Chapter 6
CHAPTER
SIX
L yla chewed on her bottom lip as she stared at the basement wall where the blue carpeting had been. Her brother had gone way overboard when he’d secured that crazy shit. He’d not only stapled it every few inches, but he’d also glued it. Ink and Breaker had needed to remove the drywall.
Lyla had taken lots of pictures. Feeling nostalgic, she’d considered calling her brother while the wall had come down. She hadn’t wanted to talk to him, though. She couldn’t get Rock out of her mind, and she didn’t want to risk fielding any questions about the past from Jackson.
The nostalgia she felt was a bit overboard. She couldn’t explain it. She hadn’t been here since she was eighteen years old, and she’d never thought much about the house itself in all that time, but coming home was pulling everything to the surface.
It was late, getting dark out. She didn’t want to sit on the basement floor until even later tonight, so she headed upstairs. As she packed everything up in her satchel, a knock sounded at the door.
Lyla turned to answer it, assuming it would be Ink or Breaker. Maybe one of them forgot something when they finished up for the day. She opened the front door to find a man she didn’t know standing on the porch.
He wore a battered gray ballcap with no logo. He shuffled his feet for a moment without lifting his face before suddenly darting into the house.
Lyla gasped as he grabbed her around the neck and shoved her backward.
Her adrenaline shot through the roof. Scared out of her mind, she screamed.
The man continued forward until he slammed her into the wall next to the entrance to the kitchen. He leaned into her, his face an inch from hers as pain shot through her from her head hitting the wall. The strike silenced her. She couldn’t catch her breath to continue screaming.
“Where is it, bitch?” he hissed, spittle splattering against her face. His breath was disgusting. It wasn’t from alcohol. It was from lack of hygiene. His teeth were gross. He probably hadn’t brushed them in a long time. His eyes were bloodshot.
She tried to shove against him. “Help!”
He slapped her face with his free hand. “Shout again and I’ll fucking slice your pretty face up until they can’t identify your body, bitch. Where the fuck is it?”
She had no idea what he was talking about.
He grabbed her biceps with both hands and squeezed, pulling her forward and ramming her head into the wall over and over. His grip was tight.
What did he want? Was he going to rape her, or did he plan to rob her? Both?
Her teeth rattled as he continued to shake her. Her vision grew blurry. She feared she might pass out.
The sound of a motorcycle engine infiltrated her mind. Or maybe she was imagining it. She’d been hearing bike engines all day. She doubted many people on this residential street owned bikes, which meant she’d been conjuring the sound from her subconscious. After all, for the last two years she’d lived here, she’d heard a bike engine coming and going frequently. It had been Rock visiting Jackson every time. She wished to fuck he would show up now.
A loud sound, like a door slamming against the wall, made her flinch a moment before a deep voice rang out. “Get the fuck off her!”
The man instantly dropped her and dashed into the kitchen.
Lyla fell to the floor, landing on her hands and knees, shaking and gasping for breath.
New hands were on her a second later, making her cry out once more.
“Lyla, it’s me. Rock. I’ve got you.”
Rock?
She lifted her head to find the man she’d spent countless hours of her life thinking about squatting next to her. She blinked several times. Her mind was playing tricks on her.
Rock glanced toward the kitchen as another door slammed.
Lyla jumped. That would be her attacker getting away out the back. Another glance at Rock told her he was debating taking off after the guy. Part of her wanted him to catch the asshole, but she didn’t want him to get hurt. She had no idea what shape he was in.
He turned his attention back to her and eased her onto her butt so she was leaning against the wall. “Are you hurt?”
She lifted a hand to rub the back of her head and winced as she tipped her head forward. “Is there any blood?”
Rock carefully guided her head forward more and gently moved her hair around. “No blood. You could have a concussion, though.” He lifted her chin with a finger until she met his gaze.
His expression was fierce. It was the same expression he’d had that last night she’d seen him, the night he’d been waiting for her to come home from the prom and she’d told him how her date and his friends had spoken about her.
