them.
"Did he call you, or did you reach out to him?" she asked.
"Does it matter?"
She could let it go and avoid upsetting him, but if she went home without knowing, she'd obsess over finding out who broke their silence first.
Since he'd claimed her, Curley and Uncle Walker hadn't had a thing to do with each other—which only put the guilt on her shoulders.
"It matters because it's my fault you're not friends with Uncle Walker, and he needs people supporting him." She swallowed. "By the time he's released, he'll have served twenty-five years in prison, and you haven't visited him since I was eighteen years old...six years ago."
"It's not your fault." Curley's mouth thinned, and he looked away from her. "Other Tarkio members go to see him. Priest makes sure of it."
"But none of them are you." She inhaled deeply. "I need to step out for a few minutes?"
Curley raised his hand and motioned to someone across the room. "Take your time."
She walked away, going toward the back of the building. Outside the back door, she let the cool night air settle on her. She hadn't expected a long over-due conversation with Curley about her uncle while she worked, but opening night resembled more of a low-key Tarkio party. All she'd done was sit around and wait for someone to yell they needed another beer.
The door opened, and Paco stepped out. She walked a few feet away, letting him go about his business. After seeing his attitude directed toward her, she rather avoid talking to him.
Smoke floated toward her. She glanced over her shoulder. Paco was only taking a cigarette break from his social night.
She turned around. "So, what have I done now?"
"Excuse me?" Paco straightened from his spot against the wall of the building.
"Inside, you glared at me."
He flicked his ashes. "Nah, I wasn't glaring."
"But, you don't like me working here."
Paco shrugged. "It's not my business."
"I'm tired of you guys." She blew out her breath. "Instead of worrying about me being around Curley, why don't you figure out how you can help Uncle Walker?"
Tears came to her eyes, blurring her vision. At the end of her rope, she was tired of taking the blame for everyone's mood and behavior.
"Hey, hey, hey." Paco stepped toward her and stopped when she raised her hand. "I got nothing against you, Faye."
"It doesn't matter." She waved his concern away. "It's all my fault. I get it."
Paco's chin hit his chest. She looked away. It hadn't been her intent to irritate anyone else when she slept with Curley. Apparently, she was good at pushing people away without even trying. Curley hadn't come back to her house since the other night. He'd gotten what he wanted from her, and she had to accept that she'd never get what she desired.
"I visited Walker six months ago." Paco raised his gaze. "You're right. I need to visit him more. He's my MC brother. I need to give him back what he gave me when I was a young pup, and he guided my way into Tarkio."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I didn't know he helped you get a patch."
"Why would you? You were practically a baby, running around the clubhouse trying to convince all the members to give you a quarter."
She smiled sadly and blinked hard. "Priest sold candy for a quarter. I think everyone paid Tracy and me to stay out of their way and stop us from pestering them."
Paco's gaze softened. "Both of you kids grew up."
"Yeah," she said on a sigh. "I'm so happy about how things turned out for Tracy. She's got a family again, and her kids..."
Reminiscing with Paco put her in a better mood. Her early childhood was filled with moments when Tarkio members were her family. It'd been that way until she'd ruined everything by sleeping with Curley.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Hm?" Paco frowned.
Everything good had ended because of her. She'd stayed away and lost contact with everyone. The only time she showed up at the clubhouse was if she needed to see Curley, and because they exploded around each other, she probably appeared unbalanced.
When what she'd been was, was a girl in love, trying to survive a broken heart.
"I should go in." She reached out and squeezed his arm. "Have a good night, Uncle."
"You, too," he murmured.
She walked inside, surprised to find customers were sitting around two of the tables. Scanning the room for Curley, she wanted to share the hopefulness the new arrivals brought with them, but he