“Good night, Saint. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
Saint didn’t respond. He turned his back and walked back to his bike. Saint didn’t know what the hell he should do next, whether it was truly over between Olivia and him.
****
Olivia tossed and turned the entire night. When she did sleep, nightmares plagued her. She kept reliving the moment Saint pried that lunatic with a knife off her. Saint sending her attacker to the ground and pummeling him over and over again. In her dream, Saint’s face contorted and warped into Brett. It wasn’t the lunatic Saint was turning into a punching bag, but her.
She woke up in a cold sweat, panting.
Olivia huddled against the coach, horrified where her unconscious mind took her. What a senseless dream. Saint would never hurt her. He’d probably kill himself first before harming a single hair on her head. She knew she’d wounded him when she asked for some space, but last night, for those few terrible moments, she’d found it hard to breathe.
She thought she knew what a man like Saint was capable of, but she was wrong. Saint looked like he was in control most of the time. He probably was. He ran his MC with an iron fist, but seeing him unravel like that disturbed her on a whole new level.
“Some time apart will do us some good,” she whispered to herself.
She looked out the windows and saw the sun was up. Olivia would need to get ready for work soon. She rubbed at the goosebumps that appeared over her arms. God. Last night didn’t feel real at all. One moment, Saint and she were having a good time, and the next? Some psychopath went after them.
Olivia wouldn’t be able to sleep easy for the next few nights. She wasn’t safe with Saint. Maybe she’d never be. On some level, she understood being with Saint meant she’d never be able to live a normal life. He assured her he was all in. Olivia believed him. She just needed to figure out if she could stomach his lifestyle for the rest of her life.
After breakfast and a quick shower, she headed outside. She was surprised to see Iron there. He’d parked his bike by the driveway. By the grumpy look he gave her, he’d probably been out here all night. Olivia retreated inside, made a quick mug of coffee and a sandwich. When she met him outside again, she handed him the mug and plate.
“I needed that,” Iron said after downing the caffeine and devouring the sandwich.
“I’m surprised you’re here. How did last night go?”
“I’m glad you contacted me right away and not the cops. When Saint’s in that kind of mood, he becomes irrational,” Iron explained.
Saint. Her thoughts had kept revolving around him last night and again this morning. No doubt he’d occupy her thoughts the next few days.
Iron paused, as if he was filtering what he’d tell her. “The guy’s alive. He’s in the intensive care unit at St. Luke’s.”
She grimaced at those words. “Is Saint mad at me?” She took a deep breath. “I’m a nurse, Iron. Helping people in need is my calling.”
“I think he’s still angry at you, but honestly? It’s good news this fucker lives. I also want him dead, but plenty of locals saw Saint punching the lights out of him. If he died, I doubt we’d be able to cover it up.”
“Okay.” Olivia could do nothing else. Of course, Saint was still mad at her. She felt the same way, too. Some part of her was still a little scared of him, and that frustrated him. Saint might not be a decent man, but he was good to her. Always been. “Can you take me to work now?”
Iron nodded. She was surprised when the biker added, “I’m sure he’ll come around.”
“I thought you’d prefer us not getting back together. That way, you’ll no longer need to play the role of bodyguard.” She was teasing him, but the big biker didn’t look offended.
Iron regarded her gravely. “You’re trouble. Devil was right, but I’m beginning to think you’re an asset to Saint and the club as well. For one, you soothe his frayed edges. He’s become less violent and impulsive. Plus, you’ve been real helpful. You never say no when one of our guys need patching up.”
“I hope Saint feels the same way.” Olivia didn’t like being called an asset. It sounded impersonal somehow, but whatever. She didn’t mind helping the MC out when all they needed was a little medical attention.
Iron raised an eyebrow. “You’re not giving up on him? I’d understand if you do. He’s not an easy man to manage.”
That was the ultimate question, wasn’t it? Olivia could tell Iron to butt out, that it was none of his business. However, she’d begun to see him as a kind of friend over the past month. He started out being annoyed he had to babysit Saint’s woman, but over time, they’d become friendly to each other.
“Last night surprised me. I told Saint I just need time to process some stuff but no. I’m not giving up on him. I never will.”
“He’ll be happy to hear that.”
“Don’t tell him I told you that,” she said quickly.
“Will do. Now get on. You’ll be late for your shift.”
Chapter Thirteen
Saint was in a rut. He checked his phone during a club meeting. No new text from Olivia. A week had passed since their spat. They’d only begun messaging each other again now. Saint was impatient with their progress.
How long was she going to hold this little grudge against him?
He grilled Iron about their morning conversations. Part of him was jealous Olivia preferred talking to the other biker rather than him. Then again, he wasn’t sure he was ready to see her face-to-face again so soon. Her wide-eyed expression and her pale face from that night still haunted him. His doubts began to resurface.
Bonnie’s mom, Sadie, had left because she couldn’t accept his choice of lifestyle. That and they hated each other’s guts. Bonnie was the only good thing that came from their toxic relationship.
“The Red Dragons MC picked a new President,” Devil was saying. The other MC members gathered around the long table grumbled, those sitting and those standing around.
“Who?” Saint asked.
“Gears.”
Saint scoffed. The former VP of the Red Dragons MC wasn’t half as smart as Rooster, so he wasn’t too worried about him taking over. In fact, this was good news. Gears thought with his guns and fists. Hell, he hardly did any thinking at all. Killing Rooster was definitely a good decision.
He only listened with half an ear to what was going on. His thoughts still centered around his woman. Could he even still call her that after what happened? Shit. This had never happened to him before. Saint never thought he’d ever be this hung over for one woman. Chains and Bear tried to cheer him up by sending club whores to his room at night. Saint turned them all away.
This was all Olivia’s fault. Somehow, the little minx had gotten deep in his head and she was all he could think about. Hell, he missed her so badly. He masturbated to the thought of her phantom lips on his cock night after night. Her pussy clenched around his dick.
Saint knew he should be focused on the meeting, not on Olivia.
At this rate, Saint wouldn’t last. Fucking his hand gave him zero relief. Saint preferred the real thing. His hot nurse under him, begging for his cock. Olivia cuddling close to him in her living room while they watched movies. Olivia cooking him a disastrous breakfast, only dressed in his shirt. Olivia telling him about needing to give the mayor an enema.