Page 11 of Rider

I dropped my eyes from his face and looked at our joined hands. I could tell him and let him into my life or I could risk never getting close to him and keep him shut out. I took a deep breath and made my decision. “Rider, I’m sorry I didn’t return any of your messages or calls. After you dropped me off I got a text from my ex completely out of the blue. It made me sick,that’s how upset it made me. He wants to see Colton and I can’t even bear the thought of him going near him. I’m terrified he’ll try to take him.” I choked on a sob that I was holding in. I took a second to catch my breath. “I didn’t look at my phone at all Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t even see your messages till this morning when I finally turned my phone back on.”

He let go of my hands and pulled me into his body, hugging me tight against him. He rubbed my back in slow circles and caressed the back of my head, keeping me tight against his chest. He leaned down and put his nose into my hair and took a deep breath. It felt good to be held like this, it made me feel cherished. It made me want to cry because I hadn’t felt like this in so long—maybe ever. I think the last time I felt taken care of was when I was a child.

When we pulled away from each other, he put his fingers under my chin and raised my face to look at him. “I promise you Rayleighn, I’m going to help you with this. I’ll take care of it. You let me handle it.”

I believed that he would-that he could.

“Come on, let’s go back out there, introduce me as your boyfriend and then I’ll take you home and we can figure it all out.”

His words made me smile. I clasped his hand in mine and we walked hand in hand back to the table and I did exactly as he asked.

Rider

I played it cool on the outside but on the inside I was furious. I could barely keep my emotions under controlled. We walked back through the bar and when I caught the eye of some of my brothers they knew I wasn’t right. I held on to my Ladybug’s hand as she introduced me to her friend and I tried my best to be friendly but it was hard to be pleasant when I was seething inside. I excused myself for a brief moment to settle the bill but at the same time I needed to get a moment to get my emotions under control. I didn’t want to wait any longer to start the wheels moving on tracking down her low life ex.

Griz, Ink and Hammer were all at the club and came over to me the moment I got away from the girls. When I stepped up to the bar, Griz spoke low enough for only the four of us to hear. “What’s going on? What’s happened? You look like you’re about to commit murder and that’s not a smart idea, Brother.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s something like that. Ray just told me that her dirtbag ex who was physically aggressive with her reached out for the first time in years and wants to see the kid he’s never even met. She’s shaken up and she doesn’t deserve it. She’s done nothing but get her life together and try to raise her son right.”

Hammer shook his head. “What a fucking dick. He used to beat her and when she was pregnant? Seems to me someone needs to teach him some manners. And I don’t mind if that person is me. Your girl seems nothing but good from the time I’ve seen her. I for one would like to see you keep her around.”

I gave Hammer a small grin because he was right, “Yeah, my point exactly and that’s my plan, Brother, but I can’t have her living scared and under the threat of him coming around.”

Griz pulled out his phone. “Find out what number he called her from and get me the information on him. Name, last known address. Anything you can. I’ll work on it. We’ll find him and we’ll set him straight.”

I nodded to him. “Yeah and when we do find him. I want to be the one to make him understand that his actions have consequences.”

Griz slapped me on the back, “I wouldn’t have it any other way brother. I’ll just be there for moral support and to make sure you don’t end up in jail. Or at least not alone in jail.” His joke gave the moment some much needed levity. My rage had calmed down some, knowing that the guys would be there to support and help me in any way that they could. One thing was for sure, I wasn’t going to let Rayleighn be anywhere near that prick ever again.

The guys and I said our goodbyes and I walked back over to Ray’s table. She had never taken off her coat and was sitting at the edge of the booth clearly ready to go but Carmen looked the complete opposite. She had settled in with her drink and seemed to be nursing it. “Ray baby, you ready to get out of here?”

She nodded and got up from the table. She leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Carmen wants to stay but will she be ok here alone? Is it safe for her to stay by herself?” I looked at her and then at Carmen.

“Carmen, I can assure you no harm will come to you if you stay here but if you’d like to leave I can escort you home as well.”

She smiled and shook her head. “No, I want to stay for a bit and see if any of these big strong men will have the nerve to introduce themselves.”

I had to give it to her, she had balls sitting in a bar full of tatted up, leather wearing guys triple her size all around her. I looked around the club and finally spotted who I was looking for, I whistled and shouted, “Ink!” Within a second Ink was standing beside Ray and I and looking down at the woman sitting at the table. “Ink, this is Rayleighn’s friend, Carmen. I’m taking Ray home but I want you to make sure that Carmen here has a good time and sees herself safely home at the end of the night. Understood?”

“Sure boss. No problem at all.”

I could already see him sizing her up. I leaned into him. “No funny stuff. It’s her friend and Ray’s going to be around a long time. You got me?”

Ink gave me a look but affirmed, “Yeah, I got you.”

I clapped him on the back and tipped my head to Carmen to tell her goodnight. Finally, I had Rayleighn under my arm as we walked out of the club and into the cold night air. “Where’s your car?”

“It’s in the lot across from the salon.”

“What the hell baby, you walked here?” I shook my head. “Babe, I don’t like the idea of you walking in the dark around this area. I get that it’s a short walk but this isn’t the greatest part of town and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please promise me that you won’t walk anymore. Take the car no matter what or call me and I’ll come get you. From now on that’s how I want it. It’s to keep you safe and with that prick of an ex of yours trying to make a guest appearance in your life again it’s for the best.”

She nodded. “I can do that. I promise, no more walking. I’ll take the car.”

I led her to my bike and helped her strap my helmet on to her head. I didn’t typically ride around with a second one so I wasn’t prepared. I sat on the bike and when she got on behind me she wrapped her arms around me. It was as if she was made just for me. We fit together.

After we picked up her car, I followed her to her house to make sure she got home safely. I parked my bike in her driveway and walked her to her door. When I expected to kiss her goodnight she surprised me by asking if I’d like to come inside.

“You could meet Colton but no pressure if you don’t want to.” She said as she looked down at the keys in her hand. I knew this was a big deal. I knew meeting her son was a big deal and a big deal to my Ladybug. She hadn’t let anyone in her life except her neighbor and maybe Carmen. I would be the first man to really meet her son. I could feel my chest swell with pride with the thought that I would be the first real man he could have in his life.

---