Chapter Twenty-Nine
Samantha
Seeing Derek in the clubhouse was jarring. I didn’t expect him to show up, though perhaps I should have. I knew he wouldn’t just sign the papers. For years, I had believed he’d been following me around the country.
Learning it was Carrie threatening Charlie was hard to understand. That was until Jack told me everything.
She was mentally ill.
It was hard not to have compassion. I understood she put Charlie at risk. But I couldn’t help wondering what had happened in her life that made her that way.
I would never be the person who believed people were born bad.
When it came down to nurture vs. nature, nature was strong. Genetics played a powerful part. But nurture went a long way too. Children learned what they lived.
That was true for Derek, too.
I knew he had an abusive father. He told me stories about his childhood. How his father beat his mother. I guess that’s why he thought it would be ok to hit me.
His dad would hit him also, for any perceived infraction. Would he have hit Charlie if I’d stayed? Most likely.
We hadn’t heard from him in a few days. Jack disappeared that night, climbing into bed with me early the next morning. He didn’t tell me where he’d been or what he had done.
I had to wonder if Derek was even an issue any longer. With that in mind, I made sure Tank could stay with Charlie and went to find Jack, so I could let him know I was heading out.
I found Jack outside, working on his bike. He looked up with a smile as I walked over to where he was. I stopped and looked down over the bike at him.
“Hey, Sammy.”
“Hey, Jack. I wanted to let you know I’m going over to The Bookstore to see Ryder. I have some things I want to go over with him about the book signing.”
Jack stood up, grabbing the rag he had laying on the seat. Wiping his hands, he walked around the bike to stand before me.
“I don’t think you should leave the clubhouse, Sammy. We don’t know where Derek is. Archie has been watching the motel, and he hasn’t seen him for a few days.”
I let out a long deep breath. “Jack, I am not putting my life on hold any longer for him. Mimic is coming with me, and Ryder will be there as well.”
I stood there waiting for him to make up his mind. Not that it mattered what he decided. I was going, regardless. I was done letting anyone tell me what I could and couldn’t do.
“What about Charlie?” he asked.
“Charlie is with Tank. She is staying here, and they are having a My Little Pony marathon,” I said with a smile. “She won’t even notice I’m gone. Not with Uncle Tank around.”
Jack laughed. He knew what I was saying. Charlie barely acknowledged us whenever any of the guys paid her attention. Being the only child in the clubhouse, they all spoiled her.
None of them more than Tank.
More than once, I’d caught him letting her paint his fingernails.
“I’m worried about you, Sammy.”
“Jack, I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with this shit right now. I need to think about something else. I need to be busy doing something that excites me.”
“I can keep you busy with something that excites you, baby. You just need to fucking ask me.” He grabbed his crotch and grinned salaciously.
“I know, Jack,” I said with an eye roll. “I will be ok. He hasn’t broken me yet. I don’t plan on letting him do it now. ”
“I want to talk to Mimic before you go.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Do it quick.”
Walking over to my car, I climbed in. I waited while Jack walked over to Mimic, who was already on his bike, idling. They spoke for a few minutes. I couldn’t hear Jack’s heated words, but I could read the warning in his body language.
Mimic nodded at Jack. He looked over at me and let me know with a chin lift he was ready.
I stayed where I was as Jack walked back over, no doubt preparing to give me a variation of the lecture he just gave his brother.
“You stay with Mimic, you don’t leave his side for a minute,” Jack commanded.
“Should I take him into the bathroom with me as well?” I smirked.
“He goes into the bathroom—”
“No fucking way, Jack.”
“You wanna let me finish? He goes in to check the bathroom before you go in. He verifies no one is in there before you step one toe in there. Got it?”
Shaking my head, I conceded, “Got it, Jack.”
He kissed me goodbye, and I rolled out of the lot. The Bookstore was only fifteen minutes away. Everything in town was only fifteen minutes away.
Growing up in Little Rock, small towns were a bit of a culture shock. Sure, Little Rock Arkansas wasn’t as big a city as Los Angeles or New York City. But it was big enough.
Going from a city with over two hundred thousand people and conveniences of every kind within minutes, to a town with less than two thousand people and one store of each kind certainly took some getting used to.
I wouldn’t change a thing, though. I loved living in a small town. Especially this small town. There wasn’t anyone that lived here I hadn’t learned to love.
People like Joellen who owned The Diner. She took a chance on me when I needed a job. And Audrey over at The Coffee Shop— what a sweetheart. She turned no one away, even when they found themselves a little short.
Then there was Manny at the supermarket. More than once, I stopped in there after work, got to the register, and my card declined. He never let me leave empty-handed.
Sadie at The Salon. Monica at The Ice Cream Shoppe. Esmée at the Boutique. I could go on and on.
I pulled up to The Bookstore and thought about Ryder. I was excited about what this book signing would do for the store. What it would do for him and his girls.
Mimic pulled up beside me and hopped off his bike. He moved over to my car, opening the door for me.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling at the young man.
Grabbing my bag, we walked across the lot and into the store. Ryder was at the counter arguing with Rachel, Beck, and Grace.
“Tell us,” Beck demanded.
