Page 53 of The Riders’ Reign

Zoo has followed him into the room and, trailing him, is Phoenix.

“You want me to hang around a bit, Ace?” Phoenix asks.

Ace glances at Bear hugging Shelley closely to him, and just gives a silent, quick dip of his head in agreement.

“Does anyone want to tell me why my ol’ lady is red-faced and devastated while sitting in the office with all of you men?” Bear has finally pulled away from her, but his arm is still around her shoulder, and he's fixing Ace and Rook with daggers.

“It's not their fault, darling,” Shelley sniffs. “I've done something really bad, but they've assured me that they're not going to take any revenge on me. Even though I truly deserve it.” She bursts into tears again. Not the big, wracking sobs of earlier, but soft, gentle, hiccupping cries.

“Baby, what did you do?” Bear doesn't ask the question angrily; he asks it with a note of fear in his voice. He glances again at the men in the room.

I can see the calculations whirring away behind those intelligent brown eyes of his. He knows he's outnumbered. As well as Ace, there's Rook, Zoo, and also Phoenix in the room now. But I can guess that if he believed there was one moment of threat toward his Shelley, Bear wouldn't hesitate to defend her, even if it meant losing his life.

To the outside world, these men might look rough and tough and dangerous to know, but from my time spent with the club, I know that a great number of them love their women. They love them with a fierceness and a protectiveness that makes my heart melt.

Between little hiccupping sobs, Shelley spills everything to Bear while he holds her hand. Her heartbreak and torment are clear in every word she speaks, and though she’s directing the story at Bear, the entire office is held rapt. I find myself welling up, despite the result of her actions. It’s nearly impossible not to feel something.

I’m clearly not the only one who feels this way as I glance over to find Phoenix shiny-eyed with unshed tears, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that, Shelley,” he says. “It must have been terrifying. The fact they took your sister, and threatened her with such horrific crimes, it's beyond the goddamn pale.” He walks over to where she's standing with Bear and gently reaches out to touch her shoulder. “I promise you that when we go to bring our men back, we’ll also save your sister, and I'll take as many of those fuckers out as I possibly can.”

“Not that I'm not grateful to you for offering,” Bear says, “but you seem really fucking outraged on behalf of my ol’ lady.”

“I'm outraged on behalf of anyone who is threatened with that kind of violence,” Phoenix points out.

He isn’t alone. I know Ghost feels the same way about people being assaulted, and they are both men who served militarily. I wonder if Phoenix had something similar happen to him as happened to Ghost, or if he witnessed terrible things that have given him such a protective way about him.

“Thank you, Phoenix.” Shelley gives him a wobbly smile. “That means so much to me. I'm aware of how much harm I've caused here, and I wouldn't blame any of you if you hated me.”

Phoenix shakes his head and scratches his stubble covered cheek. He has a short beard, or long stubble, depending how you define it, which masks a ripple of pale scarring beneath. Dark, unruly hair, and ink covers his defined arms, though. If I look closely, I can see that many of the tattoos are covering scarring, too. He’s a truly intimidating presence even in a room full of them.

What strikes me about him, though, is how hard his face can look. He’s handsome, but he looks as if life has never been easy.

“In all the time I've known you, Shelley, you've only ever cared for others.” His deep voice is gruff, as if he’s holding back emotion. “You did it back at the old club. You patched us up whenever we were hurt, and you never complained. From what I understand, you do the same here. You're loyal and you are kind. And from what you've just said, you and your family have been through absolute hell. So, you don't have to thank me, because I can't count or remember quite how many times you've patched me up.” He pats Bear on the back and walks away to stand to the side of Jack's desk, arms folded across his chest and legs crossed at the ankle.

Ace taps the map on the desk. “We need to get planning. We don't have long to make sure this is airtight, and I want to go over things one last time. We also need to make that call to Jack. I'll fill you in about that in a moment, Phoenix.”

Bear takes Shelley's hand again and squeezes it tight. “Come on, baby, let's give the guys some space. We'll only be in the way.” He glances to Ace. “I'll have her safe back at the house if you need to speak to her again.”

As they reach the door, Bear pauses and turns to Shelley. “Go on ahead of me for one moment, baby. I won't be long.”

The door shuts softly behind her before he speaks, directing his question at the guys. “How do I know Jack won't order Shelley to be taken out for what she's done?”

“You think Jack is a sort of man who would order the execution of a woman?” Ace snaps, his eyes narrowing.

“I think Jack is the sort of president who will do whatever it takes to protect the club, including getting rid of traitors who've betrayed his men and caused one of them to be taken captive.”

“Jack won't harm Shelley.” It's Phoenix who speaks up. “I can damn well guarantee that, and I've known the man a long time. He's not going to harm your ol’ lady. You can stop worrying. I think you need to worry more about her mental state and her distress. Go be with her, look after her, and leave the rest to us. We'll get Ghost back alive, and her sister, don't you worry. And then all's well that ends well… right?”

Bear shrugs as if he doesn’t believe it. “Just be aware that anybody that comes for Shelley has to go through me.”

“I wouldn't expect anything less,” Ace says. “I'd be the same way about Camile. I totally understand.”

Bear’s lips pinch, his nostrils flaring. He stares around the room, as though trying to read all our expressions, then, finally accepting what’s being said, he gives a curt nod and backs out of the office. The door swings shut behind him.

Phoenix blows out a breath. “God, that poor woman. To go through all of that.”

“Yeah, and she’s the kindest,” Rook agrees.