Chapter 5
Chapter Five
RHYS
Walking away from Bristol is pure torture.
And I’ve actually been physically tortured.
I’ve spent the last two days traveling down to Oregon and back up again to transport the animals that needed to be moved up to our location.
It was easy enough and something I’ve done a few times in the past. I love being on the open road, and traveling in my truck means I can go solo without club protection.
I had no idea that taking this task would lead me to the most unexpected gift of my life.
I still can’t believe that someone like her exists at all.
I’m unsure who this woman is outside of her name and the fact that she’s a veterinarian, but I know without a shred of doubt that I was put on this earth for her.
My heart? It belongs to her.
My body? Hers.
I just need to find out who she is and how to see her again.
I climb into my old truck, starting her up and scratching at my beard.
When I heard her sweet voice place her order at Daily Rise, I couldn’t help but offer a suggestion.
Everyone knows the Morning Fog Latte pairs perfectly with the Sunrise Brioche bun; it’s my go-to order, and I’m not the only one.
But when she turned around, it felt like the wind was knocked out of my lungs.
Gorgeous, silky black hair pulled back off her face, so soft looking, as if it would slip through my fingers like the finest silk.
I love that her hair was pulled back, giving me the perfect image of her face to remember in my dreams, allowing me an unobstructed view to gaze into the prettiest hazel eyes.
Soft edges, full cheeks, and a gentle bump on the bridge of her nose.
She has the sexiest body I’ve ever seen, large breasts pressed tight against her navy-blue top, and hips that flare out, leading down to a pair of long, thick legs that are perfect for me to grip onto and worship.
I almost begged to do just that. There’s something so youthful and pure about her; she’s all soft curves, with zero sharp edges.
Michelangelo himself couldn’t carve out her beauty.
If her body and voice weren’t enough to dismantle everything I thought I knew about chemistry and love, watching her with the dogs about took me down to my knees.
People are hardwired to be cruel and untrustworthy.
I’ve never understood them. Animals? Animals, I understand.
If I had it my way, I’d turn the entire club compound into a rescue for all sorts of animals.
The fact that she’s dedicated her life to helping them is a gift unlike anything I’ve ever been given.
She’s perfect, and as much as I want to learn every single thing about her, I don’t need to know more to understand what is fundamentally true, and nothing will change it.
We’re meant for each other, and I know she felt it, too.
I pull out my phone and quickly navigate to the pinned not-group chat at the top of my messages, currently named Bike Besties, knowing this is something I need to let them all know about STAT.
Me: I found her
Wrath: Found who exactly?
Chaos: Is this worthy of us all needing to know through a group chat?
Me: Thought it wasn’t a group chat Prez?
Chaos: We’ve been through this a hundred times
Malice: It is a group chat! Doesn’t matter what Prez says. We know we’re the Best Bike Bandits
Wrath: That one actually has a good ring to it, Mal. I like that one more than Hell’s Group Chat
Malice: It might be my best work yet
Chaos: Shouldn’t you be actually working right now? Pretty positive I asked you and Rolo to dig up some info for me
Malice: Yeah but we’re waiting on some things to get back to us so technically I’m free to do this
Me: Can we circle back now?
Chaos: What do you need? Where are you?
Me: I just got back from Oregon
Chaos: And? Where are you?
Me: It’s a need-to-know basis
Malice: He doesn’t want anyone to know he’s at the animal shelter, but don’t worry, I tail him from time to time
Me: You what?
Chaos: Wtf are you doing at the animal shelter? No more pets, Sin, that’s an actual order
Me: I would never give Mr. Bun-Buns siblings! He couldn’t handle sharing me. Mal, super creepy buddy, no need to tail me.
Malice: I’m exceptionally good at it though. You really should watch your surroundings better. Especially because of who you are
Wrath: Sin, unlike everyone else in the club right now, I actually am busy. What do you need so we can get on with it. My phone blowing up right now is distracting as fuck. Who did you find?
Me: My queen.
Wrath: For fuck’s sake here we go again
Chaos: Your what?
Me: I found my queen
Wrath: Does she know she’s your queen??
Me: She will. As soon as I make her mine
Wrath: Is that like a term we’re using now? Queen?
