Chapter Ten
SIENNA
My heart drops into the pit of my stomach when there’s a low knock on the door. I wonder if there will ever come a day when I’m not constantly afraid for my life. Even though it’s only been a few weeks since Cain’s been back, it feels like a lifetime of feeling worthless and broken.
I pick up the gun I keep next to my bed and rack back the slide to put one in the chamber. Another knock again, this one a little louder, followed by my brother’s voice.
“Sienna, open the fucking door!” I rush out of bed, bringing my gun with me and unlock the several locks on the door. Maddox rushes in, pushing it closed behind him. It’s two in the morning, and I thought he was going to be out all night tonight, so I’m surprised to see him.
“Cain is tearing the fucking town apart looking for you. We need to go.”
“Go where? Why does he want me so bad, Maddox?”
“Obsession, Enna. Or vengeance. Both of those things will make men do insane things. And when there’s no morality or soul, there are no lines they won’t cross. I need to keep you safe. So pack your shit. We need to move.”
“Again. We need to move again.”
“I’m not getting into specifics with you. I’m trying to keep you safe. That’s all that matters to me.”
“I don’t want to keep running, Mad. I can’t do this for the rest of my life.”
“It’s just until we take out Cain, you know that.”
“That may never happen. He may get to you first. Or me. And then what?”
“You think I don’t know that? Why do you think we’re doing this? Moving you from place to place every few days, all the changes, and sacrificing? It’s to keep you safe. You’re all that matters to me.”
“Lincoln and Gage matter to you too.”
“They agree with me. You come first. I couldn’t, we couldn’t.
” Maddox runs his palm over the longer scruff at his face.
His eyes look everywhere but me. It’s been like that for years.
The three men in my life who mean more to me than anything can’t bear to look at me.
Because all they see is damage. Their faults.
Their failure. “We wouldn’t survive knowing he had his hands on you again, Enna. ”
“I won’t go back to him alive.”
“Don’t fucking talk like that,” he snaps.
“I won’t. I’d rather be dead than survive another minute with him.”
“You will do whatever the fuck you need to do to survive, do you understand me? Now pack your shit so we can get out of here. Lincoln and Gage are outside waiting. He’s not just sniffing around anymore; he’s hunting and taking collateral.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’ve got a plan to get you out of Autumn Bay; the Hell’s Heathens have agreed to take you under their protection. You’re going to Amberwood.”
What? He’s sending me away? They agreed to that? I can’t leave him.
“What about you?”
“I’m not going with you. I’m staying here with Lincoln and Gage. You’ll be safe there, I promise.”
“You are not about to send me into another clubhouse. We don’t even know them! Are you serious? Maddox!”
“I don’t have a choice, Sienna! I’ve run out of options! What do you want from me?”
“To not ship me away! Are you serious? What if they’re just like him? I’ll be completely alone there, with no protection!” I feel like I’m on a sinking ship with no life vest, and everyone around me is watching from their lifeboats. Maddox takes the gun from my shaky hand, clearing the chamber.
“You’re packing this, and you’re going to use it if you need to. Aim and shoot.”
“Please don’t do this, Maddox,” I beg as he shoves the rest of my clothes that aren’t already packed into the duffel bag. He adds the charger and my very limited number of toiletries, then he’s zipping it up, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out of the little cabin.
Just as he said, Gage and Lincoln are outside waiting for us. Gage gives me a sympathetic look, his lips turning down in a frown as the four of us walk quickly to their blacked-out SUV.
“Maddox . . .” I try one more time before he yanks open the back door and tosses my bag inside. I roll my eyes, climbing in, Gage following me. Maddox and Lincoln get in the front, and my brother quickly peels out of the clearing, his tires spinning and picking up dirt and rocks as he goes.
We drive for an hour, the side of my head resting against the glass window, watching as the large trees whiz past us. It’s practically pitch-black outside, the clouds covering much of the moon and stars.
Our SUV slows, and nerves start to take over.
My heart sinks into my stomach as I see a van pulled off to the side of the road with its lights on.
Maddox pulls in front of it, slowing to a stop.
