3. Penelope
THREE
Adjustingto a new town wasn’t easy. Even one as quaint and as low-key as Rose Ridge.
The town seemed friendly enough, for anyone not associated with a motorcycle club, but the second leather or chrome was spotted, it seemed everyone scuttled inside their shops, or turned their noses up. Natty said it had to do with the online bloggers who were networking to shut down the clubs within the state.
We’d had our share of problems with the online activists up near Richland. Especially because of our proximity to the capital, so to see them operating on a seemingly smaller scale was actually a reprieve.
Although, it didn’t really help when it came time to requiring help from said locals. The local hospital had a tiny maternity ward, with a secluded office and roughly six padded chairs in the waiting room. The round help desk was manned by two receptionists who had yet to even acknowledge my presence beyond asking me to take a seat.
I missed my previous doctor who had done all of my checkups from the very first appointment. A friend of the club, and someone who knew Miles. Doctor Jones was nice to me, or at least kind simply for the sake of the club. A pang of longing frustration sliced through me as I considered how unfair this entire thing was. Luke wanted me removed from his life, and because he’s a spoiled ass, he made sure to ruin my life just to accomplish it.
It wasn’t like I wanted to stay with him after his painful rejection. After he started fucking Sweetbutts in front of me in the club. I would have stayed away or left, but I worked at the club as the garage receptionist. I had tried to transfer to a different garage, creating space between me and the club, but the men who ran the other garage found out I used to be Luke’s Old Lady, and decidedly threw a fit.
I had to work, and since Luke kicked me out, I had moved back in with my mom. Miles was polite about it, but then mom got sick and his patience ran out. I had nowhere to go that wouldn’t endanger my life or my baby’s.
“Miss. Pruitt?” a nurse called, staring down at a file.
I stood, wincing the smallest bit at the back pain sliding down my spine. I hadn’t even told Jameson about this appointment. I knew he’d demand to accompany me, and the more we continued to fall into some domesticated role, the more confusing it became. Another two weeks had passed since arriving at the Stone Rider cabin.
Two more weeks of dealing with Jameson’s overwhelming protection and texts. I’d started covering the windows with blankets so he wouldn’t see that my light was on, but in some cases, he still arrived at my door and demanded to sleep on my couch.
I followed the nurse into the hall where a scale waited. “Did you already leave your sample?”
I nodded.
“Let’s get your weight.” The nurse walked through a myriad of other vitals as I got checked into a room and traded my jeans for a gown.
I was left alone again, and as the time passed, my hand drifted to my stomach where I could feel the baby doing a few kicks. I missed the way he’d flip a few months back, when he was small enough to do so.
“Penelope?” The door opened after a soft knock, and a female doctor walked in, smiling at me. “I’m Dr. Beckett, it’s nice to meet you.”
I grinned warmly at the woman and shook her hand. Her hair was silver, falling in soft braids down her back. Her eyes a warm honey color, her skin a beautiful black. She was stunning.
She walked over, washed her hands and then situated herself on the rolling stool.
“Okay, you’re thirty-two weeks pregnant, and so far seem to be doing wonderful. Your weight gain is a bit of a concern for me, so we’ll dive into that a bit more, but let’s listen to this little guy’s heart.”
I loved this part the most.
Lying back against the crinkled paper, I looked up at the ceiling as Dr. Beckett squirted a small amount of warm gel near my belly button, and then applied the doppler. A swooshing sound filled the room, as his heartbeat drummed into the air. I nearly cried from how beautiful it sounded. That was my son’s heartbeat.
Not Luke’s. Mine.
Dr. Beckett smiled down at me, after timing my son’s beats, then removed the doppler. “He sounds wonderful. Do you have any concerns or questions? I see here that you just moved to the area. Looks like you’re living with the Stone Riders?”
My brow tapered as worry threaded through me. Club business was usually secret to outsiders, but for some reason, it felt safe to explain.
“I’m running from my ex…the Stone Riders are friends of my old club. It’s a much safer situation now.”
