3. Naomi
NAOMI
She was exhausted but forced herself to follow Savage, Taz, Glitch, Simba, and Savage’s girlfriend—or whatever he called her, Royal—up the steps to an apartment above a large warehouse.
Asher was sound asleep in her arms, and she was eager to put him down, her muscles trembling from holding him for so long.
“It’s not a large apartment, but it’ll be comfortable,” Royal said as they walked in.
“I wasn’t sure what you needed for Asher, so I brought some of Ronin’s toddler clothes that Savage saved, and Esme had a few things too.
If they don’t fit or don’t work, we’ll make sure to get you whatever you need. ”
“Thank you,” she whispered, taking in the apartment.
Royal was right that it wasn’t big, but it was nice enough. An open living room and kitchen, a decent-sized bedroom, and a bathroom too. It would work fine for the time she was here. It wasn’t fancy but functional, and she appreciated it more than they would ever know.
“Here’s the key to the door.” Savage held out the key to her.
She shifted Asher and took it, gripping it tightly in her palm. Her heart hammered, knowing she finally possessed something as small as a key to an apartment that was hers, but she couldn’t help wondering who else might have one.
Maybe that showed on her face because he added, “No one will enter the apartment without your permission. I have a spare key for emergencies, but that’s it.
For the first few days, you’ll notice the prospects or some of the brothers walking around below on patrol.
They’re there for your protection, nothing more.
If they come up, they’ll knock on the door.
It’s your choice if you open it or not.”
She nodded but wasn’t sure she believed him. Knowing he had another key anyone could take made her want to turn and run, but that wasn’t an option. Relying on this group of people was her only choice, and all she could do was hope she made it out alive at the end.
“Why don’t you go talk with the others about a schedule?” Royal said to Savage, but Naomi didn’t miss the pointed look. “I’m sure Naomi is overwhelmed, and her little one needs some sleep. Glitch and I will help her get settled.”
Savage, Simba, and Taz exchanged a glance, but none of them argued. Naomi studied Royal a little more closely, realizing she wielded a lot of influence here. Was it because she was seeing the president? Did that make her really the one in charge?
It would be interesting to figure out the dynamics of this club.
She had heard about MCs before, but it was always with varying degrees.
There were plenty who worked for the cartel, smuggling goods across state lines and the like, while others actively fought hard against it, disrupting their operations as much as possible.
The Dragons MC was among the latter, but that didn’t mean they were innocent.
“And here I thought I was one of the girls around here,” Taz joked.
Glitch snorted, and Royal gave him an amused smile.
The two other men, however, rolled their eyes.
Taz looked at her. “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands with these two, and when you meet the others, you’ll fit right in.
” He reached into the top pocket of his cut and held out a cell phone to her, and his tone turned serious.
“This is an encrypted phone that Glitch made sure can’t be traced.
If you need anything, you can call the number on this phone, no matter the day or time, and one of us will answer. ”
Naomi hadn’t used a phone in years for anything other than to give information to her father or Diego. It felt strange to have it for any other reason.
“Naomi.” She looked at Simba, and he offered her a kind smile.
“I know you’re frightened, but you’re in one of the safest places you can be.
Glitch and Karissa will be staying here while we keep working.
The Dragons have fought alongside us in a few different situations, and they’re fucking good.
There are many former military members in their MC, so you have some of the strongest protection outside of us.
You’ll also have support from their women too.
If, however, you ever feel that you don’t want to stay here, just call that number Taz gave you, and we’ll get you somewhere else as fast as we can. Got it?”
She was sure Savage would take offense to that, but instead, he nodded and added a couple of things of his own.
“I’m not going to lie to you and say that this place isn’t rough around the edges.
We’re a biker club; we like to party and have a good time, and we run our own businesses.
When it comes to the women and children around here, though, we take their protection and comfort seriously.
That will include you. You have a problem, you let one of us know, and we’ll deal with it.
Doesn’t matter what it is. In time, you’ll realize you’re safe here. ”
With that little speech, the three men headed out the door, leaving her with Royal and Glitch.
