Page 31 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Annie

T he vibe around the club is strange. From what I’ve noticed, only a couple of brothers are grieving the woman, Lily, and the old ladies and the president surround the VP’s old lady.

Then there’s my Shane. He said she was a new friend, but I know what that is code for.

He fucked her and while he doesn’t seem to have had a deep connection with her, he’s still grieving in his own way.

He keeps thinking about her and no matter how hard I try to distract him, her name keeps coming up.

Lily. What a stupid fucking name.

It’s her funeral today and Shane has been quiet.

I’ve kept out of the old ladies way and steered clear of the brothers.

I asked Shane if he wanted me to go with him, but he said he was fine to go alone, and that I didn’t need to concern myself with sadness.

He didn’t want grief around his baby. It was that that calmed me.

He’s always thinking about the baby and through the baby, me.

We will be the perfect family.

My friend, or someone who was the closest I had to calling a friend, Gracie, she told me not to keep the baby under any circumstances. That Shane would just be like everyone else and run when he heard the news, but I knew different. I know him. I knew he’d accept responsibility.

I watch from the living room window as Harper, the VP’s old lady, climbs into the back of a town car and others join her. Not all brothers ride out with them and the hearse, but Shane is one of them.

She had to have meant more to him than he let on, or he really is just that nice of a guy. I need it to be the latter, I can deal and get rid of other women, but I can’t compete with a ghost.

When I heard how old she was I couldn’t believe Shane would give her a first glance let alone get between the sheets with her.

But now she’s gone and killed herself, she’ll be memorialised in his mind.

She will be prettier, younger, and his time with her will become something it wasn’t. Death sucks for the ones still alive.

Slamming the palm of my hand against the side of my head, I try to knock out the manic thoughts. She’s gone, after the funeral, she’ll be forgotten about. That’s what happens when people die, people are sad, then after the funeral, life goes on.

Morning sickness gnaws at me. It starts to feel like I can’t breathe around here.

I can’t spend any more time hovering over a toilet.

Slipping my shoes on, I leave the house and find Shane’s truck keys hanging in the ignition.

I don’t have any idea where I’m going but as I head out of the club and pick up speed, the wind thrashes around the front of the truck, and the morning sickness begins to fade, and I can breathe again.

Hopefully after today, once this Lily woman is buried and put to rest, Shane will put her in the past and in time, forget all about her. He will concentrate on the baby, and me, and we’ll be the perfect family.

No. No. No.

Stop thinking about her.

I approach town and my stomach growls. As I drive by the cemetery, I can’t see anyone from the club, only their cars and motorcycles in the parking lot.

I put the blinker on to swing into the diner’s parking lot when I have to wait for the procession of bikers riding through.

I count twenty-six riders and when I crank my neck to see where they’re headed, it’s in the direction of the club.

Once I’m able, I park outside the diner and dig my phone out of my purse.

I hit up Shane’s number and press call. Of course there’s no answer and I try again.

On the third attempt the rage begins to intensify.

I’m pregnant with his child, if I call constantly he should answer and see what’s going on.

I hang up when his voicemail kicks in and debate whether to drive back to the cemetery when he calls me back.

I smile. Deep down, he’s a good guy.

“I’m a little busy, Annie. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know twenty-six bikers just rode through town, wearing Hades Hogs patches. They look like they’re headed for the club.”

There’s silence for a few seconds, then he says, “Thanks for letting me know. I gotta go.”

The call ends and I toss my phone back into my purse. The faint smell of late breakfasts from the diner wafts under my nose and thankfully, it doesn’t make me want to puke.

I find myself a quiet table by the window and put my order in for a stack of pancakes and a mug of coffee. I don’t drink it when Shane’s around but one won’t hurt.

My mind wanders while I wait for my food.

I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed at the club.

I smile as I imagine Shane running through fire to make sure I’m safe.

Defying bullets and death just to get to me.

Shielding me as the two clubs fight a bitter battle.

He would declare how much he’s fallen for me and that he can’t lose me, not now that we’re having a baby.

He’d kiss me and it would last for far too long in the middle of a fight.

A text comes through, and I smile when I see it’s from Shane.

Where are you?

I shoot back. At the diner.

His reply comes through within seconds. Stay there till I call you.

My food arrives and I happily eat as much as I can. He thought of me. In the middle of whatever is going on with the club, he thought of me. It’s not quite as romantic as I imagined but it’s a step in the direction I want him heading in.

“Excuse me,” I say as a waitress passes my table.

“How can I help you?”

“Do you know if there are any houses to rent around town?”

“Are you looking to settle down around here?”

I grin. “Yes, me and my boyfriend are having a baby, and we need a home before our little one comes along.”

“How lovely. I don’t know personally what’s available but I’m sure there’ll be something on the board by the bathrooms.”

“Thanks.”

I finish my meal and pay the bill. Grabbing my purse, I find the notice board easily enough and glance over the ads.

I pluck the one house rental ad and head back to Shane’s truck. I’m sure he would’ve told me to stay at the diner so I was away from the club, but it’s not like I’m leaving town.

There are no more texts or any missed calls when I pull out my phone, and I focus on the ad. I key in the number and sigh with relief when the landlord answers.

“Hi, I’m calling about the ad in the diner for the three bed, one bath, rental.”

“Oh, yes. Hi.”

“I’m hoping to view it as soon as possible.”

“I’m available this afternoon.”

“I’m in town now, I was hoping to see the place as soon as possible.”

“Oh, okay. Um, I can shuffle around a few things. How about half an hour?”

“That will be perfect, thank you.”

He rattles off the address and tells me it’s two streets over from the high school.

I find it easily enough and sit in the truck for fifteen minutes before he shows up.

The front of the house and the front yard are in immaculate condition, and I can see myself and Shane living here.

His bike on the drive and a few kids toys scattered around on the lawn. Like a normal family.

I jump down out of the truck and introduce myself as the landlord hobbles over. He’s older than he sounded on the phone and my great feeling about this place intensifies.

“I’m Jack, it’s nice to meet you.”

I follow him up the front path as he tells me, “My wife usually does this so forgive me if I’m seem out of place.”

“It’s fine. Take your time.”

He unlocks the front door and when I step inside, it’s like stepping into a ready-made home. The living room is perfect. Cosy yet big enough to buy a new sectional sofa so Shane can have the guys over.

The kitchen screams cottage vibes and I see myself stood at the oven baking cookies for our child. I glance out into the back yard and it’s the icing on the cake. There’s a swing set and a slide.

“Yes, the previous tenets left the kiddie toys behind. You’re welcome to keep them, or if not, I can arrange for them to be taken away.”

“No, we’ll keep them. I’m pregnant, they’ll come in handy in a few years.”

“So you’re looking at leasing the place long term?”

“Yes. I can pay up the first year today if you like.”

He suddenly smiles but it drops. “It would be great but as you can see I’m an old man. I don’t plan too far ahead. You should know my wife recently passed and when my day comes, this house will be passed down to my son. I couldn’t be sure if he would want to keep it on or just sell it.”

I don’t like the sound of that. “How about I buy it?”

The conversation soon turns and after an hour, we leave with him going to contact his solicitor and me waiting to hear from him.

This is where I want my child to be raised.

I can already imagine every day of his life here.

And when me and Shane are alone, I imagine us christening every room, repeatedly, for years and years.

I call Shane but there’s no answer and for once, it doesn’t bother me. He’ll call me back when he can.