Page 108 of Straight to Me

“Coming after us? I hope not. It would make sense though. Gives him another reason to fight. But it doesn’t feel right.”

I think I know what comes next, but I’ll ask it anyway. “What will you do?”

He looks off to the distance before looking down at me. “What do you think?” I don’t answer. I close my eyes resting my face against his chest. “Mads?” I slowly look up to him. “Are you scared?”

My eyes look deep into his. “No,” I say, because I mean it. “I have you. You know how to live in this world and you’ll do what you think is right.”

He smiles, but looks down, troubled. “I was scared earlier, about you getting hurt,” he says, almost out of character. “Getting chased, Ronnie saying the Sodom Saviours would have seen you. That makes you a target. Mads, I shouldn’t have brought you here. My own selfish need to have you close has put you in danger.”

My eyes feel heavy and a lump burns harshly in my throat. “Promise me you won’t leave here tomorrow, when I’m gone,” he adds.

I feel my emotions brimming.

“I don’t want you to go. What if something happens?”

“Out there, I’m okay. Nobody will stop me coming back to you. It’s you I’m worried about. I can’t risk you. You mean too fucking much to me, Mads.”

“I get that what you do is so dangerous. But I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t think I can live without you, VP.” My voice is becoming frantic.

He holds me tight, kissing my forehead as my hands grip his leather cut. “I’m not going anywhere.”

We re-join the party, somewhat less eager to enter the rabble. VP doesn’t let me go. Something that’s becoming normal for him to do. Knowing that he needs me as much as I need him, gives me a confidence I hadn’t felt before he came into my life.

We walk around the mix and various MC members come over one by one, grabbing him excited at him being here. He’s so good at interacting with everybody, not giving anything away about his grievance, like a true leader.

He really is a man I’m proud to call mine.

“Deano.” Ronnie approaches us near the bar. “A word lad.”

VP takes a pause. His face is hard lined, and I can see his jaw clenching from the corner of my eye. But we begin walking toward Ronnie. “A private, word,” he adds.

Again, VP pauses, before turning to me.

“Wait right here, by the bar.”

“I’ll just grab my phone from the room, then I’ll meet you back here?” He nods, kissing my forehead before reluctantly letting me go. They walk to a room on the far right of the clubhouse as I head left down the corridors towards our room.

I close the door behind me once I’m inside. It feels nice to be away from everyone. I even kick my shoes off, grateful for the relief.

My phone’s still in my bag from the car journey fiasco yesterday, or this morning, however you choose to look at it. Having slept most of the day, I haven’t needed it until now.

I have to sit on the floor by the plug socket to use it. It pings in my hand with a message from Chris.What the hell does he want?Reluctantly I click it open.

Chris: Madison, how are you? Money should have cleared for you now. I messaged Kyle about their house move. He said you were in Australia? Have you found someone else? It would be good to hear from you. Chris

My thumb hovers above the delete icon but I can’t help reading it one more time. There’s a small part of me that’s annoyed Kyle even spoke to Chris after how he treated me. Had I found someone else? He either knows I would never travel alone, or Kyle told him about VP.

Fuming, I decide to send Bex a message. Whilst I wait for her reply, my phone pings again.

Mum: Looking forward to seeing you soon. Jess tells me you’re in Australia. How wonderful! Why Down Under? Anyway, let me know you’re okay. x

Something feels wrong. iPhones are lost on my mum. She only messages when we message her first, and considering I haven’t, I wonder what on earth's happening. First Chris, then mum. Playing with the delicate necklace around my neck, I use my current state of confidence to message back.

Me: Go fuck yourself Chris

Me: Hi Mum. Yes, I’m in Australia, not for long though. I travelled with someone I met back home. He’s from Preston. Not why I moved there, but sometimes these things are meant to be right? Hope you're well? Not long until I see you X

Mum’s reply is instant.

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