CHAPTER SONG , Fast Lane - Palm Trees

By the time I closed the door behind myself, she was already out of the car and anxiously looking around with eye's the size of saucers. And I get it, this was a step out of her comfort zone, but I was determined to make an easy step. I was going to do everything in my power to made this as smooth as possible.

Jogging to her side, I stopped beside her and gave her my best reassuring smile. I have no idea if it even came out looking reassuring or some Texas massacre shit because I have never reassured someone. This was me trying, and trying fucken hard. I have reassured Ash but his my brother, with him it's easier. I know Ash by heart. But this is a girl, and one that would jump at the sight of her own shadow for that matter. But I was surprised when she lifted her chin, wavering confidence showing but she was trying. Brownie-fucken-points to her.

I was determined to give her a boost. Taking a page out of Kirsan three-hundred-page binder, I interlocked our hands and brought her closer to my side. Find a way to comfort the person. An action, a word, a reminder that show's them they are in a space environment. The relief flooded every golden spec of her eye's and softly she released a breath that collapsed her whole body.

Not too far away from us, by the side of the trailer were my dad and uncle. And let me tell you, they were not fooling anyone by pretending they weren't watching us. Acting like they were in some serious conversation when I could see them side eyeing us and trying not to crank their neck's into impossible positions to see better. I wanted to roll my eyes at them, and kind of laugh at the same time.

My mom always say's dad and uncle are like gossiping grandmas. Something my father use to call them. And man, he right about that. Those two have the biggest mouths, and not a single secret can be shared with them if you didn't want the other to know. I'll let it pass this time because I can understand their curiosity. Lina is the first girl I have brought around them. On a hot note, she's the first I cared to actually even think about bringing around. The girl has all but stolen my attention at this point, and truly I'm not even sure I want it back anymore.

I looked down at Lina. "You ready?"

"I feel like I'm about to fail some midterm. Quick, give me some facts about your dad." she said, looking up at me with hopefully eyes.

I chucked. "His name is Angelo. His the reason I drive bikes, and have a sweet tooth." I learned lower to her, "and no matter how mean he looks, I promise his a softie when you get to know him." He is, with his family though.

She nodded. "Angelo. Bikes. Sweets. Not mean. Got it."

I laughed. "Did you just make a list for my dad?" I asked, starting to walk. "Yes." she answered, like she was proud too. And man I was oddly proud too.

Stopping beside them, Lina tucked herself closer to my side, uneasiness sliding into her expression. "You two can stop pretending you aren't fucken fascinated and turn around now." I called out, as I glanced at Lina to make sure she's fine. I squeezed her hand, my lips titling up as she gazed up. I used to find the color brown ordinary but now it's anything but ordinary. Now the color was astounding, extraordinary, and even phenomenal. Now, the color swirling around her eyes like coffee on a cold morning. Everyone talks about the blues, the greens, and even the grey's but I think brown is overlooked. It's not appreciated enough. The color is like a bucket of gold.

My dad, and uncle spun around like they weren't just peering over their fucken shoulder. And both of them held impassive expression as they looked her over. I'm sure they are trying to figure her out, get a good read on her. But the thing was, they weren't going to find any of the normal shit we looked for. On instinct, we search for cruelty, evilness, hatred, and manipulation. Nah. Instead, they are going to find cheeky half smiles, and pretty brown eyes. They were going to find a girl that bleed's kindness even if it's bleeding her dry. They were going to find a girl gulping down water as she tries to survive, and still managing to save everyone around her. They were going to find pure goodness. And fuck me was it a breath of fresh air. A second of tranquilization. And it's what has chained me in place, gazing at with her awe.

Lina stepped forward, still holding onto my hand tightly but with a heart wreaking smile looked up at both my dad and uncle. "Hello. It's very nice to meet you. Mateo speaks highly of you."

My dad's gaze cut to me, amusement bouncing around the hardened rims, and I narrowed my glare at him. Mom already lectured my dad to play nice, but we all know my dad's not familiar with the concept of being nice. The man is highly unpredictable and still, I couldn't imagine not having him in my life. His approval, and love mean's everything to me. So, all I could do is pray that he doesn't' scare her to much right now.

