Page 67 of Anchor

He broke my trust ten years ago and then again a week ago when he swore he’d change and put me first, put his son first.

I feel Travis swerve to the right, and I squeeze tighter, keeping my eyes closed. Five minutes later, the wind whipping around me slows, and the bike comes to a stop. I feel the bike turn off, but I still don’t open my eyes or let go of my husband. Instead, I squeeze him tighter, my body trembling.

His body vibrates with a chuckle as he gently rubs my hand with one of his while his other rubs up and down my calf.

“Fuck, Heaven, I don’t know many women that would ride bitch for as long as you have,” Art says, and I open my eyes to see the brothers walking this way. I notice we’re at a gas station, John and Western filling up the van.

“I, uh, I can’t seem to move,” I admit.

Piston grins wide while Bowler takes my hand as Travis unlinks them from around his waist, holding me still as my husband climbs off his bike.

With a bright smile on his face, Travis removes his helmet and places it in front of me, before he reaches underneath my chin, unclicks mine, and helps me remove it, all while I grip his dad’s hand.

“The longest my wife here has been on the back of my bike is probably an hour, and that was the 125, so she definitely did good,” Travis says with pride, his eyes taking me in where I’m sitting on his bike, wearing his patch. He grips my hips and lifts me from his bike, making me drop Bowler's hand and, instantly, I wrap my legs around his waist, making the brothers chuckle.

“M-maybe I should ride in the van the rest of the way,” I stutter, my body still trembling, and everyone around us quiets as Travis freezes. I move back to look at him.

His eyes are cold and hard as he growls, “Like fuck are you riding in that van, not only because of what is in it but also because that fucker is in there.”

I raise a brow as I cup my hands around his neck and ask, “Still not over that tiny little kiss, huh? " He narrows his eyes as the brothers chuckle behind us.

He screwed someone else ten years ago, and I’m still not over it.

“Go for a bathroom break, Angel,” he mutters, and I grin, making a small smile play on his lips, and he slowly lets me down on my wobbly legs.

Once I get my bearings, I peck his cheek before slowly walking over to the gas station. The brothers chuckle when I wobble a little, but I ignore them and wave to John and Western, who both wave back, a growl echoing around me. I sigh, knowingit is my alpha-hole husband, and I hold my middle finger up, making the brothers laugh.

Shaking my head, I walk into the gas station. The guy behind the counter eyes me, but I ignore him, knowing my husband will skin him alive if he tries anything, and I head to the sign for the bathrooms.

Feeling the guy’s eyes on me from behind the counter, I walk into the two-stall bathroom but nearly knock into someone, not expecting anyone in here.

“Oh God, I am so sorry,” I gasp as I grab the person's arm before they fall, but I freeze as I lock eyes with deep green ones, eyes that I recognize.

“Aurora?” I gasp in shock, my eyes taking her in. Her red hair is in a messy bun, bags line her eyes, and her clothes hang off her small frame.

She went missing around a year and a half ago, and no one has been able to find her, making her dad go crazy.

“Heaven…” she whispers, and I let out a cry and grab her, holding the nineteen-year-old girl tight against me.

“Oh, Aurora…” I cry, and she wraps her arms around my waist. I suddenly pull back and cup her cheeks. “It’s really you…” I whisper, and her body trembles as she nods.

“I need to go get Travis, I-I…. Piston is outside….” I stutter and look around the bathroom before I let go of her and turn to the door, but she stops me, grabbing my arm and begs, "No, please don’t….” I turn back to her, my eyes wide.

“Aurora—” I start, but she cuts me off, “I was held captive for a year.” I suck in a breath. “I was raped and held against my will,and I finally got free, finally managed to run…. Please, Heaven, don’t tell them I’m here; I want nothing to do with the club or my old life. I need to leave, please.”

My eyes race between hers and I confirm, “You saw us pulling up and ran in here, that’s why the guy was staring at me….”

Her tears fall. “Tom is a good manager and knows part of my past. I didn’t know you were with them. Normally, bikers don’t have their women with them on club runs.”

I swallow hard and admit, “Travis is trying to help me trust him again.”

She smiles slightly, “He is still not giving up on you, huh?”

I sniffle and shake my head. “No, he won’t. We’re doing couple’s therapy, but my head is still stuck in the past….”

She nods, wipes my tears, and whispers, “And yet he brought you on club business to show you how much he trusts and needs you in his life….”

I furrow my brows, trying to control my emotions, and I beg, “Tell me who hurt you. Who took you? Was it Hannah?”

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