Dr. Beckett nodded. “Simon Stone remains one of the kindest humans I’ve ever met. I once broke down in the middle of a downpour, the roads were flooding and he not only found me but made sure I was taken to safety and the next day my car was in my driveway, completely fixed, free of charge. He’d left a note thanking me for my service to Rose Ridge. I was devastated when I learned he had passed away.”
I dipped my head, knowing it was a blow for the entire motorcycle community. Even as rivals, Jameson had talked about how big of a deal it was that the world had lost Simon Stone. It was strange though, the people who had been closest to him, Callie, Wes…even Killian, none of them seemed to be grieving and yet their president’s passing had only been a few months back.
“I never met him, but I heard he was a great man.”
Dr. Beckett stared off, musing almost to herself. “Thought I saw him the other day…it was the strangest thing.”
I watched her, unsure of what to say.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. I know moving and starting new maternity care this late into your pregnancy can be difficult, but I want you to know that we’re happy to have you. From here on out, I’d like to see you once a week to monitor things, as well as check on your weight. Try to have a few nutrient shakes if you can, or even just an extra peanut butter and jelly sandwich, those calories will be good for you. We also need to give you a tour, so you can see the maternity ward and rooms over at the hospital.”
I nodded my understanding. The stress of moving had me eating less and less, not that I meant to, but I just didn’t have an appetite.
Once the appointment was over, I wandered outside about to head to my car when I saw two Chaos Kings ride up. It was the two men that had crowded Jameson and I outside the Stone Rider clubhouse, Bones and Kline.
I nervously toyed with my keys as I walked to the driver’s side, pulling my door open. I tossed my purse inside and was about to slide in, but the men parked next to me, remaining straddled over their bikes.
“If it isn’t the club whore,” Bones joked.
He was a burly man, nearly six five, with a bushy, gray beard that covered his jaw. He was in his early fifties, and regardless of what he said about his loyalties, his values were on par with Luke’s father, Tuck Holloway.
Kline sneered, his greasy hair was slicked back, revealing his receding hairline and pockmarked face.
“You two can fuck off now,” I stated evenly, turning to get into the car when suddenly Bones twisted the throttle on his bike and lurched forward. His front tire was an inch away from my knee cap.
“Don’t talk to me like that, you fucking cunt.”
My heart knocked against my chest. I felt like a rabbit caught in a snare, being surrounded by hounds.
My hand dropped to my stomach protectively. Bones followed the movement.
“Would have been better if you’d just ripped that thing out of your stomach. No one wants it, or you.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I bit down on my lip to prevent it from wobbling. I didn’t care what they thought of me, but I hated that they wanted to hurt my baby. If I weren’t pregnant, maybe I’d stand up for myself…but I also knew the cruelty of these two men combined. I’d overheard Miles talking about runs with them and what they’d done to rivals while out on those runs.
Kline shifted on his seat while looking around, like he was worried he’d be discovered by someone. “Once Jameson tires of you, he’ll let us play. Never fucked a pregnant chick before but might be fun. Even if it’s just your mouth.”
I tried to step back, but the angle of the seat and the tire wouldn’t allow me to. I couldn’t even shut my door, or maneuver around the tire still lodged an inch from my knee. A shuddery breath left me right as Bones slid his kickstand down as if he was about to leave his bike.
No, this couldn’t be happening. Were they going to hurt me right here in broad daylight? I needed to leave, to get my cell out, I needed to call Jamie.
Just then another vehicle pulled into the parking lot and veered into a spot a few spaces down from us. The driver’s door opened and Wes Ryan, one of the Stone Riders, climbed out with his shades on and his leather cut in place. No designation to what he did in the club on his vest, but there were still rumors about him being selected as president after Simon died, even before Killian. Ryan had led for a few months if I understood everything correctly, then he just stepped down and handed everything over.
Callie, his wife, walked around the car, holding her palm over her own bump, much smaller than mine. They were about to head into an appointment from the looks of it.
“Penelope?” Callie called, her hazel eyes going huge as she took in the two riders cornering me. She started as if she was going to stomp over, but her husband caught her wrist and pulled her behind him. With his other hand, he removed his sunglasses.
“The fuck you doing with your tire nearly parked in her door, gentlemen?” Wes asked.
