Chapter 12 Margot
MARGOT
I saw the warehouse building from a couple miles away. And even then, it looked massive. A looming piece of concrete and brick sitting on the cliffside overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful sight to see, minus how plain the warehouse looked. It almost looked as if it was still abandoned.
Minus the stack of bikes and cars outside.
“I’m shocked they don’t have a way to conceal that stuff,” I murmured.
Just as we pulled up, Rock rushed out into the middle of the road.
He flagged Piper down and rushed to her car.
I watched him talk to her for a few minutes and I could easily see just how much he cared about her.
He kissed her and then ran quickly towards my car.
I rolled down my window and saw his eyes darting back to Piper, trying to assess her condition.
“I promise you, she’s okay. Shaken up and ready for you, but okay,” I said.
Rock nodded. “Thank you, for all you’ve done for us.”
“It’s not a problem. What’s up?”
“We have a place to park the cars and the bikes, so we’re moving everything.”
I grinned. “I actually just thought about that same thing. The damn place looks abandoned, except for the mounds of vehicles outside.”
“Yeah, well, Diesel wanted you guys to arrive before we moved the cars, so we only had to do this once.”
“Why’s that?”
But all he did was grin.
Rock jogged away from my side and ran toward the very far end of the warehouse. I followed him with my car, and as we got around to the very far right of the warehouse, Rock reached into his pockets.
I wasn’t sure what he did, but whatever he did caused a hidden door to slowly open. Like a garage door.
“Holy shit, they did a good job of hiding that,” I said breathlessly.
One by one, we filed our cars in. The women with their cars and vans on one side, and the men with their bikes on the other.
But I saw why they wanted us all here first. There wasn’t enough room for all of us to line up our cars, so we had to double stack them.
Which meant that while the guys could maneuver their bikes out, only a few cars would get priority as to whose would be accessible.
And of course, mine took priority because I didn’t know how to ride a bike. Nor was I officially “connected” to someone who rode one.
After playing a massive game of musical cars, though, I hopped on out.
I walked around to the trunk and pulled my to-go suitcase out, ready for whatever was about to drop into my lap.
Rock barreled past me, scooping Piper into his arms. She had parked her car in front of me, hellbent on not going into work at all until this was all said and done.
I wasn’t sure if I’d have that same luxury, though as a resident.
Again, hence why my car was readily accessible and not blocked in.
“It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve gotcha. We need to get some ice or something on that mark. Let me see. Can you tilt your head back for me, beautiful?”
Rock doting on Piper made me jealous. I yearned for that type of connection with someone.
I longed for it. My hands trembled as the weight of everything that had just happened came crashing down onto me.
It was why I was so good in situations like this.
I was always calm in the moment. But after that moment was done, I needed to get somewhere so I could panic. Let the adrenaline run its course.
“Margot,” Bear said.
I whipped my head up and saw Bear standing at the top of the steps that came down into the garage. I picked up my things and watched him limp down the steps as I rushed up to meet him halfway. My heart slammed against my chest as if it were running a race it thought it couldn't win.
“I’m right here. I’ve gotcha,” he murmured.
And when he opened his arm to me, I dropped my stuff and crashed into him.
“It’s okay. You're safe now,” he said.
He ran his fingers through my hair, and I let a few tears fall. I pressed myself deeply into him, hearing him grunt with the pressure I put on his wounds. I allowed myself that second, though. That selfish second of comfort I longed for in situations like this.
Then, I stepped back and wiped at my eyes.
“Okay. What the hell’s going on?” I asked.
“Are you okay? Physically, Margot?” Bear asked.
I gazed up into his eyes. “I’m fine. Piper’s the one that got hurt.”
“He didn’t touch you at all?”
“No, if anything, me walking in broke up whatever it was he was doing to her. But he did threaten her. Said he’d be back to chat. I’m worried about either of us going back to work, but I’m not sure if—”
“We’ll figure it out, okay? I’m sure Piper will be more than willing to help you figure it out, too.”
“I can’t lose this residency, Bear. I’ve given up too much and sacrificed too much to get it.”
He cupped my cheek. “I promise you we’ll figure out a way to make this work.”
I nuzzled into the palm of his hand as footsteps traveled up behind me.
