Unveiled Wishes (Iron Shield MC #2)

4. Heart Shapes Beat As One

Chapter 4

Heart Shapes Beat As One

Z ook

“That’s it for the club’s businesses. Count and I have started the year-end paperwork, so if managers get a call, you’re not in trouble.” Sabre addressed the room. There was a light chuckle that floated around the table. “Just bring your books and come to the principal’s office. Count?”

“I got nothing. Like you said, we’re working on the year-end books, so once I know more about the numbers, I’ll bring them to church. I am pretty sure there’s going to be an extra payment for each brother, but I have no clue how much it is. We also need more businesses, if anyone has any ideas. I am running out of places to put the money.” Count’s spikes shook with excitement. Money made the dude hard, which was why no one questioned him as treasurer.

He had said the magic words, and the brothers were speculating how much that extra payment could be, but I didn’t join in. I liked money as much as the next person, but I hadn’t grown up with any. My father had been a steel mill worker. His way of relaxing after work had been to get blackout drunk every night, leaving us to fend for ourselves. My mother had done the best she could with what she stole from his wallet. It had been little, and I had tried to help as much as I could. When I had joined the Marines, I had hoarded everything that I earned and made sure that I was never in that position again. I lived in the clubhouse for free. I ate whatever Chef made for dinner. There wasn’t much need for money, except gas for my bike.

“Any club business before we move on?” Sabre brought the meeting back to order.

“Hey, Prez?” How raised his hand and waited to speak.

I was curious what How was going to say. He hadn’t mentioned to me he was bringing anything up at church.

“Yeah, How?” Sabre said.

“My sister, Emily, asked if she could come visit for Christmas. I haven’t seen her in a few years, and I wanted to ask if it was alright before she booked her ticket.”

I sucked in a breath and tried not to draw attention to myself as I choked. We were supposed to be best friends, and the fucker hadn’t mentioned that Em wanted to visit. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to hold my shit in until I reached my room. On the outside, I tried to look cool, but my heart pumped in my ears and my hands shook underneath the table.

“I don’t have a problem with it, if no one objects,” Sabre said, as he shifted forward in his chair. “If you want her to stay here, tell Grace. She’ll have to make sure the room next to Aunt E is ready, since they are the furthest from the club girls.” Sabre cracked his knuckles and placed his hands over his stomach.

“Has Aunt E complained yet about the noise?” Pretty asked, trying to hide his smirk.

“I asked her if she wanted to move in with us, but she said no.” Sabre shook his head. “Said that she likes the noise after so many years of living alone, but even she has to hear bumps in the middle of the night.”

The room exploded with laughter. No one had really known what to expect when Aunt E had moved into the clubhouse. Over the last couple of months, she’d wormed her way into our hearts.

“Cyph, do you need her info for a background check?” How asked.

“Nope. She was admitted to the New York Bar Association. They’ve already done the basics, so I won’t find anything that will rule her out from coming. Now, if you need me to dig, all non-club information comes with a price.” Cyph wiggled his eyebrows.

“More like extortion,” Grizz mumbled.

“I need Christmas present money.” Cyph placed his hands behind his head and smirked.

“Anyone else thinking of inviting someone for Christmas? I know Gerry will be here.” Sabre shifted forward again, crossing his arms and resting his elbows on the table in front of him.

“Do we have to be nice to him?” Twig asked. I didn’t blame him. When Gerry had been a prisoner here, he’d given Twig the run around a few times. He was hungry. He was cold. Twig should arrange a meeting so that he could see his grandson. It had been one thing after another, and Twig had celebrated when Sabre told Gerry it was time to go. He could stay in town or go home, but he couldn’t stay in the clubhouse anymore. None of us were sure if Flo knew, but we didn’t ask questions. She was Sabre’s problem.

“I don’t care, as long as Grace doesn’t hear you.” Sabre looked at Grizz. “What do you think?”

“Agreed. I don’t care either.” Grizz flexed his fist as it sat on the table.

“We know the cartel is still out there. They’re watching us, and we’ve caught the SUVs a few times. As long as they don’t rear their ugly heads, let’s try to enjoy Christmas. We’ve had a rough year, but we love harder to get through it. Now is the time to remember why we prospected for the Iron Shield.”

Various forms of “Yes, Prez” floated around the room, but I just wanted out. I had other important things to deal with, like Emily coming for Christmas. I waited until the fuckers in front of me walked out of church, breakfast smells leading them by their stomachs to the main room. Crossing the door’s threshold, I took off running towards my room.

“Where are you going, Zook?” How called after me. He’d been two brothers behind me because our seats were on opposite sides of the table.

“Not hungry,” I yelled over my shoulder. Breakfast was the furthest thing from my mind, and I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to choke it down. The quicker I made it to my room, the better off I would be. I skidded as I took the last right, my arms ready to brace my fall, but I righted myself at the last minute. I wanted to keep my secrets at all costs.

I didn’t slam my door, but I made sure the lock was in place. Taking off my boots, I opened my closet and stood in front of it, staring at the shoebox on the top shelf. It had been awhile since Emily’s letter had called to me this strongly. Grabbing it, I laid the box on the bed and fluffed the pillows to get comfortable as I sat. I looked at the door again, checking the lock. I didn’t want any interruptions.

I opened the shoebox and pulled the first letter out. Raising it to my nose, I still could smell the hints of her perfume on the stationery.

Sometimes, Eric complains when he gets teased over my letters, so I spritz them just to be irritating. What are little sisters for? You asked for this, so I didn’t want to disappoint.

She hadn’t said much during the first couple of letters, but every time I had written back, she had opened up a little more. Emily had been in college during those years, and I had enjoyed listening to her detail her classes, her friends, and even the charity events her parents had forced her to attend. Each letter was another piece of her soul, and I had wanted to claim all of them for myself.

