11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Bear
“ D ude, are you fucking kidding me? That douchebag wanted to show off in front of those high school cheerleaders with his wheelie, ‘cept he kinda forgot he didn’t know how.” Crow is regaling everyone with stories about his latest customer who came in with the rear of his bike completely destroyed. Normally, I’d be joining them with the loud laughter and good beer, but tonight, my focus is on only Athena.
“Hey, I love those douchebags. They pay for these digs,” Hoops chimes in and everyone holds up their drinks. Except for me. I’m too busy getting a feel of Athena’s attitude because she’s like a kitten right now. Skittish and ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
Problem is, it seems to me that everything around her feels like danger to her. Like this whole existence is new to her; and maybe it is, I don’t fucking know.
As soon as she walks through the double doors, I stand, then set my barely touched beer on the table with a gentle thwack before following her to the bathroom. My gut is guiding me and just as I’m about to burst through those same doors, I stop.
I’m not doubting myself. I know deep down inside that she’s about to fucking bolt, and with what happened this afternoon, there’s no fucking way I’m letting that happen. That motherfucker is definitely dangerous and my tiny Athena is gonna have to get used to me being her shadow.
My head whips around when a thought invades my mind that I cannot shake off and my sights land on the front door. Next thing I know, I’m making a beeline for the exit and ignoring the brothers as they call out for my attention.
“Bear, what the fuck? Where you goin’?”
I’m not sure who’s speaking to be honest, probably Psycho, but the buzzing in my ears and the thump thump thump of my heart trying to burst through my rib cage are too loud for me to distinguish any of the voices now behind me.
All I can think about is Athena and my overwhelming need to get to her.
Just as I burst through the doors, the cold night air slaps me across the face and seeps into my bones. It’s not the frigid temperatures of Montana in the winter, but for us, nights that dip into the forties are like the tundra on crack.
It takes a while for my eyesight to adjust to the black of night outside, and just as it does, I see her. Barely, but she’s there. If that asshole hadn’t gotten my hackles up, I’d laugh at the sight of Athena trying to escape through the bathroom window, her legs hanging out and her ass shimmying as she tries not to fall on it.
The rectangular pane is just big enough for her to slide down, albeit as carefully as she can, while her chest scrapes against the bottom railing. As quietly as humanly possible, I tiptoe over to where she’s almost hanging by her arms, ready to catch her if she loses the battle with gravity.
“Just a little more, come on, Athena. You can do this. It’s not complicated. Slide down, then run.”
I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud at her little self-pep talk. Also, I’m concentrating on being her safety net.
“Just a little more—” Just then, Athena’s words die on her delectable pink lips as she turns her head to assess her height and her eyes land on… me. “Oh my gods!”
“‘Sup, Baby Girl? Need a hand?”
On the outside, I’m hoping I look calm and collected, like this is just another Tuesday evening in the dead of winter and some chick is trying to sneak away because… I don’t fucking know. As far as I’m concerned, the women here try to sneak in more than they try to leave, so this is completely new territory for me.
With a huff from her lips that makes her hair fly up and away from her face, Athena sighs and I feel the win coming on. Fucking finally.
“Yes, please.” This time I get a good look at her and notice her clothes are way too light to be hanging—quite fucking literally—outside in the middle of December.
“You need a coat, Baby Girl, this shit ain’t gonna cut it.”
“Well, I hadn’t thought it through that far.” No, no she did not. But that’s fine. I’m here now, and whether she likes it or not, I’m about to take over.
“Is that why you’re using the bathroom window instead of the front door?” I mean, it would have saved her the embarrassment of… this.
“I tried but your friends were blocking the entrance.” I’m not sure if the pink hue on her cheeks is from the cold or her admittance.