My uncles impassive expression broke first, and a deep grin spread across his face. "Well fuck, hello Lina. Are you always this polite?" he asked, stepping forward and bringing his hand out for a shake.

Lina glanced behind her, worry mulling in her gaze as she looked at me. I knew why. In order for her to shake his hand, she needs to let go of mine. She needs to step more out of her zone, and this time without someone holding her there. "I'm right here." I reminded her.

With hesitation, she let go and turned back to my uncle, putting her small hand into his. "I try, sir." she answered.

"Could you teach my children that? Because I swear I was given the devils daughter to raise." my uncle laughed.

My dad watched her, empty of an emotion for me to interpret. I have no idea what he was thinking, but I know he has noticing how skittish she was. And I caught my hand from reaching forward and pulling her back into myself. The need to protect sat there, right under my skin, cutting to get out.

"You must be Mr.Vallero."

"And with your quick recognition, you just have met my daughter already."

Dropping her hand back to her side, she took a big step backward and her hand flew behind her, searching for something. Searching for me. The beast under my skin raised from his fucken sleep. I don't entirely understand why, but he sprung forward. Determined to catch her, to protect her, and to hold her in his arms. But he never protects anyone but himself. His a skilled manipulator, a hateful psychopath, and a dreadful creature. What game is he playing right now?

I didn't have time to think about it because she bumped into my chest, trembling a little, probably from the overwhelming situation. So I wrapped my arm across her collarbone and brought her more backwards, into myself until there wasn't even a centimeter dividing us anymore. I put her into the proximity of the beast that puff out breath's of relief now. And she relaxed in his presence and under his touch.

My dad watched the whole thing, without a single word. And Lina replied, "I have. Your son is...interesting. And whoa, I see where they both get their eyes."

Lina looked over her shoulder, up at me. "Your good love." I reassured her. And she was. My family wouldn't hurt her. Not when she means so much to me. Not when she's under my protection.

My uncle's smirked. "Right. I hope they are being nice, but I highly doubt it. I know my children and I'm just glad to see they haven't made you cry. That's all I can hope for."

Nice, and Lily. That's like nice, and my dad. Those two don't fit but Lina would never admit that, especially to Lily's dad. Instead, she nodded and gave her best smile. "Of course, sir."

My dad stepped forward, and I swear my stomach flipped in my body. And it's not because I didn't trust him, but because when he spoke, I swear my mind froze over. "Lina, Im fucken glad your here. It's nice to meet you." he said, and it came out so much less harsh then usual. Almost soft, and smoother. He only talks to Ash like that. Only ever give's him that side of himself.

I stood shocked as he rolled his eyes, slapping his palm against my uncle's chest and said, "And that's what happens when you let them run wild."

"Says the one with a fucken lunatic for a son." my uncle grumbled back referring to Ash. His only a lunatic in Uncle's eyes because him and Lily are always ending up in some type of trouble. Always, hand in hand grinning like, well, lunatics.

"I never raised my children to be kind. They are just who I wanted them to be. Now, if you can't handle my lunatic son, then please tell your devil child to leave him alone and maybe we can have some peace."

My uncle looked at my dad. "Tell her? I rather not have the devil visit dreams tonight. And to be fully honest with you, I'm pretty sure my daughter converted your son to her side a lot time ago."

My dad sighed. "You right. They are doomed."

Lina pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh but I smirked. And my dad took a step forward but kept his hands to himself. Unlike my uncle, he didn't try to shake Lina's hand and I wonder if it was to ease her. To not cause her more discomfort because we both knew she looked like she might start running the other way any second. "I'm Angelo, his dad. Nice to meet the girl who's got my son in a choke-hold."

"Dad.." I groaned, snapping out of my state of shock.

His lifted his gaze up to me, a curved smiled pulling on his lips. "What? I'll be the first to admit your mom's got me there. It's okay hijo, the best woman are the once's that can kill us. I told your mom to kill me when she's done with me. I still don't have a bullet in my head so looks like I'm doing something right." he laughed.

