Sneak Peek
“ M om!” Sophie shouted, crashing into me as her tiny arms wrapped around my waist. “I missed you!”
“You did?” I asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I miss you every single day when you’re at school.”
She giggled. “I thought about you all day. I’m so excited!”
I hugged my daughter close, enjoying her enthusiasm. “What happened?”
“Leah said we’re BFFs now. She even gave me half a necklace. Look.” Sophie’s broad smile was infectious.
I beamed at my daughter as she lifted the charm on the thin gold chain around her neck. Half a heart with a jagged edge proudly declared LEAH+SOPHIE=BFF engraved on the flat surface. “Wow! That’s gorgeous!”
“I know. I can’t believe I have a BFF now. It’s amazing .”
“It sure is,” I agreed.
“Hey, Charlotte. Sorry, but we need to move.”
Right. I reached for Sophie’s hand, scanning the end of the street where her bus had dropped her off.
Nothing seemed out of place, but that didn’t mean no one watched us.
I glanced at R.J. He followed me to the bus stop, idling on his Harley as I greeted my daughter. “We’re coming.”
He gave a curt nod, his body stiff as he searched the area for any sign of trouble. R.J. ticked his head at Edge as he rounded the corner ahead, joining the ride back to the Ravagers clubhouse.
Part of me wondered if this much protection was necessary. Breaker was in jail, and it didn’t make sense to me that the Outlaws would go after a young woman and her daughter who didn’t pose a threat to their club. It still confused me that Breaker wanted anything to do with me.
I buckled my seatbelt, checking on Sophie as she pulled a sketch pad from her backpack. She liked to color and draw in the car, and I liked that it kept her occupied so I could focus on the drive.
My phone pinged with an incoming text after we’d been on the road for about five minutes.
As we stopped at an intersection, I glanced at the screen.
Several pictures were sent from an unknown number.
One of Sophie hugging me at the bus stop.
The next photo showed R.J. on his bike. And the final pic. . .Breaker flashed a wide grin.
Shit!
Somebody honked their horn behind me, and I jumped, dropping my phone as it landed on the seat, sliding across to crash onto the floorboards out of reach.
“Dammit!” I cursed, letting my foot off the gas to roll forward.
“Mom? You okay?”
Hell no! Fear for Sophie punched me in the gut, and I worried we wouldn’t make it to the clubhouse.
My phone began ringing, and I had to ignore it while my hands wrapped around the steering wheel, clenching so hard my fingernails dug into my palms.
“I’m fine,” I assured Sophie, working hard to keep my tone light. “You excited about your sleepover with Leah?”
“Yes! We’re going to play with her new dolls. She has Elsa and Anna.”
Since Leah’s birthday a couple of months ago, the girls had been obsessed with Frozen.
“That sounds awesome.” My teeth bit into my bottom lip. My breath sawed in and out of my lungs as I attempted to maintain control over my emotions.
Blinking, I realized I had missed the turn ahead and ended up at another stoplight. Motorcycle engines approached, bikes appearing on my left and right. I almost screamed until I recognized Edge and R.J.
R.J. frowned, gesturing for me to roll down the window. “What’s happening, Char?”
Once the glass lowered, I cleared my dry throat, nearly croaking my answer. “I got a text.” Trembling, I pointed to where it fell. “He’s watching.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror, wondering how much Sophie was paying attention. Her little tongue poked out the side of her mouth as she scribbled across the paper in her lap.
“He sent a text?”
I nodded. “With pictures.”
R.J.’s lip curled into a snarl. “Follow me. Edge will be right behind you. Okay?”
“Sure.” My hand shook as it rose, brushing the hair out of my eyes.
“Honey,” his voice lowered, “I need you to keep it together a little longer. You feel me?”
“Yeah.”
For my daughter, I could do this.
We made it to our destination without further incident. I managed to park my car and shut off the engine, still breathing way too fast. The door opened, and I felt Mack’s presence before he spoke a word.
His gentle tone seemed far too calm as he spoke. “You’re safe, Sweet Girl. Both of you.”
“I know.” The words left my lips in a whisper.
“Why don’t you come inside? We should talk.”
“Okay.”
My body felt wooden, stiff as a heavy board, as I untangled my limbs and slipped from the car seat. Just when I stood completely, my knees buckled.
Mack’s arms shot out, keeping me upright. “I got you.” His gaze cut to the right, and he nodded to someone.
“Hey, Sophie! Leah’s waiting for you.”