“I’m guessin’ you’re wantin’ to go home, then? Take this, I’ll go grab you a coat from inside.” My skittish little kitten tries, in vain, to fight me on this, but she’s about to get a whole lotta hard-headed biker boy push back and there isn’t much she can do about it. After shrugging my cut off and draping it over the nearest bike, I pull off my hoodie, my T-shirt riding up and exposing my torso to the cold winter night. Just as I’m free from my sweatshirt, I catch her staring at me and I ain’t gonna lie, her heated gaze on my body makes everything in me pulse with want and need and everything in between.
“No, it’s fine, it’s not that far.” I raise a brow at her excuse and have to practically bite my tongue to stay quiet. When I hold out my hoodie for her to put on over her raggedy green one, I’m met with resistance, so instead of playing the nice guy, I play the guy who’s worried about her getting sick. Like a sack of potatoes, I shove my sweatshirt over her head and can’t help but chuckle when I notice it’s more of a dress than a shirt, swallowing her right up. Hell, the damn thing is down to below her knees. It’s fucking adorable and I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about this for a very long fucking time.
“Don’t move.” I’m about to point my finger at her but think twice about it, raising my hand then placing my index finger under her chin. “Don’t move, Baby Girl,” I repeat, my tone a bit more on the gentle side. “Because one of my steps is about four of yours so I won’t even break a sweat catching up to you.”
My first instinct is to bring her inside with me but I’m afraid she’ll be embarrassed having gone one way and coming back another. Those knuckleheads don’t need any fuel to light a rumor mill fire. Ain’t no better way to spread misinformation than to have Grinder and Boner sniff out a good story. Thankfully, those two are at their place, playing hosts to Boner’s mama.
“Okay.” Scanning her features, I try to read her answer, hoping to find the truth in her one word. It’s hard to tell and I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with her having to keep everything, every emotion, behind a protective armor. Doesn’t take a genius to understand that the less you say, the higher your chances of surviving great trauma. The talking comes later when it’s time for healing.
I want to be the one to heal her. Or at least be the one she comes to when she needs to feel safe.
With a nod and a wink, I take two steps back, my eyes still trained on Athena, before I turn back and head inside to get myself another sweatshirt.
“That was quick!”
“What happened to your stamina?
“You owe me twenty bucks.”
The completely inappropriate comments are thrown at me from all directions in the clubhouse and I don’t even pretend to acknowledge them, just focus on my path to my room. I’m in and out in less than five minutes and, of course, when I walk back through, the shit stirring starts all over again.
“Welp! Going back for seconds.”
“Must be grade-A pus—” Oh, I hear that comment. In fact, I stop, then slowly turn. My eyes search out the motherfucker who decided talking about Athena was a good idea, and without even considering the consequences, my body faces Diablo and a warning snarl has the entire room fall to a hush.
“The fuck you just say, Diablo?” I take one step, then two. It’s so slow, like I’m giving him the time to backpedal and apologize. Even then, I’m not so sure I’ll accept.
“Aw, c’mon, Bear. It’s shit talking, we all do it.”
“I don’t.”
“Yeah well, you’re the fucking saint around here, aren’t ya?” He chuckles but no one else chimes in and his pseudo joke falls flat at his booted feet.
“Bear, man, come on, brother. Take a breather.” Psycho is behind me trying to be the voice of reason because he knows that if I throw a punch this punk will be laid out for days.
“I will as soon as he apologizes.”
“She didn’t even hear me, Bear. Is she even here?” Diablo tries to look over my shoulder but I side step because I don’t want him to see even a hint of her shadow.
“That don’t sound like an apology, asshole.” I’m so close to him now that the heartbeat pulsing at the side of his neck is clearly visible.
“C’mon, Bear. Don’t be like that, man. It’s just a joke. Didn’t mean anything.” Both of Diablo’s hands are up in a classic show of surrender, so I take a deep breath and force my blood to cool to below boiling. It’s the best I can do at this time.
