Page 21 of Pike

“I need help.”

“Feather? You got my shit?”

“I need help, Pike. I … I didn’t know who else to call.”

“What happened?”

“He brought me to a different club,” I tell him. I hear him curse on the other end of the line.

“Where? What club?”

“I don’t know. It says RRMC on the sign.”

“Fuck, Feather. Are you still there?”

“I’m outside. The guy, he caught me trying to steal the wallet.”

“He hurt you?”

“I just need help, Pike.”

“I’m comin’. I need to know where you are now.”

I tell him I’m going to walk down the street so I’m no longer near the club. I give him the best directions I can as I try to force my feet to move. Even after the line goes dead, I hold the phone close to me in case they come back after me.

I’m stumbling down the road when I hear the rev of an engine and look up. I see Pike coming toward me, pulling to the side of the road. He climbs off his bike and walks closer when his face falls.

“What the hell did they do to you?”

“I’m okay.”

“You’re not okay.”

“I am. He caught me.”

“And the boyfriend?” he asks, sounding disgusted even saying it.

“He left me there,” I tell him as a tear runs down my cheek.

“He fuckin’ left you to that? I’ll fuckin’ rip his ass apart,” he growls when we hear screams coming from down the road. Pike looks past me and then back at me. “We need to go.” I nod my head as he reaches out his hand and grabs my wrist, pulling me along with him. He grabs a helmet from the saddle bag and places it on my head before helping me on the bike. My skirt hikes up my thighs, but I don’t care what anyone can see at this point. I just want out of here.

Pike climbs on and revs his bike before doing a U-turn and taking off down the road. I notice he keeps checking the mirrors, no doubt making sure we weren’t followed.

He takes the curves quickly and we ride through the city until pulling up at his clubhouse. He kills the engine, and we both climb off the bike while I adjust my skirt. He eyes me, takes me in, and then motions for me to follow him inside. I pull the helmet off my head and leave it on the seat as I do what I’m told. Typically, I’m bold and wouldn’t listen to him, but not today. Now isn’t the time.

I follow behind Pike as we walk inside, and all eyes turn to me. Some look angry, while others don’t. I lower my gaze to my feet when I see boots come into view. His hand comes up to my cheek, lifting my face to look at him.

“Don’t do that. Don’t change who you are just because they look at you.”

“I’m sorry for what I did,” I tell him.

“I know you are.”

“They don’t know that.”

“They do know that. I told them that.” Now I lift my head and look at him. He looks sincere as he looks down at me.

“I mean it, Pike. I’m sorry,” I repeat. He nods his head when his hands come up to cup my cheeks. Tears pool in my eyes from the way he’s looking at me. Like I’m the only person in the world. It’s only me and him. I don’t understand this. I don’t understand any of this.

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