Page 17 of October's Ride with Atlas

The food is all more than I ever eat for breakfast. Omelets, toast, bacon, and fresh fruit.

“Normally, I just have pop tarts or cereal for breakfast. This is way too much,” I tell him.

“No more of that junk. I’m gonna cook for you every morning.”

“You don’t have time for that. You have a club to run,” I tell him.

“We make time for what is important to us, and you are important to me.”

His words impress me because he is more serious than I’ve heard him to date. I get the feeling this isn’t a topic to argue with him about, so I nod and accept it, for now.

“Speaking of the club,” he says, “I hate to have to cut in on your lazy day, but I got word a few of my guys will be here soon to talk. You can hang out here and keep reading or you are free to join us…. with more clothes on, of course.”

As his eyes run over my body, even though I’m in his shirt with only my legs exposed, I feel a jolt of electricity. Apparently, I hadn’t realized he was slowly pulling the blanket down, so now it’s around my knees.

“When talk of club business is going on, I didn’t think women were allowed to be present,” I say, knowing the rules my dad set up.

Atlas doesn’t say anything as he stacks up the empty plates on the tray and sets the tray on the floor beside the bed. Then, in one unexpected move, he pulls me into his lap.

“Forget all those rules you learned from your dad that apply to Savage Bones. We do things differently because we are a family. Since you are mine, that means you are part of the family. You are welcome to come and sit with me. I’d actually prefer it because I like you at my side. Even a room away makes me antsy,” he admits before kissing my neck just under my ear.

“Okay, I’d like to get to know the guys anyway,” I say, thinking how nice it is to be included in a family, even if it’s still brand new.

“Good. Get dressed and come meet me in the living room,” he says before he disappears into his closet to get dressed.

Going to the bathroom, I do my business, and by the time I walk into the bedroom, he’s already gone.

I slip into a pair of jeans, but hesitate before grabbing one of my t-shirts. When I see a gray Army t-shirt sitting on the shelf, I smile because I know it wasn’t there earlier. Humming, I put it on and tie it at my side to make it fit better.

Entering the living room, I freeze when I see Atlas on one of the chairs and three other guys on the large couch, and one standing behind it.

All but one of the guys looks familiar from my time at the clubhouse. But the only name I remember is Thunder, the one who is standing behind the couch. Though I’m pretty sure the man on the right side of the couch is the one who stopped me from escaping and grabbed my arm, which led to me being handcuffed.

They all look at me, which causes Atlas to look over at me. He smiles and holds out his hand. When I take it, he pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me close to him.

The men continue on like it’s nothing for their president to have a girl on his lap. I wonder if this is a normal thing or if they talked about me while I was still in the bedroom.

“So, Malice knows you’re here,” one of the older guys on the couch says. “We made sure of it, and have the woods staked out. With the cabin backing to the mountain, there is only one way in and out. We have the advantage here, but we still staked a few extra guys in the woods to be safe.”

“Thank you, Scar. You and Viper stay here in the cabin. Your orders are to protect Bex at all costs. We know she is who they will be going after. I plan to have a talk with Malice and see if we can end this once and for all. It’s gone on way too long,” Atlas says.

“Lightning and I will join you when they get here,” Thunder says.

I learned they are brothers, so it makes sense they would stick together.

A few days ago, I’d have been elated that my dad and his men were on the way. Now the thought of seeing them face to face terrifies me. Because I never thought to pay attention, or eavesdrop when my dad was meeting with his men, I don’t even have anything to help Atlas negotiate. Mistakenly, I trusted my father.

“Hey you, okay?” Atlas says, and I notice the other guys looking at me too. “You’re tensing up. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to go back there. The thought of what they will do to me because I didn’t manage to escape…” I say, then stop because I can’t think about it.

“Hey. You are safe and will continue to be safe. You aren’t going back there if you don’t want to. No one will force you to do anything unless it’s what you want,” he says.

Even though I nod in agreement, I don’t want them to know that no matter what, I do need to talk to Dad. I need to hear the truth from him. I want that more than anything, but I’m terrified to admit it.

CHAPTER 9

ATLAS

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