Jesse mentioned it had happened a couple of times but this is the first time it’s happened with me here.
“Hey buddy, it’s okay you’re safe. Daddy’s here, I’m here, no one can hurt you.”
His little eyes are wide and looking everywhere, the remnants of the bad dream lingering. I stroke his hair and dry his eyes, reassuring over and over that I’m here and nothing is going to hurt him. His baleful little cry as he cuddles against my chest almost breaks my heart. I’m so mad he’s going through this. But how the fuck do I fight a nightmare?
Maybe I need to speak to someone about it. Sheridan left me a number for his pediatrician. I will have to get Jesse to organize a visit.
I close my eyes and hug him tighter against me. I can’t even take my son to the doctor. What kind of fucking life is he going to have with me as a father? I swore the second I found out about him that he wouldn’t be raised around the club.
I saw things no kid should ever have to see because of how I was left there all the time. It became easy for me to fall into the way of life. I don’t want that for Oscar.
No, I will protect my son against my club, no matter what happens. As fiercely as I have kept Phoenix away, I’ll do that and more for my son. Starting now.
I gather up his things and take him upstairs to get his actual comfort bear, the one he can’t sleep without, and he drops the puppy like a hot rock.
While he isn’t looking I kick it under his changing table. If he asks for it, I’ll get it out, but out of sight, out of mind.
I text Rebel while Oscar drags a big bucket of building blocks into the middle of the room, to let him know I’m not going to be around today. Oscar needs me. As much as I’m worried about the club, I have plenty of people to delegate to.
We build skyscrapers and little houses and we race little cars around them, occasionally crashing into them and knocking them down. His laughter is like a balm to my soul. This is what I needed.
A little later when he says he is hungry, I stand up and hold out my hand. As we come downstairs, taking for fucking ever because he wants to walk, Jesse comes out of the kitchen. Oscar runs to him with a squeal and Jesse scoops him up and sits him on his hip, listening to him chatter away about us playing in his room.
I didn’t hear him come in, which is worrying. Jesse keeps eyeing me, maintaining a smile on his face for Oscar but something is wrong.
It’s only when he sets Oscar down that I see the papers and photographs that Garrett sent, still spread out across the table. Jesse follows my gaze then turns back to me.
There is no need to ask. He’s already seen them.
Chapter Nine
Taylor
I can’t believe I am voluntarily driving back to this place. After what happened on Friday night, I told myself the chances of running into Noah again were slim to never going to happen. Yet here I am, parking up outside the bar in Locust Point.
It looks different in daylight, even with the bikes parked out front. The church is open and people are coming and going, others making their way down the street. None of them even glance at the bar or the biker hangout next door.
Two men standing by the bikes are watching me sitting in my car, gripping the steering wheel as I muster up the courage to get out. For the last two days, I’ve been searching everywhere for the bracelet dad bought me. It was the last gift he got me before he died.
He was weak towards the end but before he was totally bed ridden, his sister took him to the mall to get me something special. It means the world to me. And I lost it. In the back of my mind I knew where but I searched everywhere else before I admitted defeat.
Wanting it back is more important than being worried about seeinghimagain. I did what any normal person would do, I got their number and called the bar.
A man answered. He clearly didn’t work there, nor did he have any interest in the conversation. He said Raven was out, the bar opened later and maybe it was in lost and found. He then told me to come to the bar and look and hung up.
There is no way I was going back there when it’s packed with bikers, so I left work after my shorter shift and drove out here. The lights are off in the bar but I’m hoping someone is inside. It’s almost opening time. I can deal with Raven, she will understand and help.
Taking in a deep breath, I get out of the car and walk past the men watching me and up to the door. It’s embarrassing as hell when I try to open it, but it’s locked. Closing my eyes I remember why I’m here. I cannot lose that bracelet.
Someone approaches and I turn around. I didn’t see all the men the other night but I’m sure I’d remember this guy. He has piercing blue eyes, that are twinkling with amusement, and curly ash blond hair. He’s wearing his leather vest but has a white T-shirt beneath it that does nothing to hide his bulging biceps.
Jeez, since meeting Noah, I’ve been confronted with the kind of men you only see in thirst traps on social media. They’re almost unreal.
“Bar won’t be open for another hour.” And he has a southern accent too.
“Oh.” I don’t want to make a return trip all the way out here. “Do you have a number for Raven? I left something here at the weekend and I’d like to get it back.”
“She doesn’t usually open up, one of the other staff does that. I could try to call one of them, or you can come back later?”
