Chapter Twenty-Two
Camila didn’t know where Adrian was taking her and she didn’t particularly care.
Sitting in that room while they talked about her and about her father, had been harder than she’d thought it would be.
She’d felt like everyone had been watching her, had been waiting for her to defend herself or Papá.
But that wasn’t what she’d been there for.
She might not have been here long, but she’d quickly come to care about these people.
All of them. Not just Adrian. But Winter, Miranda, Bishop, Wrench, all of them.
Yes, even Goliath, even if he seemed intent on embarrassing her every chance he got.
As irritating as it was, it felt like something a sibling would do and his not excluding her from his teasing made her feel like she was accepted.
Camila had spent most of her life being told what to do, when to do it and being punished if she didn’t get it right the first time.
She didn’t want any of her new friends—if things went well, maybe her new family—to feel trapped like she had for most of her life.
It had only been in the last couple of days that she’d known any kind of freedom, and the last thing she wanted was to take that away from anyone else.
Not familiar with Phoenix or any of the area around the clubhouse, she didn’t pay much attention to where they were going. She trusted Adrian and didn’t care where they went. As long as she was with him, she would be okay.
He pulled the motorcycle into the parking lot of a big building that looked like it belonged in the old west, or in some of the older, more rural parts of Mexico, except for the size.
The building was huge, not tall but bigger than her father’s hacienda, and that was saying something since there was a large open courtyard in the middle of the house.
“What is this?”
“Harley dealership, carino.” He killed the engine and tapped her leg, indicating for her to dismount.
She climbed off, removed the helmet and waited while he stowed it, looking around and taking everything in.
There was what looked like a car dealership, along with maybe a gas station and maybe some kind of fast food?
She wasn’t sure and it wasn’t like it mattered.
She would probably have to leave soon, so what was the point of learning what was around here?
“I’ve got a few things I need to pick up. Come on.”
Adrian put a hand on the small of her back and guided her inside where he steered her toward a section to one side with several racks of boots.
“Any idea what size you wear?” Adrian asked as he guided her toward a selection of what looked more like women’s boots than anything like what he wore.
“Not in your sizing,” she said with a frown. “Why are you going to get me boots? I’m probably leaving. I can’t let you do this.”
“Carino, you’re not going anywhere. And I’ll get you whatever I want. It’s my money, I choose how to spend it. You need good boots for riding. Where’d you get those?” he pointed to the running shoes she wore. Camila looked down at them then back up at him.
“We got them the first day I was here. Winter helped.” She looked around and found a small bench, going to it, she sat and pulled off one shoe. “Is the size written anywhere on it?” she asked as she handed it to him.
Adrian looked at the bottom, then flipped it over to look inside.
“It’s here.” He gave her the shoe back then stepped back to look at the seeming wall of boots. “See anything you like here?”
“What does it need to have?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said they’re for riding. I assume there are features needed for that. Is there something I need to make sure it has or will any of these work?” she motioned to the selection. She watched as he scanned the selection then spoke.
“Any of these will work, but you’re safe if you look for something with a heel. You want something at least ankle high, and buckles and zippers are better than laces. Laces leave things to get loose and hang up.”
Camila nodded and scanned the selection.
“How about those?” she pointed to a pair of boots on the top rack, far above her head. “They’ve got laces but a strap across them, does that help?”
“That will help, but it would be better if they’ve got a zipper on the side too, so you don’t have to untie them to get them off and on.
” Adrian reached up and pulled one from the shelf.
He checked the size then handed it to her.
“Check it out, see if you like it. I’ll find your size so you can try them on.
” He continued to scan the shelf, this time looking at boxes near the floor and the stack of them over the top shelf.
He checked his watch once then continued looking.
“Here, try them on,” he said, handing her a box.
She sat back down where she’d pulled off her shoe and repeated the process, this time pulling on one of the boots he’d handed her.
“Here, let me help,” Adrian waited until she had it on, and the zipper on the side pulled up before he manipulated the buckle and laces with a practiced ease that told her his probably had similar fastenings.
“Take that one off and put them both on. You’ll get a better idea of how they’ll fit and if they’re comfortable.
Walk around a little. If I get my way, you’ll end up wearing them a lot. ”
She did as he instructed, not sure why he was bothering.
She had little doubt the rest of the Sons of Sin would tell her they didn’t want the kind of trouble she had following her, and that she’d be better off moving on.
She didn’t want to think about how much that would hurt, so she focused on putting on the other boot and doing as Adrian told her.
By the time they left the store, she wore the boots while Adrian carried her running shoes in a plastic bag—he’d already thrown away the box the boots had come in—and she carried a new helmet. One just for her.
Her eyes had gone wide when the cashier had given them the total.
She’d tried to talk him out of spending so much, but he’d reminded her that he got to choose how he spent his money and who he spent it on, so she’d given up, at least about that.
He put her shoes in one of the side bags, where the helmet she’d worn over here stayed as she put on her new one.
She wondered how long it would take for her to find somewhere new to go, to get settled and working so she could start paying Adrian back for everything he’d done for her.
Just the thought was depressing, so she pushed it away as she climbed on the motorcycle behind Adrian.
Something about riding with him made her feel good.
She didn’t know if it was the wind tugging at her clothes, the way the motorcycle thundered along the road, or if it was just being with him, but she loved it when he took her for a ride.
Camila didn’t know how long they’d been riding when Adrian pulled the motorcycle into the compound and walked it back into place in line with the others.
“Come on, carino, let’s go see what they said.” He draped his arm over her shoulders, then leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
“What if they’re not done?”
“They are. I got a message while we were shopping that they’re done.”
“Do you know what they decided?”
“We’re already here, Camila, let’s let them tell you.” He stepped in front of her and opened the door to the clubhouse, holding it so she could go first. She stepped inside and the noise in the room erupted.
Cheers from all around her. Camila started to back up to get out of the way of whatever was going on, but she’d barely taken a single step when her back hit something.
Something warm and solid. When an arm came around her torso, keeping her from bouncing off his chest, she knew it was Adrian.
That’s when she took the time to look around.
Not only were her new friends, Winter and Miranda, standing at the front cheering, someone had hung one of those cut-out letter banners on one wall that read ‘Welcome’.
Camila covered her mouth.
Winter and Miranda rushed forward and threw their arms around her. She could barely make out what they were saying as they hugged her tight.
“You’re staying!” Winter all but shouted as she squeezed her until Camila thought her ribs might collapse. “I knew you would but I’m so glad. Now we can plan a ride. Where do you want to go? There are some nice rides in the area.”
Camila blinked. She was staying? They’d voted to let her stay?
She tried to breathe but the arms around her made it difficult.
Her head swam, and when the arms loosened, she turned, looking for Adrian.
She needed something to hold on to the way her head spun.
Since he was always nearby, she could use him, but he wasn’t where he had been.
She looked around and found he hadn’t gone far, but he was a few feet away, down on one knee.