She wrapped her hand around his forearm. “I’m okay. Thank you for… Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see you. Good thing because apparently, my timing was impeccable.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling the police.”
She nodded. Right. Of course. She started trembling, feeling cold for no reason. She vaguely heard him speaking to the dispatcher, and then he hung up.
“They’ll be here in a few minutes.” He stared at her some more, stroking her cheek. “You haven’t changed.”
She gave him a wan smile. “Your hair is gray.”
He chuckled. “I’m old.”
“You’re only two years older than me.”
“So I didn’t age as well as you. Do you need to rub it in?” he teased.
She set her hands on the floor, wanting to stand.
Rock helped her to her feet.
Fuck, her head ached. She rubbed it, wincing when she reached her arms back to do so. They hurt, too.
“Let’s get you some water,” Rock said.
She nodded toward the kitchen. “There’s a cooler.”
He smirked. “I heard about the cooler.”
She frowned as she followed him into the kitchen. “How?”
“Ink and Breaker. They’re prospects for my MC. They’re the reason I found out you were in town. I overheard them joking about the house with the blue carpet on the wall last night.”
She winced as she rubbed her head.
“Tonight, they came back to the compound, pumping their chests about the smoking-hot older woman who’d fed them lunch and surprised them by treating them with respect even though they were covered with tattoos and wore MC jackets. They think you’re the bomb.” He grinned.
Damn, he looked fine. His hair was gray, but he was still fit and healthy as far as she could tell. His smile was the same. His eyes lit up every time he graced her with one.
Rock pulled a cold bottle of water from the cooler. He ran his hand down the outside of it to wipe away some of the excess water before opening the cap and handing it to her. “The electricity is on. Why didn’t you put these in the fridge?”
“I had that cooler downstairs most of the day so the guys wouldn’t have to come upstairs every time they needed a drink. Breaker carried it back up before they left.”
It was surreal talking to him like this. Like no time had passed between them. He held her gaze for long seconds. “You haven’t changed. You’re still the thoughtful, kind Little Lyla I knew as a teenager.”
She blushed and took a sip of the water to hide her thoughts. His voice did things to her. It hadn’t changed either. His body might have aged, but his eyes were the same. His tone hadn’t lost its depth. He was stroking her arm like he had decades ago. She felt like she was in a time warp.
Sirens filled the silence, and she set the water bottle on the counter to follow Rock into the front room. The door was still standing open. It had been the entire time. Rock had kicked it against the wall in his haste to get to her, but it had been ajar when Rock arrived to find her being assaulted.
Two officers entered the house. They greeted Rock with first names and handshakes, which made Lyla feel warm and relaxed.
The female turned to her. She held out a hand. “Officer Wright. Please, call me Susan, though.”
Lyla took her hand. “Lyla.”
The woman opened her phone and started typing. “Can I get your last name?”
“Sealock. Lyla Sealock.”
Susan typed that in. “So, a man broke in and attacked you?”
Lyla shook her head. “No. He knocked. I answered the door. He pushed his way in and slammed me against the wall. I screamed a few times, but it was hard to continue with him shaking me so hard.”
“Did he say what his intentions were?” Susan asked.
“No. He kept asking ‘where is it?’ as if I had something of his.”
“And you have no idea what he was referring to?”
Lyla shook her head. “No.”
“Have you ever seen him before?”
“No. I just got here yesterday.”
Susan nodded. “Can you give me a description of the guy?”
“Five-eight, probably. Worn gray ballcap. Bad teeth. I think he was high. His eyes were bloodshot. He was strong but kind of skinny. There was a scar under his right eye, running toward his ear.”
“Old or new scar?”
“Old,” Lyla confirmed.
“What was he wearing?”
Lyla rubbed her temples, thinking, picturing him. “Dark hoodie, dirty jeans, work boots.”
“I agree,” Rock said from next to her. “He ran out through the kitchen when I got here, but I caught a look at him. I didn’t see his face, but the clothing is what I witnessed.”
