Love Betrayal

Chapter Five

Bella

As I’m about to leave work and go home for the evening after a long day of meeting with real estate agents, I find myself wondering what River is up to right now. We definitely spend our days very differently. My job is consistent and stable, yet River’s job seems anything but that. He could be doing random things at any given time, from working at one of the businesses, to hiding a body. I mean, I wouldn’t really know, because I don’t hear the minor details, but I can guess.

I guess opposites really do attract.

For me, becoming a property manager was a no-brainer as a Callisto—it kind of comes with the territory and family name. Property and motorcycles are our thing, and I know which one I’m more comfortable with. As much as I love riding on the back of a bike, I never got into riding them myself.

Bella: You coming over tonight? I can make us dinner.

I send River a quick text about potentially coming over for a home-cooked meal tonight as I get in my black BMW, and stop at the store to grab some groceries before heading home. From the outside, I don’t think anyone would know I was a part of an MC family. I probably look like any other businesswoman, in my white blouse and beige tailored slacks. But how different my life is. I suppose, unlike Julianna, I got to live my life with one foot out the door, and without all the responsibilities that she has.

But now being with River, who is so heavily tied into the MC, I have both feet firmly planted in one direction, and that is wherever he is. I haven’t given myself much time to process this, which is probably why I let River off the hook so easily. While this relationship is still very firmly in the casual phase, he’s not the only reason it is. I never pictured myself dating a biker, let alone marrying one. No judgment to my family or Julianna, but the biker life was never for me. I wanted “normal,” or what I saw on television.

But as Julianna quickly found out, the heart wants what the heart wants. Yeah, yeah, Selena Gomez, you were right.

While Mark was not the one I ever imagined being with for the long term, he’s the type of guy I saw myself ending up with. Normal guy with a normal job. I think he was an accountant or something. I actually don’t remember what he did other than he went to work in a suit every day. Shit, I was not a great girlfriend.

As I’m pondering my life, my assistant, Sally, calls. “Hey,” I answer while pulling into my driveway.

“Bella, I’m so glad I caught you. I was finishing up at the office working on the Lansdale property you gave me to finalize. There’s quite a bit of information missing that we normally need for me to enter into the system. Do you happen to have that info handy? It also needs your signature.”

Shit. The Lansdale property was something Julianna told me I needed to handle. I must not have properly looked over all the paperwork before I gave it to Sally.

“I’m sorry, Sally, I didn’t realize so much was missing. Is there a deadline to close?” As I wait for her response, I pull out my notebook to take a look at my notes. Shit, I left that at the office.

“End of day tomorrow.”

Dammit. “Okay, I’ll handle it first thing tomorrow morning.”

As I hang up, I get a text from River.

River: Can’t tonight, sorry. Tomorrow?

Bella: Sounds good.

At least he’s actually communicating with me now, and doesn’t just go MIA with no explanation.

The next day I decide to show up at the clubhouse before I head into the office with some food for him. This is the first time I’ve come here unannounced, but I figure Julianna might be around also.

Jeremiah arches his brow and looks up from his Fitbit when he sees me. He must have gone for a run—he’s bare chested, a sheen of sweat covering his six-pack abs. He’s a good-looking man, I’m not going to lie. With that light hair and his green eyes, he kind of looks ethereal. But the clothes he usually wears don’t make him look like an angel. He likes black and leather. Even now, his running shorts and sneakers are black.

“Hey, Bella, what are you doing here?” he asks, taking his earbuds out. “Does River know you’re here?” His tone makes me feel like now might not be the best time for me to be here.

I shift my feet in my black block heels, wondering if I should turn around now. “No, I was just dropping off some food for him. Is that okay?”

That seems to distract him, as he looks at what’s in my hands. “Is there any food in there for me? Because I am starving.”

“Yeah,” I laugh, looking down at the bag in my hands. “I put a lot in there. There will be plenty.” Knowing that the other men would likely want some, it would be rude for me to bring something just for River, and not for the others.

Jeremiah grins, flashing his teeth. “Well, why didn’t you say so? Come on in.”

Shaking my head in amusement, I follow behind him, wondering why he was giving me the vibe like now isn’t a good time to be here. Is something going on? Should I turn around and leave? This is River’s home and I want to get comfortable here, but only if I’m wanted.

