7
EVERLY
Rowan pulls my vehicle up to a gate and rolls down his window, saying something to the person outside, but I don’t hear what he says because I’m too busy looking at the daunting building in front of me.
The Sovereign Sons’ clubhouse is huge. It’s two stories and spread wide, with dark, almost black, siding and a huge, attached garage.
A fence goes around the entire property, which stretches back further than I can see from here.
The gate in front of us opens and Rowan drives through, pulling up next to a few bikes by the garage. This place honestly looks like a fortress, which is why they brought me here, I guess.
I still really don’t understand what’s going on right now. I know that the bear was really weird, but did it really constitute such a reaction from them. It almost makes me feel like something more is going on. Rowan did say that they would tell me everything when I came here. So, there’s that.
I’m lost in thought when Rowan opens my door for me, startling me. I hadn’t realized he got out of the vehicle. He offers me his hand, and I take it, sliding from the car and stepping out of the way so he can close the door. I can’t explain why, but I feel safe here. Safe with him.
I figured Rowan would release my hand, but he doesn’t. His large, calloused hand dwarfs my own. He leads me into the clubhouse and I’m thankful for the cool air that hits us full force. We can hear the faint sound of laughter and music, but when we walk into a large room, I can see why.
This has to be the main room of the clubhouse. There is a bar, a huge dining table, and a seating area with a large couch and ginormous television. Sophie, Grayson, and Asher Williams are sitting on the couch, and when they see us, they stand.
“Everly,” Sophie greets me warmly as she pulls me from Rowan and into her arms. “Are you okay?”
I pat her back awkwardly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I know Sophie through her son, Asher, but I’ve only met her a few times. Her warm welcome is surprising to me. Although, it shouldn’t be, since she’s always been nice to me.
She pulls back from our hug only to be replaced by Asher. He wraps his arms around my hips and hugs me hard. I fight back tears. Hugs from my school kids have always been special, but they feel so much more special when they’re not my students anymore.
“Ms. Kincaid! Are you going to stay here for a while?” Asher asks.
Sophie pulls him back to her side. “Hush, bud. Let’s just let Ms. Kincaid relax for a minute, okay?”
He nods his head eagerly. “Yeah! Do you want to watch tv with us?”
“Sure,” I shrug and follow him to the couch.
I sit down and immediately sink into the couch.
My eyes widen and Sophie must see it. “One of the guys can help you up,” she chuckles and rubs a hand over her slightly swollen belly.
She catches me staring and smiles. “Yeah, I’m about six months along.
That couch has already eaten me up a few times, so I know it’s only going to get worse. ”
She takes the seat beside me. I should take this opportunity to ask her all the questions I’ve been having about the baby, but instead, I find myself searching for Rowan in the large room.
I find him by the bar top with Grayson and the large blonde man that came with him to the store. I think his name is Axel. They’re speaking in hushed tones and casting furtive glances my way. Any idiot would realize they’re talking about me.
“What’s going on?” I mutter as I rub a hand over my belly when I feel the baby kick.
“They’ll tell you everything,” Sophie assures me. “And they’ll make sure you’re safe.”
I whirl around to face her. “You know?”
She winces. “Only a little.”
I feel, rather than hear, Rowan approach. I turn around and frown at the serious look on his face. “What is it?”
“Hey Ash, why don’t you go help Chef in the kitchen?” Grayson tell his son, who doesn’t respond, just heads in that direction.
Rowan takes the seat that Asher vacated next to me, his thick thighs stretching the jeans he wears. Why am I checking out his thighs right now? I shake my head to clear my thoughts and wait for him to respond.
He looks at Grayson and Axel for some sort of assurance and then sighs.
“We want to tell you everything that we know, but I need you to stay calm, okay?” I nod my head.
“We just found out that Travis and his dad have been working with a small motorcycle club that’s trying to push into our territory.
The club hired them to set them up here in Silver Springs, only your fiancé and his father didn’t do that.
They took their money and didn’t do a damn thing for them. ”
I frown. Travis and Russel are lawyers. I wince at my thoughts and correct myself. Travis was a lawyer at his father’s firm. I know that they set up businesses for some clients and things of that sort, but I didn’t think that was a big part of their business.
“The night that you were run off the road,” Rowan continues, and my throat constricts.
“I was behind you guys. I saw three Devil’s Knights members fly by me and run your vehicle off the road,” he rasps, clearly reliving that night.
He clears his throat before continuing. “I called emergency services and got Travis and you out of the vehicle, but it was too late for him. By the time the EMTs got there, he was gone.”
My mind is reeling right now. I knew that Rowan was the one to save me, but I didn’t realize that he saw the entire accident. No, not accident. Attack.
“I saw them ride up on us,” I whisper. “I warned him.”
“What did he say?” Grayson asks.
“He kind of freaked out and told me to tighten my seatbelt. It’s like he knew something bad was about to happen,” I mutter. Rowan’s large hand settles on my knee, and I stare at it for a moment before resting my hand on his.
“When Asher and I ran into you at the grocery store, I saw a Devil’s Knights member watching you in the parking lot. He took off when he saw me, but I told Grayson about it, and we all decided to put you under club protection. You’ve had a Sovereign Sons prospect watching you the last two days.”
“What?” I ask confused. “Why would a prospect be watching me? How is that any better than the Devil’s Knights watching me?”
“Because we’re the good guys,” Axel says with a smirk.
I snort.
“After the bear that was left on your vehicle today and the note that you said you found recently, we’re not really sure what they’re capable of, but make no mistake, those were threats,” Grayson murmurs.
“We think that it’s best for you to stay at the clubhouse for a while, until we can be sure that you’re safe,” Rowan tells me. “We’re worried that they could hurt you, or the baby to get back at Travis and Russel.”
My heart starts to race at his words. “Why would someone hurt my baby? They have nothing to do with what Travis and Russel did.”
“We know,” Rowan murmurs as he gently squeezes my knee. “These guys aren’t honorable. They’re career criminals who don’t care who they hurt as long as they get what they want. They can still use your baby as a way to get Russel to do what they want, and I won’t let that happen.”
His words send goosebumps down my spine. Murderers are coming after my baby and now I have to trust people I barely know to keep me safe.