“That’s it, Bear. Let it go, man. We’ll have him cleaning the shithole for a month.” Psycho ain’t lying either. Diablo will be on toilet duty and I’ll make sure he’s using a fucking toothbrush. To be clear, with the amount of high protein we put away here, by the end of the month, he’s gonna wish he’d had more sense.
“Don’t fucking disrespect, brother.” My shoulders are less tense knowing Diablo understands that I won’t have my woman… any woman, talked about like that.
“Got it, got it. Sorry, man.” With a grunt, I turn on my heel but don’t make it another step before I hear his next words. “But if you don’t tap that, I’m gonna hav—”
One second my brain is registering the direction his phrase is taking, the next I’m throwing a punch worthy of MMA. Diablo is out cold yet I’m not satisfied.
“Ah, I tried but that motherfucker needs to learn to shut the fuck up.”
Psycho is standing beside me when I grab Diablo’s neck and squeeze enough to bring him back to consciousness. I’ve got shit I need to say before I can call it a lesson learned.
“Fuck, I think you broke my tooth.” Diablo ain’t laughing now, is he?
“Listen good and hard, brother .” I spit the word out like he doesn’t deserve it right now. “Y’all sit around here talking about pussy like it’s a fucking joke, ignoring the women and the pasts. That girl out there? She’s been through shit your dumb ass would never understand.” I squeeze a little harder just to get my point across. “Next time you suggest anything she didn’t specifically ask for, I’ll fucking kill you.”
The clubhouse is completely silent, which is the only reason I hear the slight gasp behind me. I don’t turn around, I don’t react, until I know Diablo understands that I’m not fucking around.
“Got it. I’m sorry. I’m fucking sorry, man. Won’t happen again.” When I release him, he doesn’t try to make a joke. In fact, he shuts his fucking mouth and waits for me to rise back to my full height.
As I stare down at him, I grin, but it holds zero humor. “Enjoy cleaning shit for a month. And don’t forget to call the dentist.”
Now, I’ve got to face the proverbial firing squad and it’s in the form of a five-foot-nothing woman with fire in her eyes and kindness in her voice.
The drive to Maribel’s was quiet. We opted for the truck because Athena was two seconds away from turning into a popsicle.
As I park alongside the curb, I put it in park and turn off the engine. I’ve got my own apology to give to her.
“Baby Girl, I’m sorry you saw that back there.”
“Are you sorry that you hit that guy?” Yeah, I’m not apologizing for punching Diablo, that fucker deserved it. But I do hate that she witnessed my capacity for violence.
We’re both looking out the windshield, the dark night interrupted by the street lamps and front porch lights.
“No.” Closing my eyes, I wait for her to tell me that she can’t be around someone violent. That she has had enough of this kind of behavior for too long. That she needs calm and tenderness. My heart is waiting and ready for the rejection that might do me in.
“No one has ever spoken up for me before.” I don’t dare respond or move or even fucking breathe for fear that I maybe misheard that. “I like the way it makes me feel.”
This time I do turn, and I’m met with glistening green eyes that hold so much appreciation. Fuck me, I’m putty in her hands. Hell, I’ve been like a little cub following her around ever since that day on the side of the road, but her words, just now, fill me with pride the size of the fucking continent.
“Thank you for speaking out for me. For us, really.” A smirk pops up because I did a hell of a lot more than just speak. I knocked a brother out and that usually comes with huge consequences in an MC. We don’t fight amongst ourselves.
If I need to be punished, I will take it like a grown-ass man and just seeing all that gratitude written all over her features makes it worth it. Every second of Hell will be bearable because of it.
“You go inside and you sleep. I’ll be out here in case…” What do I say? In case some psychopath—and not the good kind like our Aleko—tries to find you?
“In case I need you?” She smiles and I think she knows I walked myself into a corner.
“Yeah, that. No matter where you are, no matter where I am. You come to me if you need anything.” Raising a brow, I make sure she sees the truth in my declaration.
“You should go home, it’s going to be cold and I don’t want to worry about you all night. That won’t help me sleep.” Leaning in, I grin.
