Let Me Stay
Havoc
Greer doesn’t have money to pay for her groceries, even though I warned her…
Why is that not shocking at all? Women like her always expect the man to pay.
It doesn’t matter to her that we aren’t dating, and I just took her here as a favor.
She probably has the cash in her purse, but was looking for a man to pay.
Why do I keep doing this to myself with women?
At least it isn’t much that she’s taken me for, but still. I reach into my wallet and pull out a twenty.
“Oh no, I can just put this back and come back later.”
What? There’s no way she’s offering to put back her groceries. “It’s fine.” It really isn’t, but I can grit my teeth and bear it.
“No. No. It’s just a few things. I’ll put them back.”
Mr. Timmons reaches out and places a hand on her outstretched arm. “Let Havoc pay.”
She hesitates.
That must be for show, but it feels real.
Too real.
Her arm returns to her side. “Okay.” Greer turns to me with a half-smile. “Thank you.”
Yeah, I don’t believe that sweet, innocent act. “You’re welcome.” There’s no way I’m ever going to see that money again.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Timmons. I look forward to coming back to hear more about all the lovely decorations your wife picked.” Greer shakes his hand and gives him a warm, almost believable smile.
This woman is going to drive me out of my mind because I can almost believe that as well. Like she wants to see Mr. Timmons’ old stuff.
Ten more minutes. All you need to do is show patience for ten more minutes, and you can drop her off and take care of club business.
Focus on that.
Don’t stare at her as you follow her out to the car. They always have amazing bodies. That’s what draws you in.
She stops at the door to wave at Mr. Timmons, giving me time to open it for her.
When we get on the road, Greer says, “I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t bother pretending that will ever happen.”
“Excuse me?” Irritation shimmers in her eyes.
“I’m more likely to get struck by lightning than for a woman like you to ever pay me back.” And that’s sadly the truth. We drive in silence.
Absolute silence.
There’s an indescribable tension radiating off Greer. “You can’t really be irritated by me telling you the truth.”
“If it were the truth, I wouldn’t be. But I’m tired of you assuming you know anything about me.
Which you obviously don’t. So, I’m going to be polite.
Say thank you for the ride. Pay you back.
And then have nothing more to do with you since I don’t even need to worry about giving you a friendly smile across the fence. ”
Did I misjudge her?
My gut says no, but my heart…it’s going to hurt if I am wrong.
***
I should have been kinder. Her being a user doesn’t excuse me for being rude…Is telling the truth rude?
The clubhouse comes into view through the trees. Work will distract me. Maybe I’ll get some time in the shop to work on bikes. I’ve barely had any time there lately.
Being the prez definitely has its drawbacks. The gate opens as I pull up and straight into my spot. I’ve barely gotten the kickstand down when Leech rushes out.
Something happened.
No one better be dead.
“Sylver wants to stay,” Leech says even before he reaches me.
Sylver? Who is Sylver? The name sounds vaguely familiar, but I don’t remember any of the brothers dating someone named Sylver. Why can’t I remember? My hot neighbor fried my brain. “Who?”
“Sylver. Reaper’s…it feels wrong to call her his girlfriend. The woman he used as a punching bag.”
How could I forget about her? She helped bring a bomb into my home. “Don’t really care what she wants. She isn’t welcome here.”
Leech shakes his head. “But she has nowhere else to go. Sylver said she’s afraid he’ll hurt her or worse if she leaves.”
Not my problem…and I really wish it wasn’t. But while she’s recovering at my clubhouse, that makes her my problem. “Do you believe her?”
Doctors are generally good at spotting liars.
“I want to…”
At least this is a distraction. “Let’s go talk to her.” Then kick her out of my clubhouse.
We start towards the medical center.
“Even with all the pain she’s been in, she’s been a model citizen. Kind, respectful, and even thoughtful at times.”
Which still doesn’t excuse bringing a bomb into my home or planning to let another woman get hurt under my roof. “That’s something.”
