Chapter 9
Cage
I quickly take a deep breath as I open the passenger door and hold my hand out for my girl. It’s only been two days, but I don’t give a fuck, she’s mine.
The meal was amazing. Even with the waitress—who my girl clearly hated—eyeing me, I couldn’t stop touching Drew.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I loved that she felt jealous which is weird because normally jealous women set me off for obvious reasons.
Yet, Drew being jealous—fuck, that hits different.
She does something to me I can’t explain.
I have the urge to be with her all the time, wanting to tie her to me which probably isn’t healthy, but right now, I really don’t care. I just wish the guilt that keeps creeping in when I try to be happy, would stop holding me back, even as I reach for happiness with Drew.
Would she be rolling in her grave? Or would she be happy that I’m trying?
Fuck.
Drew takes my hand, and tingling instantly shoots up my arm as I help her out of her pick-up truck, and I smile.
I wanted her on the back of my bike, but when that happens, the first time will be a whole evening fucking experience. For now, I’m driving her truck, which I fucking hate. I want to feel her behind me, which says a lot about where I am mentally with this woman.
The only girls that have ever been on the back of my bike are my sisters, Angie being the last, and normally no brother, even a nomad one, not knowing if he wants this life, allows someone that isn’t blood family to ride bitch.
“You ready for this?” I ask Drew as I shut the door and wrap my arm around her waist, needing her close, and she scrunches her nose up a little, making me chuckle.
“If I said no, can we turn around?” she retorts, and I hum.
“We could,” I agree, but then remind her, “but you’ll have your dad after you.”
She huffs and moves her feet towards the back yard, and I chuckle again as I tighten my hold around her waist. The feeling of being very fucking content hits me with this woman pressed against my side. I can’t help but kiss her head before breathing in her coconut scent.
I push open the gate and guide us inside before a woman’s voice echoes, “Well, it’s about time you two got here,” and we look up to see Joel who has a soft look on his face and the woman pressed against his side who I have to admit, my girl doesn’t really look much alike apart from maybe the nose and cheekbones, looking very giddy.
Joel takes a few photos, and I raise a brow at the man, but he shrugs like a fucker then admits, “For your dad.”
I chuckle lightly as I look down at my girl, who tilts her head at me. I grin and confess, “Our dads are still close despite the three hours between them, and this isn’t something anyone thought would happen.”
“What? Me agreeing to date a biker?” she sasses, and I poke her side, making her chuckle, and I murmur, “Brat,” which only makes her chuckle turn into a laugh as she leans into me and I can’t help but smile.
She doesn’t bring up my past, or question why people wouldn’t believe I took her out on date, instead she sees the situation for what it is and diverts the attention from my shame.
She’s fucking perfect.
“Cage, it is so nice to finally see you again, though I doubt you’ll remember me,” the woman says as we walk over to the patio.
“I’m sorry I don’t,” I admit as I take a seat, but before Drew can sit beside me, I pull her down on my lap, making her gasp and look at me wide-eyed. I smirk and remind her, “I told you that you’d be on my lap,” and her cheeks brighten.
Fuck, I love that she doesn’t wear makeup to hide that look.
I lean forward and kiss her nose like it is the most natural thing in the world before looking back at her parents.
Her mother has tears in her eyes while her dad softens, seeing his daughter relaxing into me, her side going into my chest.
Guess I’m not the only one whose family didn’t think I’d let someone in.
Her mom clears her throat and says, “Well, I’m Mary, and the last time I saw you, you were skinny dipping in the pool.”
I still, my eyes going wide while Drew chokes on the drink her dad had just given her, while Joel outright laughs and reminds his wife, “He was only four in his defense, darling.”
Well, that would make sense.
I blink then blink again as my girl pleads, “Please tell me you have photo evidence of that?”
I poke her then tickle her side, making her giggle, while her mom admits, “Actually, I do,” and I look at her sharply, but the warning only makes her laugh.
Crap.
“That’s nothing, I have proof of him taking his dad's quad for a joyride only to crash it into horse manure at the age of twelve,” Joel adds, and I groan, dropping my forehead against my girl's shoulder while she laughs her ass off.
“I fucking stunk for weeks after that and Mom said it was my penance for taking something that wasn’t mine,” I grumble and their laughter gets louder.
“I thought I heard laughter,” a voice says with a slight husk. My girl instantly stops laughing, her body tensing.
“Drew, it’s rude to sit on someone's lap at your parents’ home.” Another adds with heat, and I slowly wrap my arm around my girl's midriff as her body completely locks up. I gently rub my thumb on her stomach as I look towards the patio doors.
The guy who is glaring at me looks fucking pompous and obviously needs a punch in the face.
His face does pale when he notices my patch while the girl, who I am guessing is Elizabeth and looks more like Mary, is biting her lip as she looks me over.
I can clearly see the jealousy in her eyes which is aimed at my girl.
Fucking patch chaser alert.
“Drew can do whatever she wants. This was and still is her home,” Joel snaps, causing the fucker to tense while Mary adds, “We were just reminiscing about Cage’s childhood.”
“I didn’t know you knew bikers, Mom.” Elizabeth accuses, and I roll my eyes before I press my lips against Drew's soft shoulder. She looks at me and I feel it deep in my bones and I smile as I gently press my lips against hers.
