Chapter 3
LUKE
The sound of a door unlatching has me jerking awake. It’s still dark outside, and the chill pre-dawn air chases away any last vestiges of sleep.
The door to Isla’s room pushes open, and Isla steps into the corridor. She carries Cody wrapped in a sling around her chest, and a large coat covers the both of them. A woolen beanie is pulled over her hair, leaving the ends sticking out at all angles. She looks fucking adorable.
Isla stops when she sees me, and her mouth drops open in surprise. She takes in my wheelchair and the blanket that’s fallen from around my shoulders. Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Did you sleep out here?”
When I said I’d provide protection, I wasn’t joking. I may be in a wheelchair, but I’m still a military man at my core. A woman needs protection, and I’ll do whatever I can to provide that.
“I said I’d keep you safe.”
She blinks quickly and looks away, and I hope she doesn’t think sleeping outside her door is creepy. That’s the last thing I want.
I put on my best smile, and it turns into a yawn. “Is it even morning yet?”
I run a hand over my face, and it catches on stubble. I’m stiff from spending the night in my chair and I need a shower, but it’s worth it to be here to see Isla and Cody.
“It’s almost six-thirty, but he’s been up since five.”
The dark smudges under her eyes are even more pronounced since yesterday. “I’m taking him for a walk. It usually helps settle him.”
There’s no way I’m letting Isla wander around on her own when it’s still dark outside.
“I’ll join you.”
She looks at me in surprise but doesn’t protest as I follow her down the hall. I stop at the elevator, and she continues down the stairs. “I’ll see you down there.”
It’s an agonizing wait for the elevator, and I hope like hell she doesn’t try to leave without me. It’s a relief when I reach the ground floor and Isla’s waiting for me.
“You don’t have to do this. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do with your day than babysit.”
Her brow creases in a little frown, like she’s trying to figure out why I’m here. It saddens me that she’s suspicious of a guy wanting to help out.
“You’re doing the babysitting. I’m just making sure you’re okay.”
She follows me to the back door, and I stop by the coat rack. She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing, still not believing I’m here because I want to be here. Or maybe she’s wondering if I’m not capable of looking after her because I’m in a wheelchair.
“Has the club ordered you to watch me? That’s how this works, isn’t it?”
I grab my coat and shrug it over my shoulders. My gloves are in my pocket and I slip those on too, then check that Isla’s got gloves. Cody snuggles against her chest with a knitted hat covering his tiny head. “Is he going to be warm enough out there?”
I’ve been around enough babies at the clubhouse to know they get cold pretty quick, especially newborns.
Isla buttons up her coat so it covers the both of them, and his little head peeks out the top. She smiles warmly at him. “He’s got my body heat, and we won’t stay out for long.”
Satisfied they’re both ready for the cold, I push open the door and answer Isla’s question.
“I volunteered.”
What I don’t mention is that I didn’t give anyone else the opportunity to say otherwise.
I told Raiden I would spend the night here and move my stuff in tomorrow. As long as Isla and Cody are here, I’m here.
It’s stopped snowing, and the thin layer covering the ground crunches under my wheels. It’s crispy but not yet slippery.
I’m limited to where I can go around here while in my wheelchair. Raiden had the entire compound re-concreted, so it’s easy for me to get around without bumping up against uneven surfaces. Man, I owe that guy a lot.
There are some mountain trails that have boardwalks and well-tended even paths, but others are bumpy with tree roots and rocks and mud, especially with the snow we’ve had.
I’ve got a set of prosthetics, but I hate wearing them, and I don’t want to draw attention to my missing limbs by stopping to put them on. I hope a few laps of the compound is enough to give Cody whatever it is he needs to get to sleep.
Isla falls into step beside me. “I don’t think Ian’s going to come looking for me.”
At mention of her ex, my hands clench into fists. I don’t know what the asshole did, but it was enough to make her run on Christmas Eve. He doesn’t deserve Isla or Cody. “What makes you say that?”
She takes a moment to answer. “I think it will be a relief to him that I’m gone.”
I huff out a big breath. If Isla and Cody were mine, I’d search to the ends of the Earth to find them.
“Then he’s a fool.”
We round the side of the building, and the valley comes into view with the first dawn light tingeing the sky gray. There’s a narrow path that runs around to the front of the restaurant, and I drop back so we can go single file.
Isla waits for me at the front of the restaurant, staring out at the valley. I wheel up next to her, and we say nothing for a long while as the sky turns from gray to pink.
