Page 8 of The MC's Little Brother

“I need you to come with me. Tank says he’s hurt.” It wasn’t easy to say out loud. I was worried for the kid. I knew what kind of damage Jorge could do.

Melissa sucked in a breath, and her spine straightened. “Okay. Let me just…” She frowned, looking at her brother. “I came with Skylar. Can I send my bag back with you? I assume we’re taking Wraith’s bike?”

She shot a questioning look at me, and I nodded. I wasn’t leaving my bike behind, and it’d be better if we stuck together.

Prez seemed to agree. “Sounds good. Do you want me to talk to the crew or–”

“Not yet. Let me figure out what’s going on first. I might need your help when you get back.”

If it was true, I was taking custody of the kid. I doubted Jorge would put up much of a fight. He never cared much about being a father. He wanted to get rid of me so many times, I lost count. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know how to take care of a kid on my own. At least I wouldn’t beat the boy. It was leaps and bounds better than what Jorge had to offer.

5

Melissa

When Wraith approached me at the bar, I thought he was going to get pissy about me leaving again. I knew he was only sticking around to make sure I got back safely. Never in a million years did I think he’d be asking for help for something like this. If I had the time, I’d be rooted in place from the shock, but Wraith was obviously messed up about it. It was more important for us to get back home and figure things out than it was to give myself a chance to come to terms with what was happening. I’d freak out later.

I hurried back to my room to gather my things, putting the more important things in my purse while leaving the rest for Wyatt to bring back for me. It was just clothes. I had more at home. By the time I finished, Wraith was checking both of us out of our rooms and Wyatt was on the phone, so I took a second to send a quick text to Skylar and Maggie that I had to head back for work and Wraith was taking me so they knew I was safe. It wasn’t unusual for me to work odd hours as a nurse; I absolutely loved my job, and I volunteered a lot to be there when shifts needed to be covered.

They texted back for me to travel safe just as Wraith finished up. He turned, scanning the lobby, and when his eyes landed on me, he tipped hishead toward the lobby door. I nodded and headed that way, meeting him and Wyatt as we all went outside together.

“I checked in with Tank. The kid agreed to stay with him for the night. Don’t rush back. Be safe about it. He’s not going anywhere for now,” Wyatt coached. We both could see how stressed Wraith was. It wasn’t like him. He was the stoic, silent type, never showing his cards beforehand. To be visually anxious meant this was a lot for him to deal with.

“Want me to drive?” I offered, even though I already knew the answer. But it pulled him out of his spiral long enough to give me a flat look.

“Not gonna happen. Let’s go.”

I climbed on behind him, ignoring the thrill that shot through me being on the back of his bike. I loved riding, and I looked forward to a long ride, but it was more than that. No matter how hard I stuffed down my feelings for Wraith, it didn’t make it any easier to be pressed up against him for a few hours. I borrowed Skylar’s helmet, since she drove here so she could bring the babies along anyway, strapping it on while Wyatt continued talking to Wraith.

“Text me when you get there. And let me know what you need from me once you’ve got more information.”

Wraith nodded at him before starting his engine. The low rumble beneath me stole my breath away. Wraith’s bike was sexy. Anyone who said anything different was blind. I set my hands on his waist, biting back a squeal when we pulled away from the curb. I wanted my own bike, but Wyatt and my dad always talked me out of it. They didn’t have anything against female bikers. They just didn't want me on one alone. Overprotective much? Still, I considered it again as we drove through the chilly nighttime air. It’d be a fun way to get to work. I wouldn’t love the drive home at night, though, especially in the chillier months. Despite wearing a jacket, I was cold, and practically plastered myself against Wraith’s back to keep warm. When he pulled over, I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings, so I didn’t understand until he shrugged off his leather jacket and handed it to me.

“Put this on.”

“What? No way. You’ll be cold. I’m fine.”

He looked at me over his shoulder, that stoic blank look back in place. “You’re shaking. It’s fine, I run warm. Just put it on. It’s dangerous to be pulled over on the side of the road at night.”

True. And because I was actually really cold, I relented with a scowl. It shocked me just how warm the jacket was, and when I settled back against him, there wasn’t a thick layer between us anymore so I could steal his body heat, too. He waited until my hands were on his waist again before pulling back onto the road and heading towards home.

Ugh. Why did he have to smell good on top of everything else? I was literally surrounded by his smell. Leather and some masculine body wash that probably had a stupid name like Swagger or Liquid Courage or whatever.

Thanks to Wraith’s thoughtfulness, we made it back home without me freezing my ass off. He didn’t seem any worse for wear despite driving hours with little protection from the cold, and when he pulled up in front of my dad’s house, he looked a lot more in control of himself than when we’d left the hotel.

“Did the drive help?”

He grunted in response, which was a Wraith thing and I didn’t take any offense. He wasn’t being rude about it. He just didn’t talk much. It was one of the things I liked about him. He didn’t talk my ear off about stupid shit I couldn’t care less about. If he was talking, it was because he felt like it was important.

The front light kicked on when we got close, and I wasn’t surprised when the door opened a second later and Dad poked his head out. He was waiting up for us. He lifted his chin in greeting to Wraith and pulled me into a one-armed hug when I was in range. I hugged him back, rolling my eyes when he plucked at Wraith’s jacket around my shoulders.

“The ride was freezing. Now I understand better why you guys are so attached to your leather.” I shrugged the jacket off, mourning the loss of warmth as I handed it back to Wraith.

Dad chuckled and nodded. “Saves your skin too if you’re in a crash. Glad you got here safely, sweetheart.”

“Where is he?” Wraith asked. He was too impatient for small talk. I understood his uneasiness.

Dad jerked his chin toward the kitchen. “Tried to get him to get some rest, but he wanted to wait up.”

---