Chapter 32 Ford
Ford
Ihave one night to show Phoebe that I’m the one she should be with, regardless of my lifestyle these days.
I thought about asking to borrow Victoria’s new car, but I want her on the back of my bike.
I want her to experience the rush of adrenaline as we ride through the city.
She will refuse at first but if I can win her round on the bike, my chances are much better all around.
Knocking on her door, I step back and grin when she answers in a tight pair of jeans and skin-tight black top. Her gold earrings and gold cross hanging from her neck glimmers in the streetlamp light.
“I hope you weren’t expecting me to wear a dress,” she snaps.
“Nope. You’re perfect as you are.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t say anything. I take her hand, and she tugs it back when we stop at my bike.
“You’re crazy if you think I’m getting on that thing!”
“Come on, since when were you such a chicken?”
She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.
“I told you I’d give you one chance, and you want to get me killed before we even eat?”
Rolling my eyes, I assure her, “I’m not going to put you in danger. I ride all the time, I’m still here and in one piece.”
“Your life now isn’t exactly a glowing reference,” she mutters.
I climb on and hold my hand out for her. “I promise, you’ll love it.”
She hesitates but eventually takes my hand and I help her settle behind me. I tell her the dos and do nots. I pull away from her house before she has the chance to change her mind.
She clings to me, and I pick up a little more speed just to keep her real close. Her thighs cling to me and I force myself not to remember how it feels with no clothes on between us.
I park up outside the first stop of the night and kill the engine. Neither of us move and I dare to rest my hand over hers. Savoring it when she doesn’t instantly pull away.
“This is where we went on our first date,” she comments.
I smile, happy she remembered. I worked a shift for my mom to earn enough cash to take her out for a burger and fries. Neither of us were ever interested in restaurants, that was what grown ups did. We were both happy with our burgers and shakes.
“You climb off first,” I instruct her, and I follow suit.
She allows me to take her hand and doesn’t roll her eyes when I open the door for her. So far, so good.
The booth we always sat at is vacant and she slides in one side and I the other. Most of the time back then, we’d sit next to one another, but I know better tonight. I can’t overcrowd her. I need this to go well.
We place our order, and I say, “See, it’s not so bad, is it.” To make sure any silence doesn’t come between us.
“It’s not that I think you’re a bad person now, Ford. I just don’t know the person you’ve become.”
For the next two hours I give her no reason to not know any thing about me again.
“I never thought you’d end up in a biker club.”
“I never thought I’d see you partying at one,” I retort.
She rolls her eyes and then laughs. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t my idea.”
I refuse to think of what could have happened between her and Warren if I had stayed dead to the world.
“You didn’t run out screaming, so you couldn’t have thought it was all bad.”
“Not until you returned from the dead, that is,” she counters, and I laugh.
“I’m glad you can laugh about this now,” she huffs.
“It is a little funny, come on, admit it.”
She smiles and it brightens my whole fucking life. Taking out my wallet, I leave enough cash to cover our food and slide out of the booth. Holding out my hand, it soothes me when she takes it and comes to stand at my side. Out on the street, I pull her against me and stroke her cheek.
“I’ve missed you, but I don’t know how we move past this,” she admits.
“Like this,” I murmur pressing my lips to hers.
So fucking soft, that hasn’t changed. She deepens the kiss, sweeping her tongue over mine. Sliding my hand around the back of her head, I make sure this isn’t over before it’s begun. Life has other plans as fucking always.
Motorcycles thunder down the street and I pull away, looking left then right. They’re not Lost Souls. The rider up front double glances my way and signals for his men, six of them, to slow. I’m not wearing my cut, but they know exactly who I am.
Fuck.
It doesn’t occur to me to run back inside the burger joint, showing weakness, but my head spins on ways to keep Phoebe out of the fight.
“Stay behind me, take my phone out of my back pocket, and text Luca. Tell him where we are and that seven Hogs have just rolled up.”
He’s knows I’m out with Phoebe tonight, not that he gives a shit. The front rider comes to a stop ten feet from me and grins.