“You let me worry about that. I’m a big boy, I’ll be just fine. Besides, we’ve got blankets in the back in case I need them.” At my words, Athena shakes her head, her pouty mouth turned down in disagreement.
“Go home, Brock.”
“Only way I’m going home, Baby Girl, is if you come with me.” With a shrug, I put an end to that conversation.
“No, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable sleeping at the clubhouse. It’s… a lot.” Folding her legs, she brings her knees close to her body and rests her cheek on top so she can still look at me.
“I’ve got my own place, you know? It was my mother’s. It’s nothing massive, a simple three bedrooms, but it’s clean and well kept. Just the way my mama would have liked it.”
She smiles at that and my entire fucking world lights up.
“It sounds lovely.”
“It is. And if you’re tired of staying here, you can move into my home while I stay in my suite at the compound. It’s no big deal, just say the word.”
“No, I couldn’t do that, Brock. You’ve known me for less than a week, you can’t just offer to make me your roommate.” I frown because I hate the idea that she’d just be my roommate, but if that’s what she wants, I’ll respect it. Obviously.
“Just did, Baby Girl. But if you’re not comfortable coming back with me, it’s all good.” With a sincere smile plastered on my face, I hope she sees that, either way, it’s her call.
“You’re a strange one, Brock Bear, and as much as I appreciate your offer, I’m going to go inside and you’re going to go home.” As she reaches for the door, I place a tentative hand on her shoulder and wait for her to face me.
“Wait.” Her brows slant in confusion but I don’t have time to tell her anything before I’m jumping out of the truck and running around to her side, pulling open the passenger door. “M’Lady.” Extending an arm out then bringing it back in for her to place her hand in mine, my entire body hums with satisfaction at the sound of her giggle.
It’s my new favorite sound. I want to pour it into a bottle and keep it somewhere safe.
“Well, this is fancy.” As soon as her feet hit the ground, I bend at the waist and look up at her through my lashes. The carefree way she’s smiling is giving me life. I did that, I put that happiness on her lips and it’s making me feel like I’m a god.
The walk up the path to the house is quiet, the windows dark, which means everyone inside is asleep. Makes sense considering how late it is.
“Remember, if you need anything, I’m right here. Call me anytime.” Then it hits me. “Hand me your phone, I’ll put in my number.” Holding my hand out, I wait for her to slip her phone into it.
“I don’t have one.”
“Oh.” Without even making a conscious decision, I make a mental note to buy her one with a plan that allows her to do whatever the fuck she wants with it. “Well, no worries. I’ll be right out here if you want anything.”
With a nod, she reaches out and places a tentative, almost shy, hand on my forearm. I wish it were summer so I could feel the warmth of her skin on mine without my own leathers cockblocking me.
“Thank you, Brock.”
“Anytime, Baby Girl.”
Ten minutes later, I’m back in the truck with the covers over my chest playing a game on my phone when a notification gets my attention. It’s from Hoops and it’s in our encrypted chat box that Glitch had set up. When the Reapers came down from New York last year, they seriously made our lives a lot easier and safer. Now, we just need to get ourselves our own tech guy to make sure we’re up to speed with our security.
Hoops : Celia got a hit on Beaufort’s wife. Church first thing in the morning.
Not for the first time, I think about changing Hoops’s name to something that resembles his title of president. He’s taken over the role so smoothly after our beloved Prez was assassinated in cold blood last year, but I just can’t seem to change it.
Shaking off the sudden melancholy that always washes through me at the thought of Prez, I focus on the message. If the deputy sheriff has found the poor woman we almost killed last year for trying to kidnap Mac and destroying our town with dangerous drugs, then we definitely need to lay this shit to rest.
Me : See you in the A.M.
For now, I’ll be here, waiting, watching, making sure Athena is safe and sleeping soundly.
No one knows what tomorrow may bring.