Chapter 13
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Riley
The alarm on my phone goes off, scaring the crap out of me. Reaching out, I turn the alarm off and finish the task I had been working on before getting ready to head out for my lunch date with Lil’ Red. I start to feel excited as I shut my computer down and grab my bag to head out. I pause, basking in the feeling that it’s nice to feel something other than fear even if it’s just for a split second. My phone vibrating on my desk reminds me I need to get a move on if I’m going to make it on time. Reaching down, I see that it’s Lil’ Red and fear starts to wash over me.
Shakingly, I bring my phone to my ear answering it, “Hello?”
“Hey, girl. Are you ready for lunch?” she asks, excitedly.
“So, f-ing excited. I was just getting ready to leave the clinic when you called me.” I smile standing and gathering my bags as I head for the door.
“Awesome,” she chirps before sighing, “There has to be a slight change of plans and I hope that you’ll be down for it.”
“Ummm, okay. Tell me what you’re thinking,” I state as I hold my breath, worried about what is about to come out of her mouth next.
“There’s something going down, Riley, and we've been put on a soft lock down.”
“Okayyyyy.” I drag out the word, not liking where this conversation is headed.
“Would you be down with coming to the clubhouse to have lunch with us. Before you tell me flat out no, the weather is nice, so we’ll eat outside so you don’t have to come inside, and it’ll be just girls, no overgrown apes allowed,” she says, rushing the word out.
I’m shaking my head as the frosty nails of dread and fear start to take root in my mind. I know without a doubt that my brother is in town, though I don’t know where he’s held up. I just can’t bring that trouble to the front door of some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. I’m going to have to cancel. I just cannot bring myself to put them, hell, even myself in danger.
“Please, Riles, I know you’re about to tell me no. Just come have lunch with us, I promise it’ll all be okay,” Lil’ Red begs me, kicking a small hole in the wall that I’ve built around my heart.
I sigh, letting my shoulders fall and pray that this isn’t the biggest mistake of mine and their lives. “Okay, fine. I’ll come have lunch at the compound.”
Lil’ Red squeals, “Hell, yeah! I’ll see you soon. Love you, woman.”
“Love you, too,” I whisper and rub my eye with the hand that isn’t holding my phone.
I stand there clasping my bags, looking off into nowhere, letting all the variable options about what could happen run through my mind's eye. The club finding out that I’m the daughter of a club president and me never saying anything to give them that warning. My brother, finding me there and starting a war between the clubs. My brother and our father finding a way to catch me and pull me back into the hell that was my former life. Shaking my head, I skulk for the door of my office when Avery’s words from all those months ago hit me like the sting of a bullet. “When are you going to let us in?” It’s with those words ringing through my ears that I finally decide to let the women of the club in just enough to find out the best way to get help with my predicament and pray it won’t start a bloody war where lives will be lost.
Once I’ve closed and locked my office door, I turn, waving at the physical therapist working with clients, relaxing just a touch more when I don’t see Avery. I make it through the side door that leads to employee parking, smiling when the warm summer sun washes over me. The feeling of ease only lasts a few moments before I swear I can feel eyes on me. I quickly look to the left, and then to the right as I try to figure out where the eyes are coming from.
“Bitch, get out of your own head and get moving ,” the voice taking up space while living in my head demands.
I rush across the parking lot to my car, doing everything in my power not to look like a fucking crazy person while digging in my bag for my keys. Once in my car, I jab my key into the ignition at the same time as I lock the doors. My car does nothing but click.
“No, No. No. This can’t be happening,” I chant, as rising panic crushes my lungs.
I turn my car off and then try to turn it back on, praying that this piece of shit will actually be my friend today. I look up into my rearview mirror just as a figure in all black comes around the corner of the building. I pump the gas pedal like a freaking lunatic as the figure gets closer and closer to me. As he finally leaves the shadow of the building, my heart doesn’t just stop, it shrivels up and dies right there in my chest. Coming at me is one of only three men that terrorize my every waking moment. I know the very moment that he perceives that I know exactly who he is as he continues stalking toward me. A malevolent smirk lifts the one working side of his face. I become completely immobilized as if in shock, not even able to shake with the loathing and apprehension scraping my insides.