“Wasn’t expectin’ to run into you, tonight,” he says, his hand going to rest on his gun at his side.
“Can’t say I give you any thought,” I retort.
His laughter is joined by his brothers. He quickly draws his piece and aims it at me. Phoebe lets out a squeak of fear, and I push her fully behind me.
“One dead Lost Soul is better than none,” he remarks.
“Is it? Or would it be a big fuckin’ mistake,” I grunt.
My heart jack hammers against my chest, but I keep my face straight and tip my chin.
“Seven on one ain’t nothing to boast about. But I mean, if you wanna do this, put your gun down and we’ll go one on one.”
His laughter grows louder, and he tries looking around me to Phoebe.
“Your old lady?”
“None of your fuckin’ business.”
“Date night. Burgers, blood, and death. Sounds like my kinda night,” another Hog boasts.
“Nah, you gotta get some of that pussy before the blood… unless you’re into that shit,” another hollers.
More laughter erupts and I fail to keep my breathing in check. My chest rises and falls in heavy cycles.
The front rider holds his hand up and they quieten. “You’re lucky you’re not alone. Some of my brothers wouldn’t care, but I still run by the old code.” He puts his gun away. “Next time, I shoot on sight.”
“Same.”
The front rider pulls off and his brothers follow. One sliding his finger across his throat as he passes.
I don’t unwind the tension until they’re out of sight, then I flag down the approaching cab.
The driver stops and I bundle Phoebe into the back seat and tell her, “I’ll call you soon.” And slam the door shut, slapping the roof for him to drive on. “I’m sorry,” I murmur as she looks back out of the rear window.
I run for my bike and have it started in one swift move. I thrash the throttle and pull out into traffic. Gun shots fire in the distance and I head in their direction.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight… my brothers have run into the assholes but by the time I’ve run three red lights and turn the last corner, there isn’t a Hog in sight, and my brothers are turning their rides around. I ride up beside Luca.
“Did you get any?” I yell over our engines.
He shakes his head. “Drive by and rode off.”
I slow down and ride behind King. Though we didn’t get one of them, I smile. One text from me and they came riding hard.
Police sirens fade into the background the closer we get to the club. I should go and see Phoebe, make sure she’s okay but I’ve got to see if Luca wants to make a move.
Turns out, I don’t need to go see her. She jumps up from the curb as we arrive back at the club. She follows us around to the back as we all park up.
Luca reaches me first. “She saw what went down?”
“Yeah. I put her in a cab before coming to find you guys.”
“Deal with her then come find me.”
He walks off and I turn to face Phoebe. “We can talk up in my room. Not down here.”
She follows without a word, not until my door is closed and we’re alone.
“Where do you see us ending up?” she asks.
Without a doubt, I say, “Together.”
“But what does it look like? Cause tonight, we couldn’t even go out for food without nearly getting shot. Would we have to stay here in your club just to live through each day?”
“That’s ridiculous,” I huff.
“Is it?” she snaps. “A guy had his gun pointed at you tonight, Ford. I don’t know about you, but my whole life flashed before my eyes, and I was hiding behind you!”
“I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.”
“You wouldn’t have been any help if he had shot you and you were dead on the ground!
” she screams. Closing her eyes, she collects herself and then says, “Our lives are so different now. We don’t belong together anymore, we certainly don’t have a future.
I gave you tonight and it only proved what I’ve been thinking.
We were each other’s first loves but we’re not each other’s last.”
I step closer to her, needing her to feel me, instead of letting her mind take over.
I plant my mouth on hers. I fully expect her to push me away, so I’m surprised when she kisses me back and drops her purse to the floor.
I walk her back until she’s backed against the door. “You’ll always be mine. You need more time, you’ve got it. You need space to wrap your head around who I am now, I’ll give you it, but don’t tell me we’re each other’s last love. You’re my only fuckin’ love, never gonna change, never gonna stop.”
I lost time to prison. I lost time to Effie. I won’t lose the rest of my life with the woman I love.