“I’m scared.” She says it so quietly I almost miss it.
My hand reaches for hers, and I curl her fingers into mine. Even through our gloves, I feel the spark of warmth that radiates from her. I have no right to hold her hand, but she doesn’t pull away.
“I won’t let him hurt you again.”
She shakes her head. “He never hurt me, not physically.” She shivers, and I tighten my grip on her fingers. “Not yet.”
Her voice wobbles, and she presses her lips together. She looks scared for a moment until she swallows it down. Her hand comes up to the Cody-shaped lump in her coat, and she rubs his back in slow circles. I wonder if she’s soothing him or herself.
A fierce protectiveness flashes through me, and with it an agonizing frustration at my limitations.
I wish I could be the man she needs; I wish I could stand up and take her in my arms and tell her it will all be okay.
If I was a whole man, I’d hunt the fucker down and make him pay for the fear he’s put into Isla. But all I can offer is protection while she’s here. While she’s in my clubhouse, where I have an adapted space, I can move freely in and my MC brothers to stand by me.
“I’m scared of what comes next,” she whispers. “I ran to get away from Ian, but I don’t know what I’m running to.”
I squeeze her hand. I can already tell from the short time I’ve known Isla that she’s a smart woman. “You’ll figure it out.”
Cody gurgles, and she glances down at him and smiles. “He’s asleep, at last.”
Relief sags her shoulders, and she sways on her feet. I put out a steadying hand. “Are you sleeping?”
She sighs. “Sometimes. But not enough.”
The answer doesn’t fill me with confidence.
I spent a lot of time last night online learning everything I could about newborn babies, and it was chilling.
It seems all they do is eat and poop and take short naps and cry for no reason.
They literally drain their mothers who don’t get enough sleep and forget to eat.
The thought occurs to me that Isla’s been awake for hours and probably had nothing to eat. “Are you eating?”
“I had a good meal yesterday.”
She’s not sleeping, and there’s no one to help with the baby. I thought protection was what Isla needs, but that’s only half the story. She needs sleep, and food, and help with the baby.
It’s Boxing Day, but I’m calling in an emergency club meeting.
But first of all, Isla’s getting a decent meal. “We’re going inside, and I’m making you a big breakfast.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t. You’ve already done so much.”
I nudge her with my elbow, and she starts walking. “I don’t want to hear that again. You’re here as our guest, and I’m looking after you.”
She gives me a grateful look as we head inside.
Two hours later, I’ve cooked Isla eggs and bacon for breakfast. Danni is watching Cody, so Isla can take a shower and a nap.
I’ve called an emergency meeting, and now I face the grumpy faces of my MC brothers across the meeting room table.
“This better be good, Chariot. I’m hungover, and I haven’t had breakfast yet,” mumbles Snips.
Right on cue, Maggie bursts into the meeting room carrying a tray of crispy bacon. The smell wafts through the room, making the men sit up.
She’s followed by her son Benji, proudly brandishing two loaves of bread with a huge grin on his toddler face. Bettie, Danni’s oldest, carries the ketchup, holding it carefully in her chubby fingers.
“Bacon sandwiches to sweeten the sting.”
I swallow hard, hoping I’ve read my brothers right and they’re not about to turn on me and chuck me out of the club. I only got patched in a few months ago, and this is the first favor I’ve asked.
Still, calling a club meeting at nine a.m. on Boxing Day is a pretty bold move.
Maggie puts the tray in the middle of the table and the men attack the food eagerly.
I swallow nervously and glance at Raiden. The Prez has his arms folded and eyes me like my old Sergeant Major used to.
He agreed to call the meeting for me, but I’m aware of the risk he’s taking. He’s also away from his family, and his old lady doesn’t put up with any shit. I promised a week of babysitting duties if he’d hear me out.
I wait until everyone has a bacon sandwich and Maggie has herded the kids out of the room.
“Isla needs our help.”
Judge frowns and swallows a mouthful of sandwich. “Is that the woman with the baby who’s staying upstairs?”
“Yeah.”
“Seems we’re already giving her help,” grumbles Snips. He looks particularly rough this morning, and I’m reminded of the bottle of whiskey he insisted on finishing late last night.
“We’ve given her club protection,” Raiden says.
All eyes turn to Prez. He remains leaning against the wall, but the steely tone of his voice is a reminder to everyone what club protection means.
If the club offers anyone protection, then we protect them with our lives. We’re all veterans here. We all know what that means.