Page 46 of Sever
Chapter Twenty-One
Megan
It’s been two weeks since everything happened with Timmy. I never asked Ryder what happened to him.
I don’t want to know. I’m living in my happy little bubble and I don’t want to invite anything in that may pop it.
I used some vacation time I had built up at work, but I go back tomorrow. I told them that my parents had died and nothing more. They were more useful in death to me than they were in life. I know the first thing I’ll notice will be Timmy’s empty desk. To think that he was that close the whole time and I had no idea. I dread to think about the rumors and I don’t know if I’ll be able to listen to office gossip about what happened to him and having to pretend to be naive.
I don’t want to think about any of it.
Ryder and I have been happy, but what happened still hangs between us. I know that will fade with time but I’ll also always wonder what else will happen in the club that I won’t know about.
I look around the clubhouse, seeing a few familiar faces; some I like, some I definitely don’t. What has gone on inside these walls and can I live with it?
“Penny for your thoughts?” I look up to see Lucy.
“How do you do it?” When she cocks her head, I elaborate. “Not care what they do. Knowing that it’s sometimes violent and most times not legal.” I rest my face in my hands, trying to work through this damn internal struggle.
She pulls out a chair next to me, taking a seat, but her eyes are on Whip, who is at the bar with some of the other guys. One of them, I don’t know who he is, has just been telling a story and now they’re all cracking up laughing, slapping each other on the back and downing a beer. “You do it because you love him. You know that no matter what happened, that man would lay down his life for you.” I look back at her. “The club does those things, but usually there is always some sort of reasoning behind it. They aren’t killing innocent people, they are righting wrongs in the best way they can, aside from calling the cops.”
I think that’s what confused me most. We hadn’t done anything wrong that day. Why not just call the cops? Lucy must see my thoughts on my face because she continues.
“In this town, aside from the few who are friends with the club, the cops are out to get the boys. Any situation that can be manipulated, will be. I’ve seen it happened. I came from a home where I lived with a real monster. I can guarantee you not one of the brothers even comes close.”
Whip turns to look straight at us. Lifting his hand, he calls Lucy to him with a twitch of his finger and she immediately stands up.
That is a woman who loves her man, regardless.
“What you need to figure out is do you love him enough to look the other way when you need to. Just do it before it’s too late.”
She walks away and I know she’s right.
I have a decision to make.
Do I love him enough?
When the front door opens and Ryder walks in, I know my answer.
I do.
My eyes to his as he crosses the room, I know I love this man with every inch of my soul. I’d lay down everything for him, the same way he would for me.
I kiss him hard, needing him to feel everything I am.
He pulls back a bit and looks at me. “What’s going on? Not that I’m complaining.”
“Just realized that the risk is worth the reward.”
He smirks. It’s a look I love on him because it reminds me of when we were teenagers. “Oh yeah? And what exactly is the reward?”
“You.” I kiss him again and he pulls me closer, lifting me up so my legs wrap around his waist, and carries me out to his bike.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you home and rewarding you.”
“I'm sure as hell not gonna fight you on that.” I kiss him once more before climbing onto the bike behind him, and as we pull out of the lot I decide that this is my new start.
I need to leave all the hurt and the issues in the past so that I can enjoy my future.
A future with Ryder.