Rafe—
Thompson left me and Bubba here with orders to strap down all the loose lumber and plywood before the storm hits. It took us hours, but we’re finally finished and just in time.
Circling around to the gravel lot where Bubba’s truck is parked next to my bike, we see a car of what looks like teenagers head up the drive to the house.
“Who do you think that is?” I ask.
“I saw Ruth leave earlier, and Sawyer left this afternoon. The girl’s probably having a party.” Bubba stops next to his door and stretches.
I see a flash up the road.
Bubba jumps. “What the fuck was that?”
“Transformer blew. I think a tree took it out. Look at that fire.” The flames shoot six feet in the air. The lights go out up and down the highway.
Bubba slides into his driver’s seat. “I’m getting the fuck home before it gets worse. You okay on that bike?”
“I’ll be fine.” I wave him off, and he peels out, heading in the opposite direction of the blown transformer. Squatting by my saddlebags, I pull out my cut and slip it on my back, then tug on my gloves. I’m about to strap my helmet on when I hear a clanging bell, and a woman screaming.
Twisting, I see a flash from the light of a cell phone and a dark shadow on the front porch of the big house. Then I spot two other shadows by the vehicle parked up there.
Tori.
Maybe it’s not a party. Maybe she didn’t invite anyone over.
There’s another scream, and I dig in my saddlebag for my pistol then take off as fast as I can up to the house, my lungs burning as I dig deep for every ounce of speed and strength to get up the hill without slowing.
By the time I make it there, the front door is wide open, and no one is outside. I take the porch steps two at a time, and only slow when I step across the threshold. I’ve got my weapon up and scan the darkness, listening for where they are.
A muffled scream comes from the second floor, and I creep up quietly, following the sounds.
When I come around a corner, there are three of them, and they’ve got Tori down on a bed.
One’s covering her mouth and pinning an arm, and another has the other arm, while a third is struggling to get her jeans off her legs.
I blast a shot through the mirror over the dresser, and it gets their attention. The three men jump back, but none go for a weapon. Bubba and I were working in the dark for hours, so my eyes are well adjusted to the shadowy light.
“Who the fuck are you?” one snaps.
“Your worst nightmare, asshole.”
“This doesn’t concern you, buddy. Unless you want to join in.”
“You’re pretty cocky, considering you’re on the wrong end of this gun,” I growl and motion with my hand for Tori to come to me. “Tori.”
She scrambles off the bed, and I step in front of her.
The three are still standing there—two look petrified, but their leader seems reluctant to take the hint.
“You’ve got three seconds to get out the front door before I start putting holes in you. One. Two.” I don’t get to three before they pound down the stairs and tear out the front door. “Stay here, Tori.”
I don’t trust they’ll all leave, and I follow them out, my gun on them all the way until the vehicle tears off down the drive. When I see them fishtail onto the highway, I return to Tori. She’s shaking and crying when I reenter the bedroom.
Slipping my pistol into the back of my jeans, I take her shoulders in my hands and dip my head to hers. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
She shakes her head, and I pull her against my chest.
“You’re safe now. They’re gone. They won’t be back.”
She cries into my cut, clinging to me for a long time, and I stroke her head.
Finally, she pulls back and looks at me. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”
“Me and Bubba were working late. I heard the bell and you screaming. You were smart to do that. I grabbed my gun and came running.”
“You saved me, Rafe. Thank you. God, when I think what would have happened if you hadn’t been here… Where’s Bubba?”
“He pulled out right after that transformer blew, before you started screaming. When we saw the car drive past, he said maybe you were having a party.”
“I didn’t invite them. No way. I’m glad you didn’t believe that.”
“What happened?”
“Connor broke the window in the kitchen door and got it open. I ran out the front, but his two friends were waiting.”
“Hang on. You know these guys?”
“From school. They’re bullies. Connor won’t leave me alone. I’ve told him to fuck off a bunch of times.”
“Jesus. That’s some fucking school.”
“I’m done with that place.”
“I think the one who should be done is this asshole Connor. Maybe I should pay him a visit.”
“Lots of luck with that. His father is the governor.”
“No shit?”
“That’s what I was told.”
