Free Firetrap: The Soul Scorchers MC (The Scorched Souls Serial-series Book 1) by C.L. Riley Page B

into tears.
    I’d informed her that she was twenty-eight and had given birth to Joey at fifteen. She hadn’t taken that well, particularly when I mentioned what a whore she’d been back then, forcing me to take a paternity test. Adding to her confusion, at her true age of twenty-two, she looked nowhere near two years shy of thirty, but I’d had to improvise to make the math work. I had a feeling I’d be doing a whole lot of improvising in the days ahead. It was a good thing I counted creativity and quick thinking as two of my top skills.
    I somehow doubted the ‘real’ Olympia would appreciate my self-proclaimed ingenuity. Every lie I told was another reason for her to despise me.
    Today was her first day up and around. Everyone had been instructed to refer her back to me for answers about her past or present situation. Thankfully, the club was, for the most part, empty right now, making conversations easier to monitor.
    I also had to keep her away from TV and any local media, as she was still the front page story. At least the photo they were flashing on the news looked nothing like Olympia at the moment. I’d convinced her to die her hair back to blonde after seeing how they were posting images of her with red hair. She’d agreed without argument. That was a first. I doubted her agreeability would last long.
    Right now, I had other things to worry about. It was time to get my lying and deceiving show on the road.
    I rested a hand on each boy’s shoulder. “You two go in first. I’ll be right behind you. Give her some serious hugs.”
    At thirteen, Joey loved the whole scheme I’d devised to put Olympia in her place. Being just eight, Jordon Vance liked the idea of a temporary mom. He couldn’t have been happier. It was good to see them both smiling, for any reason. At last we had a project we were in on together - family bonding at its best.
    “Now remember. I gave her clothes she’s going to hate.” I chuckled at the thought of her new biker-bitch wardrobe. I wondered what she’d chosen for her first day out of the sick room.
    “That’s kind of mean, Dad,” JV admonished. “What if she leaves?”
    “Son, she can’t leave. She doesn’t know who she is or where she is. She’s in danger and under our protection. Just go with me on this, all right?”
    He nodded, pushing his chest out. “Maybe she likes art.”
    Joey sneered, staring down at his younger brother with obvious disgust. “You’re such a little sissy.”
    “Enough! Let’s just get this party over, and then you two can head to school. Grinch is taking you in the Humvee.”
    “Yes!” Joey fist punched the air, forgetting he was in the middle of bullying JV. “I call shotgun.”
    “Good,” JV agreed. “More room in the back for me.”
    “You two got it all worked out?” I didn’t wait for their answers. Instead I knocked on the door that had become Olympia’s room. She would be moving to mine today, and the boys would be staying with Grinch temporarily, until we figured out our housing status. He was one of the few guys who didn’t have a female parade marching through his room, and he lived fulltime at the club. He wasn’t a big partier either, another plus.
    My kids would rather stay with Grinch than me, anyway. Maybe I should be upset about that fact, but I wasn’t. As long as they were happy, I could live with the arrangement - at least for now.
    “Come in,” Olympia called, her voice filled with anxiety that I’d never once detected when she’d known her real identity.
    I guessed sudden motherhood was a good enough reason for her to feel worried. Near murder misses weren’t real confidence builders either. Add in memory loss and I’d be anxious too. Over all, though, everything considered, she was handling things well, couldn’t fault her for that.
    “Go on,” I prompted, giving Joey a push.
    The boys entered ahead of me. “Mom!” they chorused, sounding surprisingly happy to see her.
    Like I’d instructed,