Chaos: Saige is a fucking queen
Me: I’d argue Kinsey is one too
Malice: Looks like it’s a term now
Malice: Doesn’t Kinsey’s property jacket say Queen? I’ll have to check
Me: I’m heading to Aspen Ridge now, I’ll check
Chaos: As someone who’s recently been through this, best of luck to you brother
Malice: I can help. The shit board wooed Saige over and she’s scary
Wrath: It’s a charcuterie board, Malice, not a shit board
Me: Whatever. Maybe I’ll need help, maybe I won’t. But I get it now.
Wrath: Dare I ask what?
Me: How Chaos and Rogue fell so hard and changed so quick. It’s like everything is brighter and better
Chaos has left the chat
Malice: Now look at what you did you big oof!
Me: He’ll be back. He always comes back
Closing out of the chat, I drop my phone onto the passenger seat and take one last longing look at the building. I wish I could stay, but I’ve got somewhere to be. The engine of my truck rumbles as I reverse out of the parking lot, wanting to get to Aspen Ridge before I feel the urge to turn back.
The drive to Aspen Ridge isn’t bad, but every mile that I put between Bristol and me, my heart feels heavier and heavier, a longing I’ve never felt before.
There’s such a strong pull calling me back to her, something in the pit of my stomach telling me to take care of her, to keep her safe, to show her how she deserves to be loved and treated.
What’s her favorite time of the day?
What’s her favorite color?
Does she like to read?
What does she do for entertainment and fun?
Is she a homebody, or does she like to be taken out?
What face does she make when she’s uncomfortable, sad, or disappointed?
What makes her happy?
What turns her on?
What does she sound like when she comes?
I already know her coffee order, and that she likes banana muffins. I’ll make sure she has a banana muffin every morning for the rest of her life if it means I’ll be able to wake up to her sweet smile.
With images of her beautiful face smiling at me, I arrive in Aspen Ridge in no time.
The downtown is cute and quirky, cobblestone sidewalks line brick buildings full of businesses, and my best friend’s tattoo shop, Rogue, named after his road name.
He’s our road sergeant, and after the death of Chaos’ brother and Rogue’s sister, Lena, he’s been allowed to live in Aspen Ridge .
. . a normal life outside of the clubhouse.
We call him back twice a month for church and for anything we need him for in between, but for the most part, he lives here, a life of normalcy.
I couldn’t imagine what that would be like, and as much as I want a family of my own someday, I can’t imagine ever walking away from Hell’s Heathens.
I pull open the door to Rogue, the bell chiming overhead.
“Hey there, kitten,” I say teasingly to Rogue’s woman, Kinsey, who’s sitting at the front desk by herself, curled up in the chair like a kitten basking in the sun.
They’ve been together over a year, and I love her like a sister.
She pulled Reid out of depression so deep that we never thought we’d see our true brother again. She saved him.
“Do you have a death wish, Rhys?” she snaps.
“Not after today, I don’t. I plan to live a long, long life.”
“And what changed today, brother?” Reid asks as he rounds the corner, walking up to me and giving me a hug. He’s about my height and size; we’re both massive guys in height and width. Kinsey is a tiny little thing, and I love to give him shit about how things work logistically for them.
“How’d you know Kinsey was the one?” I ask out of nowhere, once our embrace has fallen. Reid’s eyes automatically float to Kinsey, a smile toying at his lips as she tucks a strand of her dirty blonde hair behind an ear, her cheeks blushing a pretty pink.
“I just did. It felt like my life was jump-started. She brought me back from the dead, my heart finally pumping in my chest again, my eyes clearer, my life intertwined with hers in a way that I can’t put into words. You’d know if you felt it. The world shifts under you when you find your person.”
“Find your queen.”
“Yeah.”
Kinsey eyes me suspiciously but Reid doesn’t take notice. Instead, he opens the door to the large fishbowl room where he tattoos clients, and I follow him back.
“Shirt off, you big baby, let’s finish your back.”
“Nah. There’s something else I want today.
” I pull my shirt off over my head, resting back in the chair and pointing to the only blank space on my chest, right above my heart.
I tap my finger across the area, knowing it’s the spot I’ve left bare for a reason, and that only one thing belongs there. “Right here.”