Page 51 of Sophia, Property of Tracker

TRACKER

Present

Entering the room with anger still seething through me, I notice Sophia is lying in bed. I shut the door quietly, then walk toward the bed, finding she’s fast asleep.

I want to wake her and have it out with her. I need her to understand that she can’t dress like that around my brothers, especially when I haven’t claimed her. I go to wake her but then change my mind. She looks so peaceful, and she’s had a big day, not to mention Tash’s appearance and now the fight between Gunner and me.

Gunner, what the fuck was he thinking?I know I may have overreacted, but he has no business being alone with my woman, and I didn’t like how her hands were on him. Sure, she was helping him, but I don’t care. I don’t want her touching any other man but me. My reaction to my feelings is new to me, as I have never felt this protective before. I mean, I knew that when she came here, I would have to warn men off, but not Gunner, not my brother. I let it go tonight because he’s drunk, and I need to consider that.

Making my way to the shower, I shut the door, not wanting to disturb her.

After we argued about Tash and Sophia wanting to leave, I moved into Bear’s room, setting up some blankets and pillows on the floor. The man sleeps naked, so there’s no way I’m sleeping beside him.

I was tossing and turning, thinking about what Tash had said, mentioning she had a child and that he was mine, then to the look on Sophia’s face when I caught her packing her bags, and I panicked. I couldn’t let her walk away without talking it out.

I know how it may seem to her—here comes a woman out of the blue, claiming that I’ve had a son with her. Of course, she would react the way she did. But she has to know I had no idea that Tash even had a son, let alone claiming that he’s mine. I’ll have to deal with her shit as well, but right now, Sophia is my main priority. I have to make things right with her.

With these thoughts running rampant through my mind and the loud snoring coming out of Bear’s mouth, I gave up on trying to sleep and decided that some time in the gym would do me good. While in there, I heard voices and decided to investigate. When I walked in, anger had consumed me—there was Sophia, her hands on Gunner and his on her, their closeness causing me to see red.

Yeah, she may have been trying to help him, but the vision of them together sent me fucking crazy. My rage blinded me, and I took it out on her. Gunner deserved that punch talking about how I haven’t claimed Sophia yet. I may not have given her my cut, but still, you don’t touch another brother’s woman. I don’t give a fuck what your excuse is.

After Sophia left the room, I warned Gunner to stay away from her. All he could do was nod his head. The man was intoxicated, so I decided now wasn’t the time to have it out with him. I walked him to his room, helped him take off his boots, and let him fall to his bed. It wasn’t long before he was snoring. I was heading back to Bear’s room, but I had to check on Sophia. I wanted to admit to her that I overreacted, but I also wanted to explain what it’s like being a biker and what our code is with each other’s women.

But something tells me she wouldn’t care about what I had to say.

Drying myself off, I turn off the light, then tiptoe out of my bathroom and head for the dresser, where I quietly grab a clean pair of boxers. Daisy, a woman we call our mom around here, always does our washing—I don’t know what we would do without her. Daisy was Bull’s ol’ lady, and she chose to stick around after he passed. Daisy said that the club was like her second home and would be lost if she wasn’t here looking after us.

Standing at the edge of the bed, I continue to watch Sophia as she takes even breaths. I contemplate whether or not I should leave and head to Bear’s room or stay here and slide into bed with her. She looks so goddamn tempting, so I decide that it is my bed and slide beneath the sheets beside her. I want to pull her to me and have her rest against my body like she always does, but I don’t. I let her continue to sleep, and I turn around to face the other way, not wanting to disturb her.

A few minutes pass, and just as I’m dozing off to sleep, I feel an arm wrap around my waist, and a body slides up against me.

Smiling to myself, I let sleep claim me.

SOPHIA

Present

My eyes flutter open, and I place my hand beside me, the sheets are warm, but there’s no one there. I was so sure Ryan was in bed with me last night I could feel him and his scent lingering on me.I must be going insane.

“Good morning, baby.”

Surprised by a voice, I quickly sit up and look to the corner of the room. Ryan sits in the armchair with a box in his lap. Rubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands, I adjust my vision to ensure I see correctly. The vision is indeed Ryan. He’s sitting there wearing a white T-Shirt with his cut over the top and dark denim jeans. His hair is still wet from a recent shower.

“What time is it? I ask, my voice coming out in a husky tone.

“It’s ten thirty.” Ryan stands, walks over to the bed, and sits beside me, placing the box next to him. He runs his fingers through my hair and places it behind my ear. “How did you sleep?” Yawning and stretching my arms above my head, I reply. “Good, thanks. How long have you been up?”

He shrugs. “Maybe an hour. I didn’t want to wake you… you had a big day yesterday.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“What’s in the box?”

He smiles. “Something I wanted to give to you last night but after what happened, it didn’t seem right.”

Crap! That’s right, his ex, Tash, was here, claiming she’s had his child.

The girl inside me is jumping with joy, knowing he has a gift for me, but part of me is still upset and confused. And what’s with how he overreacted last night with Gunner and me. Doesn’t he trust me? I thought he did, yet there he was, jumping to conclusions about us.

---