rides, I’m not surprised he chose them.
“No. Fair is fair. Bumper cars for all of us and then the carousel because it’s Zara’s birthday. Better watch yourself on the bumper cars, Kane,” she taunts.
Kane flashes her a roguish smile. “Bring it on.”
We climb into our bumper cars. My gaze cuts to the others and I grin at them in excitement. I grip the steering wheel as I focus in front of me. When the green light flashes, Misty and Kane ram each other. Misty cackles.
As I’m watching them, I see Knox aiming for me. I turn and go as fast as I can to get away from him while a woman and child in one car bump into him, which turns him away from me. I smile back at him in victory.
After our time finishes, we get out of the bumper cars. Knox takes my hand, and we take the steps down to the ground, where we make our way past the small kids’ roller coaster and the spinning teacups.
The next is the carousel, with its gold crest and range of horses and carts. Kane and Knox wait outside as Misty and I show our VIP pass to the man operating the ride. We step up to the platform and weave between the seats until she finds a horse rearing up on its back legs. I get onto one that looks as though it’s galloping. Misty swings her leg over and hops on. She holds on with one hand, peers over her shoulder, and smiles at me.
Soon after we finish the ride, we walk to the large event. We show our tickets to the ticket collector. Once inside, the noise is earsplitting.
“I want to get up to the front,” Misty calls out. Kane nods, grabs her hand, and pushes through the crowd. Misty clutches my wrist and pulls me along, while Knox steps to my side and helps me get through the bustle.
As we get closer, my heartbeat speeds up.
“Hello, everyone,” DJ Mesah says into the microphone.
People cheer, and we keep shuffling. We cannot stop bumping into the mountains of people crammed inside, though there’s a genuinely happy vibe in the crowd.
“I’d like to thank all of you for coming, and I hope you enjoy the set.”
Misty and I cheer. We end up in the center about five people back from the barricade near the stage.
The music starts, and people lift their phones, videoing. The intro of the song starts slowly as the lights around the stage flash. When the beat kicks in, green lasers flicker through the crowd. The atmosphere of joy and excitement sends a chill down my spine.
The tempo increases, and then the beat drops. The chorus makes the crowd erupt in yells and cheers. Misty and I jump to the beat, our arms up. The guys are flush against us, protecting us from the rowdy people.
Half an hour in, Misty freezes. When I look at her, her hands are covering her mouth and she has paled significantly.
“Do you want to go?” I yell over the music.
Her eyes stretch wide and she frantically nods.
I turn to the guys and tap them on the arms. “We need to go now. Misty looks sick,” I say loudly over the music.
Knox’s and Kane’s eyes flash with understanding. Knox walks ahead, creating room for us to move through the crowd. Once we make it through, Misty runs to the bathroom stalls.
My eyes flicker between Knox and Kane. “Can one of you call the limousine to pick us up? We’d better go home so Misty can get some rest before tonight.”
My heart races as I look in the mirror. I hate being the center of attention. I wipe my sweaty hands on my dress.
“Zara. Marie. Pratt,” Mom says. “For the love of all that is holy, do not wipe anything on that dress.”
I flinch, then straighten my back. “Sorry, Mom.”
When I saw this dress, I wanted it, but now I feel a sliver of guilt that it might have cost too much. I was so giddy when I saw it that I didn’t even look at the price tag. It’s a gold floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline and sequins around the top half. I went with natural makeup and kept my hair simple by straightening it.
Misty steps into my bedroom and wolf whistles.
I stifle a laugh and swat at her. “You look pretty too.”
Rarely does Misty grace us in a dress. She’s wearing a floor-length green mermaid dress with a V neckline that makes her blue eyes pop. Her long blonde hair is half up in waves.
“How are you feeling? You don’t have to celebrate tonight. I understand if you want to go back to bed and rest.”
“Actually, I’m feeling a little better,” she replies.
“My girls are beautiful tonight,” Mom says, her voice cracking at the end.
Misty and I may not share the same blood, but she is my sister. Our parents adopted Misty because they didn’t think they could conceive, but Mom fell pregnant soon after adopting Misty as a newborn, which is why we are so close in age.
“Don’t get too excited. Look at these bad boys,” Misty says as she lifts her dress, revealing socks and black-and-white Vans.
Giggling at her, I shake my head and sneak a peek at Mom. She’s glaring at Misty, but then her shoulders drop an inch, as if she’s defeated. She knows as well as anyone that when Misty has made her mind up, nothing can change it.
Mom sighs. “Can you at least keep the dress down so no one can see your shoes?”
Misty looks up as if considering her response. “I can do that,” she says with a smirk.
“The guests are arriving.”
I turn to see Iris by the bedroom door. She rarely works this late but offered to stay back and help. My birthday wouldn’t be the same without her here. She’s like family.
Iris’s eyes dart between me and Misty, and she fans her face like she’s trying not to cry.
“Not you too?” I say. My family’s overly emotional today.
She holds up her palm to me. “I need a minute.”
Knox and Kane’s mom, Audrey, walks in past Iris. She claps. “Family photos. I have the photographer ready downstairs.”
Audrey’s wearing a long, elegant dark-blue dress and a necklace with large round diamonds, which glisten in the light.
The uninterested look on Misty’s face makes me laugh.
“Do we have to do photos too?” she whines.
“Misty . . .” Mom warns. “Before I know it, you two will be out of the house, living your own lives. It won’t kill you to smile for a couple of photos.”
Audrey steps closer to me. “Stunning.” She peers down at the ring on my finger, and her lips curve higher.
I smile back in appreciation.
Audrey glances at Misty, who pulls up her dress to show off her shoes to try get a rise out of Audrey. It works—Audrey’s face twists in disgust.
