Chapter 1
1
Robyn
“ M ommy, why are there motorcycles in the yard?”
Lights cut through the darkness outside.
My heart skips a beat as I get up from my seat to see for myself.
“I don’t know, baby, but I need you to move away from the window.”
She gives me a curious look, her bright blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. Her pale blue plush jammies make her skin resemble alabaster, aided by the pitch black of the curls framing her cute, round, freckled face.
“They look so big!” she says.
“Yes, the bikes are pretty big, eh?”
“They’re our friends, right Mommy?” my precocious five-year-old asks, recognizing the men as they get off their bikes.
My back muscles tighten as my gaze wanders from one man to another, the men turning off the motorcycle engines and removing their helmets. Each movement seems deliberately slow, charged with an unspoken tension.
“Jaggy!” Kyra exclaims, recognizing him first.
"And Knox and Diesel," I add, the sound of their names igniting a spark deep within me despite the tremor in my voice.
A second later, I’m at my front door, swinging it wide open. The cool late summer breeze swoops through the house and sends chills down my spine. I stand in the doorway with Kyra glued to my leg as the three larger than life Rogue Riders walk up to us.
Damn.
As usual, their presence is overpowering.
Like fine wines, they only get better with age.
Tall and handsome, built like stallions, with a few silver specks in their hair. These men have been my rocks since Kyra and I ended up on our own. I owe them so much, yet they want nothing in return for all they’ve done for us.
Just my forgiveness that they didn’t see the signs sooner.
There’s nothing to forgive.
“Hey, Robyn. Hey, Kyra.” Jagger is the first to speak upon reaching the sturdy porch of our house. His voice is a deep rumble, resonating through me. I’m distracted by the way those dark blue jeans hug his muscular thighs and the sound of his steel-toed leather boots thudding across the hardwood. “Sorry for showing up like this.”
"It’s okay," I reply with a soft smile, then look at Knox and Diesel. My eyes linger on Knox a moment too long, his rugged features pulling at something deep inside me. "Are you guys alright? What’s the matter?"
Knox gives me a long, silent look. I can’t breathe for a moment, losing myself in the steely blue pools of his eyes while the overhead porch light casts a subtle glimmer over his wheat-blonde hair. “Can we come in?”
Something is definitely wrong.
Tension crackles between us, palpable and charged with an unspoken promise of protection.
“Jaggy!” Kyra exclaims and runs right into his arms.
Jagger is quick to sweep the little one off her feet and lift her up, holding her close as she hugs the life out of him. She looks so tiny in his embrace, but she feels safe with him. She’s always felt safe with him, and it makes my heart melt every time I see them together.
“You munchkin,” Jagger quips as Kyra runs a hand through his dark, unruly hair streaked with silver strands, warmth swirling in his brown eyes while he looks at her. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”
“Yeah, but Mommy said I could have hot chocolate before bed.”
“I just didn’t expect her to take her sweet time drinking it,” I say with a giggle, then give Knox and Diesel a slight nod. “Let’s all go inside.”
I lead the way, almost holding my breath as I feel their eyes on me. Jagger carries Kyra into the living room, and she goes back to her hot chocolate while Diesel walks over to the window and keeps his pale grey gaze set on the street. There’s not much to see at this hour and with so few street lights on. It’s the visible tension in his broad shoulders that pushes me closer to the edge.
“What’s going on?” I ask, motioning for them to follow me into the kitchen where Kyra can’t hear.
Knox clears his throat. “Again, I’m sorry we showed up unannounced and with our bikes so close to the house. I know Kyra doesn’t like the sound—”
“Actually, she doesn’t seem bothered by it anymore,” I mutter, having just noticed it myself. Kyra is busy swooning over Jagger and sipping what’s left of her hot chocolate, holding the mug with both hands. “But yeah, we weren’t expecting you.” I pause and give Diesel a curious look. “Diesel, what are you doing?”
He glances back at me, and it’s enough to make my skin feel tight. “Watching the road.”
“Why?”
“Calvin is out,” Knox says without pretense.
Those three words are all it takes to knock the air out of my lungs and throw me into the eye of a storm I thought was long past. My knees feel weak. I take a deep breath as I fall back into the kitchen chair, trying to wrap my head around what he just said.
“What?” I manage, my voice barely a whisper.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Diesel says.
I hold up my hand before he can say another word. With trembling fingers, I phone my neighbor and trusted sitter, Ellie. She picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Ellie… I need a favor.”
Five minutes later, Ellie is at the door, and Kyra has her overnight bag packed and ready.
“Again, I’m so sorry about this,” I tell Ellie while she helps Kyra put her shoes on. “I’ll pay you double for the whole night.”
“My gosh, you don’t need to do that!” Ellie replies. “I’ll stay with Kyra until you sort out whatever you need to sort out. If you want, I can take her to school tomorrow morning, too.”
“You are an absolute lifesaver, but I’ll be by to get her for school,” I tell her.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” she asks, her eyes darting between the three large men in my kitchen.