I turned my head, finding Rae as she waved to my daughter. Sophie ran toward Rae, squealing with delight when she saw Leah at the door. The two girls embraced, holding hands as they jumped up and down.
“Rae, can we go watch Frozen?”
Edge snorted. “That’s the third time this week,” he mumbled in a low tone.
“Hush,” she replied, keeping her voice down. Rae smiled at her sister. “Sure! I’ve got popcorn in the microwave. I’ll bring it to you.”
The girls ran inside, oblivious to the chaos around them.
“I’ve got them for the night. Edge will fill me in.” She sent him a look, and he nodded.
“Thank you,” I exhaled with relief.
“You let Mack take care of you, Char. He’s got this under control.”
Mack sent her a grateful smile. “Appreciate that, Rae.”
“No problem.” She walked toward me, placing her hand on my arm. “I’ve been in your shoes. It’s scary, but you can trust these guys. They saved my life more times than I can count.”
I knew this.
I’d heard the stories about Edge and R.J. and how they protected Rae from the Satan’s Outlaws when they were teenagers.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared,” I admitted.
Mack stiffened with my words, holding me a little closer.
“Trust us, Charlotte. We’re all here for you and Sophie,” Rae promised softly.
Touched, I bobbed my head, unable to answer with the sudden lump in my throat.
Rae squeezed my arm and dropped her hand, blowing a kiss to Edge as she walked toward the clubhouse.
Given her extremely pregnant condition, it was more of a waddle.
I’d never say that aloud, though. I remembered how awful the last few weeks of pregnancy could be and wouldn’t want to make her feel self-conscious.
Rae glowed with health. Carrying Edge’s child agreed with her.
Now that it was only the club members and me, Mack scooped under my knees, lifting me as I gasped.
“Not gonna hear any argument about this, Sugar. You’re letting me carry you inside so we can talk about what spooked you. Got it?”
I turned my head into his neck, breathing in his scent of aftershave, leather, and whiskey. A hint of spice and musk mixed with the rest, creating a unique aroma that I found intoxicating. My arm wrapped around his shoulder as I snuggled into his chest.
“I need my phone.”
“Inside the car?”
“Yes, and my purse, too.”
“I’ve got them, Charlotte,” R.J. announced as I heard him open one of the doors and reach into the interior.
“Mack?” I whispered, swallowing back tears.
“Yeah, Sweet Girl?”
“I think I’m going to cry.”
His hold tightened. “If you need to, honey, let it out.”
My chest puffed a couple of times, and then a sob escaped as I buried my nose in his chest. The tears leaked from my eyes as I trembled, terrified for my little girl. Funny enough, my own safety never occurred to me. I only thought of Sophie.
“I’m so scared he’s going to take her from me and hurt her out of spite.”
“Not gonna happen,” Mack replied vehemently.
“I don’t care about me, Mack. If anything happens,” I faltered, swallowing down the thick saliva in my mouth, “I need the club to protect my little girl.”
“Charlotte?” His voice was little more than a growl.
“Yes?” I lifted my head, staring into his eyes as I felt the tears drying on my cheeks.
“Need you to listen to me real good. I’m only gonna say this once.”
“Okay.”
“No one is taking you from me. Not a soul is touching you or your daughter. You wanna know why?”
“I do,” I admitted with a sniffle.
His gaze hardened, the blue in his eyes becoming a cold glint of sapphire. “Because you’re mine to protect, and I don’t ever go back on my word, you hear me?”
I shook my head, needing him to understand I wasn’t one of those women who couldn’t do shit without a guy to help her out.
I had been a single mom for eight years. I wasn’t afraid to provide for me or Sophie. I just didn’t know what to do about Breaker and the Outlaws. I was in over my head. In this instance, I needed help and swallowed my pride to ask for it. “I’m not weak, Mack.”
“No, you’re fierce, Charlotte Granger. A lioness caring for her cub. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have your back.” Outside the door to the clubhouse, he paused. “When we walk in this door, and I’m carrying you, it’s gonna send a message.”
“What kind of message?”
“That you’re mine. If you don’t want that, now is the time to tell me.” He seemed to hold his breath as he waited for my answer.
“Mack?”
“Yeah, Sugar?”
“I want you to be mine, too,” I declared, kissing the underside of his jaw. “Is that something that can happen?”
“Sweet Girl, it’s already done.”
Sin’s Betrayal, Ravage Riders MC is now available!