Chapter Three
Rebel
The sound of heavy knocking pounded against my door, making it rattle on the hinges. Whoever it was sounded pissed as hell. I suddenly had a feeling the moment I opened the door, I’d be faced with a shitstorm. Steeling myself, I tugged it open and stared at the President and Lynx.
“Rebel,” Atilla said, his voice nearly a growl, laced with barely contained anger. Lynx’s eyes blazed with fury. These two men were rarely ever this pissed-off, and when they were, it usually meant trouble. Or rather, they hadn’t been since both had settled down.
“Pres, Lynx,” I acknowledged, clenching my fists to keep my nerves in check. “What’s going on?”
“Atilla and I have kept quiet while we did our own digging. Seems we shouldn’t have. Remember how my sister is part of the Dixie Reapers? Got a call from her club last week.” He paused, staring me down. “Bull’s daughter Isadora is missing.”
My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. The world seemed to close in around me, choking me with the weight of my apparent fuckup. It wasn’t lost on me the woman I’d rescued went by Isy and seemed to be on the run. I’d also noticed her truck had Alabama tags. Fuck my life. Either my club was going to kill me, or her dad would.
“Shit,” I muttered, feeling their intense gazes bore into me.
Atilla folded his arms. “You know anything about it?”
“Maybe,” I admitted, trying to gauge their reactions. “But we should talk inside. I have a feeling this will take a minute.”
“Fine,” Lynx agreed, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “But you better start talking fast, Rebel.”
I ushered Lynx and Atilla inside, my gut warning me things were about to go south. Real fast. I had hoped they would back off and give me a chance to talk to Isy first. If she really was Bull’s daughter, then… No, I couldn’t lay the blame at her feet. She’d said she was related to a biker. I’d decided to claim her anyway, and when I’d gone to pull on my jeans, I’d noticed a smear of blood on my cock. Which meant I’d fucked her without even realizing she’d been a virgin.
“Rebel, what the hell is going on?” Atilla demanded as we stepped into the dimly lit living room. “I have a feeling you’re hiding something.”
“Not intentionally. Look, there’s somethin’ you need to know --” I started, but my words were cut off as Isy appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.
“Sorry. I got thirsty. It didn’t occur to me you’d invite anyone into the house since… Um…”
“Because you were trying to hide from Lynx?” I asked.
She shrugged a shoulder but kept staring at Atilla and Lynx.
“Isadora?” Lynx growled, his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “What the fuck are you doing here? And what the hell are you wearing?”
“More like not wearing,” Atilla muttered, running a hand over his face. “Shit. Really, Rebel?”
She froze, like a deer caught in headlights, her lips trembling. I wanted to reach out, to pull her against me and shield her from whatever was about to happen, but I knew I couldn’t. She’d decided she was grown enough to run from her daddy, and now she’d have to pay the consequences. It was one thing to claim her, and another to get caught with Bull’s daughter half-dressed.
“Shit,” Lynx snarled, his gaze flicking between us. “You fucked her? Seriously?”
“Hey, man, it’s not like that,” I protested, clenching my fists at my sides. But even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. It was exactly like that, and then some.
“Like hell it isn’t!” he snapped, his face contorted with rage. “You think this is some kind of game, Rebel? You think it’s okay to sleep with a daughter from another MC? And one I have familial ties to at that?”
“Leave him alone,” Isy said softly. The vulnerability in her eyes tore at my insides, making me want to rip Lynx apart for putting her through this. But I kept my cool, knowing that anger wouldn’t get us anywhere right now.
“Fuck that,” Lynx spat, turning his fury on her now. “You’ve got no idea the shitstorm you’ve caused, Isadora. Running away from home like some spoiled fucking brat. Now I find you in my brother’s bed? What the hell were you thinking?”
“Stop it!” I snarled, stepping between them and pushing Lynx back a step. “She obviously had a reason to run. And she’s here because I saved her earlier. Two men tried to abduct her. I didn’t realize who she was, or I’d have notified you. So back the fuck off.”
