“Bristol?” she asks.
“Hi?” Bristol says sheepishly, her hands wringing together in front of her. My mom skips down the stairs, moving in to hug her, pulling Bristol’s body tightly against hers.
“I’ve been waiting for my boy to bring home a pretty girl for years. It was worth the wait because he is smitten! I’m Alice.” My mom shoots me a glare, raising her eyebrows. She knows me, so she must understand that bringing Bristol here means she’s no longer with her fiancé. Bristol smiles and then looks up at me. Fuck, if I could bottle up that expression, I would.
“Let’s get inside. I don’t have long, and we’ve got some stuff to catch up on. Is Kate here?”
“She is, she’s washing the last of the produce we just pulled from the garden for the season. We heard the bikes, so I’m sure she’s pulling out some type of snack and drinks.”
We walk inside, that nostalgic scent filling my nose. Bristol seems to relax immediately, her shoulders not so tight, her grip on my hand relaxing.
“Rhys! I see you must have worked your magic to get her to fall for you. Hi, Bristol, I’m Kate, Alice’s wife. Can I get you anything to drink? Why don’t we head into the kitchen and let these two chat for a few?”
“That sounds great, thank you.” Well, she definitely feels more comfortable here than she does at the clubhouse. I’m going to have to fix that. Add it to the long list of shit I need to make right.
I drop a kiss to Bristol’s forehead as she walks away with Kate into the other room. My mom wastes no time, sitting down on the couch and crossing her arms.
“Spill, and don’t leave anything out. What did you just bring to my doorstep, because the three prospects outside are telling me something is about to go down.”
“She’s in trouble. Her ex is a controlling, abusive piece of shit. I want her at the clubhouse, but I can’t leave her alone. Plus, that’s the first place they’ll hit when they come after her. I need the two most important women in my life safe, so I’m keeping you together in one place. The man she was with is the man we’ve been looking for; he’s involved in some nasty shit, and we need to get to the bottom of it. But we think he’s been fucking with us, toying. Last week, Hell’s Asylum was ransacked, and right now, it’s on fire. I need to get down there. But it’s him, or the people he works for.”
“She was abused?”
“As far as I know, physically, once. But emotionally, mentally, and verbally? It’s been going on for some time.”
“When did she leave him?”
“Last night.”
“Jesus Christ, Rhys. She needs stability, not whatever this is.”
“You think I don’t know that, Mom? You think it’s not killing me right now, knowing I have to drop her off in a strange home with people she doesn’t know, when all I want to do is help heal her wounds? Trust me,I know. But I can’t change the situation; I can only adapt. I’m doing the best I can, and that has to be good enough for right now.”
My mom takes a deep breath, reaching out and grabbing my shoulders, pulling me into a tight hug.
“I know, I’m sorry. Go, she’ll be safe here.”
“You got your gun?”
“Four of them. And I’m still a better shot than most of you Heathens.” I drop a kiss to the top of her head.
“Good.”
I stand, finding Bristol in a deep discussion with Kate, but she looks up at me as I enter the room, all bright hazel eyes and wide, hopeful smile. We’re going to get through this.
“Hi, my love. I’ve got to go. You’re in good hands. I’m leaving two prospects outside.” Not wanting to take any chances and knowing they’ll keep watch over them. Bristol stands from her chair, walking right into my open arms and burying her face in my shirt. I rest my cheek against the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent.
When we break apart, her eyes are misting, the hazel so clouded with large drops of unshed tears. My heart breaks, but I have to go, even if everything is telling me to stay.
“I love you.”
“Come back to me. I love you so much.”
“Of course I’m coming back to you.”
With one last kiss to her sweet, plump lips. I turn and walk out the door, knowing if I don’t do it now, there’s no chance I ever will.
Chapter Thirty-Three
