Page 16 of Bee

Jag focuses his attention on me, "You know you're going to have hell to pay right?"

I groan, and my entire body nearly deflates. I knew this was coming. I've been out of communication with the club for the past three days.

"Where's Free?" I ask knowing that Mojag will know where my sister is at all times.

"She's by the donation truck."

"Donation truck?"

He points toward the east corner of the farmer's market, and all the way at the back I see a large box truck. Lined up next to it are several familiar bikes. How could I have missed that.

"If I were you I'd go handle that before they start burning shit down." Jag laughs and walks off. It's only a second before I lose sight of him. He's probably in the shadows somewhere watching everyone. The man is like a ghost.

"Everything straight?" Rye asks, his eyebrow hitching up.

"Yeah, it's just time for me to pay the piper. You want to come meet my sister. She may try to kill me." I laugh but I'm really worried about that. Free's temper is renowned.

There's no point in delaying it. I grab hold of Rye's hand and beeline straight in the direction of the donation truck.

"You fucking bitch! I should fucking kill you!" Free yells the second she sees me.

"Sis, wait." I finally drop Rye's hand and put my hands up to deflect any blows she throws at me. She's not usually violent but I can tell by the anger all over her face that she's not past that point.

"Wait my ass! You didn't show up for the run. You left your phone and your wallet. You were talking crazy to Sugar and Addison. You were fucking gone for days and didn't think to pick up the damn phone!" Free yells in my face. Rye is still standingright next to me and even though he doesn't say anything I can feel him tensing up next to me.

He knows what I've been through over the past few days. Calling anyone was completely out of the question.

"Bee." Vexx calls out from me as she jumps down from inside the donation truck. "You better be a figment of my fucking imagination."

All of the girls find their way in my direction and they surround me. The anger is real, but I know it's all coming from a good place. They were worried about me. This is my family. I can't believe I actually thought they'd abandoned me.

"Where the hell were you?" Vexx demands.

I smile softly looking at all of them, "I was detoxing."

It's almost as if everyone stopped breathing. I can't hear a sound.

Instantly, the anger I saw in all their faces drained away. I keep my eyes trained on my sister now. I'm surprised when her face crumbles and she races to wrap her arms around me.

"You did? Oh god. You did?"

"Yeah, I'm straight now. No more booze." I pull back and am surprised to see the tears coming down my normally hard sisters face.

"Why didn't you let us help you? We would've been there for you." Sugar reaches around Free and rubs my shoulder.

"I know. Well at the time I didn't. I was so lost in my own head that I was sure that you'd turn away from me. I know that's not true. I just had to go through it. I had help though." I look over at Rye and suddenly he's the center of attention.

"I know you." Riot tilts her head and squints her eyes. "You're the bartender."

"Yeah, that's me. Rye."

Vexx doesn't even address him, instead she grabs hold of my hand and pulls me away from the group. She's the president ofthe club. She can chose to strip my patch from me and I'll have to live with that.

"You sure everything is right with him? Did you know him before all this? I don't want him taking advantage of you."

I smile, of course Vexx wants to know I'm okay, "He's probably the best man I've ever known."

Vexx nods her head, "That's good to hear. I was starting to think you'd never settle down."

---