Chapter 10
CHAPTER
TEN
MONROE
The house was quiet. Almost too quiet.
I rolled onto my side for what felt like the hundredth time and stared at the digital clock on the nightstand.
2:17 a.m.
Sleep wasn't happening.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that black motorcycle.
The way the guy on the back of it watched me walk through the parking lot. The way Maverick went on high alert and expressed his concern until the guy started the bike and slowly rolled away.
Seeing the same motorcycle again roll down the street, after I’d gotten home from Kaleigh’s dance class, didn’t sit right with me either. Whoever was on that bike slowed down and looked right at our…I mean Clay’s house. It was like he was staring through the windows and looking right at me.
I blew out a shaky breath and sat up, giving up on trying to go back to sleep.
Maybe a glass of water, or some warm milk would help. Anything that wasn’t lying in bed with my thoughts.
The old hardwood floors creaked beneath my feet as I eased my bedroom door open.
At the top of the steps, I saw a beam of light sweep across the front windows and froze.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
No. No, no, no—
Another beam of light. This one crossed the living room ceiling before disappearing.
My pulse thundered in my ears and I raced back down the hallway to my room to grab my phone.
Shit. Maybe I should have tried to wake Clay first.
Kaleigh…I should…
The bedroom door clicked softly.
I spun around so fast I nearly dropped the phone. Thank god the tall figure standing in the doorway was one I knew I didn’t have to fear. "Clay?"
He lowered the flashlight immediately. "Easy." The concern in his voice cut through my panic."I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to catch my breath. "What are you doing?"
He lifted one shoulder. “Couldn’t sleep.”
I looked at the flashlight, then toward the windows. Realization slowly dawned on me. "You've been checking outside."
"Figured I'd make another lap.”
“Clay. You don’t have to do all of this because of me.”
He looked almost uncomfortable. “I’d rather lose a little sleep than ignore your worry, or my gut.”
My throat tightened. “You already checked everything before we went to bed. I’m sure everything is fine.”
"I know."
"So...why are you doing it again?"
His gaze met mine. "Because if somebody's watching this house, I want them to know I’m watching right back.”
Goosebumps prickled up both my arms, not from fear…from Clay.
No one had ever protected me like this before. Not my ex. Not my parents. No one.
"You really believe me," I whispered.
His brow furrowed and he stepped closer, softly brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Of course I do.”
He was so close that I could see the faint stubble along his jaw, the little scar beneath his chin, and the exhaustion in his eyes.
"You should be asleep," I murmured, not trusting myself to say anything else.
A laugh escaped me. "Fair point."
His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth.
My breath caught.
There was no way he was about to…he wouldn’t…would he?
He shouldn't and I shouldn't want him to.
Except...I did.
All these weeks of watching Clay be a wonderful father to Kaleigh.
Basking in the way he seemingly took care of me, too.
Always making sure I had hot tea waiting in the morning.
Always being the first up, and cooking breakfast in the morning.
The way he helped clean up every night after dinner without hesitation.
If I was being honest…it all made it so hard not to fall in love with the man standing in front of me.
The soft click of my bedroom door opening caught both of us off guard as Maverick trotted in.
Damn dog could open every single door in this house. Guess his master had been away for too long and he was coming to investigate for himself.
Maverick stopped between us, and looked from Clay to me with an expression that somehow managed to be both suspicious and deeply unimpressed.
Clay let out a quiet huff of laughter. "I think someone came to chaperone."
Despite the disappointment curling low in my stomach, I laughed too. "I think your partner is making sure you follow protocol."
"He usually does."
Maverick leaned against my leg. As if making sure I knew exactly where I belonged.
“Clay?”
“Yeah.”
I wrung my hands nervously, searching for the right words.
It was time…
I owed this man my truth. If he was willing to protect me. Believe me. Then he needed the full story of what I was up against. Even if it destroyed the one thing that every felt so right in my life.
“There’s something I should probably tell you…can you promise not to interrupt until I'm finished?"
Clay nodded. “You’ve got my word.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath. “But first, I think we should go downstairs. I think I might need a glass of water.”
Clay and Maverick both followed right behind me.
In the kitchen, I quickly poured a glass of water and took a drink. Then I sat the glass on the counter and willed myself to be strong.
“My name really is Monroe Hayes. That’s true.”
