Page 70

Rachel

Two hours later, I was in my bedroom, throwing everything into a suitcase.

I had taken Jenna to the half-rebuilt clubhouse, knowing that nobody else would be there, and demanded she told me everything.

The Devils were planning an attack on the Riders tomorrow.

They had guns; they had grenades – grenades which they had sourced from some pretty sketchy fucking places, earning themselves a debt in the process.

A debt that wasn’t to be repaid with money, but with favours.

I could only fucking imagine what they would be.

They had men, Monster was preparing the dogs, they had Molotovs, throwing knives, axes, and even bows and arrows.

I asked Jenna why the hell she was staying, and she said there was nowhere else for her to go. Her job was to be at her man’s side, or back at base, waiting for him to return. And when asked, “what if he never returns?” she didn’t have an answer for me.

Jenna had been drinking too much of the cool aid. I wasn’t staying here, and I was certainly not going to put my baby and Bee at risk.

Sure, when I spoke to Vienna, it made sense. They fought the Riders so hard to ensure the streets of Leeds were safe, but we had moved so far past that now.

Now it was just a dangerous escalation in a game of tit-for-tat. I’d be damned if that was going to be me.

So here I was, frantically throwing things in a suitcase, whilst also booking a ferry to take me and Bee to Ireland, where we would be safer.

I figured I had at least half an hour before Dante arrived back, which gave me plenty of time to pack the essentials.

Anything else could be bought when we were there.

And I wasn’t planning on leaving forever.

Just until enough shit had calmed down that we could consider this a safe haven once more.

My eyes glanced at the box on the bed, and I swallowed the pit in my stomach, refusing to entertain the contents of it. I had planned for every eventuality, and if Dante was not willing to let us go, I’d make it so he didn't have a choice.

As luck would have it, there was a ferry leaving in around four hours. It took a little over two hours to get from Leeds to Liverpool. So I figured I had an hour, maximum, before I needed to get the fuck out of here.

I ran down to Bee’s room and grabbed a handful of her clothes, throwing them on top of mine in the suitcase.

On my second trip to her room, I grabbed her Monster High backpack, and filled it with her dolls, colouring books, and pens and pencils to keep her entertained, as well as her favourite bedtime story and comfort blanket.

I ran back to my room, my arms filled with her belongings and drew up short when I almost collided with a solid, muscular body next to my bed.

Dante was peering over the suitcase, looking at all the things in there. He held up a top between two fingers and gave me a pleasant, cordial smile. “Going somewhere?”

“Dante… I—”

“I… what? I am planning on leaving you? I’m planning on running away? I’m planning on taking your child and abandoning you?”

Shit, shit, shit.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and the fear almost made me sick to my stomach. This had the potential to go very wrong, very quickly. I had to choose my words carefully and try to defuse this situation.

“I—”

“I’m waiting.”

“Well, if you’d give me a fucking minute to answer instead of interrupting every second, your wait would be over!”

Nice going, Rachel. Very carefully.

“You think that’s the right attitude to approach me with when I’ve just caught you packing up your shit?”

“Yes. I do. Because once again, Dante, you’re not going to listen to me. You’re going to try shout over me and get your own way, when I actually have valid reasonings for doing this. Reasons which I’ve been trying to tell you about for weeks now, and you’ve been brushing me off.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this,” he laughed, sitting on the end of the bed. “Go on then.”

I scoffed at him, and began resuming packing, ignoring the way he growled every time a new item was folded and placed in the suitcase.

“I’ve been telling you. This isn’t a safe place.

Not for me, and not for Bee. And… not for any future children we may have.

When this war is over, we can return, but until then, we’re leaving, and it’s as simple as that,” I patted the top of the clothes when I finished speaking, as though that added to the finality of my words.

“No,” he said simply.

“What do you mean, ‘no’?” I gently reached over and discreetly pulled the dreaded box closer to me.

“Exactly what I said. No. Bee is safer here, and that’s where she’s staying.”

“Have you seen what’s happened to her over the past few months? She certainly is not safer here. Had you spoken to her for more than a few minutes lately, you would realise she doesn’t want to be here either. She’s terrified!”

“She’s not terrified.” he rolled his eyes at me. “You’re being dramatic once again.”

“No. I’m not. But even if I was, it’s not as though I’m speaking lies.

I was happy to play this cat-and-mouse game with you when it was just us two.

When we were the only ones getting hurt.

We’re both as fucked up as the other, so the damage we caused didn’t really make much difference.

We were two fucked up souls being toxic and screwing each other’s brains out.

But now people are being hurt, Dante. Innocent people.

Including our daughter. I think it’s actually selfish that you demand we stay here and risk our safety. ”

“And you think you’ll be safe out there?” He demanded, gesturing towards the window. “Do you know the enemies I have, and what they would do to you if they caught you alone?”

I clicked my tongue at him. “I’m not planning on pitching a fucking tent and camping outside. Nor am I planning on renting a cute cottage five minutes away. Give me some credit. I have actually thought this through. We’re going further away, where the reach of your stupid rivals isn’t as strong. ”

“You really think there’s not an inch of this country where they don’t have members?”