“What do you want me to say? She walked in and asked about doing the signing. She’s an author, that’s all I know. I didn’t get her dating profile or her measurements,” Ryder said.
“Ryder, you have to know something,” Rachel whined.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Ask her! She is in charge of everything. I just own the store.” Ryder pointed at me, and the girls all turned around.
“Sam, what can you tell us about Rayne Perry?” Grace rushed over. “Tell me everything!”
I laughed at the women. They were fangirling as hard as I was.
“She is incredible. So sweet. And soooo pretty. Right, Ryder?” I asked, putting him on the spot.
Rachel and Beck swung around to look at their friend. Ryder simply rolled his eyes at me.
“Please don’t get them started,” he begged.
“Wait, just how pretty is she?” Rachel asked.
“Blonde hair, sapphire blue eyes. She’s gorgeous. Like some socialite in Manhattan,” I told them.
“Really? So she’s snooty, huh?” Grace asked .
“Not at all. She was so sweet, almost shy. She does everything herself. Came in alone, no PR team, no publicist. She only does signings at small town bookstores. She said she has never done one in New York and never will. She doesn’t even live there anymore,” I explained.
“Will she fit in with us?” Beck asked, her eyes firmly on Ryder’s.
“Beck,” he growled. “Let it go.”
“Nope,” she challenged with a smirk.
“Did she meet the girls?” Rachel asked.
“No, they were in the children’s section with Mimic,” I said.
“Fuck,” Ryder barked, moving around the counter toward the door. “Beck, call your dad,” he said, walking outside.
We all turned to watch him leave, and that was when I saw them. Carrie was on the sidewalk, talking to Derek. I moved to the door, and Mimic grabbed my arm.
“No way, Momma.”
“Yes,” I said, pulling my arm out of his grasp and hurrying out the door behind Ryder.
“Samantha!” Mimic called behind me.
Knowing he would follow me, I walked down the street toward Derek and Carrie.
“Marsha, what the fuck are you doing here?” I heard Derek ask.
“Derek, you can’t be here,” Carrie cried. “Why are you here?”
“Derek? How do you know Carrie?” I asked, confused.
“Who the fuck is Carrie?” he hissed.
I pointed to the woman I knew as Carrie. Carrie turned to me and her face paled.
“Sam,” she gasped.
Carrie turned away and hurried down the street.
“Mimic, follow her!” I shouted.
“I can’t leave you, Momma,” he argued.
“Mimic, go. I’ve got Sam,” Ryder urged.
“Go, Mimic,” Rachel shouted.
“My dad’s on his way,” Beck added .
Everyone was shouting at once. Finally, Mimic took off after Carrie. I looked at Derek.
“How do you know her?” I asked him again.
“Marsha and I were together years ago.”
“When?”
“Years before I met you. I’m not the one who cheated,” he hissed.
“No, you’re just the one who beat her,” Grace said, stepping between Derek and me.
Leaning around Grace, I asked, “Did you know she was in prison?”
“Yea,” he said.
“Sam, come on. We need to get back to the store before the guys get here.” Ryder placed his hand on my elbow just as we heard the rumble of pipes.
“Here comes the cavalry,” Derek scoffed.
I looked at Derek. Something was niggling at me about this. He knew Carrie, but he called her Marsha.
“Sammy!”
I turned at Jack’s call. He stalked over to me, followed by Blade, Cash, and Zero, and gathered me in his arms.
“Where the fuck is Mimic?” he asked.
“I told him to go after Carrie.”
“And he left you here? This time, I will kick his ass.” He growled.
“You won’t. Ryder is here. And the girls. Derek wouldn’t do anything with witnesses.”
Jack turned his attention toward my husband.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he hissed at Derek.
“Jack,” I said, placing my hand on his chest.
“This is a public sidewalk.”
Just then, the sheriff pulled up. He climbed out of his car and walked over to where Jack and Derek were having a standoff.
“What seems to be the problem?” the sheriff asked.
“Arrest this motherfucker,” Jack demanded.
“What the fuck for? Standing on a public street?” Derek snarked.
“Jack, please calm down,” I whispered.
“Dad, I called you because Carrie was out here. She took off when she saw us. Mimic followed her, so be aware, he will drag her back,” Beck explained.
“And he will bring her to me, right?” he asked with a raised eyebrow at Jack.
“Yes, Sheriff, he will bring her to you,” Cash assured him.
Derek just stood there, watching us.
“Why is he bringing her to the sheriff?” he asked. “What did she do?”
Derek looked at me. His expression was one I hadn’t seen since we were dating. He actually looked concerned.
“Did she do something to you? Did she hurt Charlotte?” He reached out his hand and touched my arm. Grace again stepped between us.
“Why do you care? You think you’re the only one allowed to hurt her?”
“Grace, come on,” Zero said, pulling her away from Derek. “Something happens to you, King will kick all our asses.”
“Fuck you, Zero,” Grace hissed.
“Alright, everyone. Show’s over. Mr. Reynolds, I suggest you get on with whatever has brought you here. Do it quickly and quietly.”
“Sign the fucking papers, asshole.”
“Jack!” I said, exasperated. “Come on, let’s go back to the bookstore.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him along with me. Everyone else followed, leaving Derek standing alone on the street.