“Rebel --” Atilla began, but I cut him off.
“Let me handle this, Pres,” I said, my voice strained with emotion. “Please. I’ll make it right. But first, we need to calm the fuck down and figure out what to do next.”
As Lynx continued to glare daggers at me, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life. Did I have any idea what the hell I was doing? No, not really. But one thing was clear: Isy needed me, and I’d be damned if I let her down. I’d taken her innocence, even if she hadn’t told me beforehand, and there was no way I’d send her back to Alabama.
I watched the conflicting emotions flicker across Isy’s face. She bit her lip, tears shimmering in her eyes, and I knew right then that whatever was going on, she needed protection -- my protection.
“Look,” I said, turning to Atilla, my voice firm but respectful. “I’ll take responsibility for Isy. She’s with me now. I’ll claim her, marry her, whatever I need to do. Besides, we didn’t use protection. She could very well be pregnant.”
Atilla studied me for a moment, before nodding slightly. “Make sure you know what you’re getting into, Rebel. I won’t put this to a vote. No point to it. If we send her back and she does end up being pregnant, Bull would come for us. Besides, she clearly chose you.”
Isy looked at Lynx, desperation etched in her features. “Please, don’t tell my parents where I am yet. There’s more to it than just running away from home. I need to figure some things out first.”
Lynx’s anger morphed into confusion, his gaze darting between Isy and me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Can we please sit down and talk about this calmly?” I interjected, trying to defuse the situation. “Yelling at each other isn’t going help anyone.”
“Fine,” Lynx growled, still glaring at me. “But I better hear a damn good explanation for all this shit. If my sister is going to threaten me, I might as well know the full reason.”
As we moved to the living room, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of what I’d just committed to. Taking responsibility for Isy meant putting myself in the line of fire, not just with her family but within my own club. But as I glanced at her, her slender frame trembling ever so slightly, I knew I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep her safe, no matter the cost.
We settled down in the living room, and I couldn’t help but notice how Isy’s hands shook as she took a seat next to me on the worn leather couch. She looked up at Lynx, her eyes wide with determination despite her obvious fear. Hell, she hadn’t looked this scared outside the motel. Did the thought of going home really terrify her that much?
“It wasn’t just about running away from home,” she said quietly, swallowing hard. “I was being stalked.”
“Stalked?” I echoed, my heart tightening in my chest. The thought of someone watching her, following her every move, made my blood boil with protectiveness. “What do you mean?”
Isy hesitated for a moment, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “For weeks, I’ve been getting this feeling I was being watched. I’d find random notes on my car, sometimes in my purse. They seemed to always know where I was, or where I’d be. I couldn’t take it anymore.”
“Shit,” Lynx muttered, his anger momentarily forgotten as he processed the new information. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“Because I didn’t want my dad to lock me up at the compound,” she snapped, a flash of defiance sparking in her eyes. “Or treat me like some helpless child who can’t take care of herself. You know damn well what would have happened if I’d told him, or anyone else there, what was going on.”
I noticed something in her expression just then. It was just a hunch, but something told me at least one person knew, and she wasn’t willing to rat them out.
“Isy,” I said softly, my hand resting on her trembling one, “if you were in danger, we needed to know. And if whoever is stalking you knows about your family and the club, other girls might be in danger too. Once you left, they could have set their sights on someone else.”
“Rebel’s right,” Lynx admitted grudgingly, his brow furrowing with concern. “We need to tell the others, warn them.”
“First, we need to let your parents know what’s going on,” I told her gently, dreading the inevitable confrontation with Bull. “And that I’m claiming you as mine.”