“El, stop with the attitude, who we know is none of your business,” Joel sighs, and I look his way before we lock eyes.
His are full of worry and frustration as they flitter between me and his eldest. I give him a smile, so he knows I won’t hurt her, especially not with her own goddamn sister.
Joel nods subtly, and I tighten my arm around my girl, and I ask, “So, any embarrassing stories about your childhood to even the score?”
Drew instantly says, “Nope,” while Mary says, “Oh, we have thousands of Drew, including the time she thought she could rap and dance at the same time.”
Little bird tenses, and I chuckle under my breath as Joel adds, “Let's not forget the stage fright she used to get before she learned not to look out at the crowds.”
“Ah, yes, I forgot about that, first grade Lion King dance,” Mary hums, “Didn’t she throw up on Ms. Sugar?”
Drew groans, and I laugh as I hold her even tighter, all while ignoring the two near the door who seem to be stewing with anger that we’re not involving them in the conversation. I don’t miss the constant glare the fucker is giving my girl while her sister openly eyes me up like a fucking bitch.
I cannot kill her sister, I repeat, I cannot kill her sister. Though I could kill the fucker…
***
Five Days Later
I sigh as I sit down on my bed and crack my neck, the four hours I just spent tattooing a cross on a guy's back with tribal markings already proving too much for my body.
Joel helped me get a chair at the local tattoo shop—Hills Tats and Piercings. It’s alright for now. It’s not Carnage, but at least the chair's pay is cheap while I figure things out. I feel stuck between what my brothers and family want and my own guilt that I can’t seem to work through.
A week, that is how long I have known her. Five days since we spent time at her family home while her sister stewed behind us, hating that I didn’t look her way.
Fuck, her and my girl are night and fucking day. You can tell which sister got spoiled and which one didn’t, that is for sure.
Drew was right, Elizabeth has that bitch aura where she thinks the world owes everything because she was born early. Apparently, that means she thinks she’s owed me.
I gently wipe my mouth, the urge to call my girl and get her to come over is hitting very fucking high, but I know I have to push it away.
She’s busy teaching to get ready for her show tomorrow afternoon. She hasn't invited me to it yet. She’s concerned I’ll reject her after meeting her sister, but that will never happen.
I’ve come to realize this woman is going to be my world. I just don’t know if I can keep her safe from the Chargers. If I want to pursue this with Drew – which I fucking do – then I need to consider if being Pres is the right move for us both.
I was going to hand my cut in for the sake of my unborn child, so why wouldn’t I consider it with a woman I know I will fall madly and deeply in love with?
My phone rings, getting me out of my head, and I huff, already knowing it’s Dad, and I grab my phone before grunting, “Yep?”
“Okay, church is in session,” he answers before a bang echoes, and I hold in my sigh.
Every other week, the brothers hold church and Dad, since I left, has decided it is something I have to take part in so I’m in the loop and ready to take over.
I could get away with not being involved, I would, but Trick and Crusher already threatened to track me down and tie me to a chair just so I’m involved while Knuckles removed his cut with a threat of throwing it on the floor like a dick so I had no choice but to agree.
“Bones, let's start with Carnage Motors before we go over the shifts with Trick and Crusher then get on with Cage and where he is at,” Dad demands, and Bones begins to explain all the financial side of the garage and the shit going on with the receptionist that can’t take no as an answer and seems to want his cock.
I zone out a little as Drew comes to mind.
I’ve seen several Charger shitheads ride through town. They are most likely looking for their missing man, but eye me when they see me. I have a lot of fucking thinking to do where I, the club, and my girl are concerned. I just don’t know where to fucking start.
I can’t put her at risk and I’m almost certain I can’t live without her, and it has only been five fucking days.
“Cage, how is the road?” Dad verges off from the club businesses, meaning I’ve missed it all.
Shit.
I clear my throat and admit, “Fine, some Charger fucker had followed me for roughly four months. I know Trick updated you on him last week. I uh, I’m still in Rose Hill. I’ve got a chair at the local tattoo shop for now and my motel room is booked for the foreseeable future.”
“Drew?” my dad confirms, and I clear my throat as everyone else stays deathly quiet.
“Yeah, Drew,” I confirm, and no one says anything.
Two things are most likely going through their minds. One, am I going to hand my cut in for this girl because I’m scared for her safety with the Chargers. And two, have I finally settled my raging ways down.
I don’t have the answers for them, and I tell them just that, and I state, “I don’t know how things are going to go, I just know that she has my sole focus right now. I need to see where it goes. The Chargers are following me, she could be in danger, and I need to get my head around everything.”
No one says anything for a moment before Knuckles rasps, “We’re here, always brother.
We’ll help protect her if you want to bring her home.
We’ll ensure no patch chasers go near her, and we’ll always have your back over the decisions you make where she is concerned.
But brother, we won’t lose you, you’re our family.
She’ll be our family too. She’s your forever, you just have to get your head around it, then get your ass back home and in the seat you belong. ”
I swallow hard as my dad concurs what Knuckles just said before bringing up ideas on how to keep the Chargers away from Drew, and I zone out again.
I know I’m going to fall for her. I know she’s going to become my everything, I just don’t know if I can keep her safe and keep my brothers happy at the same time.
I failed Angie, so why wouldn’t I fail Drew as well?
Fuck, I don’t think I’d survive if anything were to happen to her.