Epilogue
Friday evening, one week after Tyler's kids visited, I'm curled up on his couch watching some action movie he picked.
Actually, I'm not really watching. I'm more focused on the way Tyler's hand is tracing lazy patterns on my back, occasionally dipping under the hem of my shirt to touch bare skin.
"You're not paying attention," he observes.
"Sure I am. Things are exploding."
"Things were exploding ten minutes ago. Now they're having an emotional conversation about trust."
"I'm paying attention to other things."
"Like?"
"Like how good your hands feel. Like how safe I am here. Like how much I love you."
He shifts so I'm straddling his lap. "I love you too, baby girl. This week has been good, hasn't it?"
"Really good."
"Emma texted me today," Tyler says. "She wants to know when she can meet you."
"Really?"
"Really. Apparently she's been telling all her friends about Daddy's girlfriend." His smile is soft. "Jackson asked if you could come to his birthday party next month."
My chest tightens. "They really want to meet me?"
"They really do. What do you think? Are you ready?"
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Good. Because I was thinking—"
My phone rings, cutting him off.
Emily's name on the screen.
"Sorry, let me just—" I answer. "Hey, what's up?"
"Chloe." Her voice is shaking. Terrified. "I need help."
I'm immediately alert. "What's wrong? Where are you?"
"I'm on Highway 285. About twenty miles outside Grand Ridge. My car has been acting funny and when I stopped it died and there's a truck that's been following me for the last ten minutes. They keep slowing down when I slow down and—Chloe, I'm scared."
Tyler hears the panic in my voice and sits up straight, instantly focused.
"Are you somewhere safe?" I ask.
"I pulled over at a gas station, but it's closed. Empty. And this truck just pulled in behind me and—" Her voice breaks. "There are two guys getting out. Chloe, what do I do?"
"Stay in your car. Lock the doors." I'm already looking at Tyler, who's grabbing his phone. "Do NOT open your door for anyone."
"They're coming toward me—"
Tyler's already dialing. "Rampage. I need you now. Emily's car broke down on 285 about twenty miles outside town. She's being followed by two men in a truck. She's at a closed gas station and they're approaching her vehicle."
I can hear Rampage's voice through the phone, sharp and commanding, but can't make out the words.
"Okay, I’ll let her know," Tyler says into his phone, then to me, "Tell Emily to stay on the line with you. Rampage is mobilizing the club. They're seven minutes out."
"Emily, listen to me. Rampage is coming. He's bringing help. You need to stay in your car with the doors locked. Do you understand?"
"They're knocking on my window. One of them is trying the door handle—" Her breathing is coming in panicked gasps.
"Breathe, Emily. Focus on my voice. Help is coming. Seven minutes."
"I don't have seven minutes—"
"Yes, you do. Keep your doors locked. If they break a window, you lay on the horn. Make as much noise as possible."
Tyler's pacing now, still on the phone with Rampage. "She's in a silver Honda CR-V. License plate—" He looks at me.
"Emily, what's your license plate?" She’d driven a rental truck to pick up the gym equipment last week.
She rattles it off through her tears, and I repeat it to Tyler.
"Got it. Rampage, they're trying to get in her car. She's terrified." Tyler's voice is hard. "How far out are you?"
"One of them is walking around to the passenger side," Emily sobs. "Chloe, I can't—"
"You can. You're strong. You're brave. Keep breathing."
"They're testing all the doors. What do they want?"
"It doesn't matter what they want. Help is coming. Talk to me. What can you see?"
"There's another car pulling into the parking lot. Oh God, are there more of them?"
"Describe the car."
"It's not a car. It's motorcycles. Three of them. Big ones. They're pulling up between my car and the truck—"
I hear the rumble of engines through her phone. Deep, throaty growls.
"Emily, that's Rampage’s men that were nearby. That's help."
"How do you know?"
"Because Tyler just told them exactly where you are. It's them, Emily. You're safe."
Through her phone, I hear male voices. Deep and authoritative.
"Step away from the vehicle." A deep male voice carries even through Emily's phone. "Both of you back the fuck away from that car and explain what you're doing."
"We were just checking if she needed help—" One of the men.
"By terrifying her? Try again."
"Listen, man, we don't want any trouble—"
"Then you should've kept driving. Irish, get pictures of their plates. Savage, circle around. Make sure there's nobody else."
More engine rumbles. Movement. A second later I hear a familiar voice.
"Emily." Rampage's voice is gentle. "Can you roll down your window about an inch baby girl? Just enough so we can talk? I know you are terrified."
"Is it really you?" Emily's voice is small.
"It's really me.”
