Present time

The last year has been a fucking torture. I just couldn’t get my mind of her. She’s been invading my thoughts 24/7, I would see her even in my dreams. I did everything I could to forget her, but nothing worked long term. She would always come back one way or another. Stupid fuck! You’re way too old for her!

That one thought was the only reason I haven’t made a move when she was still here.

And it cost me everything.

She left.

And there’s no reason for her to come back to this town, since her family moved out. Fuck!

I haven’t told anyone about this, but I’m sure my brothers noticed the change. They often commented on how I’m more snappy than usual, but I just ignored them. How could I tell them that I’m just angry that I lost the girl that is 11 years younger than me? Well I can’t even say I lost her when she was never mine to begin with.

I distracted myself with the club whores for the whole year, but it was fucking useless for my mind always pictured the beautiful girl who’s still consuming my thoughts. I tried taking my mind off her by working out, but it only caused me to lose weight, while my head was still filled with her.

One of the whores I've been using for distraction has been getting on my nerves lately. She’s been insisting on fucking bareback, assuring me she’s on birth control, but I’m not falling for that shit. There have been bitches who tried to get the Old Lady cut by getting pregnant, so it’s commonly known to use protection. Besides, who knows what we could catch from a bitch that opens her legs to so many men?

Tori – the club whore – is sitting in my lap, trailing kisses all over my neck. She really tries hard to get the property cut. But, for some reason, she focused her attempts on me. If she thinks I’ll make a whore the Prez Lady, she’s fucking deluded. She’s a decent fuck, though, so I keep her around. And she looks a little like her, but skinnier. That's so fucked up you sicko!

I down another shot of whiskey, intent on getting myself drunk, when Tori gasps dramatically out of the blue.

“Oh my god! Who dresses like that to a club?!” She exclaims in disgust, her friend Alie agreeing with her from Wolf’s lap. Those two joined the club together and I get a feeling they planned to trick my brothers into getting the property cuts. I heard from more than one of my guys that they insisted on not using protection with them.

I turn my head in the direction Tori is looking at, only for my eyes to turn into saucers at the sight.

“Get off!” I hiss at the whore and push her off, not even looking at her, my gaze fixated on the girl at the bar. I get up as soon as she scrambles off my lap then make my way to the bar.

Almost as if sensing me near, she turns around, giving me a cheerful grin.

“Hi Tank. Long time no see, huh?” She comes up to me and gives me a hug, leaving me speechless. I know she hates being touched, so this is new.

“Hey, Lia.” I wrap my arms around her small frame before pulling away. “What are you doing here?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“We’re on a summer break, so we came home. Blake will come here later, he’s meeting up with his friends.” She says and I take this moment to admire her. She was a beautiful girl before, but now she’s a gorgeous woman. And it's been only a year.

“Why don’t I get you a drink and we can talk, huh?” I suggest.

“You know it. I’ll take whiskey on rocks, thanks.” I glance at the prospect at the bar and gesture to my table. He nods and prepares Lia’s drink.

As we make our way to the booth, I notice Tori and Alie’s eyes turn wide before they start whispering something when Wolf greets Lia with a hug. I narrow my eyes at them, they’re acting suspicious.

“Oh, would you look at that, the whore is here.” Tori mocks and I get fucking angry. No one will insult Lia in my presence. Just as I’m about to put her in her place, Lia’s laughter resounds through the room.

“That’s fucking rich coming from you. I’m not the one spreading my legs to anyone with a dick.” Lia smirks maliciously at Tori, then Alie.

“Bitch, watch who you’re talking to! I’m an Old Lady, you can’t speak to me this way.” Tori suddenly declares, making Wolf turn to me questioningly.

“Someone claimed her?” He whispers, shocked. I just shake my head then turn back to the women in front of us.

“No you’re not. You really think that I would fall for that? You have no cut, bitch. And you’ll never get one. Those guys are not stupid enough to be tricked by you.” Lia hisses into Tori’s face with a sinister look. “And even if they were, I would just beat you up like I did in high school.” Tori turns pale at the words, so does Alie.

“You know them?” I decide to ask.

“This bitch – she points at Tori – is Victoria. Remember when I beat up the girl that revealed my past to the whole school? That’s her. And her, – she points at Alie – her name is Natalie. She’s been bothering me at school for a long time.”

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” Tori-Victoria shrieks, lunging at Lia. But before Wolf or I can even react, Lia roundhouse kicks her in the head, making her smash her face on the table.

“Looks like you still haven’t learned you lesson, huh? Want me to break your face again?” She says, her tone mocking. “Move and I’ll break your legs.” She snarls at Natalie.

“Get the fuck out of the club’s property and never come back. Both of you! If I ever catch you near my club, you can be goddamn sure it won’t end well.” I growl at the two whores. I want them gone. No one will treat my little sister like that in my club. And hearing that those are the bitches that tormented her at school only reinforces my decision. They don't deserve to be a part of my club.