Bear wrapped his arm around me and I leaned against him, turning just in time.
Rock and Piper stood on the landing dock between the two small sets of stairs.
And as the rest of the guys who were moving around vehicles slid by us, the four of us stood there. Silently staring at one another.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m on Cage’s side now,” Rock said.
Bear nodded. “I can see where he’s coming from now. Yes.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“I take it Cage wants to immediately retaliate?” Piper asked.
“He does. And I’m ready to slaughter the man who put his hands on you,” Rock said.
His statement should’ve made me sick. The innocent taking of a life. But this man wasn’t innocent. I saw what he did to Piper.
And I was shocked in thinking he deserved to die a painful death for putting his hands on a woman like that.
“At the very least, we need to do something. Now. Because it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the women associated with us are threatened, too,” Rock said.
“That, I agree with. And I bet if we take it to Diesel like that, he’ll listen,” I said.
“I’m now wrapped up in this, aren’t I?” I asked.
Piper’s eyes filled with sympathy as Rock sighed.
And when Bear hugged me closer with his arm, it answered my question.
Fucking hell, how did I get wrapped up in their drama?
Was I going to die? Was someone coming for my life?
What kind of danger was I in? I didn’t know how to shoot a gun.
I didn’t know how to get away from someone chasing me.
I knew how to save lives, not take them.
I knew how to stop blood from spilling. Not spill it on my own.
Not to mention, I was surrounded by people I didn’t really know.
“I’m sorry for getting you into this mess, Margot,” Piper said.
I shook my head. “It’s uh, it’s fine.”
“We need to get you inside. You’re shaking,” Bear said.
“I-I-I-I’ll uh, I’ll be…”
I closed my eyes. The world tumbled around me and my stomach felt sick.
Bear turned me around as the four of us made it back up the steps, then we all split off.
I didn’t question where Bear was taking me.
I didn’t question what we were doing. Because I had a feeling the answers were only going to bring me more anxiety.
It wasn’t until I heard a door open that my eyes slowly opened.
And my jaw dropped at the sight.
There was a sprawling window that looked out toward the ocean.
The windows were obviously tinted on the outside, but not enough to obscure the gorgeous view.
I slowly walked over to it and peeked out.
The glass was thick. Probably bulletproof, if I had to wager a guess.
Since everything else about this place seemed fortified. Like a damn bunker.
They’re preparing for war.
“There are two dressers, if you want to unpack. One for you, and one for me,” Bear said.
I nodded slowly as I turned around, taking him all in.
“This door leads into the bathroom, and it’s nice. A walk-in shower. Double vanity. Private toilet. A massive jetted bathtub. We have a great deal of privacy in here, so make yourself a home.”
I paused. “We?”
He nodded slowly. “There aren’t enough rooms for all of us to have our own room. But I figured since the mattress is a California-king, we could be adults about it and sleep in the same room.”
My eyes fell to the bed and it looked glorious.
It was massive, with numerous pillows already calling to my head.
While the window had blackout curtains I could pull over it, the four-poster bed had sheer blue curtain-like fabrics wrapped around it.
Hanging down from it. Suspended in animation, almost. Blowing with the air conditioning that poured through the vents in the room.
If I wasn’t in the middle of a war, I would’ve thought this place was nice.
But right now, it looked like a glorified prison.
One I’d have to share with my ex, the man who broke my heart. The man who solidified for me that dating wasn’t a scene I wanted to be in. The man I’d never moved on from. The man that had come careening back into my life.
The man I could no longer get my mind off of.
“So, we’re sharing a bed,” I said.
Bear nodded. “Yes.”
“And I’m here with you until all of this has been wrapped up.”
He nodded again. “Yes.”
“Which means I probably won’t be able to go to work.”
“Not unless I go and keep watch on your shift, or something like that.”
I snickered. “At least you’d be near your doctor in case something goes wrong with your wounds.”
“There’s that ever-positive outlook I remember.”
And when he smiled at me, a curious thought graced the voice in my head.
Maybe it won’t be so bad curled up with him after all.
I mean, Bear had been a wonderful cuddler back in high school. Maybe it was still true today.
And the thought of cuddling into him once again forced an electric shiver down my spine.