Page 48 of Covert (Ruthless Love #2)

Chapter forty-four

Diesel

I pull into the compound after another day of searching. Scar's been letting me off of club business because he knows my head's just not in the game. I'd be more of a liability than an asset right now with Nikki missing, and he knows it.

In the club parking lot, though, is a large flatbed truck with a cabin on the back of it.

I kill the engine, kick out my kickstand, and remove my helmet, running my hand through my sweaty, messy hair.

Scar's talking to the driver and pointing down the gravel road towards the cabins we already have.

"What's this?" I ask Scar. New recruits? Just expanding living space?

He turns and rests a heavy hand on one of my shoulders. "This is your girl."

"Nik? You've talked to her? What does that mean? Why does she need a cabin?"

He shakes his head at my rambling. "I haven't talked to her. The driver just gave me a message from her. Said that she'll be sending us some kids and women in need of a home and protection, and asked that we give it to them."

I shake my head, my disbelief palpable. What the fuck has she gotten herself into? Why is she sending us displaced women and kids? An MC compound wasn't the place for families. It's parties and drugs and fucking .

"She also says she's going to try to see you soon."

I shove both hands back in my hair, fisting the strands until my scalp stings.

"What the fuck does that mean!?"

He gives me a little shake. "Just trust her, won't you. She told you she didn't get to keep you, and you didn't believe her. She told you the people after her were bad, and you didn't believe her. Maybe it's time you have a little faith in your woman."

Fuck if that isn't a kick in the teeth. He's absolutely right. I was so convinced that I could take care of her and that we could have a future together, when she was telling me all along how impossible it was. And I refused to listen.

I sigh, shoulders heavy with regret and surrender.

"Okay."

Later that night, I'm tossing and turning under my one thin sheet.

I've slept like shit since she left. I can still smell her on my sheets, and it drives me insane, but I take the punishment because I deserve it.

I didn't keep her safe. I was out of town doing a run for the club when she was taken.

The guys explained it all to me. How it all went down, and I know logically there was nothing I could do, but the guilt and regret are constant companions.

My walkie-talkie crackles from my nightstand, and I groan. I check my phone. It's two am.

"Diesel. Come in, Diesel. Prez says there's a package for you. Over." The male voice comes over the line.

I slam my hand on the walkie-talkie a little too aggressively and press the button. "A package that can't wait until morning? Over."

"He says it's a package you were waiting to see. Over. "

My eyes spring open, suddenly very alert. I shove my feet into pants and then my boots, fastening my zipper and button on my jeans as I stumble out of the cabin. There's only one thing I've been waiting to see. And if she's here, I'm not going to miss it.

I run to the clubhouse, but when I see that the lights are turned off, I run past it towards the gates.

What I see there stuns me. Straddling a black crotch rocket is a woman wearing all black leather gear and a full black helmet.

She revs her engine when she sees me. It feels like a greeting, like a challenge.

She kicks the gear and takes off down the road.

No. There's no way I'm not seeing her. I run back to my bike, screaming at the probie manning the gate to open it.

Foregoing the helmet, I kick my bike to life, slowly drive over the gravel so I don't eat shit, and slide through the gate and onto the road.

She's there, waiting for me at the stop sign.

I slide up next to her and wait. She's in charge right now. She has to know I'd follow her anywhere.

So, it's not a surprise when she turns right and we head towards the highway.

I follow her, letting my eyes leisurely peruse her body in the tight leather. Fuck she looks amazing. It's agony not being able to talk to her right now, but I remind myself to trust her. We'll get to talk. When it's safe.

She drives to Kent Island and parks her bike in the same spot we did the one night she finally gave in to the possibility of us.

She's in my arms before I've had a chance to even turn my bike off.

For a long while, we just hold each other, breathing each other in, so fucking scared that if I let her go, she'll disappear again .

"I don't have much time," she says, finally pulling back and pulling off her helmet.

"I don't understand. Why are you here? Where are you going? Where did you go? What's with the cabins? I'm so fucking confused, babe, please, give me something-anything. The guys say you're in the mafia?"

She shakes her head in frustration. "My dad's drunk right now, so I was able to get away.

I have a tracker in my back again. I can't take it out.

He'll know. I need to rehome some women and children.

My brother and I are working on getting rid of the members of our famiglia that are still loyal to him so my brother can take over.

I need a safe space for their wives and kids.

I know the MC has a lot of land. I'll send cash with the next one to pay for food and utilities, and stuff.

Can you tuck them into a back corner of the compound? Please?"

I'm stunned by everything she's said. A tracker? The mafia? Her famiglia?

"I can't stay in one place for very long, or they'll get suspicious and come looking for me.

Right now, they just think I'm on a midnight ride.

But I needed to see you. To know you're alright.

And to tell you that I'm working to get free.

I will get free. It'll just take some time. Please just kiss me."

I don't hesitate, dropping my helmet to the gravel.

I grip her hips as she grips my shoulders, and I sit her on the bike facing me, her legs falling to the outside of my own.

I spear a hand through her hair and bring her mouth to mine.

We don't have time to worship her the way I want, but she's here.

Now. And she wants me to kiss her. So we do.

For close to thirty minutes, we kiss. It starts eager, quick, a desperate tangle of tongues.

It slows eventually, calmer, reassuring, accepting that we only have right now, a few stolen minutes, but that there's a hope for a future together.

One that she wants badly enough, she's pulling strings and playing politics within her own family.

She has to be careful, smart, and proactive, but she's trying. And it sounds like her brother is supporting her, so she's not completely alone. It's the reassurance I needed to not completely spiral. She didn't leave me, not by choice at least, and she still wants me.

If I need to cut down some trees, set up some cabins, and keep some women and children safe in the meantime, I can do that for her.

So, when she finally breaks the kiss, gives me one last sad smile, and leaves with a quiet, whispered, "I love you," I let her go.

Because I know she's coming back.