My nightmare is just within reach of my car when it turns over. I don’t even give myself a moment to consider what it might do to the integrity of my car to drive it like I stole it, but I do it any fucking way. I slam my car into reverse, smashing my foot on the gas pedal, turning the steering wheel hard. I’m out of the spot and blasting my car into drive, taking off as fast as it’ll go. The nightmare stands with his arms crossed as I fly by him. Once I get to the entrance of the parking lot, not even slowing to make sure no one is coming my way, I take the curve that’ll put me on the road. Banging my foot back on the foot pedal, I start pushing my little piece of junk car as hard as it’ll go.
I take the longest way possible toward the compound, making sure I’m not being followed. Lil’ Red calls me several times as I’m now running severely late for our lunch. I pull up to the gate, looking into my rearview mirror, praying for the prospect to hurry. He slowly steps out of the guard shack, sauntering over to me. I take him in, taking note that he’s new and the look in his eyes gives me the ick. He leans onto the top of my car, looking into my window.
“Sorry, sweetheart, no new talent until open club night.” The prospect licks his lips as he continues saying, “I sure do hope you come back. I’ll show you a really good time.”
“I-I-I-I need.” I barely squeeze the words out of my desert dry throat. “To see Lil’ Red. I’m supposed to be meeting her for lunch here today.”
The prospect continues to look me up and down, not showing any sign that he’s listening to me. The vibration of my phone at the same time that he hits the top of my car with his hand, causes me to jump and scream. Picking up my phone, I see that it’s Vixen calling. I answer the call, placing my phone to my ear.
“Thank Christ you finally fucking answered. Where the hell are you?” she asks before I even utter a word.
“I’m at the gate. The prospect isn’t wanting to let me through. He seems to think I’m a wanna be hanger on. So, if—” she cuts me off before I have the opportunity to complete my sentence.
“Can someone please go tell that fucking asshat outside at the gate that Riley is one of us before I go out there and—” she stops speaking when I hear Torch’s voice interrupt her.
“I fucking swear, woman, that that mouth of yours is going to write a fucking check your ass cannot cash.” His voice gets closer and closer with every word.
“I don’t recall you complaining about what this mouth does,” Vixen sasses back without hesitation or fear.
I dream of the day I can be sassy and mouthy, not just to my man, but in a room full of people without fear of retribution. The phone in the guard shack starts ringing, pulling the prospect away from my car. I watch as he puts the phone to his ear before turning back to me with a slight sneer. Apprehension wraps its nasty hands around my throat, squeezing just a little tighter than it does on a day-to-day basis. The prospect slams the phone down before opening the gate for me.
“It looks like you’re approved. I guess a brother already has a claim on that sweet ass.” He licks his lips eyeing me. “Guess I’ll just have to wait my turn.”
Narrowing my eyes, the snarky bitch inside my head takes control of my mouth. “You won't ever get a turn, you low down piece of shit. I’m nobody’s to be passed around or used. I hope you have a great motherfucking day, you fucking jackass.”
I slam my car into drive, pulling slowly through the gates, parking my car to the left side of the long row of bikes. When I come to a complete stop, I let out a shaky breath, still not believing that I said that to a prospect in the club, before pushing the car into park. I reach up and turn the key, shutting off my car just as the door flies open and out flies Lil’ Red and Vixen, smiling wide. I don’t even stop the genuine smile and the calmness that washes over me at seeing them. I’ve truly missed all of these amazing women.
“You're finally here!” Vixen screams like a crazy woman.
Pushing my car door open, I step out, and before I can even get fully on my feet, Lil’ Red pulls me into a tight hug before passing me on to Vixen, and then Edge. I hug them close, breathing them in, feeling the stress fall away like a spring storm that’s here one second and gone the next. I’m able to think clearly for the first time since this all started, knowing that before I leave here today, I’ll talk to these girls about everything I can without giving too much away.
“Now that you're finally here, can we freaking eat before this kid eats my backbone?” Lil’ Red grins, and by the look on all the womens’ faces, I know that this is the first time anyone's heard this news.
“This is what you’ve been hiding?” Edge shouts, shock and excitement written all over her face.
She turns to Candy, pointing at her. “I fucking told you something was up with her, and it wasn’t just because she was worried about little Miss Riley here.”
