Page 42 of The Paths We Cross
She smiles up at me. “I love you, too.”
We walk over to my bike and gear up again before hopping on and heading out of the parking lot. I drive further out of town and really open up the throttle feeling Everly pull herself even closer to me as she releases a squeal of excitement. A huge smile breaks across my face because I get to share something I love with the woman I love. I’ve never thought of how good it would feel to have the right woman on the back of my bike, but fuck, it feels good.
We drive out of town for about a half hour and then I turn around because I’m eager to get my woman naked again, and if her squirming on the back of my bike is any indication, she’s ready for that, too.
The first twenty-five minutes driving back toward town are uneventful, just the cool fall night air keeping us company. When we’re five minutes away from town, though, I see headlights in my mirrors. My hackles immediately rise when I realize how quickly they’re approaching.
“We’ve got company! Hold on tight!” I yell over my shoulder to Everly before I rev the engine and shoot off down the road.
It’s not lost on me that this is where the Devil’s Knights forced Everly and Travis off the road. I push my bike to the extreme, but it’s not enough to get away. With the added weight of another person, it’s just too much for my bike to keep up. Three bikes pull up alongside us. I can see the clubhouse lights up ahead, I just need to keep us upright until I can get us there.
All of a sudden, my bike rocks to the right as Everly lets out a scream. I fight with all my might to keep us from losing control and somehow keep us moving forward. I push my bikeeven harder and pull just a little ahead of them, just in time to honk my horn and get the club’s attention. I see the club’s gate up ahead and notice it opening. The Devil’s Knights must see it too, because they immediately back off and head in the other direction. I slow my bike enough so that I won’t wipe out on the rocks and then slide through the opening in the gate before the prospects close it.
“What the fuck just happened?” Axel asks as he rushes over to us.
“Devil’s Knights just tried to run us off the road,” I mutter. “I need a few of you with me so we can get home to Hazel and my sister. Someone call Cane and warn him. I don’t trust these fuckers.”
“On it,” Levi says.
“Are you okay, baby?” I turn around and ask Everly.
She nods her head quickly. “I’m fine. Just get me home to our baby.”
31
EVERLY
I’ve been a nervous wreck since the Devil’s Knights tried to run us off the road last night and Rowan can tell. He’s given me some space to work through my feelings, and I appreciate it. I don’t blame him for any of this, but I’m getting sick and tired of the Devil’s Knights, my mother, and Russel.
Part of me just wants to reach out to Laura and ask her why she’s trying to ruin my life. I highly doubt that she would have an honest answer for me, though. The woman doesn’t have an honest bone in her body, and she’s never been kind to me.Why would she start now?
I’m so glad my dad finally got away from her. Who knows what she could have turned him into if she’d had more time with him. She tarnishes and she corrupts.
It’s the middle of the day and Rowan is in the garage working on his bike. He’s been babying it since he put it through the ringer last night. Aside from multiple scratches to its side, it’s otherwise in good shape. Rowan is just checking everything over to make sure it’s still road worthy.
I grab my phone from the counter and dial Nicole’s number. I haven’t called her in a few days, only texted, and I know she’sworried about what happened yesterday. She answers on the second ring.
“Hey, best friend. What’s going on?”
I sigh. “I’m just stressed out and needed to talk to you.”
“That’s what I’m here for. How are you feeling today?”
“I’m not upset, but I just want this all to be over with. I just want to be happy with Ro and Hazel,” I groan.
“You will have that, Everly,” she assures me. “This is just a bump in the road.”
“I wish my mother was an actual bump in the road,” I gripe.
“No shit,” she chuckles. “Then we could run her over and call it a day.”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I pull it away from my ear to look at the screen. My jaw clenches when I see who texted me. As if my thoughts conjured her, my mother’s name is clear as day on the screen. I take a deep, steadying breath and then swipe open her message.
Laura: Everly, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m going to such extremes to get custody of your daughter. If you want answers, meet me at 546 Billshire Ave in one hour. Come alone.
Is she fucking for real? I know that I was just thinking about going to see her, but this seems too good to be true, right? Like what are the odds that she’s actually going to talk to me and be honest about her reasoning?Do I even care what her reasoning is?She can’t just swoop in and try to take my child from me. She wasn’t even a good parent to me. My mind is reeling as another text comes through.
Laura: I shouldn’t even give you answers because you’ve been such an ungrateful daughter. I should just take your child and move far away so you can never see her again and you can’t taint her future.
