Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
RHYS
Bristol looks scared shitless, and I know there’s nothing I can do to fix this for her right now.
I run to my closet, grab my leather jacket, and throw it over her shoulders.
“We have to take my bike; this will protect you some and keep you warm.” She nods, slipping her arms into the sleeves.
It’s huge on her, but it’ll work until I can get her a property jacket, just as soon as I find time to explain the privilege and what it means to me for her to wear it.
As soon as she’s done slipping on her shoes, I’m reaching for her hand, sweeping us out of the room. The common room is pandemonium, and I know that can only mean one thing. There’s been another attack.
I find Wrath first, pulling Bristol along with me as I rush toward him. “What’s happened?”
“Hell’s Asylum is on fire.”
His words stun the shit out of me. Our club? We’ve owned that place for twenty years. It’s one of our biggest revenue sources and a place for the people of Amberwood to let loose safely.
“Who?” I growl, knowing my answer.
Wrath gives me a look that conveys he’s confirming what I already know.
“Tell me,” Bristol speaks up. “It’s him? I didn’t think he’d really do anything like this. Is anyone hurt? Is he coming for you all? Is he coming for me? Rhys, what about the shelter? Is the shelter okay? I’m so sorry. Oh my god.”
Fuck, she’s spiraling. I’ve never had to juggle both these roles before. Staying Rhys for her while being Sin for the club. This has to be why so many of us stay single, sticking to fucking patch bunnies instead of finding something real. But I can do this. I’ll do anything for her.
“Baby, listen, we’ll get to the bottom of it, but first, I need to get you somewhere safe, okay?”
“Okay, okay. Yeah,” she says, nodding her head, pure shock and terror blazing in her eyes. I turn back to Wrath. “I’m taking her out of here. Tracker on my bike?”
He brings up his phone, opening the app he has for the devices. “Yep. Can see it loud and clear. I’ve got you. Call if anything goes weird.”
“Taking three prospects with me, I’ll send one back toward town once I’m through,” I tell Wrath, turning to take in my girl. She’s shaking, her eyes wild, but there’s a storm brewing behind her pretty hazels. “Baby, you with me? You wanted to meet my mom, right? Well, now’s the time.”
“What’s happening, Rhys? I’m struggling to keep up with all this shit.”
“I know, my love, I know. There’s going to be so much time for us to talk and process, but right now, we have to go.”
She nods her head quickly, going on autopilot and adrenaline. “Okay, okay, I’m with you.” That’s going to have to be good enough for me right now.
“That’s my girl.”
Gripping her hand, we head out the side doors that lead to the row of bikes.
We reach mine, a Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Sport with army-green bodywork.
She’s a beauty, and I’ve been waiting a long-ass time to get my woman on the back of it.
I just wish, for the second time now, that I had the time to really enjoy it.
Someday, once shit settles down, I’m going to take her for a drive up to our spot.
She’ll love the winding mountain roads and having the wind in her hair.
But for right now, all that matters is her safety.
Three prospects rev up their engines, backing out slowly and waiting.
They know the deal; they’re escorting, so they’ll flank me, with one behind.
The heavy Washington clouds loom above us, blocking out the sun, but I’ve got Bristol standing in front of me, and I know everything is going to be okay.
I swing my leg over my bike, steadying it with my grip on the handlebars and kicking up the stand.
“Come on, baby, just like last time, scoot your ass nice and close and hang on,” I tell her.
Bristol does as I say, not hesitating like she did last night.
She gets comfortable behind me, positioning herself as close as possible to me, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
“That’s my girl. You ready?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too, Rhys.”
I start her up, the engine purring to life under us, and then we’re off, picking up dust and dirt as we go. The gates open from our armed sentries as soon as they see us coming, my front tire hitting the pavement as I take off, the prospects falling in accordingly.
My heart races in my chest as Bristol’s fingers cling tightly to my shirt. I release my grip on the handlebars with my left hand, placing my palm over hers. She steadies me. Calms me. She sees the real me.
I can’t believe how twisted this shit has become.
Never in a million years would I expect this outcome after meeting her in that coffee shop, how our lives would intersect, whether we wanted them to or not.
We would have eventually found Blake, and it would have taken me straight to Bristol.
I know in my heart that it wouldn’t matter how or when we met, that my soul would recognize hers right away. Time or place wouldn’t matter.
We arrive at my mom’s ten minutes later, pulling up to her gated driveway. I punch in the key code, and the iron doors open automatically. Bristol grips me tighter, so I reach behind me, putting my hand on her calf for reassurance.
