9
EVERLY
My thoughts are spinning like crazy in my head. I’m not even sure if I should really trust these people, after all, bikers ran us off the road. Bikers are the ones leaving me threatening notes and teddy bears.
Then again, a biker saved me. Rowan saved me. Shouldn’t I trust that he wants to keep me safe? I mean, if he really wanted me dead, he would have left me on the side of the road with Travis.
Travis. I still don’t know what to think about Travis. I trusted him. I thought I knew him, but apparently, I didn’t know him at all. He and his father were stealing from criminals and thought they wouldn’t do anything about it? It pisses me off that he isn’t here for me to bitch him out.
Is this why his parents have ignored my calls and my existence since his death? I thought it was because I was too painful of a reminder for them, but is it really because they know that they were the cause of their son’s death? That they were almost the cause of mine?
He knew that something was going to happen to us that night. He knew that they were coming for him. Was that the first incident that happened? Or did something else happen that he didn’t bother telling me about? I guess I’ll never know.
I know deep down that I’ll be safe here. I kind of know Grayson, Sophie, Asher, Cane, and his daughter Paisley. I was their kids’ teacher, and they were all kind to me after the accident.
“If I’m going to stay here, I’m going to need to go to my place to get some things,” I finally tell Rowan.
“That’s no problem,” he murmurs. “I’ll take you.”
I muster a smile and nod my head in agreement. We get up from the couch and I follow him through the apartment.
It’s actually really nice. Everything is new and clean, and it doesn’t smell like a typical man’s apartment. We all know that most of them have that weird smell. Like dirty socks and spoiled food. No, Rowan’s apartment smells clean and woodsy, like him.
I get a better look at the clubhouse as he leads me down the long hallway and explains that his door has a code to get in, so no one other than he and I can get inside.
The hallway has multiple doors, all of which are shut, and opens up at a stairwell.
We follow the stairs down and he takes me through the main room again.
He calls out to Grayson to let him know that we’re running by my house for some belongings and then he opens the door to the parking lot for me. The heat assaults us immediately, making me suck in a breath. Rowan insists on opening my door for me and then hops in the driver’s seat of my car.
“I still don’t understand why I can’t drive,” I grumble as I buckle myself in.
He shoots me a wicked smile. “I’m better with my hands, darlin’.”
My cheeks heat at his insinuation. Does he not see that I’m eight months pregnant over here? I freaking waddle for fucks sake!
He asks for my address, and I give it to him, although I think it’s just for show. He says that they’ve had prospects watching over me for the past two days, they have to know where I live.
The clubhouse isn’t too far from my house, so it only takes us a few minutes to get there.
The silence in the car is palpable on the way there, though.
When I finally see the cute little white house with black shutters, I sigh in relief.
I reach up and press the garage door opener and Rowan drives inside, parking and turning off the vehicle before closing the garage door.
I don’t wait for Rowan to open my door, which apparently annoys him, if the look on his face tells me anything. I walk into the house, the familiar floral smell filling my senses.
The house is small with two bedrooms and one bathroom. There is a small kitchen and a decent sized living room, but it’s nothing in comparison to the size of the clubhouse.
I walk into my bedroom and stop in my tracks when I see the picture of Travis and I on my nightstand. His face just makes me want to cry now. Not just from his loss, but from his betrayal. I walk over and flip the picture over, not able to look at him right now.
I look down and fiddle with my ring. I can’t explain how it feels to wear it, now. Almost like it’s a lie. Did I even really know my fiancé? It doesn’t feel like I did.
I turn around when I hear Rowan enter the room. “Do you need any help?”
He fills out the entire doorway. Where Travis was tall and kind of lanky, Rowan is tall and broad.
“Uh, I don’t think so. Let me just pack up some clothes and toiletries and I’ll be ready,” I tell him.
“Okay. Do you want to bring any of the stuff for the baby? Just in case,” he adds with a pointed look at my belly.
I wince. “I uh, don’t have anything for the baby,” I admit as I turn toward my drawer to pull underwear out.
“But you’re really close to your due date, right?”
I turn around to face him. “I lost my fiancé the same day that I found out we were having a baby,” I admit.
“I haven’t been able to move on from that day.
I’ve been living in limbo, and I have no idea how I’m supposed to bring a child into this world.
How am I going to support them? How am I going to make sure they turn into a good person?
I don’t know how I’m supposed to do this alone,” I say as tears stream down my cheeks.
“I can’t even bring myself to find out the sex of the baby.
How can I buy everything I need when I was supposed to do this with him?
And now, I know that he was doing bad things for bad men, and they killed him and almost killed me because of it.
Even though he’s gone, they’re still after me now.
After us,” I whisper as I run a hand over my belly.
Rowan looks visibly shaken by my admission, but he steps forward and pulls me into his embrace. “You don’t have to do any of this alone, Ev.”
I drop my head to his chest and breathe him in. The subtle woodsy scent seems to calm my nerves, and I can’t explain why.
I don’t know why this man is being so helpful, but I’m so appreciative to have his help. To have the entire club’s help.
I only wallow for a little while before I get back to packing. I don’t have tons of clothes that fit me right now, so it doesn’t take me too long. I make sure to grab my toiletries and laptop and then we’re ready to head back to the clubhouse.
As I walk into the garage, I look back at my house with longing. This is where I was supposed to start my family, where I was supposed to be with Travis. Now, it’s just a tainted space, and I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable here again.
“Are you ready?” Rowan asks from the passenger’s side of my vehicle. He must have already loaded all my bags, which he wouldn’t let me carry.
“Yeah,” I murmur as I turn my back on my house. “I’m ready.”