Creed’s Honor by Simone Nicholls

I tucked my blonde hair behind my ear as I leaned closer to one of the four open textbooks and pushed my reading glasses up. I knew I had hit my limit as my eyes began to ache. Three straight hours always seemed to be my limit. Still, I wasn’t prepared to give up just yet.

My placement was right around the corner, and I needed to be prepared for it. When there was a knock on my study door, I didn’t look up.

My dad gave me everything to provide me with a good start, including my own personal study. I never felt pressure to be a doctor. I wanted to be one. Now, as I was moving closer to my dream, I only wondered—would I be able to succeed at it. Another knock on my door made me curse.

I said, “Come in,” but I was still fighting to keep studying, even though my back was aching, and my vision was getting blurry.

“Surrounded by books. What a surprise,” Mum said from the doorway.

I glanced up, seeing a smile on her face. Mum’s electric blue eyes locked on me, and I could see the pride in them. Society would probably think who was I to be a doctor when I was the daughter of an outlaw family. I once voiced that concern to my mum, and she had said, “Who are you not to be?”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” my mum asked, looking slightly nervous, which was why I pushed the textbook away—settling on the decision that my studying was over for the day.

“Sure,” I said, but even I could hear my nerves. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew my mother, and right now, I could tell there was something wrong.

“It’s about West.” Her eyes were on me, and I knew she was looking for a reaction, but I didn’t give her one. “He’s out.”

Just like that, my world froze. I dropped my pen, all my attention now on her.

“Please tell me Dad isn’t doing anything stupid.” I was panicking, my mind running wild, thinking of my dad’s possible reaction. After all, he’d had four years to dwell on it.

Mum walked farther into the room, just as I went to get up. “Dad’s not going to kill him,” she reassured me.

I took a deep breath, but my anxiety still wasn’t eased. Knowing Dad wasn’t going to shoot him point-blank was something, but I knew—and hoped my dad did as well—that if he got life imprisonment, I wouldn’t survive it… especially when it would be my doing.

I felt my stomach tighten, clenching, a sickness coming through me. “So, Dad’s safe?” I clarified.

She nodded and gave me another reassuring smile. “I just wanted you to know because he might be a bit quiet tonight.”

I frowned. “Wait, isn’t Dad going to the valley tonight?” I swear everyone knew that Dad was going to be out of town this weekend. I had just assumed our family dinner would be postponed.

“Change of plans,” was all Mum said and gave me another smile. “I’ll let you get back to your prep work.”

I watched Mum walk out of my study, and although my anxiety was high, I had to think clearly. If Dad were in trouble, she would have told me.

My phone buzzed on the table. I was still slightly in shock before I glanced down, seeing it was Creed.

He had just earned a position at Dad’s table.

“Finished banging the textbooks?” Creed had texted.

A smile spread across my lips. Creed had a way with words.

“Finished sucking up to my old man?” I sent back.

There was another knock on my door, but I didn’t respond because I was waiting for the bubbles in the corner of my screen to see what Creed’s comeback would be.

“Who you talking to?”

I rolled my eyes. It was Kobra’s tone that made me give him a dry look. He used to be laid-back. He used to be my big fun brother. He was always protective when needed, but he wasn’t permanently pissed off.

Kobra and I heard it at the same time. The roar of Dad’s bike pulling up the driveway. Kobra gave me one more look before walking out.

My phone vibrated, and it had locked because I was distracted with Kobra. Creed. What a surprise.

“Going out of town for a part for the Chevy. Keen?”

To have a break from the textbooks sounded like the best idea ever. I didn’t know why, but when I was with Creed, I felt relaxed, safe. And I could use those two feelings now, especially knowing West was out, and Dad’s history of keeping a grip on his temper was nearly non-existent.

Walking out of the study, Dad had just walked in the front door.

“Dad, I’m heading out with Creed,” I said and watched as his eyes narrowed on me as I spoke. “We’re heading to get parts for the Chevy.”

“The man has more money than the whole Satan’s Bastard combined and could buy the car done,” Ivy spoke from over the back of the couch, butting her nose into mine and Dad’s conversation. “Yet he keeps doing up some old one, asking, ‘Holly, do you want to come with me to get—insert whatever random part he needs today—for the Chevy’ as an excuse to get you alone.”

Dad’s opinion of Creed and I hanging out wasn’t high, to begin with, and Ivy was doing her best to make it that little bit worse. This all due to her own experience with a biker.

“Fine, go, but be back for dinner.” Dad paused, then he looked at Mum, who was sitting with Ivy, before looking back at me. “You can ask Creed too.”

“Ask Creed what?” I was confused.

“To dinner, Holly.” Dad took the spare gun from out of the back of his jeans and placed it on the foyer table. He said it like it was apparent, but it wasn’t. Dad had a strict policy on family dinners.

“He’s probably a vegetarian.” Kobra grunted as he walked out, taking the joint from his mouth. He knew very well Creed wasn’t a vegetarian from club parties. “Why they get on so well,” he added.

“Yes, Kobra, because I can only have vegetarian friends.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head, heading to leave my deluded family, but Dad grabbed my arm as I walked past him. “What?” I sighed, dragging my gaze to meet his.

“He speeds in that car, you tell me.”

As if that was going to happen. “He wouldn’t dare after last time.” I shot Ivy a pointed look.

She had been the one to throw Creed to the lion, known as my father, for speeding—all because I made the rookie mistake of letting her come once.

“Can I go now?” I asked, and he nodded reluctantly, letting go of my arm. I paused. “Dad?”

His gaze landed back on me, and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him side-on. He was shocked at first before he wrapped one arm around me.

“Thank you,” I whispered in his ear before pulling back.

He frowned slightly. “This for letting Creed come for dinner?”

“No.” And I let go of him. “It’s for not ending up in prison today.” I gave him a small smile and then walked around him. He didn’t say anything. There wasn’t anything to be said—the past had no reason to be in the present.