Chapter 5 - Claire
The hot water stings my bruises but soothes everything else.
I stand under the shower spray, letting it pound against my back, careful to keep the bandages around my ribs relatively dry.
It's my first proper shower in three days, and I allow myself the luxury of standing there until the water begins to cool.
Luna provided a full set of toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash that smells like vanilla and lavender, even a razor and shaving cream. I use it all, cleaning away the grime of the past few days, as if I could somehow wash away Tommy's fingerprints from my skin.
When I finally step out, wrapped in a fluffy towel Luna provided, I feel more human, almost alive. I wipe the steam from the mirror and stare at my reflection. Wet hair slicked back, face flushed from the heat, bruises stark against my pale skin.
A soft knock at the bathroom door startles me.
"Claire?" Luna's gentle voice calls. "Jenny, Beast’s girlfriend, brought some clothes. I'll leave them on the bed for you."
"Thank you," I call back. "I'll be out in a minute."
I hear the outer door close as Luna leaves me to dress in privacy. I appreciate the consideration, the easy way she respects my boundaries without making me ask.
After drying off, I wrap my ribs again with the fresh bandages Luna provided, then slip out of the bathroom to examine the clothes on the bed.
There's a small pile. Two pairs of jeans, several t-shirts, a hoodie, a set of pajamas, even underwear and bras with tags still attached.
More than I expected, certainly more than I deserve.
I pull on a pair of jeans. Slightly loose but better than my dirty ones, and a soft gray t-shirt. There's even a hairbrush and elastic bands, which I use to pull my damp hair into a simple ponytail.
Another knock at the door. "Claire? It's Luna again. May I come in?"
"Yes," I call, quickly gathering my dirty clothes into a pile.
Luna enters carrying a tray with a sandwich, apple, and glass of iced tea. Her blue eyes take in my appearance with approval.
"Better?" she asks.
"Much," I admit. "Thank you for all of this. The shower, the clothes..."
She waves away my thanks, setting the tray on the small desk. "Jenny was happy to help. And you needed clean clothes."
I eye the food hungrily but hesitate to dive in. "Has King... has he decided what to do about me? About what I told you?"
Luna sits on the edge of the bed, gesturing for me to take the chair. "King believes your information is valuable. We're already verifying what we can." She pauses, studying me. "He's agreed to help you get somewhere safe once this situation is resolved."
Relief washes over me. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Luna says. "I'm not the one who makes those decisions. But I will say I believe you made the right choice trusting us."
I take a seat and pick up half of the sandwich. "I wasn't sure," I admit. "Everything Tommy told me about the Savage Riders—" I stop myself, realizing too late this might offend her.
Luna smiles faintly. "I can imagine what the Eagles say about us. I had my own misconceptions when I first encountered the club."
I take a bite of the sandwich—turkey and cheese with fresh tomato and lettuce—and nearly groan at how good it tastes. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.
"How did you end up here?" I ask between bites. "If you don't mind me asking. You don't seem like..."
"Like an outlaw biker's old lady?" Luna finishes, her smile widening slightly. "It's a long story, but the short version is I inherited my grandmother's house in town. King helped protect me from some trouble, and things... evolved from there."
"Trouble like mine?"
Luna's expression sobers. "Different, but no less dangerous. King and the club kept me safe." She pauses. "That's what they do for people under their protection."
The unspoken message is clear: if I've been honest with them, they'll honor their commitment to help me.
"I've told you everything I know," I say quietly. "I swear it."
Luna nods, seemingly satisfied. "I believe you." She stands. "Finish your food. Rest if you can. There's a church meeting at noon. Club business only, but someone will check on you after."
"What happens tonight?" I ask, unable to keep the anxiety from my voice. "If the Eagles really attack?"
"We'll be ready," Luna says simply. "You'll stay in the safe room with me and Jenny. Amelia too, if she comes with Tank."
"Amelia?"
"Tank's girlfriend. She has a daughter, Anna. They'll probably leave her with a sitter for the night."
I nod, remembering Rage mentioning that he's made similar arrangements for his son. The thought of his son being safely away from the potential violence brings me a measure of relief.
"The safe room is secure," Luna continues. "Reinforced walls, steel door, its own ventilation and communication system."
After she leaves, I finish the sandwich and apple, then sip the iced tea slowly, savoring the sweet tanginess. My body is clean, my stomach is full, and I'm wearing fresh clothes. Such simple comforts, yet they feel profound after the past few days.
I should rest while I can, but my mind is too active, cycling through scenarios and possibilities. What if the Eagles don't attack tonight? What if they do, but they overwhelm the Savage Riders? What if Tommy somehow finds out I'm here?
The thought of Tommy discovering my whereabouts sends a chill through me.
I remember the look in his eyes after Vincent died.
Cold, empty, like whatever humanity he had was gone.
He'd described in graphic detail what he'd do if I ever tried to leave him, taking a perverse pleasure in watching me flinch at each escalating threat.
"If you ever run, I’ll find you," he'd promised, his voice almost gentle as he traced a finger along my bruised cheekbone. "And when I do, I'll make sure you can never run again. Maybe I'll start by breaking those pretty ankles of yours."
I shudder at the memory. Tommy isn't just violent. He's methodical in his cruelty. And he has resources, an entire MC with eyes throughout the region.
