Page 12 of The Bikers Redemption

“Is it true? Do you really love him, Serena?” he asks, his voice sounding sincere.

I almost choke on the food in my mouth and continue to chew, wondering how best to answer this without angering him, “I thought you didn’t want to talk about Luca anymore.”

“I don’t,” he clips. “But I need to know. Do you love him the same as you loved me?” The back of his knuckles run down my cheek, and my eyes get lost in his deep blue ones. The truth is, I could never compare the two. But I love Luca, maybe not the same as Harley, but love is there.

“I do.”

His jaw tightens, and I know it’s not what he wants to hear. I want to add ‘but not as much as I loved you,’ but I can’t. I can’t do that to Luca, and Harley doesn’t deserve to hear those words. He hurt me, and if he thinks he can simply go back to the way things were, then hewillbe disappointed.

He clears his throat. “Well, I guess that’s that.” He gets up off the bed and heads to the door. Opening it, he stands there for a minute and says, “I love you, Serena… always have, always will. Youwillforget Luca. This I promise you,” he says, and it’s only a whisper, but I can hear it. He shuts the door behind him, and I sit there for a minute, trying to catch my thoughts.

What the hell am I going to do?

***

I must be crazy.

He’s going to catch me, and then I’ll be locked in the room.

I need to be careful.

This isnotthe time to get caught.

I almost changed my mind because I never expected Harley to come and sleep in my room. At least he agreed to sleep on the couch and not in the bed with me. But still, I have been staring at the ceiling for what seems like hours, waiting for him to fall into a deep sleep.

Then, finally, the light sounds of his snoring are like music to my ears. Still fully dressed, I tiptoe to the bedroom door, turn and look at Harley on the couch, and then try to be careful not to wake him.

My hand reaches for the doorknob, and I am cautious not to make a sound as I turn the handle, praying it doesn’t make a sound. It doesn’t, and I let out the breath I was holding slowly. Pulling lightly on the door, it opens, and I sneak through, making sure I close it quietly behind me.

Step one—done.

Now, I need to make it safely outside.

The floor creaks as I make my way to the top of the steps, and I’m still waiting to see if anyone comes and checks on the noise.

Thank God no one is there. I take the steps down to the first floor one at a time, being super careful not to make the floor creak again.

It’s dead quiet when I reach the first level, and I can’t believe my luck. I take the last steps to the front door and go to open it, but it’s locked. “Shoot.”

“Looking for something?” a voice asks from behind me.

Harley.

Feeling defeated, I turn to face him, holding a set of keys in his hand at the top of the stairs.

Dammit!Why didn’t I think they locked the door and kept the key?

He takes a few steps down and stands several feet away. He’s wearing track pants that sit low on his hips, showing off his narrow waist and bare chest.

“Um… I was just going to get some fresh air.”

“Is that right? Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come with you,” he says sarcastically. “Good try, Serena.”

“What? It’s not as if I were going to run away.”

“Of course, you weren’t. Looks like I’ll have to lock your bedroom door.”

Stepping closer, I plead, “No… I promise I won’t try to leave again. There’s no reason to lock me in.” His hand comes out and swipes a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “Lockusin, baby, notyou.”

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