Love Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-Five

Bella

Do you ever wake up in the morning and you just forget where you are? And who you are? I woke up like that, still half lost in the weird dream I was having, half in the real world, and feeling confused. In the dream I was running for my life, trying to get to River in time, and someone was after me. I’m glad to have woken from it.

Rolling over, I see River still fast asleep, so I snuggle up against him, spooning him from behind. I’m glad he told me about Andrew being his father. I feel sad his family kept that from him until now, and let him think another man was his dad. Another man who wasn’t a good role model in any way, shape or form, it sounds like. I had wondered what happened to his mother’s eye, but I didn’t want to ask; I figured he’d tell me when he was ready, and he did. It hurts me to think about the life she must have led, and I can see why she wants to hide out away from everyone she knew.

And River.

He has so much on his shoulders. He’s obviously always been the protector in the family, for his mother and his siblings, and now for an entire motorcycle club. And he doesn’t know where that line is, and when to turn that off.

He’s probably living in fight-or-flight mode, except for him he only goes into fight.

Fight-or-fight mode.

Pressing my cheek against his back, I hold him tight, wanting to protect him for once. I don’t know if Andrew knew River was his son, but if he did and decided to just let him be around a violent man, then he is an asshole. Although I suppose he sent his own kid there to be raised by Lisa too, so I can’t really put it past him. River’s had a hard life, but he’s a good man. Yes, he has his demons, but who doesn’t?

I let him sleep in, and quietly leave the room to get some breakfast. Hades jumps off the couch to greet me, and I give him a pat before frying some bacon, sausage and eggs to eat with toast. After I give Hades a sausage, Julianna is the first to come out of bed, her pregnant nose leading her straight to the food.

“That smells so good, it woke me up,” she says, grabbing a plate. “You are the best, you know that?”

She adds a side of pickles to hers, smiling up at me as she does so.

The men all follow in afterward, including a freshly showered River, who picks me up and lifts me in the air to spin me around, before kissing me as he puts me back on the ground. “You feeding everyone again?”

“Yes,” I laugh. And I like it. I’m a nurturer, what can I say. Everyone eating what I’ve made makes me happy.

“Where’s Corey?” Romeo asks, when she doesn’t come out to eat.

“I’ll go check on her,” I say, walking to her room and knocking on her door, quiet at first but then louder. I open it when there’s no answer, to find her bed empty. Shit. Did she sneak out? Is she okay?

Wincing that I’m going to have to tell River this news, I go back into the kitchen. “Okay, River, don’t freak out, but she’s not in bed. She must have gotten up early and gone somewhere.”

River pulls out his phone to call her, putting her on speaker. She picks up right away. “Yeah?”

“Where are you?” he asks, fingers gripping his phone tightly.

“I’m on my way to visit Mom. I think it’s time I see her, especially since she finally reached out to me,” she says. “I’ll be back this evening.”

“Okay,” he replies, exhaling in relief. “Drive safe.”

Everyone seems to accept that explanation, but something about it doesn’t sit right with me. Would she up and leave last minute without mentioning anything? I send her a text.

Bella: You okay? Just checking in.

“Do you think it’s weird that Corey just left without saying anything, or is that normal for her?” I ask River as I undress to get into the shower.

“It’s not unusual for her, but I am surprised that she’d go see my mom. It’s a good thing, though—they need to work on their relationship. I’m glad that Corey is being the bigger person and making amends,” he says, leaving the bathroom.

I think it’s a good thing too, but it should be the parent who reaches out to fix the relationship, shouldn’t it? That’s how I think of it. With any future children that I have, it would be up to me to maintain a good, healthy relationship with them.

I guess every family dynamic is different, though, and I hope they can both be happier with each other back in their lives.

After getting dressed, I tidy up the bedroom and office, and then sit down to check my emails when I get a text. Panic fills me as I read it.

Corey: Help!

Bella: Where are you??

I yell out for River, and run to the front of the clubhouse, where the men are fixing their bikes.

“What is it?” he asks, and I show him the message.

“I knew something was wrong—I don’t know, I just felt it,” I say, panicking when I think about something bad happening to her.

“Bella, calm down,” Romeo says, and then starts barking orders. “Jag, go and track her car and see where she is. Everyone else get armed and meet back here in five minutes. We are going after her. Jeremiah, call the Angels clubhouse and tell them to send some men over to stay with the women. And whoever touches a hair on her head is going to fucking pay for it.”

“Yes, they will,” River growls, taking my hand and leading me back indoors. “Stay inside. I’ll give you a gun in case, but don’t use it unless you really fucking have to.”

Jag comes out of his room with information. “Her car’s sitting on the side of the road. We can go straight to it and look for clues.”

“Wait, is there a tracker in my car?” I ask, arching my brow. I’m met with silence, but I already know the answer.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m texting Damon,” I say. “He needs to know.”

Bella: Corey is missing. Her car is on the side of the road.

Damon: I’m coming there now.

River kisses me deeply, then rushes out to save his baby sister. The one I told him he didn’t need to protect.

What a fucking mess.