She makes this sound, half sob and half laugh, and then before I know what's happening, she's hugging me. One arm around my neck, Liam pressed between us, her face buried against my shoulder.
I freeze. I don't do hugs. Don't do physical affection outside of fighting and fucking. But her small body is trembling against mine, and I can feel her tears soaking through my shirt, and I find my arms coming up to hold her.
"Thank you," she whispers against my neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"It's okay," I say, awkward as hell. "You're okay now."
She pulls back after a moment, wiping her face with her free hand. "Sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Don't apologize." I step back, needing some distance before I do something stupid like offer to move her into my house where I can protect her 24/7. "You've had a rough morning."
"Rough couple of years," she corrects with a weak smile.
"Yeah, well. Maybe things are about to get better." I don't know why I say it. I'm not an optimistic person. But looking at her standing there with her kid, brave and broken and still fighting, I want it to be true.
"Maybe." She doesn't sound convinced.
"Get some rest," I tell her. "Both of you. I'll keep an eye out in case those assholes come back."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to."
And it's true. I want to protect her. Want to make sure she's safe. It's a strange feeling, this protective instinct. I usually only feel it for the club, for my brothers.
But Ruby's mine now. And I take care of what's mine. Wait. Not mine. She's not mine. She's just my neighbor who needed help. I back down the steps before my brain can continue that thought.
"I'm around if you need me. Just knock."
"Okay." She shifts Liam's weight, and I notice how thin her arms are. How her clothes hang loose on her frame. She's not eating enough. Probably giving most of her food to the kid.
I make a mental note to "accidentally" make too much food more often.
"Chaos?" she calls as I reach the bottom step.
I turn back. "Yeah?"
"That thing you said before. About feeling alone." She takes a breath. "I know that feeling too. And for what it's worth, you're not alone now. You've got a neighbor who's got your back too."
"Good to know," I say, keeping my voice casual.
She smiles and disappears into her house. I stand there for a moment, staring at her closed door, wondering what the hell just happened. I came over to stop some assholes from harassing my neighbor. That's it. That's all this was supposed to be.
So why does it feel like something changed? Like I just made a promise I can't take back? I shake my head and walk back to my place. Inside, the house feels emptier than before. Quieter. I try to eat the rest of my lunch but I'm not hungry anymore.
My phone buzzes. Text from King.
**Meeting tonight at the clubhouse. 8pm. Don't be late.**
I send back a thumbs up and toss the phone on the couch. A meeting probably means we're discussing something important. Maybe finally discussing my patch-in.
The thought should excite me. Should make that restless energy buzz under my skin. Instead, I find myself looking out my window toward Ruby's house, making sure everything's quiet. Making sure she's safe.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I don't get attached. I don't get involved in people's problems beyond a quick fix. I fight, I fuck, I move on. That's how I operate. That's how I survive.
But there's something about Ruby. About the way she held her ground even when she was terrified. About the way she didn't hesitate to call out her shitty ex and her manipulative parents. About the fierce love in her eyes when she looked at her son.
