by Sarah Peis
“Then get over your issues and tell me what I can do to help.”
My head left the haven of the tabletop, and I sat up straight. “You’re already doing it. Offering to lower rent is unnecessary, but it’s reassuring to know I won’t have to live in my car if things go downhill. And don’t even get me started on how much I depend on you when it comes to babysitting. I’ll never be able to repay you for—”
“And I’ll stop you right there. I’ve told you a million times that it doesn’t matter to anyone if I study at home or here.”
“Not sure if Mason feels the same way.”
“He started renovating the rest of the house. He’s knee-deep in drywall and sawdust as soon as he gets home. He thinks he has to finish the house by the end of the year. Don’t ask me why.”
I got up and held my arms out. “As your friend, can I ask for a hug?”
Stella chuckled and got up, walking into my outstretched arms. “Always. Now, do you need more wine, or is it time for something else? Chocolate? Ice cream? Or do you have any of that delicious cake left?”
The last thing was said with a hopeful lilt to her voice, and it was my turn to laugh. “As a matter of fact, I do have cake left. Always keep some in the freezer.”
I defrosted a piece of cake and handed it to a drooling Stella.
“Come to Momma,” she said and devoured it in less than a minute.
“You good?” she asked when I finally managed to usher her to the front door.
“I am. Thank you so much.”
“Anytime. And now that I know where you keep that cake, you better start baking more,” she said, grinning.
“Noted. Now go home or Mason will worry.”
“Doubt it. He’ll still be debating whether we need an extra living area or if we should convert it into a guest room.”
I embraced her in a long hug, reluctant to let go.
“Message when you get home,” I instructed when she walked to her car.
“I will, Mom. Don’t forget you have some cake to bake tomorrow.”
I closed the door once she was in her car and had pulled out of my driveway. After cleaning up the kitchen and then myself, I went to bed. I lay there until I heard the front door at two in the morning and then Sebastian’s grunt when he ran into the hallway table.
Only then did I fall asleep with a smirk on my face, making sure to move the little table to another spot again tomorrow.
CHAPTER TEN
“I was standing there,” Luca screamed.
“No, me,” Lena responded and pushed him out of the way.
I watched my kids standing in the middle of the living room, pushing each other off a random spot on the carpet they both wanted to stand on.
There was nothing special about the spot. And no reason why either of them had to stand there. Yet they were fighting over this coveted spot like it was a piece of chocolate.
Time to distract them before someone loses a finger.
“Okay, guys, how about we go outside? Maybe the playground?”
Their attention diverted to me, and they forgot all about their fight.
“Can I goes on the swing?” Luca asked, pulling his shoes on.
“Definitely,” I said, then turned to Lena. “What do you want to do at the park, gorgeous?”
“Swing,” she cried and grinned at me.
Once we were ready, I made sure to grab my keys and opened the door. And wished I hadn’t. There was a huge bouquet sitting in front of my door. The only difference to previous deliveries was this time I spotted a card as well.
“Flowers,” Lena yelled and sprinted out.
“Lena, no,” I called and caught her around her middle. She thought it was a game and giggled.
“Again,” she yelled, kicking her little legs.
“Luca, stop,” I said when he moved toward the flowers as well.
“But I wants to sees them too,” he wailed, going into meltdown mode.
I caught his arm and took a step back, my retreat slowed down by my uncooperative children.
“What’s going on?” Gears asked, walking up to my front door. He must have been the unlucky one tasked with watching me today.
His attention snapped to the flowers, and he stopped. “Who sent you flowers?”
“If you get rid of them for me, I’ll bake you whatever cake you want,” I said, still wrangling my kids back into the house.
He tilted his head, not removing the flowers. “Why do you want to get rid of them?”
“I don’t want them,” I wheezed, getting a good workout from holding my kids.
He looked at me like I’d gone insane. “You don’t even know who they’re from.”
“I’m sure I know who sent them. And I don’t want them.”
He took a step closer, still not taking care of the flippity-flip flowers. “I think I should call Ace.”
“I don’t care what you do as long as you remove them.”
When the kids refused to go back inside, I walked around the flowers instead, careful not to touch anything.
