Page 3 of Protected By the Biker

I stare toward her, catching tears as they fall. It’s my job to notice details. If I miss a cracked door, a snapped branch, a lie, a faint noise in the distance, it’s my life. The benefit of having had a close relationship with her for almost two years now is that I know her tells. I know her body. I know her mind. I know her well enough to know when she’s falling apart, and Collette is broken.

I don’t like that. I didn’t leave her broken. I left her happy. If she’d never found out about my job, she’d still be with me. We’d be pregnant. We’d have a home, a life… together.

She drags in a deep breath and twists her hair to the side. “Look, aren’t you worried about bringing all this… bounty shit to Rugged Mountain? It’s a small town. Everyone has guns. They’ll rebel.”

“I talked to Henry and Maddox. They’re cool with it as long as my MC keeps the bullshit out of town.”

She laughs. “And the current MC? They’re just going to roll over and let you stomp all over their territory? Those dudes are cool, but not like that.”

“No, I’ve worked out a deal. Our focus is going to bounties and the stuff they don’t want. Kane and Diesel are fine, but they’re working with a small team. This gives them an opportunity to do more of their charity work like the lodge.”

“So why don’t you guys join them?”

“We like a different structure and a lot less rules.” I chuckle a little as I say, “Our MC is more… free range.”

She looks away and sighs. “You’re crazy. So, what, you’re just going to kill people and drag them up off to—”

“It’s not all death and killing. Bounties these days favor bringing in people more. It just depends on the bounty. That said, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. Both ways still involve… necessary force.”

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms in front of her chest. I’ve always loved it when she gets defiant.

“Look, it’s my job, and I’m glad I can do it from home now instead of bouncing all over the place. Now that you know all the details of that… tell me about this guy. What happened to you since I saw you last?”

“Nothing happened to me. I’m fine.” She lowers her arms and turns away, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Lots of women get pregnant. I have to go to work.”

I hate that she’s working, that she’s walking, that she’s pregnant, and no one is taking care of her. I hate that her muscles are knotted and I’m not there to loosen them. I hate that as much as I want to scoop her up and carry her home, I know that’ll only push her further away.

Instead, I follow behind at a distance while I dial up my buddy, Outlaw. He’s been riding with me for over ten years, and we see things on the same level. If I need something done, he doesn’t question it and vice versa.

“Yeah.”

“Hey. Can you look someone up for me?”

“Sure. One second. Let me grab a pen.” He fumbles through what sounds like a drawer. “Go ahead.”

“Collette McAdams. I need to know who she was dating last year up in Wyoming. She was there a little less than a year, so there shouldn’t be much data on her, but maybe you can find an apartment lease or something.”

“Collette? Isn’t that the girl that—”

“Yeah, so keep it between us.”

Outlaw grunts. “I’ll get back to you within the day.”

“Thanks. How you holdin’ up? Any word on that woman you’re hunting?”

“Nah, man. Nothing. I’m thinking of shifting gears and trying a new strategy. We’ll see. I have a new mapping system coming in tomorrow. I’m hoping it shows some areas that haven’t been noted on the old shit we’re working with.”

“Let me know. I better get moving.”

The line disconnects and I jog up the street, watching Collette as she slips into the general store and ties an apron in place over her stomach. She’s wearing a hoodie, but it doesn’t hide her belly. Does she really think she’s concealing this? Or maybe she was just concealing it from me.

Nearly a year and not much has changed. The same lines dot her face. The same smile spreads as she helps people in town. That’s what I like most about her. She’s sweet. Where I’m a fucking monster, she’s considerate, caring, and loving. I can’t believe she’s gonna be a mother. I’m sure she’s going to be amazing at that, too.

I walk through the cereal aisle and start thinking of how few groceries I have at home. Last I checked, there was a freezer full of venison, but not much else. I really need to stock up.

A man steps into the store. I haven’t seen him before. He’s tall and thin with a bald head and thick, black-brimmed glasses. There’s a limp in his left leg and a hairy mole on his cheek that’s terribly unfortunate. He scans the store but skips over the cart and the baskets. This is odd. If you’re shopping for groceries, usually you at least grab a basket. Maybe he only needs one thing.

I trail behind, watching as he works his way across the store and toward the front. He seems to be making a beeline for my little cat, and I don’t like that.

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