I park my bike out front, the prospects pulling in next to me. After helping Bristol off my bike, I tuck her in close, wrapping my arm around her waist but turning to address the guys.
“Thank you. Stay put, I’ll be out soon, and we’ll head back together.”
“You aren’t staying?”
“I can’t, baby. The club needs me. But you are safe here. I wouldn’t let anything happen to either of you, and I sure as shit wouldn’t let my mom live out here this far away from the club if I thought she was in danger. You’ll be safe.”
“Okay. Okay, I believe you.”
The front door swings open the next moment, and my mom is standing there, taking in the three other bikers with me. She’s probably not too happy about that.
“Momma, I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
“Bristol?” she asks.
“Hi?” Bristol says sheepishly, her hands wringing together in front of her. My mom skips down the stairs, moving in to hug her, pulling Bristol’s body tightly against hers.
“I’ve been waiting for my boy to bring home a pretty girl for years.
It was worth the wait because he is smitten!
I’m Alice.” My mom shoots me a glare, raising her eyebrows.
She knows me, so she must understand that bringing Bristol here means she’s no longer with her fiancé.
Bristol smiles and then looks up at me. Fuck, if I could bottle up that expression, I would.
“Let’s get inside. I don’t have long, and we’ve got some stuff to catch up on. Is Kate here?”
“She is, she’s washing the last of the produce we just pulled from the garden for the season. We heard the bikes, so I’m sure she’s pulling out some type of snack and drinks.”
We walk inside, that nostalgic scent filling my nose. Bristol seems to relax immediately, her shoulders not so tight, her grip on my hand relaxing.
“Rhys! I see you must have worked your magic to get her to fall for you. Hi, Bristol, I’m Kate, Alice’s wife. Can I get you anything to drink? Why don’t we head into the kitchen and let these two chat for a few?”
“That sounds great, thank you.” Well, she definitely feels more comfortable here than she does at the clubhouse. I’m going to have to fix that. Add it to the long list of shit I need to make right.
I drop a kiss to Bristol’s forehead as she walks away with Kate into the other room. My mom wastes no time, sitting down on the couch and crossing her arms.
“Spill, and don’t leave anything out. What did you just bring to my doorstep, because the three prospects outside are telling me something is about to go down.”
“She’s in trouble. Her ex is a controlling, abusive piece of shit.
I want her at the clubhouse, but I can’t leave her alone.
Plus, that’s the first place they’ll hit when they come after her.
I need the two most important women in my life safe, so I’m keeping you together in one place.
The man she was with is the man we’ve been looking for; he’s involved in some nasty shit, and we need to get to the bottom of it.
But we think he’s been fucking with us, toying.
Last week, Hell’s Asylum was ransacked, and right now, it’s on fire.
I need to get down there. But it’s him, or the people he works for. ”
“She was abused?”
“As far as I know, physically, once. But emotionally, mentally, and verbally? It’s been going on for some time.”
“When did she leave him?”
“Last night.”
“Jesus Christ, Rhys. She needs stability, not whatever this is.”
“You think I don’t know that, Mom? You think it’s not killing me right now, knowing I have to drop her off in a strange home with people she doesn’t know, when all I want to do is help heal her wounds?
Trust me, I know. But I can’t change the situation; I can only adapt.
I’m doing the best I can, and that has to be good enough for right now. ”
My mom takes a deep breath, reaching out and grabbing my shoulders, pulling me into a tight hug.
“I know, I’m sorry. Go, she’ll be safe here.”
“You got your gun?”
“Four of them. And I’m still a better shot than most of you Heathens.” I drop a kiss to the top of her head.
“Good.”
I stand, finding Bristol in a deep discussion with Kate, but she looks up at me as I enter the room, all bright hazel eyes and wide, hopeful smile. We’re going to get through this.
“Hi, my love. I’ve got to go. You’re in good hands.
I’m leaving two prospects outside.” Not wanting to take any chances and knowing they’ll keep watch over them.
Bristol stands from her chair, walking right into my open arms and burying her face in my shirt.
I rest my cheek against the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent.
When we break apart, her eyes are misting, the hazel so clouded with large drops of unshed tears. My heart breaks, but I have to go, even if everything is telling me to stay.
“I love you.”
“Come back to me. I love you so much.”
“Of course I’m coming back to you.”
With one last kiss to her sweet, plump lips. I turn and walk out the door, knowing if I don’t do it now, there’s no chance I ever will.