by Unknown
Fiddling with the radio, he answers, “The copilot is in charge of the music, climate control, snacks, and keeping the driver awake.”
She smiles widely, “Sounds phony, I'll take it. I've always wanted to go on a road trip. Do you think I can take a turn driving?”
Jackson remembers the most horrifying experience in his life. It wasn't in combat, it was teaching Sadie to drive.
“We'll see,” he says breaking into a sweat.
From now on, she is his priority; he'll do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means not allowing her behind the wheel of a two thousand pound death machine.
Jackson thinks back to how fragile she was when he met her and is surprised she didn't freak out with all that went down. Smiling back, he takes her small hand in his and kisses it. With Sadie by his side, he has a deep feeling of contentment. And that is saying a lot, considering his MC dead set on killing him.
Chapter Fourteen
Sadie
Sadie wakes as the first pink rays of sunlight shine in the distance. They must have driven through the night.
“Did you know about your snoring problem?” Jackson asks with a smile in his voice. “I do not snore, I'd know if I snore,” she says defensively.
“I loved it, your snoring reminds me of the noise my bike makes when it's about to break down. With your snoring, I won't have to cry over leaving it behind,” he says.
She doesn't believe him, though sometimes she did wake up to a suspicious Sydney trying to clap her nose with something. Weird.
“Do you want me to take over for a while?” she offers.
He shifts in his seat, “Actually, I think we should stop and rest for a few hours.”
“Is that really a good idea? Maybe someone followed us. They could be waiting for us to let our guard down,” Sadie says.
“They'll think we drove on. Your boyfriend probably knows by now that you came with me,” Jackson says.
Frowning, she ignores that and asks, “Do you know where we're headed?”
She hadn't thought to ask before. In ten days, she will ditch him, but she needs to know how far away she'll be from her future home.
“I think we should both look at a map and decide together,” he says, surprising her.
She'd expected him to decide on his own. During their time together, he'd made all the decisions, always taking charge of any situation.
“Where are we now?” she asks, looking at the different landscape.
“Kansas, we'll stop at the next exit. We can probably find decent hotel,” he says.
The next exit is a medium sized town. They choose a chain hotel and check in. At the reception desk, Sadie observes Jackson. He looks tired, pale, more lines stand out around his eyes, and his mouth is set into a tight line.
“You look like shit,” Sadie says tactlessly, causing the receptionist to choke. “Unlike you, I got no sleep. You look freakin' breezy,” he says mockingly.
He turns to the receptionist and sighs, “She uses me shamelessly for sex, but she doesn't appreciate me,” he shakes his head dramatically.
The grandmotherly receptionist smiles at Jackson before glaring at Sadie. Then she hands over the key card to him.
Before they leave, she turns to Jackson and says, “Honey, a nice young man like you deserve a girl that treats you right. Now, I've got five lovely granddaughters, two of them single. They all cook, clean, and know how to cater to their man,” the evil woman says.
She even winks at Jackson.
“Do not flirt with my man! You hussy! We've got five kids at home, and one on the way,” Sadie dramatically touches her flat stomach, “Do you want them to lose their daddy?”
The woman looks properly ashamed, but Jackson ruins it.
“Five kids I'm not sure are even mine!” he says indignantly to the confused receptionist.
Oh boy. Sadie almost giggles.
The receptionist offers condolences to a receptive Jackson.
She gives Sadie a condemning glance and loudly whispers to Jackson, “There's a show where you can get a paternity test. When you do, remember my granddaughters. They are the best couponers around here.”
She just went too far; Sadie is the best couponer!
She advances towards the woman, “Do any of your granddaughters know Kung-Fu?” she asks threateningly.
Jackson looks momentarily worried and before she gets near the outrageous receptionist, he swoops her over his shoulder and carries her away.
He releases her once they are outside their room, which is on the ground floor.
“Can you believe the nerve of that woman? She was flirting with you and trying to pimp you out to her granddaughters!” she says.
Jackson pushes the door open and motions for her forward, “Did that mean you want six kids?” he laughs.
She blushes; she was just trying to teach the woman to leave attached guys alone. What better than scaring her off with five kids? Sadie can't stand when a woman comes on to guy in front of his girlfriend or wife, even a seventy-year-old woman.
Besides, the woman insulted her couponing skills.
Sadie glances through the window and sees that they have a good view of Jackson's truck. A king sized bed dominates most of the space in the room, accompanied by an upholstered chair and a dresser with a TV on it. Although clean, the room and bathroom are done in all neutrals, and they give them a generic feel. Sadie's dream of owning a bed & breakfast has her thinking of how she wants each room to be special and inviting.
“Let's get some sleep,” Jackson says, putting his bag on the floor, “who knows when we might stop again.”
Then he starts stripping, stopping when he stands only in a pair of gray boxer briefs.
Sadie stands on the other side of the bed staring. God, she hopes she's not drooling. His body is magnificently formed. All hard edges, sinewy muscles, and tattoos. Yum. He catches her staring and grins, causing her to scowl at him.
“I'll go out and get some things while you sleep,” she says.
