5. Roxie
ROXIE
I need to feel safe.
“Where are you?”
I roll my eyes at the concern in my brother’s voice.
It’s been two weeks since I left Jace, and I’ve slowly been making my way to Marble Falls.
I checked into my current hotel two nights ago, and once I check out, I’ll finish the trip.
I haven’t talked to Shuffle in roughly a month, but when he called this morning, the urge to talk to him was strong.
“Well, that’s the thing. I’m?—”
“And why is Jace calling me, asking if I’ve seen you?” he demands without giving me a chance to answer his first question.
Groaning, I put the call on speaker and toss it onto the bed before flopping onto my back. “Are you gonna let me talk?” I counter.
My brother sighs. “Yeah, fine.”
“I’m a few hours from you,” I admit before swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I, um, am moving back.”
The bruises have faded and can be completely covered with makeup, and the pain from my other injuries is bearable. The last thing I wanted to do was return to the control of my brother and the club, but it’s also the only place I know I’ll be safe.
And I need to feel safe.
I’ve spoken to Sammie, Greg, and Melody, and they’ve been keeping an eye on Jace as best they can. They’ve each assured me that he seems to be going about life like nothing happened, but that’s little comfort now that I know he’s called Shuffle.
“Rox, what the fuck is going on?” he demands, pulling me back to the conversation.
Taking a deep breath, I decide to lie my ass off. “Jace broke off the engagement, and it was too hard to be in the same town as him. I figured you’d be happy about me coming back.”
“I am happy,” he insists. “But you were so fucking hell bent to leave me and everything else behind, and I find it hard to believe that something as trivial as a break-up is what’s changed your mind.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “Maybe I should just go somewhere else.”
“Dammit, Rox, stop,” Shuffle barks.
“No, Ryan,” I snap, using his given name. “I won’t stop. I left for a reason, and coming back isn’t easy.”
Silence fills the room, and when I lift the phone to see if he disconnected the call, he sighs. “When will you be here?”
“Within the next few days,” I reply begrudgingly because there’s no point in continuing to argue.
“How long are you staying?”
“How’s Titan?” I ask, ignoring his question since I don’t have an answer. I’ll stay as long as I need to, and I’m hoping that’s not long.
He chuckles. “Miss your bike, huh?”
I practically groan. “You have no idea,” I admit.
“I still don’t know why you didn’t take it with you when you left.”
“Because… I couldn’t exactly fit all my shit on a Harley.”
“Okay, but why didn’t you ever come back for it or have me ship it to you?”
Because my asshole fiancé wasn’t exactly the type to be okay with his significant other riding a motorcycle.
“Never mind,” he says when I remain silent. “So, I’ll see ya in a few days?”
“Yep.”
My brother inhales deeply, and in that breath, I hear his worry. “You sure you don’t want me to send someone to come get you?”
I smile sadly, glad that he can’t see me. “I’m sure, Ry. I’m fine, I promise. Just want a few more days to clear my head.” And to heal a bit more.
“Okay, then I’ll see you soon.”
The sound of shuffling comes through the line, and I know he’s about to end the call.
“Hey, Ry,” I say, regaining his attention.
“Yeah?”
“Love you.”
“Right back at ya, kid.”