Chapter 11
RILEY
Iwas elbow-deep in an engine when three women strolled into the bay like they owned the place. Which they kind of did since their husbands were Redline Kings.
Aubrey was in the lead, with Delaney and Hadley flanking her. I’d met Rev’s and Cage’s wives when they’d come to The Pit with their guys, but we hadn’t gotten the chance to talk very much since I’d been working.
“Riley!” Aubrey called, waving. “We’re kidnapping you for the day.”
I straightened, wiping my hands on a rag. “I have work—”
“Nope.” Ryot appeared at my side, his hand settling on my lower back. “You’re taking the afternoon off.”
I turned to glare at him, but I was distracted by the softness in his eyes. “Ryot, I’m in the middle of—”
He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my mouth, right there in front of everyone. “Go have fun with the girls, baby. You’ve earned it.”
Aubrey and Delaney let out dreamy sighs while Hadley fanned herself.
“He’s so sweet with her,” Delaney whispered loudly.
“Right?” Aubrey grinned. “I told you he was gone.”
I felt my cheeks heat and muttered, “You’ve only seen us together for like two seconds.”
Ryot just smirked and gave my back a gentle push toward the group. “Go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Come on. We’re doing lunch and shopping.” Hadley linked her arm with mine before I could protest again. “Don’t even bother arguing. Thayer has the twins, and I’m determined to enjoy some girl time.”
As they herded me toward the parking lot, Aubrey whispered to Delaney, “Did you see the way he kissed her?”
Delaney laughed. “Yup, another one bites the dust.”
I glanced back over my shoulder. Ryot was still watching me and dipped his chin with a grin.
My stomach fluttered in a way that was all about the encouraging gleam in his eyes, and it stayed there until we were seated outside at a cute little diner on the edge of Crossbend, with glasses of sweet tea and our meals in front of us.
Hadley speared a forkful of chicken salad. “How are you holding up with our favorite grumpy mechanic? He seemed extra attentive.”
Delaney grinned, rubbing her small baby bump. “That’s code for ‘he’s obsessed and everyone can see it.’”
“I wouldn’t call it obsessed,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks heat.
Aubrey leaned in, her eyes sparkling. “The way he looks at you? Girl. The whole club is wondering how long it’ll be until you’re wearing a property patch.”
Hadley nodded. “My guess is soon.”
I nearly choked on my sweet tea. “We’re not…I mean, it’s not like that. Not officially.”
The three of them exchanged knowing looks.
Aubrey patted my hand. “You might not be wearing his name on your back yet, but Gauge has claimed you in every other way that matters to these guys.”
There was no missing how serious she was as I picked at my food.
“The club is family,” Delaney added. “Not just the brothers, the old ladies too. Once you’re in, you’re in. Loyalty goes both ways. We’ve all had our own baggage, trust me.”
“Like getting kidnapped by a freaking serial killer,” Hadley mumbled with a knowing look at Delaney, who just shrugged.
“But when you’re with a Redline King, they stand by you,” Aubrey added. “No matter what.”
“I’m sorry.” I set my fork down. “I get we’re having a deep conversation that’s supposed to be about me, but…did Hadley just say that a serial killer kidnapped Delaney?”
“Mm-hmm.” Delaney nodded. “But I escaped, almost got run over by Soren’s motorcycle, and then he made everything right in my world again. So all’s well that ends well.”
My eyes widened at how calm she was relaying what must’ve been a horrific thing to experience.
Aubrey reached over and squeezed my hand. “I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, but I really did mean it when I said that our men stand by us no matter what.”
Hadley pointed a fry at me. “And Gauge will be the same with you, too.”
I stared down at my plate, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “He doesn’t know everything about me. There are things I haven’t told him yet.”
The table went quiet for a moment.
Hadley was the first to speak. “Riley, if you’re working at The Pit while Gauge has you in his bed and is looking at you the way he does, there’s no way he isn’t all in. These men don’t do halfway. If he’s claimed you, he’ll stand by you the same way Thayer, Rev, and Blitz would stand by us.”
Delaney nodded. “Trust him, Riley. He’ll protect you. Whatever is going on with you, he can handle it. Just like our men handled some pretty wild stuff with us.”
Their words stayed with me long after we left the diner. I kept thinking about what it could mean to stop carrying everything alone. To believe he might stand by me the way these women said their men had.
I wanted that so badly it scared me.
Later that night, as we pulled up to the clubhouse for a barbecue, I had made up my mind. When we got home, I was going to tell him everything.
Everything I saw while we hung out with his club only reinforced my decision.
I stood near one of the big grills with a drink in my hand, watching Ryot move through the crowd. Piston, who worked with us at The Pit, clapped him hard on the back. “You owe me for that last bet, brother.”
Ryot snorted. “Like hell I do. Nitro was the one who said his bike would beat mine.”
Nitro shook his head, leaning against a picnic table with a beer in his hand. “Don’t drag me into this. I told you both I’d smoke you.”
Blitz wandered over, shaking his head. “Why the hell would anyone bet against Nitro?”
I smiled as I watched them. Their easy back-and-forth made it clear how tight they were.
My gaze drifted to the old ladies. Rev had Delaney tucked against his side, one hand resting protectively on her small baby bump.
“You need to eat more, baby.” Blitz returned to Aubrey’s side and tried to feed her another bite of brisket. “You’re eating for two.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes but accepted the bite anyway. “Barely. This kid is the size of a peanut right now, Canyon. Relax.”
Ryot appeared at my side a moment later. His arm slid around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. He pressed a kiss to the side of my head. “You good?”
I nodded, leaning into him. “Yeah. I’m great.”
He stayed close the rest of the night, making sure I was included in every conversation. Watching him with his brothers, seeing how devoted the men were to their women, and feeling the way Ryot kept me close…it all solidified something deep inside me.
I had to trust that he would believe me.
The party was winding down when Jax walked up to Ryot and leaned in close, whispering something in his ear that I couldn’t hear.
Ryot’s expression shifted instantly. The easy, relaxed smile he’d been wearing all night disappeared, replaced by a frown. He listened for a moment, then nodded once.
He turned to me, his hand still resting on my lower back. “I have to handle something real quick. Club business. Wait for me? Should only take a few minutes.”
I nodded. “Of course. I’ll be here.”
Jax glanced at me as they turned to walk away. It was brief, but there was something unreadable in his expression. There was no hint of his friendliness from earlier. It made my stomach twist into a knot. Then they were gone, disappearing into the clubhouse.
I let out a slow breath and wrapped my arms around myself. It was probably nothing. Club business had pulled him away from me before. Ryot had never made me feel excluded from his life, but there were parts of it he couldn’t share.
He’d still looked at me the same before he left with Jax. I just hoped that wouldn’t change once he knew the truth.