Susan nodded.
Her partner, a man in his thirties, nodded toward the kitchen. “Mind if I take a look around?”
Lyla shook her head. “No problem. Go ahead. There isn’t much left in the house.”
“Sounds like the guy thinks you have something of his,” Susan said as her partner disappeared.
“It makes no sense to me,” Lyla informed her. “I’ve never seen him, and I’m not from town.”
“How long has the house been vacant?”
“About a month.”
“Could he have been squatting here?” Susan asked.
Lyla shrugged. “I suppose, but I haven’t found evidence of that. There was no furniture or even a paper towel in this house when I arrived yesterday. Not even toilet paper. I bought supplies this morning.”
“How long will you be in town?”
“I’m not sure. A few weeks. Just long enough to get the house on the market. It needs a bit of work.” Lyla had been thinking about moving her timeline up a bit, mostly to avoid Rock. She still might do so, especially if some asshole was going to attack her again.
Susan shut her phone and pocketed it. “You should go to the emergency room.”
Lyla shook her head. “I’ll be fine. There’s no broken skin.” She winced as she rubbed several spots on the back of her head.
“You might have a concussion,” Susan pointed out.
“I’ll see that she gets medical attention,” Rock stated.
The second officer returned to the front room. “I checked all the windows and doors. Nothing appears to be tampered with.”
Lyla crossed her arms, shivering. “The sliding glass door off the kitchen wasn’t locked when I arrived. I locked it and put the pole in place.” She couldn’t imagine how that mattered, but maybe it did.
Susan pulled her phone back out, presumably to note that. “Could be the guy was squatting here and you sealed his entrance. But you said there was no evidence, so that’s unlikely. Maybe he mistook you for someone else.”
Lyla hugged herself tighter. She had no answers. No one did.
The officers left her a card and said they would patrol the area to see if anyone fitting the description was lurking around. She gave them both her phone number and motel information. They would get in touch with her if they found anything out.
Suddenly, she was alone with Rock.
The first thing he said was, “You still have the same last name.”
She faced him. “I changed it back after my divorce.”
His brow furrowed. “So you’re not married. Boyfriend?”
“No,” she murmured, wondering about his wife. After all, he had kids. “You?”
“My wife passed away from cancer a long time ago. I never remarried.”
She nodded slowly. So many questions ran through her head, but she couldn’t decide where to start, and she needed some aspirin. Her head was killing her. She rubbed her temples again.
“Let’s get you to the hospital.”
“No. I’m fine. I don’t want to spend the night in the emergency room. I just want to go to bed.”
“Lyla, you could have a concussion.”
“I don’t.”
He sighed. “Then, at least let me bring you to the compound so you can see Doc. We’ll let him decide.”
She scrunched up her face. She didn’t feel like facing a bunch of people.
Rock licked his lips. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll take you to my place. I’ll have Doc meet us there.”
His place…
“I have an apartment in the compound, but I also have a house on the edge of town. It’s not much, but it’s a place to sleep.”
“I have a room at the motel,” she said absently. There was no way she wanted to go there tonight. Out of the question. She wouldn’t feel safe with some guy hunting her for unknown reasons.
“We’ll stop and get your things. You’ll stay with me,” he insisted.
She cracked a smile at his tone. “Still so bossy.”
He lifted a brow. “Significantly more bossy than when I was twenty, Little Lyla.”
She shuddered at the name he’d just used for the second time tonight. He’d called her that all the time when she was a teenager. “I’m not so little anymore,” she pointed out.
He looked up and down her frame. “You’re hardly larger, Little girl, but you also know that’s not what I mean when I say Little,” he challenged.
She shuddered again. She did know what he meant, but it had been decades since she’d even considered the idea of age play. Not since the night she’d spent with him. She’d never once met anyone in that lifestyle. She was aware of it. She’d researched the subject over the years. She’d read books about it—both fiction and nonfiction—but she hadn’t practiced it.
