Chapter Seventeen
Bella
Romeo, River and a few of the other men head off to do biker stuff, and I enjoy working in my new office. I didn’t think I could love River any more, but the effort he put into this was so sweet, down to the fridge filled with my favorite sodas and chocolates. He notices everything and obviously listens when I speak, because he nailed it all. He even stocked up on all of Hades’s favorite treats. How cute is that?
I feel special as fuck and I love it. River has this bad reputation as being the darkest brother in the MC, and now that I have seen that side of him too, I love him even more. I see the protector. The one who will do whatever it takes to protect those he loves. I know that it’s there, underneath, but I also know he would never hurt me. I trust him one hundred percent.
Mark finally replies to my text.
Mark: Time is running out.
Bella: Maybe if you explain what’s on the line I can try to understand what’s going on here?
Mark: You don’t understand? Just do as I’m asking. I need some evidence to take down Romeo Montanna.
I see.
So he wants to take down Romeo, and thinks that Victor is the key to doing so?
Bella: I don’t want to give evidence that’s made up. I’m already in enough trouble.
Mark: So you’re saying Romeo didn’t kill Victor?
Shit. I shouldn’t be doing this.
Bella: I’m saying I don’t know what happened. I actually do not know. Victor could’ve just left the country. He had a lot of enemies. If the FBI can’t figure it out, how am I supposed to?
Mark: You are one of them. Snoop around.
Bella: You think they tell the women everything?
Mark: Bella. It’s important.
Bella: What have you gotten yourself into?
He doesn’t reply, but it makes me think I might be on to something. Maybe he’ll tell me the truth and we can figure out what is going on here.
When River gets home that night, I ask him if our resident tech guru, Jag, can hack into Mark’s cell, and tell him about the conversation I had with him via text today.
“One step ahead of you,” he replies, and explains that they bugged Mark’s car today and that Jag is currently trying to hack into his phone line and home security.
“I wonder what we’re going to find,” I murmur, pulling down the sheets and sliding into the bed. I haven’t been home in a few days other than to grab some things, and I actually like staying here. Hades even seems to like it, with so many people to love on him every day. He’s been sleeping on the couch and living his best life. He’s slowly becoming the club mascot and doesn’t have to spend the day at home alone while I’d be at work.
“I don’t know, but don’t stress. We’ll find a way out of it, we always do,” he assures me, stripping down to his birthday suit and getting in next to me. “I fucking love having you here in my bed every night. Our bed.”
“And I love being here,” I reply, turning to face him. I trace his jawline with my finger. “How things have changed—you went from not even letting me know where you were for days, to moving me in with you.”
He laughs, blue eyes lighting up. “We have come a long way, haven’t we? I need to take you to meet my mother. She asks about you every time I see her.”
“I’d love that,” I reply, feeling a little emotional that he’s finally brought this up. “You can meet my parents as soon as they are back from their adventures.” I don’t know what they’d think about River, but I don’t care. I’m sure that he’s the man I want to be with, and no one could convince me otherwise.
“That sounds good,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Are you happy staying here? If you want to go back to your house, we can. I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay.”
“I’m happy,” I assure him. “And if that changes and I’m feeling homesick, I’ll let you know. But I’m happy wherever you and Hades are. And now with my new office...wait, that was your plan all along, wasn’t it? Get me all comfortable here with no need for me to go home.”
“Did it work?” he asks, pulling me closer and kissing my neck.
“Yes, yes it did.” I rest my head on his chest and his arms come around me. I’m almost asleep when there’s a knock on the door.
“River?” It’s Romeo.
River kisses me and tucks me in before jumping out of bed and throwing some shorts on, and then seeing what his president wants. Romeo speaks in a low tone, so I can’t hear exactly what’s been said, but it seems serious.
“I’ll be back,” River says, pressing his lips to the top of my head.