“I’m sure they do,” I nodded, zipping closed the suitcase. “But I’m also confident that the further away we are, the easier it will be for us to hide.”

“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” He asked, his entire demeanour changing as it dawned on him that I wasn’t about to back down.

“Yes. Yes I am.”

“Rachel—”

“No, Dante. I don’t want to hear it. We’ve exhausted this topic to death.

The difference now is that you’ve stopped caring.

For the past two weeks, you’ve thought of nothing other than yourself and your own plans.

And so I’m doing the same thing. I’m no longer taking your feelings into consideration.

I’m doing what I think is best for me and Bee. That’s it.”

“I’ve not been thinking of myself at all. Every thought I have, every plan I make, it’s always with you in mind. I never stop fucking thinking of you.”

“Sure you don’t,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “This is just another manipulation tactic of yours. Actions speak louder than words, Dante.”

“Don’t do this, Rachel,” he said suddenly, trying to reach for my hands.

I pulled them away from him before he could make contact.

“Rachel… please… I’m a proud man, but if begging is what it takes, I’ll do it.

Please stay. Please trust that I can keep you safe.

Trust that I will do my best for you. Trust that I will do everything for you, give you the entire world, and ask for nothing but your mere company in return. ”

“It’s my mere company that’s causing the issues, Dante!

How can you not see that? I don’t want to risk my life for a club I don’t want to be a part of!

I have asked you time and time again to leave this life behind and be with me, and you refused every single time.

If you truly wanted me that much, you’d at least consider it.

But it’s not something you’ve entertained for even a split second! ”

“Of course I’ve fucking entertained it!” He all but roared at me.

“Don’t you think that if I had a choice, I’d leave all this behind and ride off into the sunset with you?

Don’t you think that’s what I fucking want?

I want us to have our own fucked up happily ever after, but we’re in the middle of our story, and you’re trying to jump to the end chapter! These things take time!”

“No, they don’t! Because if we give it too much time, the hands of fate are going to rip out those middle chapters and they’re going to rewrite the ending. Our ending. I know in my gut that we’re not both going to survive this. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you, or to Bee…”

“Rachel…” he breathed, rushing forward to grab my hands. I let him this time. He squeezed them tight and held them against his chest. “Rachel, look at me. Please.”

I lifted my gaze to his.

“I’m sorry for shutting you out. I’m sorry that I didn’t open up to you about the Riders. I’m sorry that I have made you feel left out and neglected. But—”

“No!” I snapped, stepping away from him. His hands dropped to his sides and his face fell as he realised how futile his words were. I wanted to cave. I wanted to give in to him. It killed me to see any sort of hurt on his features, but I knew in my heart this was for the best.

“If you let us go willingly, I promise we’ll return to you when things have calmed down.

When the heat has died down, we’ll let you know exactly where we are, and you can come and collect us.

But if you fight me on this, I’ll take Bee, and you will never see either of us again.

I have enough evidence to ensure there’s not a court in this country that will fight me over custody.

Bee sees me as her mother. I have helped raise her, and I can keep her far safer than you ever could.

I’m giving you this choice, Dante. Choose wisely. And choose quickly.”

Any traces of hurt immediately left his face, and in its place was the fiery flash of anger that I had become so familiar with.

“You really think you can take my daughter out of here, and that I will do nothing to stop you?”

“Oh, I think you’ll try, if that’s the decision you choose to make. But you won’t be successful.” I pulled the dreaded box even closer.

“I’m warning you now, Rachel. I will never let you leave.

Either of you,” he glared down at me, slowly stepping towards me.

I held my ground, refusing to be intimidated by him.

I raised my head with every step forward he took, keeping my eyes locked on his.

“If I have to tie you to a chair again, don’t think for a fucking second I’ll hesitate to do so.

You’re my old lady. Officially this time.

Your place is here, with me. Don’t fucking test my limits. ”

“Dante… I’m warning you. Don’t push me to my fucking limit, either, because I assure you, you won’t like the consequences.”

“Do your best, Kitten. I’ve seen your limit before, and I was the one who came out the victor. You’re still fucking here, aren’t you? Still under my control. Still doing exactly as you’re fucking told.”

I moved forward, closing the distance between us.

My hand came out to slap him, but he was faster than me, his hand grabbing my wrist and bending it backwards.

He pulled me against his chest, and I fought back, my free arm pounding at him.

He spun me around and wrapped both of his arms around me, seizing my hands and pinning them to my chest, holding them in place.

I bucked backwards, fighting to get out of his grip, but it did nothing to move him.

I managed to push our hands upwards and sank my teeth into the fleshy skin between his thumb and index finger.

He growled, and let go of one of my hands, but still did not let me go completely.

I reacted without thinking. My hand snatched into the box and immediately grabbed the cool metal. The momentum of the movement had me able to free myself, and I spun, his eyes finally seeing what I was holding.

Without hesitation, I aimed, pulled, and then fell to the floor as the resounding shot almost deafened me.