Page 21 of Ravage

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to find that I had a text from Emery.

Emery:

Just letting you know that we made it to your place.

We’re going to watch a movie. Take your time.

For a second, all I could picture was Emery in my living room piled up on the sofa with my kids. Reese was probably curled up next to her, and Sam was doing his best to pretend he wasn’t watching whatever Disney movie they’d picked out. It should’ve settled me, knowing they were safe. Instead, it made the threat on the screen feel like it had already stepped through my front door.

I looked back at the gang sign on the screen. This might’ve started at the garage, but it wasn’t going to stay there. And suddenly, the last thing I wanted was to leave my kids sitting at my place along with Emery while I went chasing trouble.

But I had no choice. I’d spent too many years in the club to ignore a warning, especially one like this.

4

EMERY

His house smelled like him, and not just a little. His manly scent was in the sofa cushions, the throw blanket draped across his recliner, and even the jacket hanging by the door. It was familiar, comforting, but at the same time, it made me feel restless.

Reese had fallen asleep an hour ago. I’d carried her to bed and tucked her in while Sam went to his room and became lost in some video game. I could hear his voice from time to time, but only if I listened for it. So, I was left alone, watching some silly kids’ movie and trying to pretend that I wasn’t sniffing his sofa cushions.

I glanced over at the clock, and my stomach grew tight when I saw how late it was. I shouldn’t have been worried. I knew how things worked at the club. One minute, it could be perfectly normal. We’d be sitting around watching TV or having dinner, and Jax would get a call, or a prospect would show up at the house.

Sometimes, he would call the neighbor to come stay, but more times than not, he would order me to pack a bag. That was it. No explanation. Just do it, and do it now. Within minutes, we would be on our way to the clubhouse, and the women and children would gather together until the brothers dealt with whatever issue needed to be handled.

I hated those nights. Not because I didn’t feel safe.

I always felt safe with Jax and the brothers, but when you are twelve and you’ve already lost your parents, it’s impossible not to be worried that Jax might not come back.

But he always did.

And so did Ravage, and my gut told me the same would hold true tonight.

I checked my phone again, and there was still no word from him. I dropped it on the sofa and stood, slowly pacing around the room. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. It wasn’t like this was the first time I’d been at Ravage’s house.

I’d gone a hundred times with Jax. I’d sat beside him at countless family dinners. We’d watched football with him. I’d listened to him argue with Jax about everything from motorcycles to women. But that was before.

It was back when he was still married to Ava, and I was just a teenager.

I wasn’t the same little girl I was back then. I’d done all the things. I’d gone off to college. I’d gotten my degree. I’d dated, gotten a job, and even had my own place. And somehow, none of that had changed how I felt about him. The guys I’d dated didn’t stand a chance. None of them could measure up to the man he was to me.

I’d spent years trying to convince myself that my stupid crush would eventually disappear, but as I stood there in his living room, surrounded by pieces of his life, I wasn’t sure that was true.

I slipped down the hall and peered inside Reese’s room, checking to make sure she was still asleep. And just like earlier, she was nestled into her covers with her stuffed bear tucked under her chin. I eased the door closed and turned back toward the living room.

I stopped when I walked past Ravage’s room. The door was open, and the bedside lamp was on, illuminating the room in a soft glow. I glanced inside, and a part of me felt like I was doing something wrong, like I was invading his privacy.

And I was.

I had no business snooping around, but there I stood, looking at all his belongings. He had a king-sized bed, a tall dresser in one corner, and a chair in the other. It looked masculine but comfortable. One of his sweatshirts was draped over the chair. It was big and gray and comfy-looking, and I had a sneaking suspicion that it smelled like him.

Before I had time to actually think it through, I quickly pulled off my sweater, slipped over to the chair, and grabbed it, immediately slipping it over my head. Just as I’d hoped, it was much warmer than my sweater, and it was super soft. It also smelled amazing. I wrapped my arms around myself, soaking in the feeling of warmth.

I made my way back into the living room and curled up on the sofa. I was warm and comfortable, and for the first time since I’d gotten to his house, I started to relax. I was about to try to find a different movie to watch when my phone rang.

For a ridiculous second, my heart jumped.

Thinking it might be Ravage, I shot up and grabbed it from the coffee table. I looked at the screen and groaned when I saw that it was Chrissy. I tried to hide my disappointment when I answered, “Hey, girl.”