Sadie grabs her bag and a key card.
Now Jackson scowls back at her, and takes her bag. “No, we stick together,” he says.
“For all we know they can be following us,” his expression softens, and reaches for Sadie, drawing her into his arms. “I can't lose you again, stay. We'll go together later.”
The true concern on his face stops her from arguing. Sadie nods and sighing settles on the
bed.
The bed shifts and Jackson draws her into his arms. He smells amazing. Disconcertingly, Jackson's embrace feels like home. Together they sleep.
***
“I have a cabin in Montana,” Jackson points at Montana, he looks up at Sadie, “What do you think?”
“How did you get a cabin in Montana?” she asks.
Smiling Jackson explains with one word, “Ebay.”
Sadie smiles back. She remembers all the things Sydney bought on Ebay. They mostly ended up in the garbage.
“Montana it is. And no one else knows about it?” she asks.
Sadie starts putting away her things and Jackson does the same.
“I have a call to make,” Sadie announces.
Jackson grunts out a response.
She walks into the bathroom and closes the door behind her.
After trying Sydney's number twice, she tries Mathew's.
He answers right away, “Sadie, is Sydney with you?” His voice sounds a bit frantic.
“Not since last week. We talked yesterday. I thought she was with you or your parents,” Sadie answers.
“She has been staying with me, she asked to move in for a while. Sydney went out last night, she was supposed check on you, and pack, then come straight back. She isn't answering her phone and I can't find her,” Mathew sounds genuinely worried and that scares Sadie. Mathew is the most put together person she knows.
Then a horrible thought comes up.
“This guy from work threatened her,” she says.
What can she do?
“I'm out of town, but I'll go back,” this is all her fault.
“Dammit Sadie! Why didn't she say anything?” Now he sounds angry.
“She didn't want to worry you,” Sadie explains.
“So you think that person took her?” he asks.
Sadie doesn't want him involved in this mess. Mathew is a good guy, and he wouldn't know how to deal with Zack.
“You have to let me take care of this,” Sadie tries to calm him down, “I'll call you as soon as I have something,” she says and ends the call.
Looking at her cell phone, she sees forty-seven missed calls from Zack.
She calls him, “Zack! Where is Sydney?” she keeps her voice calm, mostly.
Sydney has been there for her since they met and now she has to make sure her friend isn't in serious trouble.
“Where are you? I'll come get you,” his voice sounds cold and threatening as he ignores her question.
“Did you take Sydney?”
He doesn't answer, “You left with him. Do you want to end up dead? That fucker has a big fat target on his back. But you can still come home. Just tell me where you are.”
“I'll come home, but tell me that Sydney is okay,” she says and means it.
“I don't know what you are talking about, babe. Come home and you can see your friend.” Sadie hangs up on him; he as good as admitted he took Sydney.
Now, Sadie can either ditch Jackson and go back, or ask him for help. Can she trust Zack?
Not after humiliating him in front of his biker buddies. Jackson it is then.
He's standing right outside the bathroom, his arms crossed.
“You are not going back,” he obviously heard her side of the call.
She matches his stance, “I won't if you help me. He took my friend.”
He nods his expression serious.
“I still have a few contacts,” he says.
Then he makes a few calls in a low voice.
When they lived together, he rarely talked about his past. All he told her was that he had served time for his country and that his parents died while he was deployed. Despite being a tough looking dude, he always seemed to have a sadness to him. Back then, Sadie had done her best to make him smile and laugh. Her own happiness depended directly on the number of smiles she got from him.
Sighing, she thinks of how sure she'd been that Jackson loved her back.
Ending a call he turns and smiles at Sadie.
“I called in the best guy for the job, my best friend Trevor. He owns a private security company and he has a bunch of ex special ops guys working for him. I haven't seen him in a few years but he agreed to help right away. Send me a picture of her to pass on,” he says.
Sadie hugs him gratefully and he holds her tightly against him.
“Thank you,” she says.
Sadie knows she can trust him with this, if not with her heart.
“I'm just happy you didn't try to run out on me,” he says and kisses Sadie on her forehead.
She just smiles back. In a few days, she'll be gone and in a few more, he will barely remember her.
“Let's go, it's past four, and you said you need to buy some things. Do you need money?” Jackson leads Sadie out of the room, both bags on his shoulder.
She can't help but feel guilty. What had made her fall for him was his gentle and caring side. Now, he's making it harder to remain detached from him. Why is he being so nice and helpful? Can she still dump him?
“I have my own money, but thanks,” she says.
“Let's go before the granddaughters descend on us!” Jackson says.
Chapter Fifteen
Sadie
“How many pairs of shoes does one person need?” Jackson is grumbling.
Sadie bites back a chuckle. Poor guy, his hands are full of shopping bags, his expression one of helplessness. This will surely make him think twice before trying to shackle himself to her. What can be more painful to a manly man, than to shop for three hours straight?
“If I were you, I wouldn't count my shoes! It will just remind me of all the ones I abandoned to come with you,” she says.
