Page 60 of Soul

“With a gun. A damn gun! I should be able to go shopping and not worry about random guys issuing threats and touching me without my permission!”

Bikes squealed to a stop as five men and Vogue arrived.

“Are you okay?” Vogue asked as she swung off the bike.

“We’re fine. Tap wanted to flex his tiny muscles,” Lindy replied.

“Speak for yourself,” I snapped at Lindy. “I’m calling an Uber. This is too much!”

Another Harley pulled up, and Soul climbed off and grabbed me in his arms, holding me tightly. I could feel the worry in his body, as Soul was tense.

“Are you okay?”

“No!” the word burst from me as tears formed in my eyes. “I was terrified. Tap touched me, and Lindy had a gun,” I babbled.

“You got her bags?” Soul asked over my head as he drew me in close again.

“Yeah. Go on, Soul,” Iona said quietly.

“Come on, baby.” Soul led me to his Harley and mounted it. He showed me how to get on, and I obeyed.

Soul wrapped my arms around his waist, and his big bike vibrated between my legs.

I wasn’t paying much attention as Soul pulled off, as my mind was a whirl of emotion. What the hell was Soul’s club involved in that other clubs confronted and threatened women linked to them in the streets? How did I let my children be anywhere near this? Thoughts came and went as I questioned everything Soul had told me, and then I realised we were riding in Camden State Park.

Soul parked his bike and tapped my leg.

“Climb off, babe,” he said. I did as I was told, and Soul followed and grabbed my hand. Without another word, he began walking a trail, and I allowed him to lead me.

“Are you going to kill me?” I blurted, and Soul stopped and gaped at me.

“What?” he finally managed to get out.

“You heard.”

“Why the fuck would you think that?” Soul demanded, drawing me into his body and rubbing my back.

“Because of what happened,” I answered as I clung to him. My potential murderer shouldn’t smell so good. “Don’t kill me, Soul. Madden would get custody of Maci and Ham, and he’d treat them terrible.”

“Jesus, Bryony. Nobody’s going to hurt you. I brought you here to see something,” Soul replied and dropped a kiss on my lips.

“Oh,” I muttered, feeling rather stupid as Soul started walking again. My tension began to ebb away, and the beauty surrounding us made me relax as we walked. Finally, Soul stopped and plunged off the path, taking me with him, and a few moments later, we arrived on a large outcropping of rocks, and I gasped.

In front of me lay the state park in all its glory. I could see for miles, and in the distance, the sea sparkled in the sunlight. Nature soaked into my very bones as I sat down and wrapped my arms around my knees and gazed out. Camden was a beautiful town, and it had never been clearer until now.

Minutes ticked past as Soul sat behind me and yanked me between his legs. His chin rested on my shoulder as he embraced me, and we both stared at the wondrous scene in front of our eyes. It was a feast for a starving soul.

“This is where I come when I need to get away if I can’t head to the cabin,” Soul murmured.

“I can see why.”

“It reminds me of how insignificant I actually am, that long after I’m gone, this will still be here,” Soul muttered.

“That’s deep.”

“And true.”

We sat for several more minutes. I could have stayed here all day in honesty.

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