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Chapter Twenty-Three

Elodie

S itting down on the bed, I don’t wait before flopping backward and staring at the ceiling. Every day has been a breeze for Henley and me. There’s not been any word from my father, no issues with either of the clubs nor has anything hit the fan for him and me personally. Him leaving to go on one of their missions? That definitely brings a giant burn to my heart. I know it’s part of his job, and I don’t want to complain. Yet, now that I see how fast things seem to move, I can’t help but wonder if I’m fast enough for this lifestyle. He is twelve years older than me and handles it like a champ, but he has also been part of this life for a while.

Fudge, that’s another thing we don’t really know about one another.

We just spent nearly two weeks working through our…uh… kinks and just getting to know one another. He taught me to ride a motorcycle and taught me to ride his…well, anyway.

When it comes to clubs, I’m clueless. He hasn’t talked about how long he has been here, he hasn’t really talked about what he does in the club. Honestly, I only really know that he is part of a motorcycle club and that’s because I deduced that information myself. If you hang out with a bunch of other dudes who all wear the same vest as you and ride motorcycles, it doesn't take a rocket scientist.

Then there is the Drenched in Sin club that I barely knew about. He and I have been there a total of three times together. All three times are my only times being there. How long has he been a part of that club? What did that look like for him?

I’m getting far too into my own head.

Sitting up quickly, I close my eyes and take several slow deep breaths. I need to just relax for a few moments.

This drudgery of anxiety is one hundred percent based on the fact that Henley has to leave into the unknown. I don’t know how many times I will say it, I know it’s his job. I get that he has to do this for his club and his men, but sheesh, there’s no amount of getting over it for me. I don’t like him leaving one bit. Several more deep breaths and I’m ready to go.

Doing a quick braid on my hair, slipping into my shoes, and swinging my small backpack on my back, I bound down the stairs and out into the main area of the MC. Like an abandoned home, there’s no one here. Well, minus the voices booming on the other side of the massive doorway that leads to the church area.

“Where are you headed off to?” Jumping three feet in the air, I nearly fall on my ass when I’m stopped by a large dude covered in colorful tattoos. “Henley mentioned something about his woman trying to sneak out.”

“He is not even gone yet,” I retort, my hands landing on my hips. “I can’t sneak out if I’m waiting for him.”

“You’re absolutely trying to sneak out, your whole body is on alert,” he shoots back, his brow raising.

Scoffing, I say, “you lift your brow any higher, it’ll become part of your hairline.” He seems genuinely indifferent to my attempt at an insult, so I move on. “Well, let’s be real here. You definitely think I’m sneaking out.”

“I most certainly do, little miss. Mind letting someone in on where you may be running off to? Perhaps Henley?”

“Mind telling me who you are?” I sneer, not letting up. “You think I’m going to stand here and allow another man to walk all over me?” He narrows his eyes on me before bursting out laughing.

“You look like a mad little kitten-fuck!” He hunches over after my knee connects with his go-nads. “What the fuck was that for?”

“You, the hot stranger, are refusing me to leave this compound. I feel like I’m being held captive,” I sigh, the back of my hand going to my head dramatically. Stepping over him, I continue to the door. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go to the store.”

He mutters something incoherent. He didn’t even have the decency to give me his name, so I don’t feel all that bad that I may have ruined his chances at having children in the future.

What? He got in my way. That’s enough for me to want to castrate him. Right?

Ugh. “Sorry,” I call out over my shoulder, feeling slightly better with myself. Hopping onto the dumping bike, I push the key into the hole and let it rumble under me. Henley didn’t say anything about me not being able to take the bike, so I may as well. Just as I go to apply the gas and release the clutch, the breeze picks up, whispering my hair around.

“Shoot,” I curse, looking back at the clubhouse with distaste. I forgot the stupid helmet on the rack due to bozo stepping in my way. Leaving without headgear is two things. One, forbidden in the eyes of the entire clubhouse as well as Henley. Two, because it’s freaking dangerous on the roads, and while I know Henley and I drive fine, it’s the other people I don’t trust. The door opens, and the guy I sacked is talking into his phone as he glares at me.

Realizing that I don’t have time to grab the helmet without getting tackled, I ride off.

Did Henley tell me not to leave while he is gone? Yes. He didn’t say diddly-squat about leaving while he is still here. I know I’m not held captive, yet after having a small taste of freedom, I never want to be cooped up again. Should I be going out on my own? Probably not, but again, I’m a big girl. If I want to hit the shops by myself, I should be able to.

Letting the breeze fly through loose strands of hair, it brings me back to the first time I got on the bike with Henley. According to him, a helmet wasn’t a top priority as getting me away from Father took top tier for him. Now, I at least have my hair french braided down my back. It doesn’t matter that there aren’t a lot of loose pieces, I can still feel the wind grabbing onto them and pulling as I ride freely. The hum of the bike between my thighs is soothing, almost like a small piece of the larger puzzle has been clicked into place for me. Something about getting on a two-wheel death machine has me letting loose and relaxing fully.

My leg buzzes harshly, signaling that my phone is ringing. Lack of headgear means lack of Bluetooth, so answering it isn’t an option right now.

Henley can track me if he is that worried about me. With all that is holy, I can almost guarantee that he has got some sort of tracking device on me or having someone ping my cell phone. That man is far too overprotective for his own good, but that thought alone makes my heart flutter.

Everything about him has brought me strength and guidance, and given me that ability to speak out for myself. I don’t even know if he knows how grateful I am to have him in my corner. Not only does he encourage me, but he is the beacon that I need when I feel like I don’t have anyone.

“No tears,” I mutter to myself, thinking about how lucky I am to have gone from my father’s chains to being with Henley.

Right now, I finally feel like I’m able to breathe fully.