He sighs dramatically as she enters a sports and outdoor store. Shopping has always been her weakness. Back in Dallas, she could never let loose, mainly because Sydney was such a crazy shopper too. Someone had to keep the house from looking like one of those hoarder houses.
She finds a few more things. Camping might not be fun, but shopping for camping supplies sure is. Who knew that you could by a portable potty tent? She gets easily distracted and Jackson steers her away from several things probably they don't need. Like the port a-potty tent.
“Ooh, do you think we'll need another two heated polar blanket? Will we be camping?” she asks enthusiastically.
He groans, “My god woman, you're a shopping monster! You do know there are stores in Montana too?”
Sadie is deeply offended. She only bought a new Montana winter wardrobe, a new makeup set, twenty-five pairs of shoes, and a lot of random stuff that caught her attention.
“Hey, I get cold easily! I need to be prepared! Besides, I got some great stuff for you too,” Sadie says a tad bit defensively.
She bought a bunch of stuff she knows he won't like. Even skinny jeans.
Jackson groans again, “I am not wearing those hipster clothes.”
Now he is just being ungrateful.
Sadie shakes her head, “Fine, we'll go,” she remembers her hair, “just as soon as I get some hair dye.”
“I like the red,” he says.
“Too memorable,” she explains.
They find a beauty supply store and Sadie gets a few new hair colors.
At the checkout, Jackson grabs a box and laughs, “What are you going to turn into a rainbow?”
Sadie glares at him, still offended by his earlier comments, “Maybe I will,” she says.
Grabbing the shopping bag she hurries ahead of him towards the parked truck.
“Sadie, hold on. I think your shopping skills are amazing, really. If there is a shopping contest out there, you'd win,” he is obviously just humoring her, but she decides to push him a bit farther.
Turning she asks hopefully, “So, you'll wear the awesome things I got you?”
His expression is priceless, he swallows, then nods, “Sure, um but not soon.”
Poor Jackson, he apparently hates 'hipster clothes'.
Sadie has to admit that simple jeans and a T-shirt really work for him.
“Alright, let's get going,” she says.
They load everything, well Jackson loads everything into the truck, and they take off.
“So,” she says innocently, adjusting the radio, “how do you feel about boy bands?”
His answer makes her laugh.
Chapter Sixteen
Jackson
“I want two number ones, a number six, ten chicken nuggets, large fries, and a diet Coke” Sadie is leaning over him, at his window, screaming into the drive thru screen, she turns and asks, “What do you want?”
He can't help it, he laughs, “You're going to eat all that?”
She is lean and obviously has no complex about out eating him. His only serious girlfriend, back in high school, had never taken a bite in front of him. Hell, even Trevor always complained about the women he dated not eating when on dates.
She narrows her eyes at him, but it loses its effect since she's practically sitting on his lap.
“I'm starving. Now, order,” she says menacingly, before returning to her seat.
He orders and pulls up at the window. Before the lady can hand him the bags, she's climbing over him again.
“Extra ketchup, extra barbecue,” she barks out at the baffled lady.
Then she sits back in her seat waiting calmly.
“You scared her,” Jackson shakes his head in disapproval as he hands her the food.
She just shrugs and digs into her food, which with the few glances he catches of her eating is prett
y terrifying.
“Can you pass me my burger?” he asks.
The sun is setting as they enter the highway. The temperature is going to drop, he'll need to stop and get a coat out from his bag, Sadie is already wearing hers.
“Sure,” she unwraps his burger and passes it to him.
In a surprisingly short time, she's done eating.
She turns to him, “Fast food is amazing,” she says, sighing contentedly.
“I'm disappointed, a good co-pilot feeds the pilot in the mouth,” he says, just to mess with her, “as soon as we got the food, you forgot your duty.”
“Oops, you never said anything about that,” she sees his expression, and laughs, “you're kidding.”
She gathers the garbage into a bag and places it in the back. Then she settles back in her
seat.
“Why did you become a biker?” she asks soberly. He thinks about how to answer.
“The old club president was my friend, and he asked me to join. I had nothing else and he needed members who would be loyal to him,” he explains.
“So there's always been inner fighting in the club?” she asks.
He remembers Marcus, his friend who'd always had high hopes for Rampage MC. He'd dedicated too much of his life to a dysfunctional MC. Then those hopes had gotten him killed.
“They can't help themselves. Someone always thinks they can do a better job. My buddy, Marcus, died as president,” he says.
“Do you think they'll stop coming after you?” there's worry in her voice.
His plan is to resign so that Nick can take over. Nick would have no trouble stomping any opposition and leading the ungrateful club would no longer be his problem.
“The VP will take over. I'm done with their crap. After Nick takes over, he'll stop anyone from coming after me,” he says.
And he could live his life peacefully, with Sadie.
She sighs, “Thank God. Won't it be hard to leave your MC behind? You look way too relaxed for a guy who is on a biker gang’s hit list.”
Jackson hears concern in her voice, and he feels a tug at his insides. He's spent years imagining what his life would be like with sweet Sadie by his side. Now, he knows there is no going back. Sadie's life has always been hard, but now that she is his, he plans to give her the life she deserves.