Page 10 of Saving Helena

Secretly, I’vealways loved Haverboro, eventhough there was nothing outwardlyremarkableabout it. It was just anothertinyArizona town hovering on the edges of the bigger cities. It had always been just hanging on with a few small businesses scattered with strip malls in between.

I supposed it was home, though; I got that comforting sense when I was there.That idea that I knew where every shortcut was, thatI’dmade memories there, and where everything was.I realized I missed it.

Leaning against thestation brick,I thought about the call I needed to make.As a teenager, I had the worst crush on Maddox.I’dneverpreciselygotten over it. He was the source of all my dirty fantasies, evenif he never gave me the time of day.I’dspent more time touching myself thinking about Maddox Bishop thanI’dcare to admit.

When he came to work for my dad, hemade an instant impact onme.He was broody andhandsomebut also more than a little frightening.Maddox wasthe tortured soulthat women always thought they could fix.The ones with pain in the corners of their eyes.He put an immediate stop to any daydreams about him, though.

I could still remember his biting comments. Thinking back to one encounter with him...

“What do you want, littlegirl?”His mocking laughonlymade me angrier. Maddox was new to the Brotherhood, and I was sure my dad would befuriousto hear how he was talking to me. Still, standing there clutching myschoolbooks, I was torn between wanting to run and wanting to stand up to him.

“Idon’twant anything,”I bit my lip.“Youshouldn’ttalk to me like that, youknow. Dadwouldn’tlike it.”I threw in, mainly because Icouldn’thelp myself. I couldtattle on him for being a prick, but I tried not to do things like that.

“Youshouldn’tbe here.”He lit his cigarette, blowing smoke in my direction intentionally.

Wrinkling my noseinconfusion,I looked around the clubhouse. There was nobody here besides Maddox. It was empty this early afternoon; mostof the guys were out on runs or whatever motorcycle club business they had. There was no reason for me not to be there. My daddidn’tlike me to be in the main club area at night when the guys got wild andthe club bunnies were down here, but whywouldn’tI be here now?

It was the time of the day when the music was off, and the club was quiet. A time when I could go to the kitchen, Amber,Whitney’soldlady, would be in the kitchen to make me a grilled cheese sandwich the way I liked.She’dhelp me with my English homework if I wanted.

“What do you mean? Schoolis finishedfor the day. Where else would I be?”I was confused.

“Not in a motorcycle club. That’s where.”

Understanding washed over me. Oh, I see.Hedisapproved of me living here and what Daddy had done to keep me at the club.

“That’snot your decision.Where I live,”I answered snottily.“You’renot the president of the Brotherhood,”I said with a frown.“You’renot in charge of me and what I do, MaddoxBishop.”

“Well,you’renot wrong about that princess.”Throwing back hiswhiskey, he stood anddidn’tlook away from me as he did. Jesus, he was huge. He’d have been better looking if hehadn’tconfused me somuch, but he still caused a thrill to run through me. Growing up around the club had provided me with no shortage of good-looking men to look at. Plenty thatweren’tas rude as this asshole.

“Stay away from me,”he said as he walked away.

“No problem,”I retorted, not sure what his problem was, but strangely hurt. Waiting until he was good and gone, I headed towards the kitchen, swearingthat Maddox Bishopwouldn’tever have any power to say where I could andcouldn’tbe.

The memory washed over me. The idea that I needed MaddoxBishop’shelp was sour in my mouth. Granted, the last time I saw him at myfather’sfuneral was a different story.He’dmellowed, even eyed me with interest instead of barely concealed dislike. Although he had told me to leave – Ihad always gotten mixed messages from Maddox.

Still, I hated to call. Getting away from Maddox was one of the reasons that I’d pushed myself to stay in the city. After my dad’s death, I could have returned to Haverboro and come home. However, Maddox had made it clear that I wasn’t welcome. That had been a depressing realization for me on top of my dad dying, not being wanted.

Finally, I went ahead and dialed his number. Staring down at myConverse,I let my blond hair fall forward as the phone rang and tried to ignore the feeling of anxiety spiking.

“Helena?”His tone was careful.“Is that you? Why are you calling?”“Maddox demanded, his voice laced with concern.”.

Maddox always sounded pissed off, andtoday was no exception. The growl that seemed to always be present in his voice was rough over the line, hitting me in the belly, but the relief at his voice almost made me sob.

“Yeah,Maddox,it’sme. Look,I’min town at the bus station.”I hesitated for a minute and then plunged forward,unsurewhy it was so hard to get the words out.“Is there any way you can send someone for me? I need your help.”There was no way I wanted to go over everything over the phone.

“Just tell me ifyou’realright.”I could hear him getting up, thenoise of the clubin the background, music, and voices—familiar childhood sounds.“I’mon my way right now, princess.Don’tmove.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it, Maddox.”

“Are you hurt?” There was an odd note of panic in his voice and then a faint, “Get the fuck out of my way, asshole.”

“I’mok.”I tried to make my voice brighter, butI wassleepy, andit hadbeen a crappy day.“I’mat the bus station.”I slid the phone into my pocket with a sigh and waited for him.

Itwasn’tlong until I could hear the unmistakable throaty rumble that meant my ride was there. The roar of a motorcycle engine grew louder, resonating through the narrow streets of Haverboro.Adjusting my leather jacket, Itriedto shield myself from the biting evening windwhippingthrough the alley.Pulling my jacket tighter aroundme, the Arizona desert could be chilly in the evening.

As the rumble drew nearer, Icouldn’thelp but feel a mix of relief and anxiety. The club had always been my home in the past, a place where I felt safe and protected. But Ihadn’tplanned on returning now that my father had passed away. Ever. That life was supposed to be over.Before,I had a specific place there, one shelteredfrom the one women typically have at the club.Don’tget me wrong, Ididn’tlook down on any of the girls there, but my plan never included working at the club.My father was always adamant that he wanted a different future for me.A future that consisted of a life with a career and a husband.I’munsureifI wanted that, but I was happy to go to college and spread my wings.

A motorcycle rounded the corner, Maddox on his imposing black Dyna Glide. Some thingsdidn’tchange.

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