Page 96 of Menace

I knew what I was going to do.

There was no time to fart about, I had to make arrangements and make them right now.

“Thanks for letting me know, Remy. Please give Pixie my love and tell her we’ll talk soon. I have to go but I’m sure we’ll talk again. Congratulations one more time and give your girls hugs from me. Bye Remy.”

I ended the call, not even giving him a chance to say goodbye. I immediately called Rider.

It rang for quite a bit before he answered, out of breath and with a smile in his voice.

“Harper, sweetheart, so glad you called. How are you? How’s my boy?”

He sounded happy and I hated bringing my shit to him. I bit my lip and closed my eyes before I answered.

“I’m okay, Ry is fine. The reason I’m calling…uhm…does your offer still stand?”

I knew he would know what I was talking about.

“What the fuck is going on over there? Last I spoke to the bastard he told me he sorted his shit and you guys were good.”

I gave a teary snort.

“We had a talk, he assured me we had all kinds of forever shit, even though he still doesn’t think Ry is his, and then he left and went radio silent. I tried to call, my calls were declined. I texted, my texts were read but never answered. I tried to get answers from the bikers watching me but they all pretend to know nothing. It’s been three days since I last heard from him”

I drew in a breath and continued explaining.

“Remy just called to let me know their little girl arrived and that Pixie and the baby were doing well. Vivienne, that’s what they’re naming her. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you. When I said I wish I was there he said I have to have faith in Asa and that he would have me home soon. I don’t know if I read him wrong but to me it means he knows what’s going on with Lucky. I got the feeling he was telling me that I should come home, and that Ry and I should get on with our lives. That I should not sit here waiting on the ass until he eventually gets his shit together.”

Rider started swearing but I ignored it and carried on speaking, my voice hardening as I continued.

“So, this is me, planning my life. Fuck him, fuck this country, fuck them all. I want to come home. I don’t care if my family is still looking for me. Fuck them too. If they come for me they’re going to get a huge bloody surprise. I’m not the kid I used to be. I’m a woman who knows what she wants. I want to bring Ry home and raise him in South Africa, with you and my squirrel and Asa. I want to be surrounded by the people who love and like me. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

I hadn’t realised that I had started crying as I spoke until a drop of water fell on my tightly fisted hand. I used the back of my hand to wipe my cheeks and sniffed loudly.

Rider growled the minute he heard the sniff, he honestly growled.

“Harper, baby, please, listen to me,” he said softly.

“I’m texting with Asa as we speak. We’re coming, we have a few things to arrange but we’ll be in the air later tonight. We’ll be with you in about twenty seven hours, give or take a few hours. Hold on for me, okay? I have you, sweetheart. I swear to you, I have you and Ry. You’re not alone, you and our little man will never be alone, ever. Asa and I, and even my club, we’re your family and we’re going to see to it that you get home where you belong. And you will be safe, you have my word on it.”

It was like a heavy mountain I hadn’t even realised was sitting on my shoulders slid from them and fell to the floor. I felt light and filled with hope. My best friend and my protector were coming to get me.

“Thank you, Rider, thank you so much. It’s not that I don’t like the people here, I do, but they don’t know me, the real me. They just know Harper Delaney, the single baby mama and tattoo artist. The only one who knows me even a little bit is Bren and he’s a guy, you know. There’s stuff a girl wants to talk to her best friend about and you’re so far away. Usually I think about stuff in the middle of the night and it’s not like I can grab my phone and call you. The time difference is a bitch. I want…”

He didn’t let me finish.

“Sweetheart, enough with this bullshit. We’re getting you home, back where you belong, with people who love you. You’ll be staying with Delly and me, and once you’re here we’ll talk again. There’s a lot to consider but it’s not for now. Now is for getting you home and safe. I should never have let you fucking leave.”

Rider de Ridder was a magnificent man and not for the first time I wished he was the man I loved. He was such a good guy.

“You do know you’re the type of man women dream about, right? Forceful, but in a good way, protective, a good father, and the cherry on top, you’re gorgeous and sexy as all hell.”

His snort was filled with male disgust and I couldn’t stop the giggle that broke free.

His next words silenced the giggle instantly.

“Stop talking shit, Harp. I have to go. I need to make arrangements with Suzy and Genna to take care of Delly while I’m gone and I have to talk to Hawk. He needs to know what’s going on and prepare for when we come home. Asa is bringing some of his men and if possible I’ll have brothers with me as well. It all depends on them having valid Visas. You take care of you and our boy and I’ll see you soon. Okay?”

“Okay. Be safe and I love you.” I whispered.

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