CHAPTER TEN
Bryce
Emily was biting her lip as she looked at the cheerful, one-story houses across the street. “We don’t have to do this today if you don’t want to,” I said.
“No,” she said. “I need to. If I don’t do it today, I might never work up the nerve again.” She gave me a shaky smile. “It’s been so long. And I finally get to talk to her again.”
I squeezed her hand comfortingly. “I’m proud of you, little one,” I whispered. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
We crossed the street together to the house. The quiet suburban street didn’t feel right for such a momentous occasion. It felt too quiet and normal for an event like this.
But Emily had finally tracked down her sister. We had gotten in touch with Evan’s aunt who was so excited to hear from Emily.
The aunt was a sweet old lady who had been happy to share memories from Julie’s teen years. The woman had protected Julie and kept her hidden. Everyone in the area knew her as the woman’s niece. Julie spent two years recovering from emotional abuse from her parents. When she turned eighteen, she came out of hiding. She got her GED and attended community classes before getting a job as a guidance counselor. She still had lunch with her “aunt” at least once a week.
The aunt had been eager to give Emily Julie’s contact information. “She always talked about you,” she said excitedly. “One of her biggest regrets was not being able to take you with her.” She sighed. “After she turned eighteen, she went back to Newbury to find you, but you were gone. Disappeared. It broke her heart. But she’ll be so excited to see you again.”
Now it was a week later, and we were standing outside Julie’s house. For the first time in years, Emily was going to talk with her sister, and she was petrified.
Emily knocked on the door and grabbed my hand again. I squeezed it. “It’s okay, little one,” I whispered. “Just breathe.”
A woman answered the door. The resemblance between the two sisters was obvious. Same dark hair and blue eyes. But Julie looked a little older and more sophisticated with her hair tied in a tight bun and dressed in a sharp-looking blouse. It was a huge contrast to Emily’s innocent look with overalls and a t-shirt.
Julie’s mouth fell open in surprise as she stared at her little sister. “E-Emily?” she stammered.
“Julie.” Emily’s voice broke with emotion.
For one second, they were staring at each other in shock. The next, the two sisters had their arms around each other.
They held each other while they cried. I stood off to the side, smiling as they had their moment.
“I looked for you,” Julie said as they finally broke apart. “But you were gone, and the house was abandoned. I didn’t want to ask too many questions because I couldn’t ever face them again, but I wanted to find you.”
“I thought you were dead,” Emily whispered. “I thought the Demons had taken you and killed you.”
“But I left a note. I thought you were mad at me for abandoning you and that’s why you never looked for me.”
Emily smiled softly. “There’s a lot to catch up on.”
Julie nodded. “Come in, come in. Both of you.” She looked at me. “I’m Julie, but I guess you already knew that. What’s your name?”
I smiled. I wasn’t surprised she didn’t recognize me. I doubted we ever officially met. “My name’s Bryce.”
Her eyes widened. “No. There’s no way you’re the same Bryce from childhood.”
“The one and the only.”
“Emily talked non-stop about you. I’m glad the two of you were able to keep in touch.”
Emily and I shared a smile. There was definitely a lot to talk about.
Several hours later, both Emily and I left Julie’s house. Emily and Julie had plans to meet up later that week. Somehow, despite years of being apart, they interacted with each other as if they had seen each other only yesterday. I couldn’t be happier. Emily never looked so alive as she did when talking with her sister. And now she could spend time with her sister without that awful pressure from her parents hanging over her head.
Emily and I biked back to my place–our place. She ended up moving in with me. I offered to move into the city with her, but she insisted she was happy in Newbury with me. She didn’t want to pull me away from the Hell’s Renegades and she needed up getting along pretty well with the motorcycle club and their old ladies herself.
Once we were back home, I pulled her into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, little one,” I murmured. “You’ve been such a good, brave girl today.”
She smiled and buried her face in my chest. “Thank you, Daddy,” she said. “But I think right now I just want to be your little girl.”
I kissed the top of her head. “Then let’s get you inside and get you all comfy. I think you deserve to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie while I make you some food.”
“Grilled cheese and tomato soup?” She asked hopefully.
I grinned. “Definitely grilled cheese and tomato soup.”
She let out a little excited squeal before skipping into the house. I smiled as I followed her. Even after several weeks together, I still couldn’t believe Emily was my Little. But I was excited to spend the rest of my life taking care of her as her Daddy.
Emily and Bryce are now living their happily ever after! Aren’t they perfect for each other? What will happen next for the Hell’s Renegades Motorcycle Club?