Chapter 29
The riders came back, and the clubhouse erupted into chaos all over again.Lydia stood inside the doorway with her mom, trying to make sense of everything.Baddy had called a half hour ago, letting her know he had her mom and was bringing her back to the clubhouse.
That should've been enough to calm her.
It wasn't.
Her mom, instead of being happy to see her, hovered behind her, half-hidden in the shadow of a support beam, flinching every time a Royalla member walked past.She kept her head down, hair falling like a curtain over her face.
"Mom," Lydia whispered, touching her arm."It's okay.Nobody here is going to hurt you.You're safe."
Her mom kept glancing toward the exit, as if she wanted to bolt.After all the trouble Baddy had gone through to save her mom, she better not run away.Sonny was no good.There was no reason for her mom to want to go back to Cusclan Motorcycle Club.
Before Lydia could ask what was wrong, her mother gasped.She followed her mom's gaze to the kitchen door, swinging back and forth.
Baker stepped into view, wiping his hands on a towel, muttering about people leaving dishes in the sink.He looked around the room, stopping on Lydia, then moving his gaze behind her to her mom.
The towel slipped from Baker's hand and hit the floor."Maureen?"
Lydia blinked.Maureen?Her mom's name was Maureen.
Her mom took a step back, shaking her head."No.No, Baker."
Baker moved toward her slowly, like he was afraid of startling her."It's you."
Her mom's voice cracked."Please...don't."
The room went silent.Every Royalla member turned.Baddy stepped closer to Lydia, his hand brushing her back, steadying her.
Lydia looked back and forth between them, confusion twisting her stomach."Mom?What's going on?"
Her mom shook her head, refusing to answer her.She grabbed Baddy's hand.Something was wrong.
"Maureen?"Baker cleared his rough voice."You came back."
Her mom covered her mouth with both hands, tears spilling over."I didn't know how to come back.I didn't know how to face you."
Baker's jaw clenched, emotion flickering across his aged eyes."You...vanished."
"You sent me away," her mom whispered.
"Not forever."Baker's brows lowered in pain."I sent you money.I still send you money."
"Cusclan took it."Her mom lowered her head."After..."She glanced at Lydia and then back at Baker."I never received it."
"You never came back."Baker frowned, pulling on his beard.