He gets dressed and leaves, and I wonder what the hell could be going on at eleven at night. I try to sleep, I do, but I’m wide awake at this point and I leave the room to go into the kitchen to make myself hot chocolate. Hades runs up to me and I pat him while heating up some water.
When I hear what sounds like a shout, I wonder if I’m imagining things. When I hear it a second time, I get up and go to investigate. The voice sounds familiar. Is someone in trouble? What is going on now? Is River here still or did he leave the clubhouse? My feet take me back to the infamous garage, which is where the voices are coming from. I know this didn’t end so well for me last time, but I open the door anyway and step inside.
And there I see River.
Beating the shit out of Mark.
Romeo sees me and rushes me out of the garage, but not before I see River mercilessly pummeling Mark in the face and stomach, wearing an expression that I’ve never seen before.
He’s in his element, almost.
I wince with every sickening sound. Why is he the one they always go to if violence is involved? Does he volunteer? Does he enjoy it?
I push Romeo off me and bolt back into the garage.
“River, what are you doing?” I call out, and he turns to look at me, letting go of Mark, who falls to the ground in a heap. River’s eyes gentle as they land on me, the monster turning back into the man I know and love.
Romeo grabs me and pulls me away before River can say anything back to me.
“Why is Mark here?” I ask Romeo, who has me gently by the arm, leading me back to my bedroom.
“We found him outside, trying to look around,” he explains, stopping at the door. “I know you are curious, but River wouldn’t want you down there, so stay in bed until he gets back.”
“He’s punching the shit out of Mark! I can’t just go to bed and act like everything is fine,” I growl, pulling my arm away from him as the shock starts to wear off.
“He’s blackmailing you, Bella. What did you think would happen if River got his hands on him? You aren’t dating a gentle, timid man. River is... River,” Romeo replies, studying me. “And you know this.”
I feel bad for Mark, not that I’d tell River that, but I do. Yeah, he’s an asshole, but I don’t like to see anyone getting hurt like that. I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down.
Romeo heads back down to the torture chamber and I go back into the kitchen, wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do right now. Do I try to stop him? Do I just let him do his thing and get information out of Mark? I really should have gone back to bed and pretended that I didn’t hear anything.
I empty the water out of the kettle, suddenly not interested in a hot beverage, and get out a bottle of beer instead. After a few sips, I decide I can’t just let this happen to Mark and storm back down to the garage. Only this time I walk right into River, the two of us stopping and staring at each other.
“What are you going to do with him?” I ask, my voice breathless.
“Why did you come down there?” he asks in return, shaking his head. “I never wanted you to see me like that again.”
“But that side of you is a part of who you are,” I state.
He nods slowly. “Yes, I guess it is. But not for you. Never for you.”
“River, I know that.”
And I do. I’m not scared of him.
Maybe I’m a little scared for other people, but I know he’d never hurt anyone he cares about.
“If you want to go home, I can take you, or I can get Jag to take you...”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I reply, grabbing his arm and pulling him back to our room. “What happens now? With Mark, I mean.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about him turning you in for the forgery. Mark was fired and has been trying to use Victor’s crime to get his way back in. Not only that, but someone is blackmailing him to take down Romeo. I don’t know who or why, but we will get to the bottom of it,” he says, clearing his throat. “You need to listen sometimes, Bella. If I tell you to stay somewhere, it would be nice if you actually fucking stayed there.”
I open the door and step into the bedroom. “I heard a noise, as if you wouldn’t have done the same thing.”
He sighs heavily and locks the door behind us. His knuckles are busted and instead of getting back into bed, he jumps in the shower, while I sit on the corner of the mattress trying not to think about Mark sitting in the garage, likely injured, unemployed and apparently blackmailed. I know I shouldn’t feel bad, he’s done nothing but lie and use me, but it’s not like we can keep him down there forever. I trust River. I know he’s just doing what he is supposed to. And I accept him for who he is. But does my first test of faith have to be with my ex-boyfriend?
I get back into bed, but sleep doesn’t come.