Chapter 3 - Chaos
Shit.
I've faced down armed Iron Eagles members without flinching. I've taken bullets and knives and broken bones without shedding a tear. But watching this young woman crumble against her doorframe, sobbing while her kid cries in her arms, makes something in my chest crack wide open.
I don't do emotions. I don't do comfort. I'm the guy who fights and fucks and moves on. But standing here on her porch, watching her fall apart after holding it together so bravely while those assholes attacked her, I can't just walk away.
"Hey," I say, taking a cautious step forward. "Hey, it's okay. They're gone."
She shakes her head violently, her short ginger hair falling across her face. "It's not… It's not okay. Nothing is okay."
The kid is wailing now, his little face red and scrunched up. Ruby tries to comfort him through her own tears, bouncing him and making shushing sounds, but she's shaking too hard to be effective.
I crouch down slowly, keeping my distance so I don't spook her. "Can I help?"
"I don't—I don't even know you." She looks up at me, those hazel eyes swimming with tears and freckles standing out stark against her pale skin. "Why did you help me?"
"Because they needed to leave and you needed help." I shrug like it's that simple. Maybe it is. "I'm Tommy. Tommy Shelly. But everyone calls me Chaos."
"Chaos?" Despite everything, her mouth twitches. "That's really your name?"
"Road name. I ride with the Savage Riders MC." I gesture to my vest. "We don't tolerate bullies."
Her eyes widen slightly. "You're in a motorcycle club?"
"Working on becoming a full member. Right now, I'm a prospect." The word still stings, but whatever. "Point is, I live next door. Heard the shouting. Came to help."
"You punched my ex-boyfriend." She says it like she's testing the words, seeing how they sound.
"He swung first," I remind her. "I just defended myself. Also, your ex is a piece of shit."
That gets a real laugh out of her, even if it's watery and broken. "Yeah. Yeah, he really is."
Liam's cries are starting to fade, turning into hiccupping sobs. Ruby wipes her face with one hand, trying to pull herself together. I can see her fighting for control, dragging herself back from the edge of panic.
"I'm Ruby," she says finally. "Ruby Watson. And this is Liam."
"Nice to meet you both. Wish it was under better circumstances." I rock back on my heels, unsure what to do now. "You want me to call the cops? Report the harassment?"
"No!" The word comes out sharp, panicked. "No cops. Please."
I frown. "They were threatening to take your kid. That's not legal without a court order—"
"I know. I know that." She takes a shaky breath. "But if I involve the cops, they'll start a custody battle. My parents have money. Good lawyers. I have nothing. If this goes to court..." Her voice breaks. "I can't risk losing him. I can't."
Everything she's saying makes sense in the worst possible way. I've seen enough of the legal system to know it doesn't always favor the person who's actually right. Money talks. Always has, always will.
"Okay," I say. "No cops. But if they come back—"
"They will." She sounds defeated. "They always do. They've been tracking me for months. Every time I think I've lost them, they find me again."
"How long have you been running?"
"Since Liam was six months old. A year and a half.
" She looks down at her son, her expression softening despite the tears still on her cheeks.
"I overheard them planning it. My parents and Marcus.
They were going to take him while I was at work, give him to my cousin Jennifer.
They even had fake documents drawn up saying I was an unfit mother. "
Rage builds in my gut. "So, you ran."
"I ran." She meets my eyes. "And I've been running ever since. Different towns, different cheap rentals, always looking over my shoulder. I thought maybe Blackwater Falls would be different. It's small enough that I figured they wouldn't look here. But I was wrong."
Liam has calmed down now, his face pressed against Ruby's shoulder. His eyes are drooping, exhaustion winning over fear. He looks so small, so fragile. The thought of those people taking him from the only parent who actually gives a shit makes me want to find them and break more than Marcus's nose.
"They won't take him," I hear myself say. "I won't let them."
Ruby's eyes widen. "You don't have to… I mean, you already did so much…"
"I'm your neighbor." I stand up, offering her my hand. "And like I said, we don't tolerate bullies. You need help, you come to me. Or you come to the club. We'll handle it."
She stares at my hand for a long moment. I can see her weighing the decision, trying to figure out if she can trust me. I don't blame her. From what I've heard, every man in her life has let her down. Why should I be different?
But then she takes my hand, her palm small and cold against mine, and lets me pull her to her feet.
"Thank you," she whispers. "I don't know how to repay you."
"Don't worry about it." I release her hand, suddenly uncomfortable with how natural it felt. "Just doing what's right."
She looks like she wants to argue, but Liam whimpers and her attention immediately shifts to him. "I should get him inside. He needs a nap after all that excitement."
"Yeah. Good idea." I start backing toward the porch steps. "If you need anything—"
"I know where you live." A small smile tugs at her lips. "Right next door."
"Right." I'm halfway down the steps when I remember something. "Hey, do you have food? For you and the kid?"
Her smile fades. "We have enough."
That's not a yes. That's the answer someone gives when they're too proud to admit they're struggling.
"I made lunch," I say, jerking my thumb toward my house. "Way too much for one person. Was gonna throw half of it out anyway. You want it?"
"I can't take your food—"
"It's going in the trash otherwise." I'm already walking toward my place. "Give me five minutes."
I don't wait for her to argue. Inside my house, I quickly pack up the bacon, eggs, and toast I made. There's also some fruit in my fridge that's been sitting there for days, and a half-gallon of milk. I throw it all into a bag and head back outside.
Ruby is still standing on her porch, Liam asleep against her shoulder now. She looks exhausted, like she hasn't had a full night's sleep in months. Probably hasn't.