“Just an unexpected situation, that’s all. I just need to figure a few things out.”
Ellie nods and thankfully doesn’t ask any follow-up questions. “Well, whatever you need, I’m here. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t,” I say and give Kyra another kiss on the forehead. “You know the drill, princess.”
“Do what Ellie says. Go to bed. Eat my breakfast.”
“Perfect.”
Once the girls are out the door, I brace myself for what’s coming. Diesel, Knox, and Jagger have moved to the living room, quietly waiting for me to return.
For four years, I’ve had peace and quiet. Now, it’s all about to come crashing down around me.
I walk into the living room with a soft smile.
“Ellie doesn’t like us,” Diesel concludes, still standing by the window. He watches the girls as they make their way over to Ellie’s place across the street. “But she’s good people.”
“Ellie likes you,” I reply. “She’s not a fan of the bikes and leather, I guess. But yeah, she’s good people. I’ve had nothing but good people in my life since I left Calvin. Is he really out?” I slip rather quickly into shock and despair.
“We didn’t see it coming, either,” Jagger sighs deeply. “But yeah, he’s out.”
“Since when?” I ask, shaking like a leaf as I lower myself into the armchair.
“Yesterday morning,” Knox replies. “We’ve got a buddy working security at the prison. He called us earlier and told us about it.”
I shake my head slowly. “How is Calvin out so quickly? They gave him ten years, didn’t they?”
“Good behavior,” Diesel mutters. “No priors.”
“No priors,” I scoff. “We all know he’s got plenty of priors.”
“Nothing that got him arrested and prosecuted before we put him away,” Diesel says. “It doesn’t matter that he was a person of interest in other cases. What matters is what’s on the record, and what’s on the record is solely his conviction. Ten years with the possibility of parole, which he seems to have earned.”
That was a dark time for me.
And going back there, even if it’s just in my mind, makes my blood boil. I don’t want to feel that helpless and miserable ever again. I worked hard to move past it, to heal my wounds, to grow and to be a good mother to my daughter.
“Has Calvin reached out?” Knox asks me.
“No,” I reply, which is odd. “I would’ve expected a call at least if he was out.”
“He didn’t call while he was in prison,” Jagger says with a shrug. “Maybe he understands he’s no longer welcome in your life.”
But my tremors do not fade as I look at him. “The day he was sentenced, I was in the courtroom. Do you remember?”
“How could I forget?” Jagger asks, albeit rhetorically.
“Then you remember what he said to me just before the bailiffs took him away.”
Knox curses under his breath. “The son of a bitch was pissed off.”
“He said he’d come for me, that I will never have a restful sleep while he’s still alive, that he would come back and take Kyra away from me,” I say. “Calvin is a vindictive prick, and I’m sorry I didn’t see him for who he truly is sooner. Maybe had I seen him—”
Diesel cuts me off. “Stop it. Stop punishing yourself for the manipulation and abuse of a narcissistic piece of shit. You were never to blame, Robyn. You were a victim. You tried to see the best in him, even when he showed you his worst because he’d conditioned you into that toxic dynamic… but then Kyra was born, and your motherly instinct took over. You won, okay?”
“How did I win? He’s out,” I say, burying my face in my hands.
Jagger comes closer, and suddenly the air in the room shifts and thickens. A plethora of emotions rush through me, each more powerful and mind-blowing than the next, because I don’t know what to do with myself. The past is coming back to haunt me while a potential future takes bold steps toward me, and my pulse quickens.
“He’s out, but he’s not here, is he?” Jagger asks.
“Not yet…”
“Not ever,” he insists. “We made you a promise the same day Calvin said he’d come back for you. If you remember his words, then I’m sure you remember ours, too.”
Diesel nods in agreement. “We will always be here to protect you and Kyra, no matter what. Do you understand?”
“I want to,” I say, tears pricking my eyes.
“He’s not coming anywhere near you,” Knox adds. “For four years now we’ve been around, proving we mean what we say.”
“I’m still afraid of him…”
“It’s over,” Jagger tells me. “It’s been over for a long time. Calvin got what he deserved, okay? The fact that he’s out early doesn’t mean a thing for you. It doesn’t mean a thing for Kyra either. She doesn’t even remember the bastard.”
“I’m glad she doesn’t. But what if he tries to get back into our lives?” I ask.
Jagger shakes his head. “He’s an ex-convict. Nobody in Redwood wants to deal with him, I can tell you that much. The motorcycle club no longer has any kind of dealings with his former crowd. The town itself has moved on from that era. There’s no place for him here. He’ll see for himself, and he’ll have no choice but to go elsewhere.”
I give Jagger a confused look. “Do you really think he’ll just walk away from Kyra and me?”
“Not without a black eye.” Jagger puts on a confident smirk that heats my blood, and not for the first time. “And a few broken ribs if needed. We pummeled him once and we’ll do it again until he learns that lesson.”
