Page 17 of Arrow: Riding Rebels MC

Boss ashed his blunt and stood up straight.

“You out?” I asked as I dapped him up.

“Yeah. I need to ride out early to see if Billings been running off at the mouth about Buck. His bitch said her husband called the police talkin’ ’bout filing a complaint saying he witnessed Buck assaulting his wife?—”

“Aww, damn. That’s really all that man needs to come back around harassing us. I should kick Buck’s ass.”

“Nah, let me put some ears to the ground, because it’s sounding like ol’ boy want to meet Jesus.”

A bark of laughter slipped out, and I had to walk away from Boss.

When I made it inside, there were only a few guys left, so I let them know the clubhouse was shutting down and to move the excitement to the bar. Usually, they could stay for however long, but with Charlie and Hendrix there, they needed to take their rowdy asses elsewhere. I would only have to make the request once, so I left them to shut the place down. In the room, Hendrix was asleep in the middle of the bed, and I heard the shower going.

I stripped down to my basketball shorts and wife beater, climbed into the bed, and picked Hendrix up to lay him on my chest, dozing off.

“And just when I thought I got rid of you.”

I stirred at the sound of Charlie’s voice and scoffed.

“Ain’t no way you thought that.” I rubbed Hendrix’s back then looked at his mother. “You smell good.”

“Why thank you. Are you staying here again?”

She knew I was, so I didn’t bother to answer her.

I had a home I could go to, but like last night, this was where I wanted to end up. None of this made sense, but the more I fought it, the closer I wanted to be to her and this baby. Kids had never been on my radar, but this curly-haired boy was mine. Boss knew it like I did, and that was why he called Hendrix nephew and Charlie sis-in-law. They’d grown on us in no time, so yeah… I’d be here tonight and every night until they were ready to permanently be in my home.

There was only one way out of Rushin Mills, and I stood by that.

“Yeah. Now get yo’ fine ass in the bed so I can go to sleep.”

She looked at me with her hands on her hips, and my response was to turn on the television.

“He can’t sleep like that?—”

“Hendrix and I are good. Bed, now.” I smiled because I could tell Charlie wanted to reach over and pop me in the mouth.

Baby girl was feisty, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she was with her husband. Charlie wasn’t the lie there and take it type. Two days told me that, so who was the man that managed to break her?

I wouldn’t settle until I knew the whole truth.

Four Years Ago

Every two minutes, I looked over my shoulder wondering what was taking Helen so long.

For months, we planned this day, and she knew that every second counted. I didn’t want to become frustrated, because frustration led to potential mistakes. There could be none of that, so I needed to remain calm.

I’d left my cell phone at home, so I couldn’t do anything but wait, impatiently.

“Finally.” My shoulders sagged, and I picked up the torn gym bag that had been resting at my feet. I walked over to thecar and pulled the door open. “Girl, you know time is sensitive. What took you so?—”

“Get in the car, Cecilia.”

Ice filled my veins at the sound of his voice, but I didn’t let that stop me. I turned on my heels, dropped the gym bag, and ran for my life. Someone much bigger than my husband snatched me and dragged me back to the car.

“Let me go. Help! Somebody, please!”

No matter how much I begged and cried, I knew no one would come to my rescue. I’d chosen this spot for a reason.

---