“Damn, that was fast. How the hell did they end up here?” Lia asks after the whores leave the building crying.

“They just came here and said they're looking for a job.” I shrug. “At first they were working at the bar as waitresses, but then they started sleeping around, so we just made them the club whores. I didn’t even think about checking for any connection between you and them.” I frown in frustration. I should’ve been more cautious.

“Not your fault. Let me guess, once they started sleeping around, they tried to tie you down with a baby.” Wolf looks dumbfounded, while I just stare at Lia in shock.

“How do you know? They kept trying to sleep with the brothers bareback all the time!” Wolf exclaims, making me scowl at him. Lia does not need to hear about this, she’s only 18 for fuck’s sake!

“I would expect that from them. Becoming an Old Lady would get them settled for life basically.” She shrugs, sipping on her whiskey. "Victoria's been like that even at school. She was obsessed with being with Blake, because once he took over his father's company, she would never have to worry about money or getting a job. That's all she wants - easy life. She tried the same trick before, you know, trying to get pregnant. That was some fucking show." Lia laughs.

“I’ll go check if the bitches didn’t do anything stupid.” Wolf exits the booth, leaving me and Lia alone.

"What did she do?" I ask, intrigued.

"After Blake left, I've stayed at his parents' house, per my dad's request. I still had to go through the physical therapy and all, so he didn't want me to stay alone at my house. One day, Victoria came over, claiming she's pregnant with Blake's kid and demanded that he had to marry her and take responsibility. She brought ultrasound pictures and a pregnancy test. At first, Blake's parents got furious, thinking he actually cheated on me and got a girl pregnant at 18. But after a thorough investigation - she chuckles - which was me analyzing the picture she brought, we quickly caught her in the lie. The picture was literally printed out from the internet and she didn't even bother to read it. It was dated to 3 years earlier and the baby in the picture was 5 months old. So I confronted her in front of Blake's parents. After a short shouting contest she backed out, running out of the house, bawling her eyes out. I figured she would try something like that again, just not with the club. - she frowns - But I guess she's just stupid." Lia ends with a shrug, but I'm fucking stunned. That bitch really tried to get the property cut by getting knocked up! How fucked up is she?! Good thing I got rid of her, she is crazy.

We catch up on the last year's events and Lia fills me in the situation with her parents' debt. She went the legal way about this, with the help of Tyson's and Blake's father's lawyers. Since she was a minor when her parents signed her up as their guarantor, - they actually forged her documents to say she's over 18 - she didn't have to pay it off. The boss of the company that Sandra and Alexander got the loan from was arrested with his associates for blackmail, kidnapping, assault and attempted murder. He also got charged with something connected to his business, but Lia didn't bother to find out what, since she's not interested in that.

Then we talk about her fights in Berkeley. In less than a year, she already established her position in the ranks there. When I asked why she kept fighting, she just said it's a way to release stress and it pays better than a part-time job, so she can concentrate on her studies without worrying about money.

Lia also explained what happened last summer with the whole Blake leaving thing. I laughed so hard at that.

Apparently, Tyson took Blake with him to train him. He wanted Blake to be able to get himself out of a sticky situation. And since he's dating none other than Ghost, he can't bring shame to her reputation by being weak. Tyson's words, not mine. Lia expressed more than once how much the whole thing annoyed her, since she and Blake already had plans for the summer and her dad destroyed them. But she got over it pretty fast when Blake's parents revealed that they bought an apartment in Berkeley, so the kids could live together. I was genuinely surprised hearing that. I mean, not many parents would let their kids move in together straight out of high school.

After that, Lia told me about Layla. She went to study medicine at University of California. She's been staying in San Francisco and Lia explained that she'd already reached out to the brothers from SF Chapter of Shadow Warriors to watch over her. I sighed heavily in relief hearing that. And Lia - of course - noticed.

“You like Layla?” I sputter my drink, getting into a coughing fit.

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb. I know there’s something going on. I noticed it last year to be honest, but I thought you two would figure it out.” She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms across her chest. “So, spill. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” I say nonchalantly, but she just cocks her eyebrow, clearly not believing me. I sigh.

“You do like her don’t you?” It’s not even a question, she just wants me to confirm what she already knows. “Then go for it! Why are you hesitating?! – I’m about to answer, but she continues – If you say ‘age gap’, I’ll motherfucking kick you in the balls.” She warns with a hard look.

“Oh god! It is, isn’t it?!” She sighs when I don’t say anything. “I can’t fucking believe it. You’re so damn stupid!” She seethes.

“The hell are you talking about?”

“It’s not for me to say. But you better figure your shit out before Layla gets here.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask frantically. Layla is coming here?!

“She’s staying at my house for the summer. But let me tell you this: if you hurt her, you’ll have me to deal with.” I barely register Lia’s words, as one thought consumes my mind.

Layla is back.