Page 51 of Out to Find Freedom

“That we do.” Julian curled an arm around Mattie’s shoulders and tugged him close. “You’ll have a room right next to ours. Just ignore the moaning—” Mattie slapped a hand over Julian’s mouth. When Mattie turned red, laughter bubbled out of me.

Honestly, it was no wonder they called Julian into situations. He was amazing.

“He means snoring. Ignore the snoring that he does all on his own,” Mattie said.

Julian rolled his eyes as he grabbed Mattie’s hand and pulled it down. “That’s right, poppet.”

“Before you show her the room to crash in,” Killer said. When he had my eyes, he went on, “I’ll be around. If it’s not me patrolling outside, it’ll be one of my brothers. They’ll all have the same club vest, different patches, but the same one. If any of you see someone without a vest, call the club.”

“We will,” Mattie replied.

“Not our first rodeo, cowboy,” Julian said.

Killer’s jaw clenched. He nodded, turned, and walked out of the house.

“Thank you,” I called. He waved over his shoulder.

Julian came up beside me and put his arm around me while Mattie closed the front door and locked it. “Don’t you worry about those biker guys. They don’t talk much, and when they do, they sound like cavemen, but they’re the best kind of men there are. Well, besides me and my poppet.”

I believed him. They all seemed to be willing to help me, no matter what.

Julian hugged me to his side. “Come check out your room.”

Your room.

He hadn’t said their spare room butyourroom.

Already they treated me as if I was a part of their group. Appreciation swelled inside of me. I hadn’t felt kindness in such a long time.

Julian led me down the hall with Mattie following. He chatted the whole way while ignoring my tears and wobbly bottom lip.

As Julian told me about where I could find things, Mattie stepped up close. He bumped his shoulder into mine. “Are you okay?” he whispered.

Wiping at my face, I told him, “I think I will be.” Especially once the fourth man was behind bars like the rest of those foul, hurtful, disgusting people.

Chapter Seventeen

Emerson

Ascream tore out of my mouth. I opened my eyes and blinked quickly into the room. A room I was becoming very familiar with since it had been mine for a month. Dimly lit from the night light I had plugged into the power point below the window, I tried to control my breathing. I focussed on the small light, appreciating it as much as I despised it. What adult needed a darn night light?

My door burst open and Julian stumbled in. At least he was clothed. The first night I’d woken, screaming from a nightmare—the first evening in their home—Julian raced in sporting a naked body and a baseball bat.

“Where, where?” he’d shouted, turning this way and that.

Mattie had appeared next, holding a knife, though he wore boxers. “What is it?” he asked. Within seconds, he’d taken in the room, seen no threat, and guessed, “Nightmare?”

I’d nodded with my hand over my eyes.

“Oh, my poor dove. Julian’s here for you.” The bed had dipped. I’d gasped, opened my eyes, and found Julian climbing on the bed.

Mattie had grabbed his shoulders and pulled him from it. “Okay, hero, how about you get dressed first or let me handle this?”

His eyes had widened as he glanced down at himself, covering his junk and chuckling. “Sorry about that. Bet you’ll have nice dreams now.”

Mattie had once again grabbed his shoulders and turned him towards the door.

With a shove, he ordered, “Go. I’ve got this.”

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