He only call's me hijo in private. It's always son when there are strangers around. What the fuck?

Uncle laughed too, gripping my dad's shoulder and dragging him backwards. "Help me with the bike's you idiot." he said, and my dad followed after my uncle to open up the trailer and start unloading the bikes.

Lina spun around, titling her head up at me. "I said whoa. I actually said whoa. Mateo—" she whispered, chewing on her lip, "You family thinks I'm bananas. Oh gosh. Oh no your dad doesn't like me. That was the worst first impression."

I couldn't stop my smile because the idea that she cares so much about what my family think's about her is cute. It's Lina thought, she cares about the ant's we are crushing under our sole's right now. Christ, she would care about almost fucken anything.

I watched her drop her head to the ground and I brought my hand up before lacing my thumb under her chin, and pointer finger to her chin. I lifted her chin up to look at me and glossy eye's met me, almost tipping over. Lina felt emotion's with everything inside her. Unlike me, she let them floor her. She let them take over and bombard her whole body. Maybe that's why I was so attracted to her because she was able to feel all those emotion and still smile through it. Still hold herself off the ground. Maybe I was weaker because I always thought that if I let all my emotion's crash into me, I would flatline.

Looking down at her, I only see fierce and gentle strength. I see what I don't have, what I wish I could just have a little. The power to feel and not be scared it will cripple me. I envied her. To her I said, "Love, you did great. Your word's, they have no effect on them. If my dad didn't like you, you wouldn't be standing here."

She sucked in her lip, and the urge to kiss her raged. Under my skin, in my head, around my chest, in my stomach, it wrecked me. I wouldn't kiss her thought. No matter how much it feels like the urge might rip me to pieces. I was going to leave it up to her. The choice, it's hers. When she's ready, she would let me know. Lina, she doesn't allow herself to put herself first. She thinks about everyone, but her.

Not this time. I won't let her put me first. I wouldn't let her think about me, and just go with the flow. This time, she was going to lead. A foreign idea for her, but I was going to push her there. I will follow right behind her, protecting and adoring her but I'm not stepping out of line. I'll keep my hand on her waist and guide, but if she turns left or right, I'll follow.

My entire life, I led all parts of my life. Every day, I was the fucken controller. I thought at some point, my relationship would be the same. But imagine my fucken shock when I find myself standing behind a timid girl and letting her lead. Color me fucken surprised because I knew to the core that this is the right choice. And for once, I'm okay with being behind someone because it feels right. Its feels good to stand in this holiness, like the sin of what I have done can't reach me.

She tried to nod a little. "You sure? Because your dad didn't even try to shake my hand."

"My dad noticed your uncomfortable with touch."

She sucked in a breath. "So he is okay with me being here? This is a family event; I get if his not."

I glanced up to where my family was. My uncle and dad were pulling down the bikes, and Ash was helping as Lily hung on his back. Kirsan was talking to Maddox and Matthias, which I haven't seen yet and need to say hi too. This was my family, sure we are missing a few people but they were here. There was nowhere I rather be. Her being here, it's exactly were she should be. She completes whatever the fuck I was missing.

Looking back at her I said, "Unless you don't want to be here, everyone want's you here."

She blinked at me a few times, processing my words as if in some way they made no sense. As if someone at some point didn't want her, and now that was drilled into her. Being put second, being ignored, being pushed aside, and fuck if that didn't wake the beast again. If it didn't bring him to the tip of my fingertips and burn him through my skin.

She sucked in a light breath, glancing over her shoulder to were Maddox was. "Even Maddox? Because his your best friend. Ash and Kirsan, we are friend but Maddox, I feel like maybe his just around because he has too be. I understand if that the case. I get it because I'm really no one but maybe I can get him to like me some how? Do you have any advise? I know he mean's a lot to you."

A painful groan crawled up my throat that I pushed back on. No one. That's what she called herself. No one. Fuck I hated that. Screw me, that's going to suck to think about and knowing me, I'll over think on it a million times.