My heart rate accelerates, sweat beading on my forehead despite the room's comfortable temperature. I force myself to take deep breaths, wincing at the pain in my ribs.
Think rationally. Even if Tommy knows I'm still in town, that doesn't mean he knows where I am. And the Savage Riders' compound is secure. Tank assured me of that. I'm safer here than anywhere else in Blackwater Falls.
But what if they decide I'm too much trouble? What if they verify my information, use it to prepare for tonight's attack, then decide the risk of harboring me outweighs the benefit?
No. Luna wouldn't let that happen. The way she looked at me, with genuine empathy, that wasn't faked. And Rage... he's put himself out on a limb for me, bringing me here, defending me to his brothers.
Thinking of Rage calms me slightly. There's something solid about him, trustworthy despite his intimidating appearance and road name.
The gentle way he wrapped my ribs, the respect he showed for my boundaries, the fierce protectiveness when he learned who hurt me…
All of it suggests a man with a strong moral code, not the ruthless criminal Tommy described.
A soft knock interrupts my thoughts.
"Claire?" A female voice I don't recognize. "It's Jenny. Can I come in?"
I move to the door and unlock it, opening it to find a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a friendly smile.
"Hi," she says. "I'm Jenny. Beast's old lady and Tank's sister. I brought the clothes."
"Thank you," I say, stepping back to let her in. "They fit perfectly."
She enters, her gaze taking in the room and then focusing on my face, briefly registering the bruise before looking away politely. "I wasn't sure what you'd need, so I grabbed a bit of everything."
"It's more than enough." I gesture to the pile on the bed. "I really appreciate it."
Jenny shrugs. "No problem. I remember what it was like when I first got to town. I had nothing but what I could fit in a backpack."
Her easy manner puts me at ease. "You're not from here originally?"
"Nope. I came here with a friend who was running from her abusive ex, actually." Her expression turns serious. "Tank helped us. The whole club did."
This surprises me. "So they... they do this kind of thing regularly? Help women in trouble?"
Jenny considers the question. "Not as a service or anything. But they protect people under their care. Family, friends." She pauses. "People who need it and deserve it." She glances at her watch. "I should go. I have a lot to do."
As she moves toward the door, she pauses. "Just so you know, Rage was really insistent about making sure you had everything you needed. He's a good guy. One of the best in the club."
Before I can respond to this unexpected information, she's gone, closing the door behind her. I move to lock it, my thoughts swirling.
Why would Rage be "insistent" about my comfort? Is it just his nature to be protective, or is there something more to it? And why did Jenny feel the need to tell me this?
I sit on the edge of the bed, fatigue finally catching up with me despite my racing mind. The adrenaline that's kept me going for days is wearing off, leaving me bone-weary and emotionally drained.
I lie down, intending to rest for just a few minutes, but sleep claims me almost immediately. My dreams are a chaotic blend of memories and fears. Tommy's fist connecting with my face, the Eagles surrounding the clubhouse, Rage's gentle hands wrapping my ribs.
I wake with a start, disoriented and panicked until I remember where I am. The clock reads 2:17 PM. I've been asleep for nearly two hours.
A soft knock at the door suggests that's what woke me.
"Claire?" Rage's deep voice. "You awake?"
I sit up quickly, smoothing my hair and clothes. "Yes. Just a minute."
I move to the door and unlock it, opening it to find Rage looking more tired than when I last saw him. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his posture suggests someone running on fumes and determination.
"Sorry to wake you," he says. "But we need to talk."
My stomach drops. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Church just ended. We've confirmed movement at the Cherry Street property. Steel spotted multiple Eagles arriving with weapons."
I take an involuntary step back. "So, they're really going through with it. The attack."
Rage nods grimly. "Looks that way. King wants all women in the safe room before sunset. I came to explain how everything will work."
"Luna mentioned it," I say, trying to keep the anxiety from my voice. "She said it's secure."
"It is. Reinforced walls, independent power, communications, the works." He steps into the room, closing the door partially behind him. "We'll move you there around 5:30. Luna and Jenny will be there too. Possibly Amelia, too."
"With her daughter?"
He nods. "Anna's staying with a friend tonight. Same as my son." He hesitates. "I want you to know that we've taken your information seriously. We're prepared for whatever the Eagles throw at us."
His reassurance means more than I expected. "I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me."
Rage's expression softens slightly. "This isn't because of you, Claire. The Eagles have been planning this since Vincent died. You just gave us a fighting chance to be ready."
"Will you..." I stop, unsure how to phrase my concern without sounding too personal. "Will you be in danger?"
"We all will," he says honestly. "But we've been in tight spots before. And we have the advantage of surprise."
I nod, appreciating his straightforwardness. "Is there anything I should do? To prepare, I mean."
"Just be ready to move to the safe room when it's time. Bring anything you might need for the night." He hesitates. "It could be a long one."
The gravity of what's coming settles over me like a weight. People might die tonight. Tommy, Eagles, Savage Riders. And I'm caught in the middle of it, a catalyst for violence I never wanted.
"I wish I'd never met him," I whisper, the words escaping before I can stop them. "Tommy. The Eagles. All of it."
"We don't get to choose who hurts us," he replies. "But we do get to choose who helps us heal afterward."