Tia
The motorcycle roars beneath us as Kraken pushes the Harley harder south.
The wind whips against my face and stings my eyes even through the helmet.
I cling tighter to his waist. My arms lock around his solid body like he’s the only steady thing left in the world.
The news about Dad spins over and over in my head.
Taken. I keep seeing flashes of him in my mind.
His tired eyes the night he showed up at my apartment.
The way his hands gripped the steering wheel too tight.
He came to Kraken for help because he knew this world could swallow people whole. Now it’s swallowed him.
My chest feels tight. Every breath tastes like dust and salt from the ocean that flashes blue to our right.
The vibration of the engine travels up through my thighs and into my bones.
It should feel exciting like it did earlier but now it only reminds me how fast everything can change.
One phone call. One moment. And Dad’s gone.
I press harder against Kraken’s back. The leather of his cut feels warm from the sun and from his body heat. I breathe him in.
The road stretches long and straight ahead.
Palm trees blur past in streaks of green.
Cars occasionally pass us but Kraken stays focused.
His body stays tense under my hands. I can feel the coiled power in his shoulders and the way his muscles flex.
He’s angry. I know that much. The kind of quiet angry that promises violence to anyone who crosses him.
Tears prick at my eyes but I blink them away fast. Crying won’t help Dad right now.
I need to be strong. I need to trust the man in front of me who’s already proven he’ll move heaven and earth to protect what he claims as his.
And he’s claimed me. Completely. The memory of last night and this morning on the side of the road sends a flush through my body even now.
His hands. His voice purring filthy words in my ear.
The way he filled me so deep I still feel the echo of it.
But those thoughts feel distant compared to the fear gripping my heart for my father.
We ride for what feels like hours. The sun climbs higher and beats down on us.
Sweat trickles down my back under my tank top.
The fabric sticks to my skin. Kraken slows as we approach a small gas station off the highway.
He pulls in and kills the engine. The sudden quiet feels loud after the constant roar.
He helps me off the bike. My legs feel shaky from the long ride and from everything spinning in my head.
“You okay?” he asks. His voice sounds worn raw. He pulls me against his chest right there in the dusty lot. His hand cups the back of my head.
“I’m scared for him,” I whisper against his shirt. “Dad’s always been the one protecting me. Now he’s the one who needs help and I feel so helpless.”
Kraken’s arms tighten around me. “He’s one tough bastard. Gunny survived a lot before he ever had you. We’ll get him back. I give you my word.”
I nod and breathe him in. The scent of him grounds me.
We stand there for a minute while the gas pump clicks away.
The air smells like hot asphalt and fuel.
Kraken pays for the gas and buys us cold bottles of water from inside the small store.
He hands me one and watches me drink. His eyes never leave my face.
He’s so protective. It does something to me.
Like even here on this random stretch of road he’s ready to fight off anything that comes near me.
We climb back on the bike after a short break.
The engine rumbles to life again. I wrap around him tighter than before.
The vibration settles between my legs but this time it mixes with the heavy worry in my stomach.
We head west. The scenery changes slowly.
Alligator Alley. It feels like we’re the only ones on the road.
We get closer to Miami, and Kraken takes back roads when he can. Smart.
My mind drifts to memories of Dad while the miles disappear under us.
I remember him teaching me to ride a bike in the park near our old house.
The way he would cheer every time I made it a few feet without falling.
How he stayed up late helping me with science projects even when he had early shifts the next day.
After Mom died he became both parents. He never complained.
He just showed up every single day. The thought of him hurt or scared somewhere makes my throat tight.
I squeeze Kraken harder. He reaches back and rests his hand on my knee for a moment.
The touch says more than words could right now.
We stop once more for fuel and food near a small coastal town.
Kraken orders burgers and fries from a drive through.
We eat sitting on the bike in the shade of a big oak tree.
The food tastes good but I have to force it down.
Worry steals most of my appetite. Kraken watches me closely.
He finishes his burger in a few bites and wipes his hands on his jeans.
“Talk to me,” he says. “What’s going through that head of yours?”
I pick at a fry and look out at the water sparkling in the distance.
“I keep thinking about all the times Dad warned me about his old life. He left the club to raise me. He gave up everything so I could have a normal childhood. And now because of me he’s in danger again.
If something happens to him I don’t know what I’ll do. ”
Kraken pulls me closer until I’m practically in his lap on the bike. “None of this is your fault. The Cartel made their choice when they touched what belongs to my club. To me. Gunny knew the risks when he brought you to my door. He’s family now. I protect family.”
His words help a little. I lean into him and let his strength soak into me. The sun warms my skin. Birds call from the trees overhead. For a moment the world feels almost peaceful. But the peace doesn’t last. Kraken’s phone vibrates again. He checks it and his jaw tightens.
“Mace has more details,” he says. “We need to keep moving.”
We finish the food quickly and get back on the road.
The afternoon sun beats down hotter now.
Sweat gathers at the small of my back. My thighs ache from gripping the bike for so long but I don’t complain.
Every mile brings us closer to whatever fight waits ahead.
Closer to Dad. I focus on the feel of Kraken’s body against mine.
The steady rhythm of his breathing. The way his muscles shift under my hands when he steers. He’s my anchor in all this chaos.
Hours pass. The light changes as the sun dips lower.
Orange and pink streak across the sky. We pull into another quiet stop near the water as dusk settles in.
Kraken helps me off and walks me to a small bench overlooking the waves.
The ocean air feels cooler now. It carries the scent of salt and seaweed and distant rain.
I sit and he crouches in front of me. His hands rest on my knees.
“We’re getting close to the Miami area,” he says. “The club is locked down there. We’ll regroup and plan the next move. But I need you to trust me completely. No matter what happens.”
“I do trust you,” I tell him. My voice sounds steadier than I feel. “More than anyone. You make me feel safe even when everything is falling apart.”
He leans in and kisses me. Slow and deep. His tongue strokes against mine like a promise. When he pulls back his eyes burn with that raw intensity I’ve come to crave. “Good. Because you’re mine Tia.”
We sit there for a while longer. The waves crash against the shore in steady rhythm.
Seagulls cry overhead. Kraken keeps one arm around me.
His fingers trace circles on my shoulder.
I lean into his side and let the sound of the ocean calm some of the fear twisting inside me.
Dad’s strong. He raised me alone after losing Mom.
He survived the club life before. He can survive this. He has to.
Night falls fully as we climb back on the bike.
The headlight cuts through the darkness.
Stars sparkle above us. I hold Kraken tight and close my eyes for stretches of the ride.
The vibration of the engine lulls me into a strange half sleep.
Worry still sits heavy in my chest but so does something warmer.
Trust. Love maybe. The feeling grows stronger with every mile we ride together.
We reach the edges of Miami. Kraken takes back roads and avoids main streets.
The club compound in Miami waits somewhere ahead.
Brothers ready. Plans forming. I don’t know what comes next but I know one thing for certain.
With Kraken beside me I can face it. He’s my protector.
The man who brought my houseplant so I would smile when I woke up.
The man who fucks me like he owns me and holds me like I am precious.
The lights of the city glow in the distance.
Engines rumble somewhere ahead. The club calls us back.
I press one last kiss to Kraken’s back through his cut and hold on tight.
Whatever happens next we face it together.
Father or not. Cartel or not. This man has my heart.
And I have his protection. That’s enough for now. That has to be enough.