I can’t believe this is happening. I dig my fingernails into the seat and stay frozen as my brother steps out of the car, Lincoln following him from the passenger side.
Gage places his hand over mine, giving it a quick squeeze.
“We’ll be right back, just stay put. It’s all going to be okay.
We wouldn’t do this if we hadn’t fully checked them out.
They’re like us. Like how our club used to be.
Just breathe for us.” Then he’s leaving me, his door slamming as he retreats to join Maddox and Lincoln, the lights from the other car bathing the three of them so all I can see are silhouettes.
Three men climb out of the van, walking toward my brother. I know Axel will be one of them, and the thought of him eases some of the tension. Some. Not much. At least there will be one person I know to some degree.
I scoot toward the door, listening to their conversation through the open windows.
“Your president agreed to take her under your protection?”
“We wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t,” Axel says confidently.
I’d recognize his voice anywhere. “She’ll be safe with us.
Both Rogue and Malice’s women live at the clubhouse, as well as two others.
Patch bunnies are all there of their own free will and all under our protection.
No harm will come to your sister while she’s with us. You have my word.”
My brother sounds desperate when he speaks, and it breaks my heart.
I know I need to make this easier on him because there’s no doubt it’s killing him to send me away like this.
“This isn’t an easy fuckin’ choice, but I’m out of options.
I’ll owe you. Whatever you need, when the time comes, it’s yours. ”
My brother nods at Gage, and I know it means my time is up. This is it. I either go kicking and screaming, or I keep my mouth shut and do what I need to do. It has to be better than Cain finding me. Gage opens my door and leans in, picking up my large duffel bag and holding out his hand to me.
“There’s no choice, Enna, so let’s get this over with.”
I take a deep breath and step out, rolling my shoulders back and crossing my arms over my center.
My bag is handed to one of the other guys, but I don’t bother looking at any of them.
I just stand there like a piece of luggage, a commodity that they’re passing around.
I know it’s for my safety, but I just want to live for me.
I want to be the one in control of my life.
Nothing about this is living. It’s just running, doing what I’m told.
It’s bullshit. It’s unfair. And I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole.
But then Axel speaks directly to me, his voice dropping softer, gentler. I don’t know if I appreciate it or hate it. “Hey, Sienna, you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Maddox moves first, gripping my shoulders and pulling me into a huge hug.
I take a deep breath of his rich scent, tears nearly springing to my eyes.
We’ve never been away from each other. Not really.
Not like this. Maddox separates us, but keeps his hands on my shoulders, as if he’s holding me in place, scared I’ll run. As if I’ve ever.
“Remember, zero contact. No phones, don’t try to reach me. I’ll reach out to their burner when I can. Stay put and be safe, you understand?”
“Yeah, I know the drill. I love you.” He pulls me back in for another hug, before releasing me and stepping to the side. He’s quickly replaced by Lincoln, who does the same, wrapping his arms around me and holding my head to his chest.
“Be smart. We’ll get you back before you know it.”
“I love you,” I whisper against his chest.
With one last squeeze, he steps away, letting his comforting arms fall to the sides.
I look up at Gage, willing my tears not to fall.
We make our goodbye quicker than the first two, because he knows that being the last one could break me.
Then the three men who have been brothers to me for as long as I can remember turn and walk back toward the SUV, leaving me with three strangers from an MC in a town I’ve never been to.
Axel throws a set of keys to the huge guy who catches them midair.
Then his eyes are on me, taking two large steps in my direction, putting us toe-to-toe.
My heart races in my chest as he looks at me.
It’s too dark and the headlights too assaulting to make out the color, but I know they’re blue and endless, with a dark swirl of purple close to the pupil.
“You’re safe with us. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you. And these two are huge idiots, so just ignore them.”
I want to believe him. God, do I want to believe him. But I can’t.
“You’re wrong, Axel. I’m not safe anywhere.”
“We’ll see about that, sweetheart.”
He holds his arm outstretched, ushering me toward the waiting van. The other two club members open their doors and climb in, Axel opening up the back door and waiting for me to do the same. I hesitate for a moment, but I know the men around me have sealed my fate. Just as it’s always been.