I flipped through the letters until I reached the one I wanted. I’d read it so many times that I didn’t have to remove the pink sheets from the envelope. Flipping it over and over in my hands, I went over the words in my mind.

Dear Tyler,

Happy Valentine’s Day! I sent you something, and I know you’ll laugh when you get it. I can’t wait, even though I won’t be able to see your reaction.

School’s good. Classes are boring, and I am ready for a break. The groundhog saw its shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter. How are you supposed to enjoy spring break when there will still be snow on the ground? I don’t know either, but I know if you were here, you’d tell me to suck it up, buttercup. I prefer to think you’d whisk me away on some warm, tropical vacation. Hint Hint. Ha. I am going to hold you to a promise you never made.

My parents are gone again. They were here for Christmas, but then they decided New York was too cold and took off. See a theme here? I haven’t heard from them, but as long as they’re alright, that’s all I can ask for.

Do you remember Christopher? You met him at a bar that Eric took you to the last time you were here. He’s been trying to schedule a get-together. I am not sure if it’s supposed to be a date, but I am not interested. He’s not even interested in me, and I keep sending him to voicemail. It’ll be easier to avoid him at school. We don’t have the same classes, and our social circles are not the same. If he wanted to, he would, but he won’t. I am worth more than a half-assed effort.

Anyway, try to get Eric to get a picture of you when you get my surprise. He sends me pictures all the time, and you never do. How am I supposed to imagine what you look like now? I am teasing. Maybe. Maybe not. Get a picture.

Love, E

From the start, I fucked up, but like a dumbass, I thought a few letters would fix everything. They only intensified my cravings for her. She was my best friend’s little sister, and as soon as I saw “love,” I should have stopped this fantasy. I should have ghosted her, or at least written back to tell her to stop. Instead, I waited for the next one.

I tried not to think about her words, but the next day, the mailroom called and told me to pick up my package. I had often seen the packages that Emily sent How. She’d ask if he needed anything, and he’d make her a list. Em was an angel, and she’d often include things for me.

“Why do you want to send Em a picture of a box?” How asked.

“No, I want to send a picture of me holding the box,” I said. I hadn’t lied, but I hadn’t told him the truth, either. I wanted Em to see that I appreciated her, and that I had listened to her requests. However, a huge part of me wished she was mine, and this meant more than what was on the surface.

“Why?” How raised his eyebrow and looked down his nose at me. “She’s my sister. Why do you want to send her a picture of your ugly mug?”

“I just do. I want to say thank you. It’s my first care package from home. Can’t you just take the fucking picture?” I was getting aggravated at him. He sent her pictures, so why couldn’t I?

“Calm the fuck down. Is your underwear in a wad or something?” How grabbed the camera that we passed around the team. Someone’s wife had sent one, and when the film was low, we asked whomever was getting the next package for more film. I’d been in pictures, but I’d never asked for one to be taken before.

“Smile, asshole,” How said, holding up the camera.

I lifted my sleeve and ran it against my teeth, making sure I didn’t have any lunch particles stuck.

“Seriously? It’s just Em.”

“Okay, I am ready.” I shifted the box in front of me and smiled.

He took the picture and then pushed me to open the box. “I’ll take another picture of you looking inside. She’ll get a kick out of that.”

Putting the box on the ground, I slid my knife through the packing tape. I couldn’t help my excitement, and I could feel my smile still in place as I raised the flaps of the box to look inside. My smile slowly slid into a frown when I realized what she had done. Emily was too much, and I lowered my head over the box so that How wouldn’t see the tears I was desperately trying to hide. He still took my picture.

“I can’t send her that one. Take another one,” I said to him.

“Why not? It’s good. I’ll title it, ‘A Soldier and His Package.’”

“Look at this. She’s sent me all of my favorite snacks. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, they're heart-shaped. On this side of the box, she labeled stuff for the single men on our team, so that they would get something, too. How did she ever come from your parents?” I had meant that honestly. How was like a brother to me, but he didn’t hold a candle to his sister. She was a saint in a world of snakes.

“Probably the same way every other kid does. At some point, they had to have fucked.” He had handed me the two pictures. “Here, just send her these.” He walked off.

That night, I had sat down and written her.

Hey Em,

I received the box today. No one’s ever sent me anything like that. I passed out the rest of the treats to the single men. They wanted to write you to thank you, but I told them no. Actually, I told them I’d beat their asses if they even thought about it. They’d try to win you over to the dark side, and you should always be in the light.

I wanted to thank you for including them. Sometimes it’s rough when you don’t have anyone who gives a shit. You probably took pity on me when I asked you to write, but I am grateful. I made How take pictures. I don’t think they’re very good, but he said you would get a kick out of them. He would know better than I would.

You can hold me to my promise. I’ll take you on a tropical vacation. Where do you want to go? I don’t know if you know this, but I was born and raised in Indiana. I am well-aware that winter sucks. It’s like experiencing all four seasons in one day. That’s probably why I didn’t wait to be recruited. I was glad to get the fuck out. Sorry, I crossed that out. You shouldn’t see those kinds of words. You’re a lady.

I can’t send you anything, but I am hoping these work.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Emily.

Tyler

I had drawn heart-shaped balloons at the corners of the notebook paper and sent it to her.

***

Now, Em was coming to visit for Christmas. I wouldn’t be able to avoid her, and How would ask too many questions if I wasn’t here. Any chance of volunteering for a run was out. Sabre wouldn’t have any assignments away from the clubhouse, and then he’d ask questions I wasn’t ready for.

I was going to have to grin and bear it. I could for a week. It was a lie that I kept telling myself.