He nodded. “I know.”
I shoot him a playful glare, trying to ease the tension in the room. “No interrupting. You promise.”
He smirked and held up his hands.
“Everything I’ve told you is true. I just…haven’t told you everything.”
Just rip the bandaid off.
“I’m…I’m pregnant.”
Clay glanced at my stomach and I could tell the moment it all came together for him.
“The baby’s father doesn’t know. And I’m determined to keep it that way.”
I watched as his jaw ticked but he remained silent.
“Kael Mercer is the President of the Devil’s Ridge MC in Colorado.” I swallowed hard.
Clay balled up his fists at his side.
“I didn’t know at first. He was so sweet and charming when we met.
Things got serious pretty quickly. We moved in together.
He hired me to manage his MC shop, taking care of all the back office stuff while his guys did all the manual labor.
I know you probably think I’m some kind of idiot. How could I not know, right?”
I paused for a beat, half expecting Clay to say something. Anything.
“He hid it so well. It wasn’t until a few months before I left that I caught on.
The MC repair shop was just a front. A place for Devil’s Ridge to launder all their money.
That was right around the time things started going south with me and Kael.
He turned aggressive and possessive. I was terrified to leave.
” My hand went to my stomach. “Then I found out I was pregnant and I knew I couldn’t…
wouldn’t…raise a child in that environment.
So, one night while the club was out on a run, I packed everything I could into my car and I left. ”
Tears sting the back of my eyes.
“Late one night, I came across the job listing for Sunbreak Security and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. I would be far enough away from Kael that hopefully he wouldn’t come looking. And I think deep down, I thought if I took the job with SBS, I’d be protected, too.”
I swiped at the tear drops now running down my face.
“Clay, I never meant to bring danger to your doorstep. Becoming your nanny was never part of the plan. I’m so sorry.
I should have turned down the offer and just took the admin job instead.
Then I met Kaleigh. I saw the way you were with her and…
I don’t know…I couldn’t say no. For the first time, I found myself in a situation with a real family.
I got to see what it was like for a child to truly be loved and cared for.
I lied because I was terrified you’d ask me to leave. ”
My heart felt like it was shattering in my chest as Clay stood across from me in silence.
Clay didn't say anything.
Seconds stretched into what felt like hours. I couldn't read his expression and every ounce of courage I'd scraped together began to crumble. Maybe this had been a mistake.
Clay scrubbed a hand over his beard and looked toward the floor. His jaw flexed once, twice. Then he took one slow breath through his nose.
I couldn't tell if he was trying to calm himself...or stop himself from punching a hole through the kitchen wall.
Finally he looked at me and asked, "Did anyone know where you were going?"
"No."
"Did anyone see you leave?"
"I don't think so."
"Anyone from the club you trusted?"
"No."
"Has Kael ever contacted you since?"
"I tossed my phone before I crossed state lines. Bought two burners since then. So…no? I didn’t tell a soul. But after what happened yesterday…”
“We can’t be too sure,” he finished for me.
"I understand if you don't want me here anymore."
Clay reached out for my hand. “No. Monroe, the only thing you've told me tonight that makes me angry is that your ex got aggressive and that you’ve been carrying all of this on your own. I guess that’s technically two things, but that’s it.”
“So…” I bit my lip. “You’re not mad at me?”
“No.”
“You’re not going to ask me to leave?”
He shook his head. “Hell no.” Clay reached for my other hand. "Monroe, if that son of a bitch is looking for you, then the last place you're leaving is this house."
I locked eyes with him, trying my best not to completely fall apart.
“You’re not alone anymore. Do you understand?”
The minute the words came out of his mouth, I lost it. All the fear, the heartache and the tears I’d been holding back came rushing out.
My vision blurred and I tried to blink the tears away. I tried to pretend I wasn't completely falling apart.
It didn't work.
Clay stood frozen for half a heartbeat.
Like he was giving me the chance to tell him not to touch me.
Instead, I took one shaky step toward him.
His arms came around me instantly.
Strong.
Steady.
Safe.
His hand settled against the back of my head. "I've got you."
I'd spent months believing I was alone. Terrified that the moment someone learned the truth, they'd turn their back on me.
Now, for the first time since I'd fled Colorado, I finally let myself believe I was safe.