Page 62 of Grace's Redemption
Eleven
GRACE
Ihopped on my bike, started it and waited. Letting the familiar vibrations work its way through my body and warm my bones. An explainable chill hit me when I saw Papa Scott. The unexpected heat when I saw Mase was unexplainable and made me sick to my stomach. Or were those butterflies.
I hated him. Every ounce of him for being the one person in my life who disappointed me on purpose. He had a choice and he chose wrong.
His arrogant ass thought he deserved points for not killing me.
Fuck that.
I revved the engine, pressed the gas and coasted toward the road. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. The buildings moved to the beat of the music. I drove past the bar and stopped. The front had few windows, but the front entrance was open and people walked back and forth, going on with their life while mine came to a screeching halt.
While not our clubhouse, it was taken over by Guardians. I had every right to be there with my sisters.
It wasn’t all about me. It was about my crew, too. I owed them not to do anything stupid.
When I arrived in Jersey City, bruised with a bullet hole in me, Justice took me to a doctor friend of hers to have me checked out. The doctor was a member of the club, too. She gave me an ultrasound to make sure Cason was okay and put me on vitamins. Josey wouldn't let me do a thing. She made sure I ate and got my rest. I spent the next seven months as the perfect vessel for the baby growing inside of me.
I was scared for him to come out. I knew he’d be healthy and I’d love him, but he would also be half of him and I wanted to forget him.
I thought it would be hard to separate the two. Would my feelings for Mase mess my head up for how I felt about my son.
When my little guy came out, all I felt for him was love. When he looked up at me, I saw love from him. The kind of love I felt in my father's presence. If I could love him half as much as my dad loved me, my son would be okay.
I needed to stay alive and with all my limbs intact for him.
I pushed out every other thought and concentrated on the road in front of me.
I picked up speed as I pulled onto the highway.
The rhythm of the bike on the open road calmed me.
Going home, it was for the best.
* * *
Three hours later,I pulled up in front of Dana’s house. It was almost three am. She stood in the open doorway with a smirk on her face she’d been saving for a long time.
Dana wanted me to go further. She thought someone would find out who I was and where I came from. If Papa Scott found out, he’d come for me and finish the job his son couldn’t do.
“You can go ahead and say it.” I pulled off my helmet and secured it on the bike. I took off my gloves and slapped them against the palm of my open hand. “You told me so.”
“Well, I did.”
“Not really. I mean they’re not here looking for me.” I leaned in and hugged her. “Mase was already gone by the time you guys came to DC. He would have no reason to suspect I know you or this is where I ended up.”
“It’s still so dangerous.” Dana stood in the doorway.
“You going to let me in.” I held my hands out. “It’s not like I can slide by you any more.”
She rolled her eyes and waddled back a few steps and let me in.
“You are supposed to stay here until James gets home.” She said.
“I can take care of myself you know.”
“Don’t make me sit on you, Gracie Smith.”