But why she thought Maddox was only around because of me made no sense either. Maddox doesn't do something if he didn't want too. If he didn't like her, he wouldn't talk to her. Sure, he would take her to class because I asked but he wouldn't make the effort of getting to know her. Or over share information about me, like the cupcakes flavor's I liked. He wouldn't even make the effort to figure out how to comfort her. He wouldn't have had the talk about her ex boyfriend being an idiot. Maddox did that because he cared.

I swallowed, the knife in my throat slicing. "I don't know why you think Maddox doesn't like you, but he does. If he didn't, he wouldn't bother with you. He wouldn't talk to you, or joke, or laugh, or even look at you. Maddox knows how to ignore people, problems and making you feel so small and irrelevant that you end up wondering what you are even doing on this earth. Does he make you feel that?"

She thought about it for a second. "Well no. I just always thought that maybe his only around because you are forcing him."

"I don't ever force Maddox to do anything. Maddox is on my side. Wherever I am, his there."

She nodded. Finally understanding a little bit, and maybe realizing that yet another person cares about her. Hell, she had an over flowing bucket of them and doesn't even know it. It makes me wonder how alone she feels. And the idea of it twists my gut.

She released her lip, and it bounced back into its plump position. Fuck me. This was a million times harder then I expected. I need to distract myself from the war in my stomach. "Okay love, you ready to me meet one more person?"

Lina lifted her shoulder's squaring them with confidence. "Ready."

If I could burst with pride, I would. I know how much it takes for her to meet strangers, how much she dislikes it. It's the little steps' she takes that feel the best because I can see her wanting to take them. Wanting to push herself. Despite how much she is uncomfortable with it, she goes forward. I would stand behind her, always and with heart throbbing pride support her.

Dropping my hand, I flattened my palm in front of her. With a smile worth a million dollar's, she dropped her hand in mine and stepped beside me. I looked up, finding most of my family with my cousin now and led Lina over. As we made our way over, Kirsan side stepped, and Matthias came into full view. And beside me, Lina breath, "Whoa." Then slapped her hand over her mouth. I cringed because that sounded like a hard slap.

With my free hand, I gently pried her hand away from her face and said, "Don't slap your self love, your to pretty to have hand indents."

She turned her head to look at me. "I just said it again. Why can't I keep my mouth glued? That word." she hissed, as if the word was some sort of sin.

My lips titled up, and I leaned down beside her. "That word sounds so fucken hot coming out of your mouth that one day, when you're ready, I'll make you moan it for me."

Instantly, she flushed. Her check's tinting in the pretties red that I have ever seen. I have tried to keep all the comments to myself, and fuck that's harder than that superman trick Ash is trying to do because those thought's are always there. Right on the tip of my tongue. The thought's of my hand's gliding down her skin, feeling the curves and smoothness give's me a boner just thinking about it. The idea of tasting every inch of her makes my mouth water. What I would do to hear her moan my name, or cry out of pleasure. Excitement rushed thought me like a jack hammer, slamming into my chest when I think about all the breathy sounds she would make with my finger's deep inside her, or my dick. The thought of her plump lips wrapped around my dick makes it twitch against my zipper. Fuck, just her pretty oak eyes get me going and I can't imagine stopping. How I have withheld this long is a miracle. I must have a fucken angel on my side because I have no idea how I'm doing this. Lot's of cold shower's that for fucken sure.

Her eye's darted from me, but I could feel them coming back to me as we walked. The idea that she was aroused next to me, fuck.

We stopped beside my dad, who was on the edge of the circle they all created. And Matthias grinned at me, dark black hair tucked behind his ear's. The green hue in his eyes matching mine, along with his jet black hair, and straight jaw. The guy was my twin. Sure, I had a inch of him but hell, we could actually be twins.

Dropping Lina's hand, I greeted him, bringing him into a hug. Stepped back, I found Lina's hand again and tucked her back into me where I knew she was comfortable, then I faced Matthias again. "Mateo Ramos. Hell man your fucken grown." he laughed.