The main room isn’t full, but like always, there are people hanging out, talking, drinking, and relaxing. I nod to a few people but move quickly and avoid prolonged eye contact, which would doubtlessly result in a conversation or ten.
“Have you heard about Bram’s new lady?”
“That’s all everyone has been talking about. I haven’t met her yet. Have you?”
Leech shakes his head. “Nope, I’m not sure I want to until she’s on the back of his bike. From what I heard, she’s enough to tempt a brother, and she knows The Cake Lady. What more could a guy want?”
“You do know amazing food isn’t everything.” Though those crepes this morning were amazing, even with all the roasted vegetables inside. That must have been what caused my temporary insanity. What was I thinking, taking Greer shopping?
“According to Fly and Bear, this woman has it all. But food ranks pretty high on any man’s list.”
“Not any man.”
“Most men aren’t women-haters.”
“I don’t hate women.” Except maybe Greer.
Leech raises an eyebrow as he opens the door to the medical center.
And it’s a full-blown medical center. We had everything we’d need installed down here to have our own trauma unit available 24/7.
You can’t be too careful, or always rely on small towns for all the urgent medical care you might need.
Those are the times I’m not complaining about all these doctors wanting to join.
There are trauma bays as well as several attached rooms for people who need long-term care.
Those don’t get used often.
Hatch got a pretty nasty burn at a bonfire a few summers ago and had to stay here for a while.
It’s still money well spent.
“She’s in the corner room. Be prepared, she doesn’t look much better than that first night.”
How do you prepare yourself to see a woman who was beaten up? All I remember is blood, cuts, bruises, and bombs.
Leech knocks, then opens the door. “Sylver, this is Havoc. I don’t know if you remember him. He’s the club prez.” Leech keeps his voice low and steady.
Where is this woman he’s talking to?
“Is he going to make me go?” A small voice comes from the corner of the room.
The voice matches the woman…girl. Is she even eighteen? Please tell me Reaper isn’t raping children now. Leech would have mentioned if she was a kid. Why was she wearing all that makeup when she arrived? Was it to look older so no one would ask him questions?
People didn’t really look at her. I know I didn’t. She was Reaper’s woman. That was enough to disgust me. “I don’t know yet.”
Sylver’s eyes turn to me, wide, innocent, and possibly deadly.
My guard goes even farther up. I can’t let appearance deceive me.
“You can’t kick me out. He’ll hurt me.”
That’s a given. “Did he hurt you before you came to my club?”
She looks down at the floor.
“Why didn’t you leave him then? Before it came to this?” I can’t understand why women stay with abusive men.
Sylver lifts her head and meets my eyes. “No one leaves Reaper. I saw him pour boiling oil on a woman. Put another woman in prison for the rest of her life after breaking her arms and scarring her like he did me. Leaving isn’t an option.”
“We can find you a women’s shelter.”
“That’s where he found the woman he poured boiling oil on. There’s no way.” She shakes her head, pulling her body into a tighter ball.
Not for one second do I doubt Reaper is capable of that. But is this woman his minion or his accomplice? That’s the question I can’t risk being wrong about.
But I can’t send a woman to be tortured or killed, either. “Why here? Why not disappear? It’s a big world. Surely, with a little assistance, you could find some corner to hide in.”
“Because he’s afraid of you. There aren’t many people Reaper fears, but you guys terrify him. This feels like the safest place. Please let me stay here.”
“We aren’t a rescue. You can’t live here forever.” But I can’t say no. “You can stay until we find a way for you to be safe.” Killing Reaper would be the ideal way.
“Thank you. I won’t be a bother. You’ll hardly know I’m here.”
I'd better not. After a nod, I turn and walk out with Leech right behind me.
“Are you sure about that?”
“No. We’re going to put her in a visitor room and have someone follow her when she leaves her room and monitor all her contact outside of the premises. If she calls her priest, I want to know every word said.”
Leech grins. “I’m pretty sure she won’t be calling a priest.”
We won’t hesitate to call one for her before we put her in the ground if she tries to double-cross us, regardless of how much I despise harming women.