“Wait a minute. This guy, this Connor—is he the reason you were crying when you came home? When I asked if I could help, you asked if I knew of any good bodyguards.”
She nods.
My God. “He’s been tormenting you from the first day of class?”
“Pretty much.”
Fury runs through my body, and I’d like nothing more than to go find that asshole right now, but I need to take care of Tori. I put an arm around her. “Come on. Let’s shut the house up and get you a drink.”
“I don’t want any water.”
“Darlin’, I was thinking more along the lines of a shot of whiskey. Surely your father has some somewhere in this house.”
“The study.”
We go downstairs, and I lock up the house and settle Tori on the couch.
“Is that fireplace wood-burning?”
“Yes.”
I kneel and use my flashlight app to find some wood near the hearth, then start to stack it in the grate. I wad up some newspaper, shove it underneath the stack, and pull a lighter from my pocket. I get a good flame going, and soon it's licking up the logs.
I take in Tori in the light of the fire. She’s beautiful, but looks fragile and vulnerable. Stepping to her, I cup her chin and tilt her face to me, studying it. There’s a slight brushing along her jaw. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nods.
“I’m gonna kill that motherfucker,” I swear to her. “No one touches you like that.”
Her eyes glaze, but she shakes her head. “I don’t want you back in handcuffs because of me.”
Her reference to our initial meeting tightens my jaw. “I hate you had to see that. I hadn’t done a damn thing.”
She stares at me, and I wonder what she’s thinking. Her gaze drops to my leather cut. “Well, I finally got to read the patches on your back. Evil Dead MC. Who are they?”
“You don’t need to be afraid of me, Tori,” I say quietly.
“I’m not. Not anymore. Maybe I never was.”
“The Evil Dead is a motorcycle club. It’s my club.” When she doesn’t say more, I glance toward the hall and the study across from it. “I’m going to get that whiskey, okay?”
She nods, but she looks a little nervous about me leaving her alone, even if it’s only twenty feet to the study.
“You want to show me where it is?” I ask, giving her the opportunity to stick by my side.
“Sure.” She bolts to her feet, and her shoulders slump in relief. She leads us into the study, and I use the flashlight on my phone to illuminate the room. She goes right to the side table where a dozen bottles and crystal glasses sit.
I set an index finger on the cap of one bottle. “What’s your poison?”
She shrugs. “I’m not much of a drinker.”
“Got any orange juice in the fridge?”
“Sure.”
I pull the bottle of vodka. “Screwdriver it is, then. Come on.” We head to the kitchen, and I make one and slide it across the island to her. “Try this.”
She scoots on a barstool and takes a tentative sip, then gives me a small smile. “It’s good.”
I lean on my elbows and wink. “I’ll be your bartender anytime.”
That gets me a real smile.
Her eyes drop to my cut again, and she tips her glass toward it. “So, how long have you been in that… club?”
I huff a laugh and stare at the granite. “Unofficially? Seems like my whole life. My father was a member. I guess you could say I was raised in the club.”
“And officially?”
“Started prospecting after high school. That took until I was twenty-one. Been a full patched member for a few years now.”
“I see. And… what does that mean, exactly… being a full patched member?”
“Means I’ve got a dozen club brothers at my back.”
“All for one, and one for all?”
“Exactly.” I grin, then tilt my head. “You got any brothers or sisters, Tori?”
“I’m an only child. How about you?”
“I’ve got a couple of younger sisters, Fiona’s twenty-one and Ella’s nineteen, and a twin brother named Kyle.”
“A twin? Wow. Do you like having a twin?”
The corner of my mouth pulls up, but the smile doesn’t reach my eyes. “We fight a lot. It’s complicated.” I straighten. “Come on. Let’s sit by the fire.”
She curls in the corner of the couch, and I sit on the floor, leaning against it a couple feet away, giving her space. We both stare at the fire for a while.
“You’re not what I thought,” she murmurs.
I study her face. “You’re not either. I’m sorry I called you a bitch the other day.”
She grins. “I’m sorry for what I said, too.”
“Seems there’s more to both of us than meets the eye, huh?”
