Broken

When I pulled my Jeep into the club’s compound I finally felt like I was home. I walked passed the run down trailer that was parked in one corner as I made my way towards the clubhouse. It was quiet as I walked up the steps to the door. There was a scooter leaning against the building, but other than that, no one was there.

“Hello…” I called as I walked into the clubhouse. A small smile spread across my face as I looked around the place that I had often called home while I was growing up. My father had been notorious for putting his family in danger more than he kept us safe, and sometimes the same could be said for the club, but I can honestly say that I felt much more safe with the club than I ever did with my mom and dad.

“Sophia!” Chucky called out as he hurried out from the back office, “It is so good to have you home!”

Chucky was the Mayans assistant of sorts. He wasn’t a Prospect, but he was always a big help around the clubhouse. I still couldn’t believe that Coco actually won him in a card game. I still remembered the day Coco walked into the clubhouse with this awkward, but sweet looking man cowering behind him. From what I could remember, Chucky used to work for Teller-Morrow Automotive and the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club in Charming California. He was definitely a strange cat, but over the last couple of years he had really grown on me.

I hugged him tightly and then pulled back to smile at him.

“It’s great to see you too, Chucky,” I exclaimed happily, “It’s really great to be back.”

“You were definitely missed…” he replied awkwardly before walking towards the bar, “Can I get you anything?”

“I would love a beer,” I replied as I sat on a bar stool, “Where is everyone?”

“Here you go sweetheart,” Chucky said as he slid a beer bottle across the bar, “I’m not privy to the whereabouts of most members of the club. They should be back soon though.”

“Thanks Chucky,” I replied with a smile as I brought the beer bottle to my lips.

The door to the clubhouse burst open, nearly knocking me off my bar stool. After I steadied myself I turned on the stool and smiled as one guy after another barreled in. Clearly something had gotten them all riled up. This was my family and despite what they stood for, they knew what family was and they were all loyal to a fault. However, three guys in this pack meant more to me than anything in the world. Angel, Coco, and my Uncle Hank were my world.

I had just gotten home from spending three months at a summer nursing program in Florida and it felt so good to see everyone again.

“Well holy shit!” Angel called out, “You are a sight for sore eyes, Sophie!”

“Drove straight here from the airport,” I replied, “I couldn’t wait to see you guys!”

My heart jumped slightly in my chest as the biggest, heart stopping smile spread across Angel’s face. Without another thought, I hopped off the bar stool and ran to Angel, jumping into his arms. His hugs were always the best.

Angel Reyes was six feet three inches tall and built like a brick house. He was a beast of a man and he could be incredibly intimidating, but to me he was a giant teddy bear and one of my closest friends.

“Fuck,” he exclaimed, “I missed you, little Soph.”

“I missed you too, Angel,” I replied, “It sure feels good to be home.”

Telling him I missed him was an understatement. The way this man made me feel was unlike anything I had ever felt, but I would ruin everything if I opened up to him about it. It started out as a little crush when I was eighteen years old. Ok, maybe it was more than just a little crush, it was more like an obsession, but as I got older, I realized that it was much more than an obsession. As our friendship developed over the last couple years I really got to know him and over that time, I began to fall in love with him. Unfortunately for me, he never gave me the impression that he felt the same way.

“Angel isn’t the only one who missed you,” Coco said, clearly interrupting us on purpose, “Good to have you home, baby girl.”

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” I exclaimed as I wrapped my arms around Coco. I buried my face in his neck and held onto him tightly. For as long as I could remember Coco had been like an older brother to me and he was always watching out for me. He and Angel had always been overly protective of me and I loved them dearly for it.

Coco was the complete opposite of Angel. He was just as badass and just as intimidating, but he was half the size of Angel. There was so much rage and testosterone in such a little package.

“You guys, the club, you’re my family, you’re my home,” I said with a smile after he pulled away, “I wish I could say the same about my parents and that house…I’ve lived there my entire life, but it never felt like home...if I could cancel dinner with the parents to spend time with you guys, I would in a heartbeat.”

“Well if dinner doesn’t go as planned, you can always come to my place,” Angel offered, clearly hoping that I would bail on my parents, “The guys are coming over for beer and pizza tonight.”

“Thanks for the offer,” I replied, “but despite how I feel, I think I owe it to them to spend some time with them.”

Once Coco and I pulled apart I finally noticed the prospect standing behind Angel, his hands holding onto either side of his Kutte. It was cliched and I knew it, but I could have sworn my heart skipped a beat. His deep brown eyes sparkled as he smiled at me, and the way he carried himself, he was clearly the broody type. He was one of the sexiest men I had ever seen.

“Who is the new prospect?” I asked Angel, trying to appear unaffected by the man’s presence.

“Oh yea, right,” Angel replied, raising an eyebrow at me. It was clear that I had done a horrible job of trying to hide the effect he was having on me, “Sophia, this is my baby brother, Ezekiel Reyes.”

“This is EZ?” I asked with a smile as I held out my hand, “It’s nice to finally meet you. This pansy doesn’t stop talking about you.”

“Shut up,” Angel snapped playfully, “I’m no pansy.”

EZ reached out to shake my hand and when we touched a positive charge rushed through my body. I casually glanced up at EZ and could see it in his eyes that he felt it too and I quickly pulled away.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Sophia,” EZ replied, “You have been the topic of many conversations around here over the summer. I think these guys missed you just a little bit.”

“I hope they only talked good things about me,” I said, flashing him my best smile, “Anyways, Uncle Hank mentioned something about possibly working as your after hours nurse to make a few extra bucks. Is he around?”

“He joined Bishop and the others across the border for a meeting with the Mexican charter,” Angel replied, “They won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll let them know you want to talk to them about it.”

“You’re an angel,” I said with a giggle as I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him on the cheek, “I have to get going. Mom and dad are waiting. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

I gave Coco a quick hug before turning to EZ.

“I’ll see you around prospect,” I said sweetly, flashing him a cute smile on my way out.”