Naomi tried not to feel awkward as she looked at them.
The two women couldn’t look more different, but they seemed close.
Glitch topped out at five two, with bright-blue hair styled into a sexy bob that highlighted her startling blue eyes.
She appeared lean, trim, and fit, even though she spent most of her time at the computer, as Glitch had joked earlier when she arrived.
Royal, on the other hand, stood tall with dark-red hair, emerald-green eyes, and a curvy figure.
Still, nothing about her suggested she was soft.
A quiet inner strength almost radiated from her.
It also made sense that she was the woman in charge.
The authority she carried wasn’t obvious, but she also didn’t give off the aura of trying to run the show.
“Alright, now that we’ve kicked them out, would you like to put Asher down so your arms can take a break?
” Royal suggested, gesturing toward the bedroom at the end of the small hall.
The bed was clearly visible. “Then you can ask any questions that you have without worrying about the men trying to add their two cents.”
“Fair warning, though, they do that a lot,” Glitch added, rolling her eyes. “I’ve had to tell Code multiple times that he doesn’t need to be part of every conversation.”
“They’re just worried we’re going to plan on doing something like the Devil’s Soldiers’ women.” Royal snickered.
Naomi didn’t know who they were, but she desperately needed to put Asher down so she could get some relief, so she carefully tucked him into bed and arranged some pillows around him to prevent him from rolling out.
One thing about her son was that once he was asleep, very little could wake him.
A delightful change from when he was an infant and rarely slept.
Those were some long days.
She brushed her hand over his hair, listening to his even breathing. “We’re going to be okay, baby,” she whispered. “We’re safe here.” She really hoped she wasn’t lying to him, but she had no choice but to believe it.
She walked back into the living room, where both women made themselves at home sitting on the couch, waiting. She sat in the recliner across from them.
“Thank you both for helping,” she said, looking down. “I hope I didn’t offend anyone by not saying much. I … I’m not used to people.”
“Don’t even worry about it,” Royal assured her with a smile.
“They’re used to all different kinds of women around here.
” Her smile dipped slightly. “Naomi, I know this is terrifying, but I really want you to know that you have nothing to worry about here. The women here are all friends, and even if you want nothing to do with the guys, that’s fine.
You have us. Asher will have kids to play with.
I have twin girls who are a year and a half old and a little boy who’s five.
Esme is about to have a baby, and she has a son named Gabe who’s eight and loves to help out with the kids.
Scarlett and Rogue have the sixteen-year-old twin girls who are helpful, if not a handful. ”
Glitch snorted at that.
Naomi’s brow furrowed, and Glitch grinned.
“The twins are a bit wild, but not in a bad way,” Glitch explained.
“They have made it their personal mission to mess with the guys, Rogue especially, as much as they can. They’re wicked smart, which makes it extra funny.
If you want to see two girls who will do whatever it takes to protect someone, all you have to do is look at them. ”
“Are they the ones that Rogue said were trafficked?” Naomi muttered.
Glitch’s smile slipped, but she nodded. Naomi started to rush out an apology for prying, but Glitch waved her off.
“The girls aren’t ashamed of their past, and they’d have told you anyway.
They will also be pleased to know that Rogue told you about them to help you.
They don’t talk about what happened specifically, but looking at them, you’d never really know. They’re mostly normal teenagers.”
Naomi nodded, but she doubted that. You could always tell. She had seen far more of that kind of life than she wanted. Still, if the girls were doing better, that was all that mattered.
“I’m just not used to being around a lot of other people.” She twisted her fingers. “And I’m … I’m not exactly normal. I don’t do great with conversations, and my brain is always working, so I get distracted easily, and it comes across as rude or like I don’t care.”
“Glitch mentioned that you have a really high IQ and an eidetic memory. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. We’re a pretty easygoing and forgiving group.”
She wasn’t sure she believed that, so she’d have to wait and see.
“Do you have any questions you really want to ask but didn’t in front of the guys?” Glitch asked. “It’s a safe space here. No judgment.”