“Who?” I growl, knowing my answer.
Wrath gives me a look that conveys he’s confirming what I already know.
“Tell me,” Bristol speaks up. “It’s him? I didn’t think he’d really do anything like this. Is anyone hurt? Is he coming for you all? Is he coming for me? Rhys, what about the shelter? Is the shelter okay? I’m so sorry. Oh my god.”
Fuck, she’s spiraling. I’ve never had to juggle both these roles before. Staying Rhys for her while being Sin for the club. This has to be why so many of us stay single, sticking to fucking patch bunnies instead of finding something real. But I can do this. I’ll do anything for her.
“Baby, listen, we’ll get to the bottom of it, but first, I need to get you somewhere safe, okay?”
“Okay, okay. Yeah,” she says, nodding her head, pure shock and terror blazing in her eyes. I turn back to Wrath. “I’m taking her out of here. Tracker on my bike?”
He brings up his phone, opening the app he has for the devices. “Yep. Can see it loud and clear. I’ve got you. Call if anything goes weird.”
“Taking three prospects with me, I’ll send one back toward town once I’m through,” I tell Wrath, turning to take in my girl. She’s shaking, her eyes wild, but there’s a storm brewing behind her pretty hazels. “Baby, you with me? You wanted to meet my mom, right? Well, now’s the time.”
“What’s happening, Rhys? I’m struggling to keep up with all this shit.”
“I know, my love, I know. There’s going to be so much time for us to talk and process, but right now, we have to go.”
She nods her head quickly, going on autopilot and adrenaline. “Okay, okay, I’m with you.” That’s going to have to be good enough for me right now.
“That’s my girl.”
Gripping her hand, we head out the side doors that lead to the row of bikes. We reach mine, a Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Sport with army-green bodywork. She’s a beauty, and I’ve been waiting a long-ass time to get my woman on the back of it. I just wish, for the second time now, that I had the time to really enjoy it. Someday, once shit settles down, I’m going to take her for a drive up to our spot. She’ll love the winding mountain roads and having the wind in her hair. But for right now, all that matters is her safety.
Three prospects rev up their engines, backing out slowly and waiting. They know the deal; they’re escorting, so they’ll flank me, with one behind. The heavy Washington clouds loom above us, blocking out the sun, but I’ve got Bristol standing in front of me, and I know everything is going to be okay.
I swing my leg over my bike, steadying it with my grip on the handlebars and kicking up the stand. “Come on, baby, just like last time, scoot your ass nice and close and hang on,” I tell her. Bristol does as I say, not hesitating like she did last night. She gets comfortable behind me, positioning herself as close as possible to me, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
“That’s my girl. You ready?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too, Rhys.”
I start her up, the engine purring to life under us, and then we’re off, picking up dust and dirt as we go. The gates open from our armed sentries as soon as they see us coming, my front tire hitting the pavement as I take off, the prospects falling in accordingly.
My heart races in my chest as Bristol’s fingers cling tightly to my shirt. I release my grip on the handlebars with my left hand, placing my palm over hers. She steadies me. Calms me. She sees the real me.
I can’t believe how twisted this shit has become. Never in a million years would I expect this outcome after meeting her in that coffee shop, how our lives would intersect, whether we wanted them to or not. We would have eventually found Blake, and it would have taken me straight to Bristol. I know in my heart that it wouldn’t matter how or when we met, that my soul would recognize hers right away. Time or place wouldn’t matter.
We arrive at my mom’s ten minutes later, pulling up to her gated driveway. I punch in the key code, and the iron doors open automatically. Bristol grips me tighter, so I reach behind me, putting my hand on her calf for reassurance.
I park my bike out front, the prospects pulling in next to me. After helping Bristol off my bike, I tuck her in close, wrapping my arm around her waist but turning to address the guys.
“Thank you. Stay put, I’ll be out soon, and we’ll head back together.”
“You aren’t staying?”
“I can’t, baby. The club needs me. But you are safe here. I wouldn’t let anything happen to either of you, and I sure as shit wouldn’t let my mom live out here this far away from the club if I thought she was in danger. You’ll be safe.”
“Okay. Okay, I believe you.”
The front door swings open the next moment, and my mom is standing there, taking in the three other bikers with me. She’s probably not too happy about that.
“Momma, I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
