Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(5)

Everybody in the MC was welcome and supportive. There was also someone around to check on us or hang out with me and help with my homework when Gabe was busy with work. I could never blame Gabe for his absences, he put his life on hold for me. Well, not completely on hold, he doesn’t know that I often heard him with his lady friends late at night. I never mentioned anything, I didn’t want him to have to hide more than he had to. It was easier when we were at the compound because he could sneak in one of the rooms to f*ck whomever he pleased or have someone babysit me while he was out.

It all changed when he met Annie.

Annie. The f*cking bitch.

She ruined my brother’s life, it’s her fault that things turned to shit. That’s such a f*cked up story, but at least Gabe and Viv have finally found their happiness together, it took them f*cking long enough. I never understood why he dated Annie when it was clear as day that he was head over heels in love with Viv. Men are so weird, especially my brother.

These past few months have been f*cking mental what with Viv coming back. Even if I didn’t show it at first, I was happy to see her again. Unfortunately, her return caused some very unwanted people to come back as well, the very same bastards who ruined our lives in the first place. Jared kidnapped Viv, Jenny and myself. We had a huge shock awaiting us in the warehouse. Annie wasn’t dead like everybody thought, Jenny was killed, Bennett was shot and Jared was finally killed and out of our lives for good. Instead of tearing them apart, it bought Viv and Gabe closer. It was Viv that pulled the trigger on Annie and we all assumed she would be greatly affected by it, but she’s been doing well I think it was actually harder for Gabe than on Viv. He was worried she would pack up and leave again. I think he’s still a little scared he’s going to wake up to find her gone, but she loves him too much to leave.

I didn’t know much about Jenny, just that she was Detective Sanders’ wife. It was hard to see her struggle and lose her life the way she did. I held her as she took her last breath and whilst I’m glad she didn’t die alone, it’s still haunting me. I can’t exactly tell anyone, they’re all too busy with the rival MC who is out for blood. We have no idea what’s in store for us but taking the last two years into consideration, it’s only going to end with blood and death.

I was very lucky that Gabe allowed me to move away for college, but not as far as I wanted. Oh no, it had to be within a five hour drive from him and not a second longer, it was bollocks! I just wanted to be able to experience life and live it my way for a couple of years without brotherly intervention, but he wouldn’t listen to reason. At times I wanted to just run away, but I knew better so I just gave in and well, he was the one paying for my tuition so I didn’t really have much say in the matter. I was mad at him for a couple of weeks but then I realized he was probably right. Things were already complicated enough in his life and me being far away wouldn’t have made it any easier for him. He would have worried too much and be unable to fully focus on anything. The last thing I wanted was for something to happen to him because he was worrying about me and what kind of friends I’d make when he had no way to protect me himself. I know he always had someone watching over me, I’m not stupid.

My three years in college were interesting. I matured a lot, but I also did some stupid things that would make some of the MC members proud and give Gabe a heart attack. The less he knows, the better, both for my sanity and his. I’m surprised the guys he had ladysitting me never sold me out, or maybe they never knew. I got pretty good at being careful, sneaky and erasing my tracks. And well, I had someone protecting me.

I finally moved back to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, into Gabe’s old house now that he lives with Viv in her childhood home. It’s good to be back and away from college. I liked the freedom, but truth is, it wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to live. I missed home, my friends, the MC, I even missed my overprotective brother. If only he knew the things I got sucked into so close to home. He doesn’t need my drama added on top of everything he’s been through. He’s been the glue that kept the MC together, he managed to keep everyone focused in both club matters and personal lives. Ironically, he was shit at focusing on his own, luckily he had Aleck, my newfound brother, to set him straight when he was f*cking up.

Those two will be the death of me one day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that Gabe now has a brother to talk to about men stuff and shit, but they are seriously taking the piss when it comes to me. Gabe alone was already a pain in the ass, but with Aleck? I can’t do anything without either of them either judging me or berating me about what I’m doing. I love them both but f*ck if I don’t hate them at times. They think it’s hilarious to prank me, all the freaking time. It started with wrapping everything inside my house in tinfoil, switching the sugar and salt and completely covering the ground in my bedroom with filled cups of water while I was asleep, and then moved on to scaring the shit out of me by hiding random clowns and puppets everywhere in the house. I’m still planning my revenge, I haven’t decided on anything yet but it’ll be devilishly good. I plan on getting Charline and Viv on board to help as well. Suckers won’t know what hit them.

As annoying as my brothers are, I wouldn’t change them for the world. They keep everyone happy and entertained despite the mess that’s surrounds us. But they weren’t always like this and I only have Charline and Viv to thank for the change. I love seeing them happy with their women, even though it’s a constant reminder of what I don’t have. I wish I could find The One, someone to love unconditionally and be loved in return. That’s all I want. To be happy. To be genuinely, intensely, consistently happy, but as long as I’m under his thumb, that’ll never happen.