Chapter Eight #2
His eyes went wide, sharp and dark, as surprise flared in them. “No, I want to talk to you. Tell me why you want to leave TJ.”
Was he serious? My throat burned as all the reasons why rushed to the front of my mind. How many times would I have to explain this? “Because this, you, Falcon, are the best option. What difference does it make? Half of your club wants me gone anyway.”
His jaw flexed but he didn’t deny it.
“Yeah, I thought so. Look,” I said, forcing myself to sound calmer than I felt.
“I’ll leave and stay somewhere else until the test comes back.
When you have your confirmation, I’ll say goodbye to TJ and then I’ll be gone forever.
” I hoped he didn’t notice the way my voice cracked but I wasn’t about to wait around to find out.
His grip loosened and I freed myself and made my escape, marching as fast as I could to my room. To my things.
Falcon was close on my heels, his growl vibrated through my body. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it, the sound was sharp and bitter.
“Just take care of TJ. He likes to cuddle in his sleep, but if you still have the apartment he’ll sleep on his own once he feels comfortable.
Oh, and make sure he has his green biker dinosaur stuffy.
It’s like his security blanket.” I’d gotten him that thing at one of those truck stop diners and he’d become attached instantly.
Falcon froze. “Biker dinosaur?”
I nodded absently. “He likes bikes and dinosaurs,” I snapped, tossing things back into my large duffel bag.
“He likes bikes.” Falcon repeated the words in a soft, almost awe-filled tone. His words brought me up short and when I looked at him, I really wished I hadn’t because his expression softened for the first time, and something that looked a lot like tenderness crossed his face.
My heart clenched fiercely, the sensation sharp and painful but I shoved it down deep and slammed the door on it.
There was no room in my life for anything in my heart except blood.
No room for softness or tenderness. No room for emotions at all.
“Yeah, he’s obsessed with anything with two wheels, so he’ll be thrilled when he realizes he’s surrounded by them.
Now,” I sighed and hitched my bag over my shoulder. “I need to say goodbye to my son.”
“Our son,” he said and stepped in front of me.
“Not until you get the DNA results. Remember?” I stepped around him just as a wail of sirens split the air. We stood in the hall together as blue and red lights bounced off the windows and more sirens filled the air.
Loud, incredibly masculine voices shouted orders and commands while heavy boots thundered on the hard floors. “Don’t fucking run!” Diesel’s deep voice commanded. “Stay calm.”
The whole room froze for a moment and then as if called by a siren, the men all gravitated towards the front door. Towards the sirens and the lights. My heart was racing, but somewhere in the panic I realized it wasn’t the Russians, it was the police.
This was it, my chance to leave.
It took him a few seconds longer but eventually Falcon’s feet began to move as well, towards the door.
I spotted TJ with his arms wrapped around Chopper while two other kids, a little boy and a little girl, watched and laughed, and my heart clenched a little harder.
Saying goodbye was going to hurt like hell, it was best to do it only once.
My son was safe, the women would take care of him, the police wouldn’t hurt him.
While everyone looked to the front door, I clutched my bag tighter and slipped out the back, adrenaline drowning out my fear.
Every shadow was a menace that I tried to ignore as I cut down an alley before taking off at a full run.
I ran for a few blocks, as fast as I could, desperate to put as much distance between me and the Steel Demons clubhouse as possible.
I knew if Falcon found me, he’d drag me back.
***
I kept going even when exhaustion forced me to slow down.
There was a long row of cheap motels meant to lure in the tourists who couldn’t afford Vegas prices.
I went inside the first two and skipped the third, before I shoved a fistful of cash at the bored kid behind check-in desk number five.
He frowned but asked no questions as she shoved a real metal key across the counter.
“Thanks,” I mumbled and took off towards the second floor room, where I locked myself inside and pressed my back to the door.
It was the first time in days that I took a full breath, letting it out slowly to relax my pulse. I did it again and again until my heart rate felt close to normal.
This was the first step. TJ was with his father, and the test results would come any day now, which meant soon enough I could rest easily knowing that my son was safe. That he would have a long, happy life filled with people who loved him.
But that joy didn’t last long. I was sitting on the threadbare sofa when I heard footsteps outside my room.
The tiny hairs all over my body stood up as if the atmosphere had changed, but I knew it wasn’t some scientific phenomenon, oh no, it was a good old-fashioned fear response.
Someone was out there. Someone had followed me.
I couldn’t see them, not yet, but I felt their presence. I stole a peek outside the window every few minutes, just waiting for a gang of angry Russians to storm the front door. I didn’t see anyone, but my body and mind refused to relax.
And then it came, the knock so hard it rattled the door and the wall.
My stomach dropped. I crept to the window, pulling the curtain back just enough to peek outside, gasping at what I saw.
Falcon stood there, tall and furious, the blinking motel sign casting his face in harsh light. His angry glare was fixed on the door, so he didn’t notice me watching him.
My breath hitched. My heart started racing all over again and no amount of rational would get it back to normal.
The walls were closing in again.
And this time, there was nowhere left to run.