I’ve seen him drive by the house at night a few times when he’s going into work, though our house isn’t on his way. He passes by the salon twice a day when he goes to and from the gym. He hasn’t stopped to visit or called, but he’s made his presence known. Strange how someone can be present and ghost you at the same time.
Kaylie has asked about him every morning on our way to the salon and at least twice before bedtime. She’s used to him coming by to play a game or bring her a treat before bed. She’s become quite attached.
Like she’s the only one. You miss him bringing breakfast by in the morning after working his shift, keeping Kaylie entertained while you get ready for work. You even miss him following you to the salon before going home to sleep before his next shift.
Maybe it’s a good thing he’s been putting distance between us. It’s the right thing to do. It’ll give me and Kaylie a chance to let him go.
But you haven’t really let him go. Have you? You don’t want to. You’re just being stubborn. Protecting your heart from being broken again.
Stop!
Kaylie and Mrs. Baker head inside, and Mason stands staring at me. He opens his mouth to say something, but Sadie speaks first.
“So, tell me why we’re even dealing with Everly’s shit when she doesn’t wantbikersinvolved in her life anymore?” Her words are a dark reminder of how badly I must’ve pissed everyone off that day.
“Sadie,” Mason warns. But I don’t need him to fight my battles for me. I know I hurt a lot of people with my harsh words. It’s going to be a while before I’m forgiven, if at all. Sadie was born into the biker life. Like me, it’s in her DNA, only she embraced her family and I loathe mine.
From her parents to her man, Sadie is all about the Kings and what they represent. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about her, it’s that she loves her family fiercely. I can only imagine what she thinks of me after all those things I said back at the clubhouse. But it’s also clear that her experience with bikers isn’t the same as mine.
“Listen, Sadie. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings when I said all those horrible things at the clubhouse. I didn’t mean them to be directed at you?—”
“No, just everyone I love and care about. Every person in that club who—by the way—has stood by and done everything they can to help you when you came back into town.” She shrugs. “You didn’t say it directly tome,which probably would’ve been better for you, honestly. Because I’m not the only one who’s pissed, and the Kings’ women do petty like no others, I can assure you.”
Would she have shut off the alarm so someone could attack my shop as payback?
No, Mason would never allow that.
“I assume you all are here because someone managed to shut off the security system.” I keep my tone even, fighting the need to apologize again. Sadie’s got a vengeance streak that even scares the Kings.
This is what you wanted. If they’re all mad at you, they’ll leave you alone, and so will Mason.
But somehow none of this feels right. I miss him. Miss all of them. I had gotten close to the women for a while.
“We figured out how that shit happened before we got here. Shocker, I know, that simple bikers could be so smart,” she taunts. “It was hacked.” She shrugs like it’s the simplest explanation in the world and one that I should’ve already realized.
“How? Why?” Sadie doesn’t answer, and Mason shakes his head, still not speaking. “Do we know anything at all? My life is literally sitting here in shambles and the people who I would expect to have answers know nothing?”
“You’re expecting a lot from a group ofbikers, aren’t you?” Sadie tilts her head.
“I never said bikers were stupid. I said I didn’t want to date one. It wasn’t an insult to their intelligence. It was an insult to their need to fuck anything with tits and a sweet smile,” I snap back. Sadie smirks. Sadie stands with her arms crossed over her chest. “I don’t want to be just another whore like?—”
“Your mother?” Sadie’s words hit their target. “Only she was paid for spreading her legs for biker trash, right? And not just bikers, from what I hear. So, she wasn’t your typical club whore. She was a hooker. Paid for her services. Turned a pretty penny if the rumors are true.”
Memories flood my mind, reopening old wounds with a freshly sharpened knife. It’s beenyearssince anyone has thrown my mother in my face. Even when she overdosed and I came to take care of Kaylie, no one said a word about my mother’s occupation. Only condolences and love for me and Kaylie. But with one well-timed jab, Sadie has brought back all the shame, the disgust, and the pain of my fucked-up childhood.
“Sadie!” Mason barks. “That’s enough!” His anger grabs Hawk’s attention, and he storms his way back over to us.
“What?” Sadie barks back. “You two act like no one knows who she is or where she came from. But having shit parents doesn’t give you the right to treat everyone with a cut like they’rebeneath you. The fact is biker blood runs through your veins just like mine.”
I flinch at her words. Mason stands a little closer to me now, furiously staring Sadie down.
Hawk steps up, placing his arm around Sadie’s shoulder. “Sapphire, that’s enough. We shouldn’t be talking about this shit here.”
Turning until I’m face to face with Mason, my temper flares. “You told her.”I grit out on a rough whisper. Rage like nothing I’ve ever felt before burns throughout my body at Mason’s obvious betrayal. My hands are balled into fists at my sides, my body trembling with fury.
“I didn’t tell her shit. Sadie’s just nosy as fuck and doesn’t know how to mind her own goddamn business,” Mason growls. “I’ll deal with her shit later.”
“Yo!” Hawk snaps, shaking his head at Mason, which he ignores. “You’ll do no such thing, or I’ll put your ass in the ground. You handle yours. I’ll handle mine. Got me?”
