Page 121 of Protected by the Biker (Grim Reaper MC)
“Nothing, just calling to check up on you,” I said. I braced myself for his anger or annoyance.
“I’m good. The group therapy has really been helping. And Kylie isn’t too bad to look at twice a week for our sessions.”
I let out a loud laugh.
“Yeah she isn’t too bad to look at.” I felt my jeans get tight at the thought of me taking her on her desk.
“Well,” Marco said. “I’m sure you have gotten to know Kylie a little better than me already, but you can tell me about it another time. I’m being picked up for therapy now.”
“Alright man. If you need me to take you sometime this week just let me know.”
“I will.”
I put my cell back in my pocket and hoped on my bike. I smiled brightly knowing that for the first time since Marco had been back he was finally starting to sound like my old friend.
***
Tank, Glock and Gunner were already at the bar when I walked in. Once again, I was the last one to get in but at least this time, I hadn’t held up the meeting.
I had to do everything I could to stop thinking of Kylie and concentrate on the meeting at hand. I knew that Axel wanted to discuss how the shipments were, and for that, I needed to be on full alert.
Axel had taken up his position in the center of the bar, and I caught his eye as I crossed the room towards the boys. He didn’t seem pissed off, but he wasn’t pleased either. Kylie had completely taken over my life ever since I had met her. I used to be the first one to arrive at church usually, I was the one over-eager to prove myself to Axel. And now, I was sure that I was giving him the impression that I didn’t care anymore.
“How were the deliveries?” Axel asked and Tank spoke first.
“Everything was in order. We counted and checked and then checked and counted again. The Fallen Idols have stuck to their word,” he said and Axel nodded his head.
“So, there is nothing that could potentially go wrong if we continue with this?” he asked, and everyone in the room was staring at the four of us. The guys remained quiet, but I decided to say something, even if Glock wasn’t going to.
“I think we were being watched,” I said and I sensed Glock shifting on his feet beside me.
“There was nobody there,” he added quickly and Axel looked from me to him and back to Glock again.
“Which is it?” he growled, a little impatiently and I clenched my jaw.
“We were being watched. I’m not sure but I think it was by the Dragon Knights,” I said authoritatively and Glock turned to me.
“There was nobody there,” he repeated himself, narrowing his eyes at me. I knew I was making him uncomfortable. He didn’t want to admit to Axel, in front of everyone, that we hadn’t caught the guys who were watching us.
“Hunter?” Axel commanded my attention and I looked back at him.
“He’s right, we didn’t see anybody but that’s because we didn’t look hard enough,” I said, holding my ground and Axel turned to Glock again.
“You didn’t look hard enough?” he narrowed his eyes threateningly at us and I heard Glock clear his throat nervously.
“Because we didn’t want to put the shipment at risk,” I cut in and Axel looked at me again, his eyes widening for an explanation.
“We could have smoked them out, which would have started a fight. I didn’t know how many Dragon Knights were watching us, whereas, it was only the four of us and we had an entire cargo load of shipment to protect,” I explained, keeping my ground and Axel’s shoulders seemed to relax a little.
“I wanted us to wait, till we had everything safely stowed away. Picking a fight with the Dragon Knights is easy, we can do it anytime we want,” I continued and finally, Axel began to nod his head.
“That was a good decision,” he said solemnly, still thinking, and then he looked back at us brightly.
“We need to keep an eye out. I’m surprised that they haven’t taken their revenge yet. Watching us from a distance is a pussy move,” Axel said. “But they will eventually retaliate.”
“They’re a bunch of pussies!” somebody called out and a low cheer rang out in the bar.
Axel let out a loud laugh. “That they are,” he said. “But still, let’s be on the lookout. All right, back to work boys,” Axel declared and everyone cheered again. This was code for the drinks to start flowing. Before I turned away, I caught Axel’s eye and he tipped his head in the form of a half-nod. I did the same.
Glock thumped my back as we walked towards our usual table. A wave of relief had flooded his face and he was smiling at me now.
“The next time, warn me in advance, will you? Before throwing us under the bus,” Glock said, taking his seat next to me as bottles of beer started landing on our table.
“I wasn’t throwing us under the bus,” I said to him as I brought a cold one to my lips. “I was just being honest.”
CHAPTER 15
Kylie
I was driving to the daycare, my mind in a complete tizzy because I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Again!
I didn’t know what to believe. Everything Hunter said made logical sense. Just because Tony had been violent towards me didn’t mean that every man who belonged to a MC would be the same, but I couldn’t get over the nagging feeling that in the end; all men were the same.
What about the accountants or the school teachers who I believed would be perfect for me? What’s to say that one of them wouldn’t turn out to be alcoholics and cheaters and violent? Did someone’s lifestyle really dictate how they behaved in their personal lives or their relationships?
There was no denying that I had feelings for Hunter. As much as I tried to fight them, they have hit me with full force. I felt safe around him. I was attracted to him with a burning passion that wasn’t willing to go away. I had never been with a man before who could make me feel the way he did. But I think one think that was stopping me from falling completely over the edge was the fact that he was part of a MC.
I drove with the radio on loud as I made my way towards the daycare. The blaring music seemed to dull my senses a little, distract me somewhat from all the contradictory thoughts in my head…but I was only kidding myself.
Every time I thought I could stop thinking about Hunter, there he was again, and I was reliving every moment that I had spent with him. The sound of his deep strong laugh echoed in my ears, I could smell his presence on my body, the way he held me tightly in his arms, how he had said that he would protect me…protect Carter.
What if all of this was just an act? What if eventually, I would find out that he was just as bad as Tony? Wasn’t Tony attractive and strong and pa
ssionate in those first few months of our relationship? I couldn’t stop thinking about how susceptible I was to making bad decisions. How my taste in men always led me to trouble. And now I was responsible for my son too. I couldn’t just decide on a man who might hurt Carter. It wasn’t just about me anymore.
But maybe Hunter was different? Maybe he was telling the truth when he said that he would never do anything to harm Carter or me? In the short space of time in which I’d known him, he had conducted himself well. Within the first few minutes he was in my physical therapy space, I could easily tell that he cared for his friend Marco. How willing he was to help him out, which to me spoke volumes on his character. In that time, he had shown no signs of violence, other than when he got angry over Tony. Even then, he hadn’t taken his anger out on me. Which was something Tony was quick to do. Everything had been my fault with him. And Hunter didn’t make me feel like I was his property. He gave me a choice, he treated me with respect, like I was giving him a gift. He hadn’t taken me for granted…not yet at least.
I parked the car in the parking lot, and sighing loudly, I got out and started walking towards the daycare building.
“Hi babe,” a voice said behind me and I felt my blood run cold in my veins. I whipped around, startled.
Tony was standing there, with his hands thrust menacingly into the pockets of his leather jacket. He also looked like he had been drinking without a break and hadn’t shaved for weeks. There were bags under his eyes and his face looked dry and scratchy. I couldn’t imagine what I had ever seen in him.
I clutched my purse to myself as self-defense. Even though there was no way that I could really defend myself if he wanted to harm me in some way.
“Tony!” I screeched.
“Scar,” he said, with that same threatening grin on his face.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from us?” I hissed at him, taking a few steps away from him.
