Page 4 of Ink

“MC?” she questioned, “does that stand for something?”

He chuckled, “Yeah, I sometimes forget that people who don’t live in my world might not understand the lingo. It stands for motorcycle club. I’m a member of the Road Reapers. I joined them shortly after I moved here. Hell, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have stayed in town or been able to open my business. The guys in the Reapers have become my brothers and for a kid who was raised by his grandpa and had no other family, that I know of at least, that means the world. I know that the guys will always have my back, and that works both ways.”

“That sounds nice,” Charlie said, looking out the window as they drove through the small town. “It was always me and my sister,” she said. “My father wasn’t easy to get along with and well, my mother just refused to stand up to him. But I knew that I could always count on my sister, and before I met Zeb, she could count on me. Now, I just can’t seem to get my life straight, and I feel like I just drag her down into my messy problems.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case,” Ink offered, trying to make her feel better.

“I’d like to say that you’re right, but I haven’t been the best sister,” she mumbled.

“You said that you’d go back with your ex whenever he found you at your sister’s, wanting to protect her,” he reminded.

“Yes, but I was foolish for putting her in danger in the first place,” she insisted.

“But you made sure that she stayed safe by putting yourself in danger, Charlie. I’d say that makes you a damn good sister.” Charlie shook her head, and he was sure that he was arguing a moot point. He could tell that she had been so beaten down and defeated, she might never have any self-esteem.

He pulled into the driveway and opened his garage, parking inside. “Home sweet home,” he whispered.

“This place is great,” she said. “How old is your home?”

“Well, the actual house part was built in 1850, but the garage was something that I had added on when I bought the place. I knew that winters around her can be brutal, so I decided that a garage was a viable expense. Plus, I needed someplace to store my baby,” he said.

“Your baby stays in the garage?” she asked, rubbing her belly.

He chuckled, “Yeah, my baby,” he said, nodding to the motorcycle in the next bay over. “My bike. I call her my baby.” She giggled for the first time since running into his shop and he was convinced that she should always laugh like that. “I like it when you laugh,” he almost whispered.

“Yeah, I guess that it’s much better than crying, right?” she asked.

Ink nodded, causing her to giggle again. “How about I show you around inside and you can get settled while I make a few phone calls. We can run down to the local precinct and file the paperwork for a restraining order.”

“Will I have to press charges against Zeb?” she asked. He knew that no cop downtown would take one look at her blackand blue face, and not advise her to file charges against her asshole ex.

“I’m sure that the police will want you to file charges against him. It will make your job easier,” he admitted. “And it will definitely stop him from coming after you anymore.”

“Can I have some time to weigh my options?” she asked. He didn’t understand what kind of options she needed to weigh, but he didn’t want to spook her or talk her into something that she wasn’t ready for.

“Sure,” he agreed, “but the longer you take, the more time you’re giving your ex to find you.” He knew that he was playing hardball, but he needed to get that one fact across to her before he showed her around his place. Then, he was going to call Mace and the Blaine brothers to give him a bit of help. Actually, Ink was going to ask for more than a bit of help, because he had a feeling that protecting Charlie, and her unborn baby was going to take a whole lot of help from his friends down at the Road Reapers.

After he showed Charlie around his house and helped her settle in the guest bedroom, across from his room, he decided to take a minute to call Mace. He knew that his club’s Prez would be able to get the guys together for a quick meeting. It was going to have to be at his place, since leaving his new house guest wasn’t an option.

Mace answered his phone and growled, “This better be good Ink.” If he had to guess, Mace was either having a shitty day, or he was fucking his hot, new wife. Mace had filled him in on Brooke’s niece living with them and Ink knew that having private time with a teen in the house must be tough.

“It is,” Ink insisted. “I need a favor, and it can’t wait.”

“Hold on,” Mace said. Ink could tell that he had his hand over the phone like he was on a landline or something. The thought of Mace doing that almost made Ink want to laugh. He heard Mace say something about seeing someone later, and Ink knew that his second guess was correct.

“I’m back,” Mace grumbled.

“I’m sorry that I interrupted whatever you had going on, man,” Ink insisted.

“I don’t want to talk about having to watch my wife walk out of my office unsatisfied because you interrupted,” Mace said. “Now, tell me this problem that you have so that I can meet Brooke at home and finish what she started.” Ink felt a pang of jealousy—something that he had no right to feel about Mace and his wife. He was happy for his married buddies, but a part of him worried that cupid had passed him over because the women in his life didn’t stick around for very long. And finding a girlfriend in a small, new town wasn’t as easy as he had hoped. His fresh start had been a lonely one, but he wasn’t about to give up.

“Cutting to the chase then,” Ink breathed. “I was at my shop today and a pregnant woman came running in crying. Her face was black and blue and after she told me that her ex-husband was chasing her down and that he was the one who beat her up.”

“So, you asked her to come home with you, right?” Mace said. Ink wasn’t sure if he was asking or telling him.

“Yeah,” Ink breathed. “I really could use some help.”

“How can I help?” Mace asked.

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