“It’s Chaos King’s business. Not Stone Riders, you can fuck off.” Bones smiled at Wes, as if they were buddies.
Wes glanced at me, his eyes narrowing. “That true, Penelope?”
With tears finally falling, I shook my head. “I just want to leave.”
Callie tried to push forward again, her eyes tightened, her expression glacial as she stared at the riders in front of me. Wes continued to hold her safely behind him as he warned in a deadly tone, “Get your asses away from her car now.”
Bones glanced over at Kline, as if they were deliberating on attacking him, or me.
My legs were shaking so badly that I had to grip my door so I wouldn’t fall down.
“I’m about to call Jameson and have him come deal with this, but I was there when he warned you all of what would happen should any harm befall Penelope. I suggest you ride off, and let her leave.” Wes had his phone in his hand and held it in the air as if to prove that he was going to dial Jamie.
Finally, Bones backed up, Kline following his lead. A quick rev of their engines indicated their opinion over being forced to leave but then they were riding out of the parking lot.
Callie was released and ran over to me.
“Oh my god, are you okay?”
My lip was trembling as more tears fell. Wes had his phone to his ear. “I’m going to have a few Stone Riders escort you back to the cabin. I’ll make sure Jameson is watching for you, okay.”
I nodded, unsure if I could make any words come out again.
Once I was back in my car, and safely traveling back to the cabin with two of Wesley’s riders behind me, I watched pieces of the town coast by. I had plans to shop, to explore Rose Ridge, to start getting used to this town, but it seemed that was a foolish idea. It was back to the cabin for me, back to my cage, where I would be watched by predators for the next time I left my perch.
I parked my car in front of the cabin, feeling shaky and numb. The two riders were still idling behind me when Jameson began running toward the cabin from over the ridge, coming from the house his club was utilizing for the time being.
Panic was stamped across his features. His golden hair was windswept off his face, his denim jeans looked worn, and his boots were dusty with dirt. He wore his cut over a thick, black zip-up hoodie.
“The fuck happened?” His eyes frantically searched me over from head to toe. The concern in his eyes, it was familiar to only one other time…a time he finally let his mask fall and the king of chaos had been unleashed. He seemed on the precipice of losing it, his fists clenching and his determined glare cutting over the riders as if he wasn’t sure where the threat was.
“Wes said he drove up on two of your members harassing her. One of them nearly ran her over,” one of the riders explained. I had assumed Wes had already explained, but maybe he hadn’t. Perhaps he just needed to hear it again.
Jamie’s eyes cut over to me.
“Who?” Fuck, he was pissed. My skin pebbled at the deadly tone. I had no idea if the Rider explained, but I stopped listening. I needed to sit down. My hands still hadn’t stopped shaking.
Once I was inside the cabin, I kicked my shoes off and ventured into the room, pulling the covers back and curling under them. My entire body shook with uncontrolled sobs. I missed my mom. I missed my life. I missed being someone that mattered and had worth.
I had no idea how long it was before the front door opened, and I heard Jamie walking inside. He was the only person who never knocked. It was something I appreciated about him.
“Want to tell me why you went to your doctor’s appointment without me?”
I sniffed, swiping at my face. I didn’t want to explain that I felt pathetic, and I was tired of being a burden. I had a car, there was no reason I couldn’t drive myself.
Jamie moved closer. I felt the bed dip and then a hand on my calf.
“Pen, I need to know that you’re okay.”
My voice wobbled and was thick with tears as I answered, “I’m fine.”
He waited, his grip on my calf tightened and then he was gone.
“I have a few things to take care of, I’m calling Natty to come stay with you.”
The reminder that the two of them were so cozy made my heart burn with familiar hurt. The way Luke had moved on from me so easily, how I had finally let go of my hope to be with Jameson and settled for Luke, only to be here now. Used and discarded like a forgotten toy. I was so angry but felt so helpless.
I snapped. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
Jamie remained quiet and then without letting out a sigh, or any indication that he was exasperated with me, said, “She’s been asking when she can see you…I keep telling her to give you space. But I think you could use the company right now.”
He didn’t wait for me to argue it any further. I sat up, and he was gone.