My body moves before my brain wills it, and I stand up, raising my chin in defiance. “I’m tired, Jagger. I’m so tired. I want him out of our lives for good. Forever.”
“There’s a number of options here,” Diesel suggests.
He’s usually the funny one, the lighthearted one. Yet tonight, there’s a dark aura surrounding him—an aura that reminds me what kind of man he truly is. For four years, he’s been a laugh, a reason to smile, and a constant source of entertainment for Kyra. Right now, he’s our protector: one of three knights on steel stallions determined to keep us safe and happy.
“No murder, please,” I chuckle dryly. “I may not wish Calvin the best, but I don’t want him to die either.”
“So you say,” he shoots back while the shadow of a smile flutters across his lips. “We’ll keep that possibility on the back burner then.”
“Cross it off the list altogether,” I insist, then run my fingers through my hair—a curly, dark brown mess in need of an argan oil and steam bath. “Maybe I should just take Kyra and leave. I could sell this place, get a pretty penny, find another town to live in. Plenty of nail salons will appreciate my skills and experience—”
Knox cuts in. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Unlike Diesel and Jagger, when Knox gets mad, it’s as if the blue sky turns black. It’s as if storm clouds gather overhead, and if I don’t get out of his way, he might cast rain and thunder down on me like a furious god. I quiver in my boots as he comes closer. My skin prickles all over, and I lose my breath.
“I’m just saying it would be better for everyone if…” My voice fades as Knox comes so close that I can almost feel his heartbeat echoing against mine.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Knox says.
I stare at him for what feels like an eternity. My God, he’s big and burly, chiseled from marble and glazed in a caramel tan that works splendidly with his blonde hair—not to mention the sunny blue of his eyes. That jawline could cut through wood, and his big hands alone would be enough to crush me.
But Knox has always been gentle.
Even now, as he lifts a hand and lets his fingers gently brush my cheek, the touch sending a trillion tiny fires exploding through my body… he’s tender.
“Knox,” I whisper.
“You are not going anywhere,” he says it again. Before I can react, his hand slips to the back of my neck. He grabs me firmly and pulls me into a kiss.
Fireworks explode before my eyes as his lips command mine to open. Years of pent-up sexual tension, of things left unspoken, of stolen glances and fleeting touches, of hot, wet dreams and forbidden desires all come crashing down and unraveling everywhere around us.
Moaning harshly against his mouth, I give Knox everything he wants from me. Our tongues clash for a brief moment, and I taste the hint of coffee and mint before he pulls back.
“Oh, boy,” I mumble, out of breath and still seeing stars. “What just happened?”
“What we’ve all been wanting to happen for a long time,” Jagger says.
A thrill runs through me as he takes Knox’s place and kisses me, too. Liquid heat pools between my legs, and I pray that my knees don’t give out as Jagger’s arms snake around my waist. He pulls me closer and deepens the kiss.
He tastes of lemons and honey. His cologne invades my senses with hints of sea salt and orange blossoms while the smell of his leather jacket makes me melt on the inside.
“Jagger,” I gasp when he takes a step back. I feel unmoored. Naked. Alone.
But Diesel steps in.
Like a ghost with long brown hair and tempestuous eyes, he cups my face in his hands and pulls me into him, his lips crushing mine, conquering the last of my defenses. “You’re not going anywhere,” he whispers between wet, delicious kisses that send electric jolts through my ribcage. My nipples wrestle against the cotton bra underneath my sweater. Good grief, every inch of me is burning. “You hear us?” Diesel asks as he releases me.
“I hear you, but I’m really confused right now,” I blurt out, though I don’t really believe that. I think I know precisely what’s happening. It’s just my reasoning has failed to keep up with what my body has been saying all along. “What is this?”
Knox gives me a subtle but warm smile. “There are dark times ahead, Robyn,” he says. “We’ve given you all the time and space you’ve needed. As a woman, as a mother, as a friend of the Rogue Riders. But Calvin is out, and if he intends to keep his promise instead of walking away from this place altogether, then it is our sworn duty to defend you and Kyra, to keep you safe. We are stronger together, don’t you think?”
“Together, yeah,” I mumble. “But… together?”
“Only if you want it,” Jagger says. “You know us. You know what we’re like. We share everything. There are no secrets between us. And you also know we will do whatever it takes to keep our word.”
“Robyn, one way or another, you and Kyra will be free of Calvin. But you’re not running away from Redwood. You’re not running away from us,” Diesel says. “You’re going to stay here, and we’re going to figure out a way to make sure that son of a bitch never comes near you again. You hear me?”
All I can do is nod slowly as the three men head to the front door.
Knox stops and turns around; his lips still plump from our kiss. “There will always be a Rogue Rider watching over you, starting tonight. I’ll take the first shift,” he says. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“Oh… Okay…”
I’m surprised I was able to say that much.
My skin tingles everywhere. My core is ablaze. Four years’ worth of longing have finally unraveled. It only took a kiss or three to shift my perspective in its entirety.