"Here." I climb the steps and hand her the bag. "It's not much, but—"
"It's too much." But she takes the bag anyway, her eyes getting shiny again. "You don't even know me."
"So? You're my neighbor. Neighbors help each other." I shove my hands in my pockets. "Plus, I know what it's like to feel alone. To have people who should have your back turn on you instead."
"I'm sorry." And she means it. I can hear it in her voice.
"Don't be. Made me stronger." I flash a grin that feels more natural than I expected. "Made me who I am."
"Chaos." She says my road name with a slight smile. "How'd you get that name?"
"I've got a temper. Used to get into fights constantly. Still do, sometimes." I shrug. "I cause chaos wherever I go. Or so King tells me."
"King?"
"President of the Savage Riders. He's a good man. So are the rest of the brothers." I pause. "You ever need backup again, you let me know. I'll bring the whole damn club if I have to."
Tears spill over her cheeks. "I’m sorry. I don’t get it. Why are you being so nice to me?"
The question catches me off guard. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because nobody else is." Her voice breaks. "My parents threw me away. My boyfriend abandoned me. Everyone I've ever trusted has hurt me. So why would you, a complete stranger, help me?"
I think about that for a moment. About the kid I used to be, burning with fever while his parents argued downstairs. About the teenager who had to fight his own father just to leave home. About all the times I wished someone would step in and help me when I couldn't help myself.
"Because someone should've helped you a long time ago," I say finally. "And since they didn't, I guess I'm doing it now."
She makes this sound, half sob and half laugh, and then before I know what's happening, she's hugging me. One arm around my neck, Liam pressed between us, her face buried against my shoulder.
I freeze. I don't do hugs. Don't do physical affection outside of fighting and fucking. But her small body is trembling against mine, and I can feel her tears soaking through my shirt, and I find my arms coming up to hold her.
"Thank you," she whispers against my neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"It's okay," I say, awkward as hell. "You're okay now."
She pulls back after a moment, wiping her face with her free hand. "Sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Don't apologize." I step back, needing some distance before I do something stupid like offer to move her into my house where I can protect her 24/7. "You've had a rough morning."
"Rough couple of years," she corrects with a weak smile.
"Yeah, well. Maybe things are about to get better." I don't know why I say it. I'm not an optimistic person. But looking at her standing there with her kid, brave and broken and still fighting, I want it to be true.
"Maybe." She doesn't sound convinced.
"Get some rest," I tell her. "Both of you. I'll keep an eye out in case those assholes come back."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to."
And it's true. I want to protect her. Want to make sure she's safe. It's a strange feeling, this protective instinct. I usually only feel it for the club, for my brothers.
But Ruby's mine now. And I take care of what's mine. Wait. Not mine. She's not mine. She's just my neighbor who needed help. I back down the steps before my brain can continue that thought.
"I'm around if you need me. Just knock."
"Okay." She shifts Liam's weight, and I notice how thin her arms are. How her clothes hang loose on her frame. She's not eating enough. Probably giving most of her food to the kid.
I make a mental note to "accidentally" make too much food more often.
"Chaos?" she calls as I reach the bottom step.
I turn back. "Yeah?"
"That thing you said before. About feeling alone." She takes a breath. "I know that feeling too. And for what it's worth, you're not alone now. You've got a neighbor who's got your back too."
"Good to know," I say, keeping my voice casual.
She smiles and disappears into her house. I stand there for a moment, staring at her closed door, wondering what the hell just happened. I came over to stop some assholes from harassing my neighbor. That's it. That's all this was supposed to be.
So why does it feel like something changed? Like I just made a promise I can't take back? I shake my head and walk back to my place. Inside, the house feels emptier than before. Quieter. I try to eat the rest of my lunch but I'm not hungry anymore.
My phone buzzes. Text from King.
**Meeting tonight at the clubhouse. 8pm. Don't be late.**
I send back a thumbs up and toss the phone on the couch. A meeting probably means we're discussing something important. Maybe finally discussing my patch-in.
The thought should excite me. Should make that restless energy buzz under my skin. Instead, I find myself looking out my window toward Ruby's house, making sure everything's quiet. Making sure she's safe.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I don't get attached. I don't get involved in people's problems beyond a quick fix. I fight, I fuck, I move on. That's how I operate. That's how I survive.
But there's something about Ruby. About the way she held her ground even when she was terrified. About the way she didn't hesitate to call out her shitty ex and her manipulative parents. About the fierce love in her eyes when she looked at her son.
She reminds me of myself. The fighter underneath all that fear and exhaustion.
My phone buzzes again. This time it's Tank.
**Heard you got into it with some civilians. Everything okay?**
How the hell does Tank already know? Then I remember. Blackwater Falls is a small town. Word spreads fast.
**Yeah. Just helping a neighbor. All handled.**
**King wants details at the meeting.**
Of course he does. King doesn't like surprises, and a prospect getting into a fight with civilians definitely counts as a surprise.
**I'll explain tonight.**
I pocket the phone and try to focus on something else. Anything else. But my mind keeps drifting back to Ruby. To the way she felt in my arms when she hugged me. Small and fragile but strong underneath.
To the way my body responded to having her close.
Fuck.
No. Absolutely not. I'm not doing this. I don't do relationships. I don't do the whole protective boyfriend thing. I saw what love did to my parents. It turned them into bitter, angry people who blamed each other for everything wrong in their lives.
Ruby's a neighbor. A neighbor who needed help. That's all this is. That's all this can be. But even as I tell myself that, I'm already planning how to check on her later. How to make sure she has enough food. How to watch for her asshole ex or parents coming back.
I'm in trouble.
Deep, deep trouble.
And the worst part? I'm not sure I want to get out of it.