Page 44 of Ruckus

“I’ll bet this little one will be just the same.” The woman touches her hand to Alicia's stomach again, only this time she closes her eyes like she’s saying a silent prayer.

“We really ought to go, we don’t want to hit traffic.” I decide Alicia needs rescuing and this giant jar of pickles seems to be getting heavier.

“Please keep in touch, I want to know everything, and if you need anything. Just… Please.” The woman is reluctant to let her go.

“I appreciate that, Mrs. Stowman.” Alicia smiles as I tug her away.

“Iris, you call me Iris. None of this Mrs. nonsense. We’re family,” she calls after us as I keep hold of my friend’s arm and get us to the door. Greaser says nothing as we pass him, just kinda growls, and when we’re back on the porch and out in the fresh air, I breathe a long sigh of relief.

“That was intense.” I look to Alicia, who seems traumatized, and when we reach the car we both start to laugh. “Segwin,SeggyStowman, you know that's gonna be on your child's birth certificate, right?” The smile instantly drops from her face when she lets that sink in.

“Hey, Alicia,” Greaser’s stern voice calls out and when he rushes off the porch toward us, this time with jeans on, I immediately put my defenses back up.

“You better not be lying about who put that kid in ya.” He points his finger at Alicia accusingly.

“Don't speak to her like that.” I turn and face him.

“Stay outta this, circus girl,” he warns me, marching around the car and putting himself in front of her.

“I mean it. She ain’t been coping, and if you take that little bit of hope you just gave her away. I swear you won’t live to see your child's first birthday,” he threatens.

“Do you think that's any way to speak to the mother of your niece or nephew?” I speak up, because Alicia looks too shocked to say anything.

“I told you to stay the fuck outta this,” he barks at me.

“I wouldn’t lie. I just came here because I thought your family had the right to know. I don’t want anything from you. I explained that. My brother and the club will take care of us.”

“Raze really did turn that place into Disneyland.” He scoffs a laugh.

“The club is a better place, less assholes since you bailed on it. How is that nomad life treating you, Greaser? Because it looks to me as if you're living off your mama's couch.” I’m proud of her when she speaks up. “Don’t ruin this for your mom by making it hard for me. I want to include her in this, maybe even you too, but I won’t be disrespected.”

“And why would you do that?” His voice softens and he looks back at her confused.

“Because Griller loved you, and it’s what he would have wanted.” Her words catch him off guard, and when she opens the car door and gets behind the wheel, I load myself and the giant jar of pickles into the passenger seat beside her.

“What do you mean you just let ‘em leave?” Wrath has Rocco pinned to the gate when I arrive back.

“Whoa,” I remember the promise I made to Finn and quickly get off my bike, rushing over to resolve whatever's going on. “What’s the issue?”

“This idiot let Alicia and Freya leave here this morning alone. They still ain’t back,” Wrath explains, and I shove him out the way and grip the little prick up myself.

“You did what?” I slam him back hard against the metal panel. “Where did they say they were going?”

“I don’t know, some baby appointment. Saul cleared it.” He flinches, and when I notice Wrath looking at me strangely, I quickly release him and straighten myself out.

“You tried calling her?” I check, running my fingers through my hair and calming myself the fuck down.

“Of course I have, it just goes straight to voicemail.” His answer makes my chest feel tight, there’s a killer on the loose, not to mention a whole club of fuckin’ Reapers who just killed one of Cliff Adams’ daughter’s. What’s to stop ‘em from wanting to kill another?

“You know the rules, Rocco, it ain’t safe for them out there,” Wrath reminds him.

“And you think it’s safe for them in here? Are you forgetting about Jenika?” The kid proves he really has found his voice lately.

“No one’s forgetting about Jenika, especially not me. I’m the one who found her in the pool pit,” I remind him.

His words are haunting and a reminder that no one is really safe here. I hate the idea of Freya being in that motel room alone at night. She belongs with me, and now I don’t even know where she is.

We hear a horn beep and when I turn my head and see Alicia’s car, with Freya in the passenger seat, my chest sags with relief.

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