“Claiming me?” Isy’s cheeks flushed pink, her eyes wide with surprise. “But, Rebel, what will that mean for you? What if my dad --”
“Your dad will have to accept it,” I interrupted firmly, my resolve unwavering. “You’re mine now, Isy, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“Rebel…” she breathed, her gaze searching my face for a moment before she nodded, accepting the enormity of my declaration. “All right. We’ll tell them.”
I had a feeling it had been her plan all along for me to make her mine. Had to admit she was a damn good actress, though, pretending like it had never crossed her mind. I figured it was all a show for Lynx.
“Good,” Lynx grumbled, clearly still bothered by the situation but willing to accept it for Isy’s sake. “Now, let’s figure out how we’re going handle this stalker bullshit. Is it possible what happened at the motel could be related?”
Atilla stood. “Rebel, Isy, you both need to be at the clubhouse in thirty minutes. We’ll discuss this further there. Think we need to bring in the officers at the very least.”
“Understood, Pres,” I replied, nodding my head. They both stalked out of my house, and I heard their bike engines rumble before they rode off. I stared at Isy, wondering what other surprises she had in store for me.
“Come on, we need to get ready,” I said. I took her hand and led her back to the bedroom.
“Okay,” she whispered, following me without question.
In the bathroom, we quickly stripped down to shower and change. I couldn’t help but steal glances at her as the water cascaded over her body, the sight of her naked form igniting desire within me. But this wasn’t the time for that. We had more important things to focus on.
“Isy, you need to trust me,” I told her, watching the water droplets slide across her skin. She looked up at me, her gaze searching mine.
“I do, Rebel. I… I’m just scared,” she admitted. “I may not have seemed that way when you first saw me. I was fighting with everything I had, but I’m worried what my dad will say or do. And what if Uncle Lynx is right? What if the stalker had something to do with the men at the motel? Is it possible they followed me all the way here?”
“Hey, it’s gonna be all right,” I reassured her, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I meant what I said earlier. You’re mine, and I’ll protect you no matter what.”
“Thank you,” she murmured against my chest, clinging to me tightly.
After our quick shower, we dressed and prepared to face the club. I wasn’t sure what Atilla or Lynx would have told them. Were they going to be pissed I’d inadvertently brought trouble to our doorstep?
“Ready?” I asked, offering her my hand.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, giving me a small smile as she took my hand.
Together, we walked out to my bike. I got on and she swung her leg over the seat behind me. Backing the bike down the driveway, I headed for the clubhouse.
As we arrived, I saw from the number of cars and bikes that everyone was here. We entered the clubhouse, and I could feel the weight of the club’s collective gaze upon us. Even the old ladies and children were present. It was clear they all knew something was up, and their curiosity was palpable.
“All right, everyone!” Atilla bellowed, his voice like thunder as he stood in front of the group. “We’ve got some things to discuss! I didn’t want to do this in Church, because the women need to hear it too.”
The club fell silent, waiting for the President’s next words. I could feel Isy’s grip on me tighten, her body pressed close against me, seeking comfort and protection.
“Rebel, Isy, front and center,” he ordered, and we stepped forward, all eyes on us.
“This is Isadora,” Atilla announced, gesturing toward her. “She’s Bull’s daughter, and she’s with Rebel. As you can imagine, this isn’t something we can keep quiet about. Even worse, the Dixie Reapers are searching for her. I have to accept some responsibility for this. If I’d told all of you she was missing and what she looked like, then maybe Rebel would have recognized her.”
“Wait.” Truth eyed us. “Are you saying you slept with a woman and didn’t even know she was the daughter of a Dixie Reaper?”
“Who said we slept together?” Isy asked, lifting her chin a notch.
He snorted. “Because there’s no way Rebel would put his neck on the line unless you’d offered him something -- like your body.”
“You’re out of line, Truth,” I warned.
A low murmur rippled through the crowd, but it died down quickly as Atilla reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“I’m calling Wire,” he informed us, then dialed the number and placed the call on speaker.
“Wire, we need your help,” Atilla said as soon as the call connected. “And everyone in the club can hear you, including the women and kids.”