“You know the funny thing? Guys like Connor with money and status are supposed to be good guys, and bikers like you are supposed to be bad. That’s kind of been flipped on its head for me tonight.” She drains her glass.
“You want another?” I ask.
She shakes her head and tucks her feet under her, laying her head on the decorative pillow. “If I fall asleep, you’re not going anywhere, are you?”
“I won’t leave your side, Tori. I promise.”
We sit and watch the fire, and in a few minutes, I glance back and see her eyes are closed.
My gaze freely travels over her face, memorizing every detail.
She looks beautiful in the firelight, even with the bruise.
I cross my arms and stare at the fire, and tell myself this is just one crazy night.
Tomorrow we’ll be from two different worlds again, and I may not ever have another conversation with her. It’s a sad thought.
I rest my head back on the couch cushion and close my eyes.
A few minutes later, my phone vibrates in my hip pocket with a text. Digging it out, I frown at the screen.
WOLF: CHURCH IN AN HOUR. DON’T BE LATE AGAIN.
Fuck. I glance over at Tori. She’s still sleeping. I stretch and climb to my feet, then lean over her and tap her knee.
“Hey. Babe.”
Her eyes flutter open.
“Need to talk to you.”
She yawns and sits up, then her gaze darts around, her eyes wide. “Are they back?”
“Nothing like that. Everything’s fine.” I sit next to her. “I, ah, got a text. There’s someplace I need to be.”
“Oh.” Her body deflates.
“I’m not leaving you alone. Don’t worry. I just have to figure this out. Is Ruth coming back?” Not that she’d be much help if Connor returned, but I need to know if we do what I’m thinking.
She pulls her phone out. “She hasn’t called. Let me try her.”
She sends a text, and a moment later, gets a reply.
“She says she’d like to stay with her friend tonight.” Tori looks at me. “Her husband had a heart attack, and Ruth is being supportive.”
I nod. “Tell her it’s no problem.”
“But you’re leaving.”
“I’d feel better if you came with me.”
Her brow crinkles. “With you? Where?”
“To my clubhouse. I’ve got to attend church. Need to be there in an hour.”
She looks confused. “You’re going to church? Now?”
I grin. “Not that kind of church. A meeting with my club brothers. We call it church.”
“Oh.” She folds her arms, hugging herself. “I… I don’t know.”
“Tori, look at me.” I take her hands. “They’re good people. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll look out for you. We don’t have another option. There’s no way I’m leaving you here alone, and I have to go. Club bylaws and all that. I can’t miss it.”
“But—”
“Do you have a warm coat? One you can ride in?”
“Ride? But I have a car.”
“I’d feel better with you on the back of my bike. Just in case Connor has tagged your car.”
“Tagged my car?”
“Yeah, put a tracking device on it. I don’t have one with me, but I can get a detector and go over your car tomorrow.”
“Oh my God. He may be tracking my car?”
“It’s possible, Tori. Especially a guy like him.” I turn to the hall. “Come on.”
“I’ve never ridden before.”
I stop at the closet and grin. “Good. Then I’ll be your first.”
She grins at the double entendre.
“Grab a jacket.”
Once she’s got a warm coat and shoes on, I take her hand, and we walk to the mill. I pass her my helmet and help her with the strap.
“What about you?” she asks.
“I don’t plan on laying the bike down, but I want you to be safe.”
“Being chivalrous. Thank you.”
I tap her nose, then throw my leg over the bike and lift it off the kickstand. “Climb on, sweetheart.”
She scrambles on and wraps her arms around me.
It feels right with her on the back of my bike. I hit the throttle and head out, taking us across town to the clubhouse.
There are numerous tree limbs and branches on the roads, and I go slow and weave around them. When we’re almost to the clubhouse, we catch a light, and I reach back and squeeze her thigh, twisting my head. “You okay?”
She smiles huge. “I love it.”
I chuckle. “Fantastic.”
As I idle, waiting for the light to change, I have to remind myself this relationship can’t go anywhere.
Maybe we could be friends, but I don’t think that would ever satisfy me.
Even knowing that, I can’t help the warning voice in my head asking me how much I really want to get involved with this girl, because letting her go is going to be hell.