“Father wants to be Governor?” I ask.
“You didn't know?” another of the men asks me.
Looking down at the floor, I say, “no, like I said I don't know much about him. I do know he spends most of his time away from home and when he is home he's mostly in his office.”
“Alright, we'll figure more out later. Let's head to the clubhouse and see if Slim has come up with anything,” Bear says. Knowing they have been dismissed, everyone stands up and leaves.
“Oh! I'll be right back,” Chains says before he runs out the front door.
“You good, baby?”
“Um, yeah, I'm okay,” I whisper.
“No, you're not, but you'll get there.” Bear gives me a long hard look. “I really like you in my shirt,” he tells me with a grin.
Chains rushes back into the house holding a black overnight bag before I can respond. Not that I would know what to say.
“My sister, Laura, sent over some things for you, Rose. I'm not sure what all she threw in here, but there should be some clothes. She's very tall, so I know they won't fit, but I did tell her how small you were, so she probably did her woman thing and figured it out.”
“That was so very kind,” I tell him. “Please, thank her for me.”
“You got it,” he says with a wink.
“You go on and get changed while I close the house down,” Bear tells me.
I nod my head and look at the bag that Chains is still holding. Knowing I need the bag but having the courage to walk over to the man and get it are two different things. Bear must have sensed my struggle because he walks over and grabs the bag, walks back and grabs my hand and walks me back toward the bathroom.
He tosses the overnight bag on the floor just inside the bathroom and gently nudges me inside.
“Take your time, sweetheart. I'll be waiting for you,” he says before he closes the door.
I open the bag and the first thing I see is a smaller bag right on top. Looking inside I see it's full of toiletries. Laying it on the sink, I look back in the bag for clothes. Not wanting Bear to wait too long, I grab the first thing I see. It's jeans and a plain light pink shirt. Digging a little deeper I see a black cardigan. Perfect.
I pull Bears shirt over my head and turn to examine my back in the mirror above the sink. It still hurts dreadfully but the bleeding has stopped, and the swelling seems to be going down. I make sure all the bandages that Bear has placed are secure before I put on Laura's clothes.
There's a knock on the door just as I'm putting my head through the top.
“There's another bag out here on the floor that Chains forgot about. I'll be in the kitchen when you're finished,” I hear Bear say before his heavy steps walk away.
I finish dressing, not forgetting the cardigan, because I'm already cold, and open the door to get the other bag. Opening it, I see that it's shoes, and I grab the black boots. They seem like the only pair that will fit me enough to not fall off my feet.
I grab the brush in the smaller bag and brush my hair. It being the first time since being summoned to my father's office since I did so, it's a mess. My hair is thick and hangs about half-way down my back, so it takes me a few minutes to work through all the tangles that have made themselves at home on my head.
I'm so thankful that Chains' sister thought of everything. I do quick work of pulling my hair up and tying it back with a black hair tie that was on the brush handle.
Walking out of the bathroom, I already feel better than I have in a long time. It's amazing what a good outfit will do for your confidence. I stop when I see Bear leaning against the wall right by the bathroom.
“Oh! Hi. I'm ready,” I say.
“My god, you're beautiful,” he mumbles back.
I can feel myself blushing.
Chuckling, Bear says, “did you know that when you blush your freckles get darker?”
I shake my head and suddenly wish I would have kept my hair down. I have nothing to hide behind now.
“Let's go, baby. The brothers already left and will be waiting for us.”
We walk outside, and we head to the back of his cabin where a garage sits that I didn't see last night. He opens its door, and there sits a bike.
Oh my!
Bear walks over to me and shoves a helmet onto my head. I was so focused on the thought of having to ride on that thing I never even see him move.
Sitting on his motorcycle, he says, “hop on,” and pats the seat behind him.
Shaking away the fear, I walk toward the bike.
“Maybe I should go see if Chains' sister sent over some thicker clothes,” I say.
“What you have on is fine. Just climb on and scoot as close to me as you can,” he tells me.
Well, okay then. I hop on the bike and scoot forward. Bears back is a solid wall of man heat. Which I'm not complaining about. He starts his bike, tells me to hold on tight and then we are off.
At first, it was terrifying going so fast. I wasn't used to vehicles with doors on all sides let alone something so small with no door to protect me if I fell sideways. I squeezed my eyes shut with my face planted in Bears back while holding him as tight as I could. Eventually, I felt relaxed enough to open my eyes.
Wow! This is amazing. In a moment of bravery, I throw my hands up in the air and laugh. While I felt dizzy from everything flying by so fast, I also felt something for the first time in my life.
I felt Free.
Chapter Eight
Bear
Hearing Rose laugh and let loose on the back of my bike is my new favorite sound. The fact that I make her feel safe enough, to feel so carefree, makes my chest puff out with pride. The ride from my cabin to the clubhouse will take us only fifteen minutes.
I live in the Deerfield Countryside of Lebanon, Ohio. It's roughly thirty minutes outside of Cincinnati. The Infernal Sons clubhouse is somewhere between my cabin and the edge of the city. I love my club and my brothers. I would die for them, but I needed a place far enough away that I could go regroup if need be and still be close enough if I needed to get there fast. If I push her, this beauty could likely get me there in five.
Rose's arms wrap back around my waist and she squeezes tight. Only then do I speed up.
Reaching the clubhouse, I slow my bike to a stop and hop off.
“Stay by my side unless I say otherwise, understand?” I tell a wide-eyed Rose.
“Is it safe in there?” she asks, still sitting on the bike.
“Yes, but some of the brothers had a party last night and are probably hungover. Hungover brothers have less mouth filter than sober brothers. They won't hurt you, baby. However, they are men and you are achingly beautiful. So, just stay by my side, yea?”
I trust my brothers with my life. I'll trust them with Rose's life. I, however, don't trust them not to try and get between her sweet legs the first chance they get. I'll be damned if I let anyone touch what's mine. There's no point in fighting it. I can feel the pull toward her, and I'm not a fucking boy who plays games. If I see something I want, I go for it.
When this tiny, pale-skinned, freckled-faced, frightened angel ran into my bar last night, both of our fates were sealed. Now, I just need to stop the bastard who's hunting her and make her fears go away.