Page 12 of The Biker’s Second Chance (Chrome Creed MC #2)

FROM ONE PRISON TO THE NEXT

JAYNE

T he rumble of the bike’s engine used to thrill me. Bring me a sense of peace.

I remember Spike and I going on long rides, stopping at various parks just to relax a bit.

Today though, I’m not at peace on the back of his bike.

As I look down at the road speeding by underneath us, I can’t help but feel like he’s taking me from one prison to the next.

At least at the motel I was able to move around in the room freely. Eva told me I could have whatever I wanted.

I’m sure that’s not going to be the case back at the clubhouse.

If only I’d managed to get out of the window before Spike came back around. Sure, I had been wishing for him to be there when I woke up, but him showing up just as I was making my escape wasn’t the plan.

We stop at a red light and Spike puts his foot down on the pavement to steady the bike while we wait for it to change.

Part of me wants to lean forward, take in his scent. The leather mixed with his sweat always used to make me purr. But that was back in the old days. Back when I wasn’t fighting tooth and nail not to let him get under my skin.

I’m already losing that fight though. That much is clear from our little incident in the motel room.

I don’t want to admit it, but everything he said while he was on top of me was completely true.

If he’d pulled my pants down right then and there, I’d have taken him into my body readily.

He’s so fucking sexy, and we’ve got so much history. It’s nearly impossible not to lust after him.

I want to feel just a little bit of what we had before. A little normalcy.

But even I know if I go down that road it’s not going to end well. I can’t allow myself to give in.

I can’t tell for sure, but based on the way he jumped off the bed like a wolf was about to chomp down on his ass, it seems like Spike is having the same thoughts.

Neither one of us wants to muddy this up any more than it already is.

The problem is now that I’m going to be forced to stay at the clubhouse, there really is no getting away from each other.

There’s only so much space, and we’ve got mountains of issues to deal with.

As the light changes back, I lean as far away from him as I can get without throwing off the balance of the bike.

I’ve got to take the space wherever I can get it, because I’m sure very soon it’ll be Spike and me, face to face all over again.

Not exactly the picture-perfect vision of me coming home.

Seeing the clubhouse in the bright sun, I realize that quite a bit has changed. In fact, it seems like a whole section of the clubhouse is newly built.

If I was on better terms with Spike, I’d ask him about it. For now, I just have to put my curiosity aside.

“Let’s go.” Spike mumbles over his shoulder as he parks the bike and puts a hand out to help me off.

My fingers tremble as I take his hand.

I’ve done this thousands of times before, but for some reason touching him now feels different. Heavy.

As soon as my feet are on the ground, I let go of him. No need to linger.

Zero followed behind us from the motel. I look him over once, and he doesn’t meet my gaze, but I can see how exhausted he is.

I’m sure he’ll get some good sleep now that he’s back in the clubhouse.

I hope Spike won’t be mad at him for my near escape.

The last thing I want to do is bring any trouble down on Zero’s head just because I’d almost tricked him.

The second we walk into the doors, I realize that my worries about not feeling comfortable here were spot on.

I see a lot of faces. People I used to call friends. People I’ve laughed and drunk beers with.

Rumble, Lash, Tella, Creek, Saint, even Leo is standing there like a force. All of them glaring at me with a hatred so strong I nearly stumble backward.

“I don’t know about this. They don’t want me here.” I whisper in Spike’s direction.

“It’s too late for that now. Besides, you’ve already shown you can’t be trusted on your own.” He continues to walk forward and I follow behind, not wanting to be in the space any longer than I have to.

“Where am I going? Do I stay in your room?” I take a step in the direction of where Spike’s room was, but he puts his hand out to stop me.

“No, we’ve got extra spaces.” He lifts that same hand and gestures to Nisa, who is standing by the kitchen area. “Can you put her in one of the guest rooms, please. I have to... I have to go.” Spike grumbles before he storms off.

Nisa nods her head and waves me over to follow her. I keep my head down as I make my way across.

I want to hug her. Ask how she’s doing. The last time I was here, Nisa wasn’t a member of the club. Wasn’t an ol’ lady, but thanks to the small pendant on her chain I can see that has changed.

My curiosity ramps up again, but just like before I stomp it down.

We walk down a long hallway and she opens up the door to a small room. It’s got everything I need, minus a bathroom, which is at the other end of the hall.

If this were any other place, I’d think it was quite cozy.

“I tried to put as much as I could in here without making it too cluttered, but I didn’t know what you’d need.” Nisa shrugs and I finally look up at her.

“Ah, so you guys figured I’d be back, huh?” I joke just to get a gauge on her. When she tilts her head and smiles back at me, I feel some of the weight coming off my shoulders.

“Leo knew Spike would bring you back sooner or later.” Nisa answers.

“Yeah, I don’t know why he didn’t just leave me at the motel with Eva though. I mean, what’s the point of ignoring me there to ignoring me here.” I sigh and drop my bag in the corner before I walk over and sit on the bed.

Nisa looks at the door, probably to check no one is listening, before she closes the door and comes to sit next to me.

“You know how the boys are. If it’s not a motorcycle, tits, or a bottle of booze, they don’t know how to work with it. Emotions have never been any of their strong suits.”

I scoff and shake my head.

“You can say that again.” I groan and run my fingers through my hair. “Nisa, I swear I didn’t mean to cause all this mess.”

“I know. I never thought you did.” She pats my thigh, and that is the opening I need. At least I know not everyone in here hates me. I grab hold of her hand and look into her eyes.

“I didn’t come back here to hurt him. I didn’t even want him to know. I just didn’t know where else to turn.”

“Jayne, even if he found out after the fact, Spike would’ve still been hurt. You did what you had to do in order to survive and to help those girls. No one is going to fault you for that.” She squeezes my hand gently.

“Are you sure? Because from the way they were all looking at me out there, it sure seems like they all hate me.”

She flips her hair. “Girl, they’re only acting like that because Spike is acting like that. They are one big clique. Once you get Spike to ease up, so will they. It’s temporary. You just have to stay strong. They all still have love for you.”

That is the real question though. Will I ever get Spike to ease up on me?

“You think I can? I mean with Spike. I’ve never seen him so mad. When I left, I thought he’d just get over it. Over me.”

“That man loves you. There’s no getting over that.

I don’t know how long it will take, but give him time.

He’ll come around.” Nisa pats my hand before she gets up and starts to walk to the door.

Before she gets there, she turns, catching me off guard.

“Listen, Jayne. I know what you’re doing.

At least some of it, from what Leo has shared with me.

I think you’re doing the right thing. The guys may not see it yet, but what you’re doing is very brave.

Don’t give up on this fight. Don’t give up on them. ”

Her words of encouragement hit their mark. I nod once as she walks out of the room.

If I had doubts before that I was doing the wrong thing, I don’t now.

Helping those girls is exactly what I should be doing.

In fact, going up against a gang and a crazed pseudo-pimp seems much easier than what I know I have to do first.

Get Spike to let me back into his life.