Page 52 of Just Heartbeats
Flames clawed at the walls as Kodiak carried her out, the fire swallowing the house behind them. Roma coughed against his shoulder, her body weak, but her heart fierce.
She was alive.
And she was going home.
Chapter 32
The compound gates shut behind them. The screech of metal reverberated in Roma's bones. Safety should've settled in her chest, calming her, but the fear of what happened continued to press down on her.
She should've been safe here. Every man had protected and looked out for her throughout her whole life. She learned to ride a bicycle outside the clubhouse. She made mudpies behind the garage. She'd snuck her first alcoholic drink inside. Royalla was her life. It's all she knew.
But Nate had taken her and tossed her away, knowing her life would forever be ruined.
Kodiak parked beside the door. She slid off the Harley, making no move to go inside without him. He got off the bike and swung his arm around her, pulling her close. She clung to him, needing the reassurance that he was here.
The last hours had been hell. She'd flipped from fearing for her life to being scared no one would find her, all while panicking over the thought of losing Kodiak. Though the immediate danger was over, she was unsure how to breathe in her own skin again.
The time she spent with Nate and the Deception member left her feeling dirty. All she wanted to do was wash the filth off and wrap herself in clean blankets, feeling Kodiak beside her.
Her throat tightened. "I'm sorry."
Kodiak's stride slowed. He curled his fingers against the small of her back as if he wanted to grab her but held himself back. "Not your fault, baby girl."
There was an edge to his voice. He carried a tightly controlled rage that twisted her stomach into a knot. This wasn't over. She wasn't sure when the nightmare would end.
"You should be able to trust every member of Royalla," he said.
Roma flinched. Trust had gotten her kidnapped. Trust had only given her a false sense of security. She'd grown up believing her dad was protected and would come riding in every evening in time to tuck her into bed. Instead, she'd lost him in such a way that her scars ran deep and would forever remind her of her loss.
Through all the pain and failures, she trusted Kodiak. How many times had he saved her? The thought sent a strange warmth through her chest.
The clubhouse loomed ahead. Members milled about, some stealing glances her way, their expressions unreadable. She forced herself to keep moving, her fingers flexing against Kodiak's chest. She needed to ask. She needed to hear the truth from Kodiak before she had to face the others.
"What happened to Nate?" she whispered.
Kodiak exhaled a controlled breath. His hold shifted, firm but careful. "As soon as I find him, I'll deal with him."
Roma stopped short, forcing him to halt too. Her hands splayed against his ribs. The warmth of his skin bled through the fabric of his leather vest. She needed to see his face.
Her pulse accelerated, knowing the truth but needing to hear it. "He's free? He's still out there?"
His jaw tensed. "For now."
That unease she'd pushed down clawed its way back up her throat. Kodiak had killed the Deception member who'd kidnapped her. Cruz had stayed behind, making sure the crime wasn't traced back to Royalla. Nothing was hidden from her. Maybe they believed she was in shock and wouldn't remember, but like the night her dad was killed, she would never forget what happened.
"I want my life back," she murmured, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "I want you safe."
Kodiak studied her for a long moment, then lifted his hand, brushing his thumb along her cheek. The calloused pad of his finger sent a shiver down her spine.
"I'll make sure you get where you feel safe again. Thatweget there," he said.
She wanted to believe him.
The compound buzzed with quiet movement around them, members passing in and out of the main door. This was home in every sense. But was she ready to step inside where one of them had betrayed her?
Her gaze flickered over Kodiak's face, taking in the sharp lines of his features, the shadows beneath his eyes. It wasn't only her life that had been put at risk. He and the club suffered, too.
"Do you ever get tired of running the club?" she asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