Rock gathered up her satchel. “Is this all you have here at the house?”
“Yes.”
“Where are your keys? I’ll drive your car and have someone get my bike and drop it at my house.”
She pulled the rental car keys out of her pocket and handed them to him. She wasn’t going to argue. She certainly didn’t feel like driving. Staying at his house, though… That was huge.
He pulled out his phone and appeared to send a few texts before ushering her out of the house. Like the gentleman she remembered, he opened the car door for her and helped her into the passenger seat. He also reached across to fasten her seat belt. “I’ll be right back.”
He shut her door and jogged over to his bike.
She watched in the mirror, wondering what he was doing. Finally, he pulled something out of the bottom of the saddlebag and hurried back to the car. After he climbed in, he handed her a stuffed bear.
She slowly took it from him. Her heart rate picked up. He’d given her a bear the night of her prom when she’d been distressed.
He shrugged. “Maybe it’s silly, but it’s what we do in my club. When we encounter a damsel in distress, we give her a teddy bear. I’d say you’re definitely a damsel in distress.” He started the engine as if this was no big deal, but it meant the world to her.
She pulled the bear into her arms and held it tightly, lowering her face to inhale its scent of leather from being in the saddlebag for heaven only knew how long. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, Little one.”
She sucked back a breath. Little one. Was she Little?
As he started driving, he glanced at her and changed the subject. “Do you have kids?”
Apparently, they were going to get the big things answered immediately. “No. I…couldn’t get pregnant. That was the primary reason for my divorce,” she overshared. No would have been sufficient.
“I’m sorry.”
She drew in a breath. “I think that came out wrong. I’m not sure I really wanted to have kids, so I wasn’t willing to use heroic measures and thousands of dollars to have them. That’s why we divorced.”
“Ah.”
“I met your son yesterday.”
“I know. He told me.” Rock grinned.
She looked at him, feeling confused. “I didn’t give him my name.”
“Yeah, but I already knew from Ink and Breaker that you were in town. So I figured.”
“He looks like you. Do you have other kids?”
“A daughter, Remi. I’m proud of both of them. They’re amazing.”
“Are they in the MC?” She found herself wanting to know more and more about Rock. She was probably opening herself up for a world of hurt, but she couldn’t resist the pull.
“Yes. Remi is married to one of our members, Kade. Atlas was gone for many years. He went to college out of state, became an accountant, and didn’t come back until recently. We needed his help when our treasurer disappeared, leaving the MC’s finances in shambles. Atlas reconnected with an old flame and stayed.” Rock’s smile grew. Apparently, he was very pleased with that development.
“That must be nice.” She found herself smiling. She was happy for Rock.
“Yeah, except for them nagging me all the time,” he groaned in a joking tone.
“What do they nag you about?”
Rock turned into the parking lot at the motel, parked next to the front desk, and turned to her. “I had a heart attack a few years back. I’m as good as new now, but they worry.”
Lyla sucked in a breath and reached out to grab his hand. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad you are well.”
He set his other hand on top of hers, capturing it, squeezing it. “Thank you. Which room is yours?” He pointed toward the motel rooms.
“Oh, it’s that one. Close. I’ll just go grab a few things.” She started to pull away, but he kept hold of her hand, stopping her.
She turned back to him to find him frowning again. “You’ll wait for me. Let me talk to Sheila and tell her you’re checking out. Then I’ll help you pack everything up.”
Lyla’s breath hitched. “I can’t impose on you for more than one night.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You will never be imposing on me, Little Lyla. I know it’s been a few years since we last saw each other, and we’re feeling awkward, but I wouldn’t feel right leaving you alone in a motel, no matter who you were, after what happened tonight. You’ll stay with me.”
She swallowed and nodded, unable to deny him. She was scared out of her mind and freaking the fuck out inside, but she couldn’t tell him no. It was difficult to keep her mouth closed and not point out that “a few years” was a gross understatement.