Candy smiles her ever so sweet smile, that doesn’t always meet her eyes. “What I want to know is how she is out here, and not locked in her room with two guards.”
“That’s a great question,” Vixen accuses, narrowing her eyes at the tiny redhead that’s now fidgeting with her hands, looking at the ground.
I shriek, mock-glaring at her. “You haven’t told him yet, have you?”
Lil’ Red throws her hands up, looking at the sky. “I’m not ready to be wrapped in bubble wrap and have who knows how many shadows for the next… forever . You all know that that’s exactly what's about to happen here.”
We all start laughing because she isn’t wrong. That is exactly what's about to happen when Duck finds out that she is about to have his baby. We turn, making our way to the large picnic tables that sit to the side of the club, near the playground that had just been started being constructed the last time I was here. Nostalgia mixed with jealousy settles hotly in my chest. There was a time my father’s club was like this, until the drugs seeped their way into every part of the club, turning what were good men into complete monsters.
Once everyone is seated, I exhale, trying to find the words that I need to tell these ladies what’s going on, when Blue bursts out the front door with several platters in her hands. She’s making her way over to us with a bright smile that grows even bigger when she spots me sitting at the picnic table.
“You did come. It’s so fucking good to see you, my love!” Blue chatters, placing the platters on the table while wrapping her arms around me from the back. “Lord, woman, you're going to waste away to nothing. We really need to feed you.”
“There is enough here that a few missed meals aren’t going to cause me to waste away,” I snigger, squeezing her arm.
Blue smacks me on my behind as she makes her way around the table, taking a seat with the rest of us. Once she’s seated, we all start making our plates and talking about everything that’s been going on in our lives since the last time I saw them, six months ago. I’ve only ever laughed this hard with Avery, and it’s been way too long since I’ve laughed and been this carefree. I hate that I’m going to ruin all the laughs we’ve been having with the shit that is taking over my life. I know that I’m going to be waiting until Blue leaves because her only answer will be to take it to the guys, and I just cannot do that. Just as we finish eating, one of the two baby monitors goes off. Vixen turns to look at hers, seeing baby Torch standing in his baby bed, bouncing up and down.
“Oh, my perfect grandson is awake. You ladies continue having fun while I go and have some cuddles with that little angel.” Blue claps, standing and rushing into the clubhouse.
“That kid is not an angel, more like a little monster taking after his fucking daddy,” Vixen grumbles in mock irritation.
Clearing my throat, I shift in my seat, twisting my hands, trying to figure out where to start. Knowing that the very beginning, isn’t going to work, but they’re going to have to have enough to understand.
“Spit it out. The only place to start is where you can. Then you work your way through the harder parts,” Candy says out of the blue, shocking me when she reaches out and places her hand on mine.
I look up and into the faces of all the women around me, seeing nothing but encouragement.
“I cannot start at the beginning, that would open up cans of worms that no one is ready to deal with,” I state. clearing my throat, I sit taller. “I’m being stalked and followed. I know who the person is, and why they are here. I just don’t know what to do about it if I decide not to run again.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“You’ve been keeping this to yourself?”
“Why the fuck haven’t you said something?”
They all start talking over each other, looking shocked and worried. Shame and fear causes me to turn away, wrapping my arms around myself in doubt.
“No, no. We aren’t upset with you, just shocked. Finish telling us what you know and what you’re needing from us. Can I ask just one question?” Edge squats in front me so we are eye level. Nodding, I worry about what she could want to know. “Why didn’t you say anything to Flyboy or one of the other men?”
“To be honest, I shouldn’t be telling you ladies. The men cannot get involved in any way, please.” I beg her knowing what would happen if they were to even get a hint of what’s going on with me.
“Riley, we love you!” Vixen shouts, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “But you know that if there is something going on, the guys need to know in order to protect us. To protect everyone if this jackass is bringing trouble to our town.”
“That’s the thing. Don’t you see if they get involved I-I-I-I.” I start to stumble over my words as true fear erases all rational thought. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to any one of you, or the guys, and bad things will happen.”
I let it go. The anguish, heartbreak, torment, and anger burst out of me like a dam bursting free. The sobs rack my body. After all this time, I’m finally broken and too tired to keep fighting.