A pause. Then, "Okay."
"Good girl. You did everything right. Staying in the car, calling for help. You're safe now."
I hear Emily sob with relief.
"Chloe?" Rampage's voice comes through Emily's phone. "You still there?"
"I'm here."
"Your girl's safe. We've got her. But her car's dead and we're in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to have one of my guys tow it to the shop in town, and Emily's going to ride back with me. That okay?"
"Emily, is that okay with you?" I ask.
"I don't—I can't—" She's still crying.
"Emily, honey, you're safe. Rampage is going to take care of you. Let him help."
"Okay," she whispers.
"We're taking her back to our compound," Rampage says. "It's neutral ground, other people around. Several women, Tyler knows many of our crew. I’ll set her up in my officer apartment. She can call you from there, let you know she's okay. We'll figure out the car situation tomorrow."
"Thank you, Rampage. Seriously. Thank you."
"No problem. Tyler, you still on the line?"
"I'm here," Tyler says from his phone.
"Your timing was perfect. Another two minutes and this could've gone bad. Real bad."
"What about the men?" Tyler asks.
"Irish got their plates. We'll make sure the law knows about this. But they took off the second we showed up. Probably wanted easy prey, not witnesses."
"Keep Emily safe."
"Always. She's under Watchmen protection now. Nobody touches her." There's a pause. "Emily, I need you to do something for me."
"What?" Her voice is still shaky.
"I need you to take a few deep breaths. You're going to ride on the back of my bike, and I need you calm enough to hold on. Can you do that?"
"I've never been on a motorcycle before."
"First time for everything. I'll go slow. Keep you safe. You trust me?"
A long pause. Then, "Yes."
"Good girl. Let's get you out of this parking lot."
I hear car doors. Movement. The rumble of engines starting up.
"Chloe?" Emily's voice is steadier now.
"I'm here."
"I'm okay. I'm safe. Rampage is... he's got me."
"I know. Call me when you get to their headquarters."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too. Be safe."
The line goes dead.
I stare at my phone, my hands shaking.
Tyler immediately pulls me into his arms. "She's safe. Rampage has her."
"What if he hadn't gotten there in time? What if—"
"But he did. Because we called immediately. Because you kept her calm. Because Rampage dropped everything and got there." His arms tighten around me. "She's okay, sweetheart. That's what matters."
I bury my face in his chest, tears finally falling. "I was so scared."
"I know." He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "But The Watchmen take care of their own. And Emily's connected to us through you. That makes her one of their own."
"I need to tell the girls."
"Do it. Let them know Emily's safe but her car broke down. She's with Rampage and The Watchmen."
I pull out my phone and text the group chat.
Chloe: Emily's car broke down outside Grand Ridge. She was being followed by two men who tried to get in her car. Tyler called his friend Rampage who got there with his MC club. She's safe. They're taking her to their headquarters.
The responses are immediate.
Madison: Oh my God is she okay???
Lily: That's terrifying. Thank God for Tyler's friends.
Holly: What can we do?
Chloe: Nothing right now. Just wait for her to call. She's shaken but safe.
Madison: Thank Tyler for us. And this Rampage guy.
Chloe: I will.
Tyler's phone rings. Rampage.
"Talk to me," Tyler answers, putting it on speaker so I can hear.
"We're back at headquarters. Emily's safe. Shaken up but physically fine. Irish is making her tea. Savage is checking out her car situation."
"What's the damage?"
"We won't know until tomorrow when the shop opens. I don’t like it. It looks like it’s been tampered with.”
"Keep her there tonight. Don't let her drive home in the dark after what happened."
"Already planned on it. She'll be safe here." Rampage pauses. "She's asking for Chloe."
"Put her on."
"Chloe?" Emily's voice is stronger now but still shaky.
"Hey, honey. How are you doing?"
"Better. Rampage got there just in time. Those men—they were trying all my doors. Testing the handles. Looking for a way in." Her voice cracks. "If he hadn't shown up—"
"But he did. You're safe. That's what matters."
"I'm at their clubhouse. It's not what I expected. It's actually really nice. Clean. They have a kitchen and everything. Irish has a giant dog that is the cutest fluff ball in the world."
Despite everything, I smile. "That's good."
"Rampage said I should stay here tonight. That it's not safe to drive home in the dark after what happened."
"He's right. Stay there. Get some rest. We'll figure out your car tomorrow."
"There's an actual apartment upstairs that’s Rampage’s. With actual clean sheets on the bed, and everything." She sounds almost surprised. "These guys aren't what I thought bikers would be like."
"Tyler said they're good people. Veterans who look out for each other."