“Sure thing, brother,” Wire replied, his voice sounding tinny through the speakerphone. “What do you need?”
“Isy here’s been stalked, and she’s worried about the other girls in her family. We need you to find out who’s been doin’ it before things get worse.”
“What the hell? She’s there with you?” Wire asked. “Isadora, how the hell did you get all the way to Oklahoma without me being able to track you?”
“Um… I got a different car and used cash. I knew you had a GPS on my vehicle, and if the TV shows are right, you could have tracked my bank card purchases.” She leaned into me a little more. “But please help me. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you sooner.”
“Consider it done,” Wire assured. “But, Isy, you need to call your parents. They’re going crazy, and your brother Foster is tearing the town apart looking for you.”
My heart clenched at the mention of her family, and I could feel Isy trembling beside me. I knew she didn’t want to face them yet, but it was time.
“Wire’s right, darlin’,” I whispered into her ear, offering her my support. “You’ve got to let them know you’re safe.”
“Foster is doing that? Why?” she asked.
“Because you’re his little sister,” Wire said.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll call them, but not right now. I need to prepare myself first.”
“Tell me about the reason you ran,” Wire said.
Isy shared with him the things she’d said at my house. When she finished, he groaned. “Shit. I wish you’d have said something when this first started. We might have been able to catch them. You were right, though. Your dad would have never let you leave the compound if he knew about this shit.”
Atilla gazed at Isy, his expression softening a little. “Wire, keep us updated on what you find, and, Isy, you make that call. We’re all here for you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“All right, women and children, be vigilant at all times, and don’t go anywhere without a patched member, officers, or even a Prospect with you. Can’t be too careful right now. Not until we know more. Meeting adjourned!”
The members dispersed, leaving Isy and me standing in the middle of the room. As their voices gradually faded into the background, I had this awful sensation this wouldn’t end as easily or quickly as we were hoping. It was possible the motel incident was separate, in which case Isy just had shit luck. But if it wasn’t… then this wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill stalker. This guy was seriously after Isy, and I had a feeling he’d do anything to get her.
I had a Prospect go get Isy’s things and her truck, then took her home. The moment the door shut behind her, I handed her my phone.
“Time to call them.”
“Can I call my brother? He can let them know I’m safe. I’m not ready to face my dad just yet.”
“Fine. We can start with Foster,” I said.
Isy’s fingers trembled as she dialed Foster’s number. I put my arm around her to give her strength.
“Hello?” Foster’s voice cracked through the phone.
“Hey, Foster,” Isy said. “It’s me, Isy.”
“Isy? Holy shit, where are you? We’ve been going crazy looking for you!” Foster’s relief was palpable, but the urgency in his voice remained. “Dad has been losing his fucking mind.”
“Listen, I’m safe, all right?” Isy swallowed hard, her eyes pleading with mine as she spoke. “But I need you to do something for me. Please, just buy me some time before I have to talk to Dad. I… I can’t face him yet.”
“All right,” Foster agreed hesitantly after a brief pause. “But you’re going to have to tell him eventually, sis. You know that, right? Where are you? Are you alone?”
“I know I will. I’m with the Savage Raptors. Rebel says he’s claiming me. You know Dad will be pissed, so… that’s why I asked you not to say anything. Only Wire knows I’m here.”
“Be safe, Isy,” he replied before the line went dead. She clung to the phone, her knuckles white, and I could feel the weight of her decision settling in.
“We’re all human and fuck up sometimes.” I kissed the top of her head. “Maybe you could have handled everything differently, but if you had, then we wouldn’t be together right now.”
She leaned into me wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’m glad it was you who found me. The moment I saw you, I knew you were the one.”
I chuckled and ran my hand down her back. “Only took you a few seconds to decide you wanted forever with me? What if I was an asshole?”
“Then I’d have tamed you.” She smiled up at me. “But thankfully you’re not one.”