Page 81 of Atlas
“We don’t have time for a discussion,” he mutters. “We have to get you out of here.”
“There must be twenty other biker’s he could have sent . . .”
“And they would have asked for my permission first. Permission I was never gonna give, so Axel sent me, it was quicker.”
I look past him as people enter the shop. I exhale. “Fine, whatever.”
He holds out a hoody and I stare at it. “Put it on,” he directs.
I hesitate, before reluctantly taking it and shoving my arms through. His scent wraps around me, causing a deep ache in my heart. Atlas reaches for the zipper and makes quick work of fastening it, before placing a cap on my head, and pulling the hood up. “We’re gonna go out the front and get straight on my bike.”
The thought of being on his bike again pains me, but I follow him anyway, keeping my head down as he throws his leg over the bike and starts the engine. I slide on behind and his handscurl under my knees and tug me close. He then guides my arms around his waist. “Press your cheek to my back,” he instructs. “We’re leaving the helmets off.” I don’t argue, pressing myself against his back and closing my eyes. Yesterday this all felt so thrilling, but today it just hurts. The sooner I’m home, the better.
We ride a short distance, before the bike slows and I open my eyes. I sit up straighter realising we’re at the club. As he drives through the gates, one of the bikers closes them and chains the front.
He parks the bike alongside the rest and I notice there seems to be a lot more than usual.
I climb off as Kasey rushes out, throwing her arms around me. “Thank God you’re okay.”
I remove the cap. “Why am I here?” I whisper.
She glances at Atlas, slipping her hand in mine and leading me farther away. “Axel is putting the club on lockdown.”
“What does that mean?”
“That we have to stay here until it’s safe.”
I frown. “It was just a guy. Maybe I overreacted.”
“I told you they know who Mr. D is, right?” I nod. “Well, it seems he’s a big deal. Until they’ve executed a plan, we’re locked down.”
I rub my brow in irritation. “And how long will that take?”
“I don’t know. But Axel is sending someone to get your stuff later. You can work from the club.”
I groan. “I can’t teach English to my students with the club going on in the background.”
“Axel promised he’d sort you a quiet space.”
We go inside where Axel is waiting. “Office,” he says bluntly, turning and heading there.
Kasey arches her brows at me before we follow. Atlas joins us, closing the office door as we sit down.
“What happened?” Axel asks.
“I was walking through the park and some guy approached me. He felt . . . off, unsafe.” I feel Atlas stiffen at my words. “He approached me, asked if I was Rue Carter. When I said yes, he said he knew Kasey.”
“What did he look like?” Atlas demands.
I ignore him, keeping my eyes fixed to Axel. “Then he asked me to give Kasey a message. He said to tell her ‘he was still looking for her and he was close.’”
Axel’s eyes flit to Atlas before he asks, “What did he look like?”
“Thin, middle aged. White. He wasn’t out of place, just . . . odd.”
“And those were his exact words?” he asks. I nod.
“Okay. I’m keeping the club locked down until it’s safe.”
