Chapter Seven
Katey
“I hate it here,” I whined to my brother. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I was whining, because I damn sure was. It didn’t matter that Sniper had seemed almost human over breakfast, one good meal wouldn’t change my unhappiness.
Cal sighed and I could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Or annoyance. Something that reminded me I was a burden. “Is someone mistreating you?”
I opened my mouth fully prepared to lie, to say whatever it took to get me out of here, but I couldn’t do that because despite everything, one thing Sniper said to me had stuck. All of the people here, even the old ladies and the kids were in danger because of me. “No, nobody is mistreating me, not even when I deserve it. It’s just, I don’t like feeling like I’m someone’s property. Like I belong to them, and they can do whatever they want.” Saying the words out loud made me feel foolish, but I’d been there before. “I can’t do it again.”
“He’s not taking ad—” Cal started, his voice laced with anger.
“No, nothing like that. It’s just, well you know my history with bikers.”
He let out another one of his disappointed sighs. “Not all biker clubs are the same Katey.”
“No but most of them are criminals.”
“I know Sniper, and while he may do some things to skirt the law, he is a good guy. He’s as tough as they come, loyal as fuck with a strong sense of responsibility. It’s why I chose him to keep you safe.”
I snorted. “That and you knew he owed you.”
“Fuck that,” he growled. “That’s his hang-up not mine. I picked him because I knew that he would move heaven and hell to keep you safe. Even if you’re being a jackass, he will protect you with his life.”
“Why? This makes no sense!”
“He will do it because I asked him to. It’s just how we are. He knows I wouldn’t come to him if there was another way.”
“This is an outlaw biker gang, Cal!” I whispered into the phone because of all my sins, being judgmental wasn’t one of them.
“I don’t trust bikers as a general rule, but I trust Sniper. I wouldn’t have reached out to him otherwise.”
My shoulders fell because I knew that was true. Cal was the straightest arrow of all, and he trusted Sniper “Okay, fine. I’ll stop being an ass. Or at least I’ll try.”
“Good. Listen to Sniper and I’ll be seeing you soon. Love you.”
“I love you too, Cal. And… thanks.”
“Always Katey. Always.”
I wasn’t sure who ended the call first but as soon as it was over, my heart squeezed, and the brief moment of joy was replaced once again by loneliness.
As if the universe had read my mind, a quick knock sounded on the door. I knew it wasn’t Sniper because he never knocked to announce his arrival, so I walked hesitantly to the door and opened it to find two women standing there. “Oh, hey.”
“Harper and Grace,” the woman with the black hair introduced them both. “You want to have a drink with us?”
I took a step back because they were far too close, and shook my head. “No thanks.” I had told Cal that I would try, but I didn’t say when.
Ignoring my standoffishness, Harper stepped inside my room first and then Grace. Harper pretended to look around before her gaze took me in. Grace openly watched me. “I came here because I was on the run from my abusive husband. He made everyone think I was crazy and on drugs and I had no escape. But I had Sophie to think about, so I had to risk it. Maverick and these guys saved me.”
“I appreciate you sharing that, really I do. But your husband wasn’t in a motorcycle gang, was he?”
“It’s a motorcycle club, not gang,” Harper corrected me with a gentle smile. “Sniper as you call him, is my big brother. He can be a gruff jerk a lot of the time but even then, he’s a good man and he won’t let anything happen to you.”
I smiled at her. I liked both of these women even if I questioned their good sense to get mixed up with bikers. I’d done it once and it hadn’t turned out well for me at all. “You have to say that since he’s your brother,” I pointed out.
“Maybe so, but we grew up with Gio and he kept me safe when I overheard some things I shouldn’t have while Cole was out of town. They’re good guys, nothing like your ex I promise.”
I wished I could just believe these women. I wanted to. It would make my life and my stay here easier if I could just believe that. “I want to believe you, but I can’t, and it has nothing to do with you.”
“Duh,” Harper shot back. “But you could see for yourself if you stop hiding out in here all day every day.”
“Harper,” Grace chided.
“No, she needs to hear this. What if she’s here for months before they find this guy? She’s gonna get depressed and maybe go crazy.”
Harper was right, of course. “I’m not ready,” I admitted, throwing them a bone because they were being nice to me, and I appreciated it. “This is all a lot and I’m trying to adjust the best I can.”
Grace smiled. “I was on the run too, so I know what you’re going through. When you’re ready, come find us.” She took a hesitant step forward and wrapped me in a hug. “You’ll be safe here. I promise.”
“Thank you.” Her kindness meant something to me, and I returned her hug.
When they were gone, I threw myself on the bed and thought about what Cal and Harper had said. Both of them were convinced of Sniper’s inherent goodness and I had no evidence to disprove their words. He was gruff and grumpy, which was not very different than me. But his loyalty and fierce determination to protect me simply because of my brother, couldn’t be ignored.
Maybe, just like me, Sniper was a lot of things. Some of them good. Some of them bad.
I stared up at the ceiling, listening to everyone else on the other side of the door having fun. Drinking and eating. Laughing and living it up. I should have taken the women up on their offer. I should’ve had a drink with them. I should start living my life again since I was no longer on the run.
But I was still in hiding.