Page 133 of Savage Brothers MC: Tennessee Chapter

“And Tony?”Rory prompts, obviously worried.

“We have officers at the emergency room.As soon as he’s able to transport he’ll be behind bars.The judge okayed a temporary emergency protection order, based on your past history and the papers you had.Still, you’ll need to visit the Commonwealth Attorney’s office and make sure all that is made permanent first thing tomorrow morning,” the officer says and I instantly go on alert.I stand up, pulling Ryan up my body and holding him on my hip.He’s almost getting too tall, but he’s not quite there yet.

“I will.Thanks, Officer Dumont,” Rory says quietly, taking some papers from him.

“You all have a good evening,” he says and I nod and walk toward Rory.

“I’m really sorry, Noah,” she whispers, guilt thick in her words.

“Thanks for seeing to my boy,” I respond, my voice gruff.

“I didn’t do much, he mostly did it all.Although, you might want to call Mrs.Slater…”

“I will,” I tell her.

“Let’s get you two home then,” she says turning away from us.She leads me out to her car and I secure Ryan in the backseat.

Rory’s just standing by the car in a daze, staring everywhere, but nowhere in particular, and gripping her car key so tight in her hand that her fingers are turning white.

“You keep that up and you’re going to break the thing, Gorgeous,” I tell her, slowly extricating it from her hand.

She jerks in surprise, but does let go of the key almost instantly.I take it and then open the passenger door.With my hand to her back, I slowly herd her towards the car.She holds onto the door and looks at me.

“It’s my car,” she says, looking at me confused.

“I know that, Rory.”

“I usually drive my own car, Noah.”

“You’re in shock, sweetheart.As much as I appreciate the fact that you took care of my boy, I’d rather drive until you’re calmer,” I explain and her eyes seem to lock onto mine and that’s when I see the fear that is deep in her eyes and now plainly written all over her face.

“He found me, Noah.I thought he would have given up by now.Now I think…”

“Get in the car, Gorgeous,” I tell her, knowing she’s headed for a breakdown and needing to get her home before it hits.

“Now I think, he’ll never give up,” she whispers to me, sounding hopeless.

“Let’s get in the car,” I tell her and she nods, but she doesn’t move.“Rory, baby?—”

“Okay,” she says, but still doesn’t move.

“Sweetheart, get in the car and we’ll go home.It’s going to be fine.The way I laid the bastard out he won’t be able to bother you—at least not for a while.Now get in the car, yeah?”

She closes her eyes briefly and when she opens them back up, I can still see the fear, but it’s more hidden now.It only lurks in those beautiful green depths now.

“I’ll get in the car,” she says, and she does it—with my guidance.

Rory’s always been so strong and never hesitated to give me shit—it’s one of the things that has attracted her to me, even if I did try to fight it.Seeing her like this is something I don’t like and not because she’s getting on my nerves.It’s because I hate seeing fear in her.Once she’s in the seat, I lean down and cup the side of her face, pulling her gaze up to mine.

“It’s going to be okay, Rory.”

“It will,” she says with a sigh, but I don’t think she’s agreeing because of me.I see her face close down.She has the same look I had on me when I left the club—the look of resignation.

Rory is going to leave.

I should let her, but I know I’m not going to.I’m going to fight to make her stay.

Stay close to me…

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