Surprising him wasn’t the best idea. I kind of knew that. River is mysterious and likes to be in control. I doubt he’d appreciate me coming here on my own accord. But how are we ever going to cross this line and get closer if we don’t step out of our comfort zones? I want us to progress in our relationship, and guess what, these are the type of things people in a relationship do. I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary. Although it might feel that way for him, because he doesn’t seem used to having a normal, open connection with someone. I don’t want to push him, though, because it might make him step backward from me.

Why are men so complicated?

River is a whole different ball game of dating.

“Maybe I should come back another time? If he’s busy.” But I don’t really want to do that, do I?

“You’re here now,” Jeremiah says, shrugging. He leads me to the kitchen, and I place the food on the table and open the containers filled with eggs, bacon and potatoes.

“Help yourself,” I say, forcing a smile. I look around the kitchen, wondering what I should do next. Should I just leave now?

Jeremiah starts loading his plate. What he doesn’t do is go and get River, or tell me where to find him. “This looks pretty fucking good,” he murmurs, doing a little dance.

I smirk. “What was that?”

“This?” he asks, doing the dance again.

“Yes, that.”

“That’s my happy food dance. You know, when something looks delicious and you’re happy you’re about to eat it. You don’t have one?” he asks, sounding surprised. “I thought everyone had one.”

I try to hide my smile. That’s kind of cute.

When he starts to heat up the food, I decide to go and check myself if River is in his room. He isn’t, and nothing but a perfectly made bed looks back at me. I close the door and walk past the empty gym, then turn around. This was an epic waste of time. And I don’t even know if River is here.

Bella: Where are you?

I’m about to call it quits when I hear his voice say, “Romeo, where are you?”

I know I should just go, but I’m nosy and I want to see my man. He never tells me what he’s up to with the club, and I usually never ask, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not curious, because trust me, I am.

I place my hand on the knob that opens the door to what I assume is the garage and turn it. It’s dark in there, but not too dark for me to take in what is right in front of me.

Sitting in a chair is a man who is bound and bloodied. A figure is standing above him, pummeling him over and over.

“River?” I call out, more on instinct. Asking him to save me from the sight I’m witnessing. But what I see surprises me. At the sound of my voice, the figure turns, then rushes over to me, pushing me out of the garage, and closing the door behind me.

It is River.

“Bella? What the fuck are you doing here?” he growls, hands shaking as they touch my arms. He scans my eyes intently, and I can see how angry he is. But I also see a little flash of fear in those beautiful blue eyes, too.

I’m stunned speechless after taking in what I saw. Or rather what I didn’t see. I’m not naive. I know that violence is part of these MCs, but... But I never expected to be sleeping with the man who actually does that part. Okay, but I knew he was the enforcer. I guess thinking something and seeing it firsthand are two different things. River, my beautiful, dark hero. I find it hard to reconcile the person I know with the person I saw in the garage.

I realize I’m just gawking at him, so I say the first thing that comes out of my mouth.

“I brought you some food,” I say, clearing my throat. “And then I wanted to see you and say hello before I go to work.”

He backs me up against the hallway wall and stares down at me. There’s a menacing look to him. I’m not afraid. I know he won’t hurt me. But it’s definitely not a look I’ve seen him have before. “There’s a lot going on here—that’s why I couldn’t come over last night. And it’s why you shouldn’t be here right now.”

“What are you doing in there?” I ask. Maybe if I know I’ll feel better. I’ll understand.

His mouth forms a grim line. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Why? We’re part of the same MC now. You know, Angels and Devils and all that mumbo jumbo.” Where is my cavalier attitude coming from?

“You need to leave. Now.” There is no room for argument in his voice.

“I thought I would come to you, but I can now see that it was a bad idea,” I grumble, trying to push him away with my palms on his hard chest.

“I don’t see how you thought it would be a good idea. You can’t be here right now. Go, Bella. Now.”

I get the hell out of there, passing Jeremiah on the way. He calls my name, but I ignore him, all but dive into my car and leave.

I knew coming here was a bad idea, but I guess I just want to be more involved in River’s world.

I want it to be our world.

But shit, maybe I don’t want to be part of his world at all.