Audrey and I have always had a strong bond, but there’s been some tension between Audrey and Misty. They’re polite, but they’re not exactly best friends. Audrey doesn’t approve of Misty’s behavior and rebellious attitude. And because of that, she’s not thrilled about her son Kane dating Misty.
“Thank you. Are Knox and Kane here yet?” Anticipation at seeing Knox dressed up thrums through my veins.
“Yes, they are. Photos first!” Audrey warns. She knows me and Misty well.
Mom steps over to Audrey. “I can’t thank you enough for helping to make this a special day for Zara.”
“Helen, stop! I am your daughter’s godmother. Organizing this was easy.” Audrey shoos Mom away and swings her head toward us. “Girls, downstairs.”
We walk out of my bedroom and down the stairs to see Dad waiting for us at the bottom. When he sees us, a smile envelops his face. He spreads his arms wide, and when I reach the bottom stair, I step into them.
“Happy birthday,” he says when he pulls back out of the hug. “The both of you look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Misty replies.
I peer around at the subtle mix of gold, black, and white decorations. The photo booth is adorned with 18 in gold balloons.
Iris walks past before Mom and Audrey arrive. Audrey steps in front of us and points to the man holding a camera. “The photographer will be taking photos all night, but we should do a formal family one before Helen gets into the wine.”
Dad laughs.
Mom scoffs. “That’s pretty rich coming from you.”
Audrey’s head falls back as she laughs. “I’ve got us some lovely bottles of champagne.”
“Can we get this over and done with? You alcoholics can get back to chatting about your wine afterward.”
I nod with Misty.
Audrey walks further into the center of the house. She points to a backdrop under the chandelier, where all the photography lights are set up. We follow her lead.
“Zara first, by herself, then Misty, Zara, and the family.”
I step into the middle of the equipment and follow the instructions, smiling and trying my best not to blink every time the bright light flashes.
After the family photos are finished, I pose for one photo with Audrey.
“Iris,” I call out. She’s talking to a server and looks up when she hears me call. “Please come and take a photo with me.”
Iris’s eyes widen. She says something to the server and makes her way to me. “I’d love to have my photo taken with you.” She’s beaming.
I wrap my arm around her and smile into the camera.
When we finish, I see Misty standing with Kane and Knox. I start walking toward them, but I hear Mom calling my name.
“Come and see your birthday present.” She tilts her head toward the front of the house.
My stomach flutters. “Where is it?”
“Your present is outside.”
My heart thumps in my chest, and all I can think is, Please be a car, please be a car . . .
Dashing toward the front door, I pass Audrey’s security guard, and Mom giggles behind me. I pull the door open wide, my eyes scanning the driveway. Dad is next to a small white Mercedes Benz. I squeal and rush to it. It beeps and flashes when I reach it, and I turn to Dad, who is holding out the key.
I jump into his arms. “Thank you.” I step to Mom and hug her.
“I hope you like it.” Mom beams.
It’s a hatchback, and it has a big Mercedes Benz logo in chrome on the grill.
“I love it!”
They smile at my eagerness, though Mom takes the car key from Dad. “You can have the key tomorrow. Now it’s time to celebrate.”
Two
She’s My World
Knox
Age: Eighteen
* * *
“Oh, baby, I can’t wait to rip this dress off of you.”
I groan. I don’t want to hear that. I look at Kane and Misty. “Get a room, would you?”
They smile at me. “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Kane says, grabbing Misty’s hand and striding away.
I shake my head. My sarcasm was lost on them. I search the room, checking that Zara hasn’t walked in and seen them bolt upstairs. I hate knowing something she doesn’t. Kane told me they’re sleeping together, but Misty is yet to tell Zara. I don’t understand what the delay is.
Scanning the room again, I see Dad, who has stepped through the front door. My mom is off to the side, talking to her bodyguard. When she sees Dad, her lips tighten and she shifts, turning her back to him.
At least Dad has tried to be friendly in their divorce. Mom’s been a bitch toward him, and it annoys me because Dad let it slip that Mom was the one having the affair. It should be Dad who’s angry with her, not the other way round. If I were to guess . . . it’s the guard who’s by her side all the time.
Zara became my air through my parents’ divorce. As my mom’s son, I enjoy advantages like chauffeured limousines, unrestricted access to money, luxurious mansions, and lavish holidays. But I would gladly trade it all for a genuinely happy family life. Kane and I have always felt like members of the Pratt family, thanks to Zara’s parents, Helen and John, who treat us as if we were their own kin.
Dad sees John and walks toward him. When they meet, they shake hands. I go to them.
“Hey, Dad, did you see Zara?”
He smiles. “Hey, yes. I met her outside.”
“Everyone’s arriving, so Zara’s outside with her mom, greeting everyone. That was my opportunity to let them do their thing and get myself a whiskey,” John says. He holds up a glass of honey-colored liquid.
“All I can say is good luck, son,” Dad says to me.
I cock my head. “Good luck with what?”
His eyes mock me. “Zara’s getting more gorgeous every day. You’re going to have your work cut out for you.”
I stare at him, emotionless, waiting for him to explain.
“It means you’re going to have competition.”
Possessiveness spreads through my chest. “I don’t fucking think so.”
“Knox!” Dad scolds me.
“Well, you better treat her right,” John chimes in.
“Of course.”
I thought I was stating the obvious. The lot of them will castrate me if I hurt her. Anyway, they have nothing to worry about.
I’m not naïve. I see the way women look at me. I’m confident that between my looks and my family’s wealth, I wouldn’t have to say much to take a woman home with me, but that’s just it. I care for no one except Zara. She’s my entire world.
A server comes around, offering us some posh food that looks like garbage. I don’t know how my mom eats it.
“Where’s the sausage rolls or something edible at least?”
Dad laughs. “There will be no sausage rolls tonight, son.”