“We’re going to the playground,” I said and marched across the street to the park.
At least we didn’t have to go far. It also meant I could keep an eye on my front door—which I hadn’t locked despite my best intention—and make sure the flowers were gone before I returned.
There was no use getting upset. I’d decided this required a case of “ignorance is bliss.” If I just pretended there were no flowers, then there also wasn’t a stalker. Easy.
We hadn’t been at the park for long when the roar of motorcycle pipes rang through the neighborhood. I watched three bikes pull into my driveway and sighed. Looked like ignorance wasn’t going to work this time.
Sebastian’s head snapped in my direction as soon as Gears snitched on me.
“Let’s go back home,” I said to the kids, deflated. I didn’t want to go anywhere near those flowers. Or anywhere near Sebastian, who was standing in my driveway, arms crossed, sunglasses on his gorgeous face. He belonged on a magazine cover with his high cheekbones and full lips.
Neither Lena nor Luca was happy about only getting to play for such a short time. But I knew if I ignored the angry hulk standing in front of my house for too long, I’d make things worse for myself.
It took a few more minutes until I was able to pick up Lena and take Luca by the hand and walk back.
Sebastian hadn’t moved, his face hard, his jaw muscles tight. Why in the world would he even be angry? Wasn’t my fault Gears pulled him away from whatever he was doing.
“Inside. Now,” he barked once my foot hit the driveway.
“Stop bossing me around. I’m not a dog,” I hissed, my nerves already frayed.
He put his hand on my lower back, and I tensed. The light touch caused my whole body to lock up. If he noticed my response, he didn’t say. Instead, he led us inside, not once breaking contact. My steps hastened when we walked past the flowers, and I eyed them from my periphery.
“Pack a bag,” he said as soon as we made it inside. “We’re staying at the clubhouse.”
I stopped, flowers forgotten. “What? Why? No way am I bringing my kids there.”
“Did you read the card?” he asked.
My blood turned to ice, and I clutched Lena to me while at the same time squeezing Luca’s hand. I knew the card wasn’t a good sign.
“No,” I haltingly replied. “I thought it was just another way for him to screw with me.”
“Show it to her,” Sebastian said.
Gears stepped forward and handed me the card in question. I didn’t take it since I was still holding on to both my kids. Sebastian didn’t make me choose who I was going to let go. Instead, he breached the distance between us and pulled Lena out of my arms.
She didn’t mind at all and instead settled right in. My mind on the card instead of my daughter, I took it and looked at the image on the front. It was Salvador Dali’s painting of melting clocks. I’d never liked it and tho
ught it was disturbing.
When I flipped it over, there were words on the back.
Ticktock. Time has run out.
A jolt of panic shot through me and took hold, digging deep. He’d officially lost his mind. What a creeptastic attempt to freak me out. It was time I went to the police, because flowers were one thing, scary messages another.
“You’ll stay at the clubhouse. There’s always people around, and nobody will get in or out without us knowing,” Sebastian said, ignoring Lena, who was singing into his ear.
I gaped at him, words trapped in my throat. I didn’t want to stay at the clubhouse with scary bikers. And I certainly didn’t want my kids there.
That thought finally snapped me out of it. “I’m fine staying here. I’ll tell the police, and they’ll keep an eye out.”
Sebastian nodded at Gears, who started collecting toys from the living room.
I glared at both men, not in the mood to be ignored. “Hey, what are you doing?”
“He’s helping you pack. Now, if you don’t want him to go through your clothes, you better start packing,” Sebastian said.
I stalked past him, making sure to stomp extra hard. “You’re infuriating.”
I felt helpless. Nothing in my life seemed to be in my control anymore. My stalker was escalating, and a biker was running my life.
It was safe to say my life had gone down the drain.
Luca climbed on top of the bed once we were in my room and started bouncing.
“Luca, no jumping on the bed,” I muttered and jerkily pulled clothes out of drawers and my closet.
I packed light, not needing much. I had clothes for work in my locker at Pepper’s, and I usually wore jeans and a T-shirt at home.
The kids’ room was next, and I stuffed their bags as full as I could. Who knew if they even had a washing machine at the clubhouse. I needed to pack as many options as I could since I had to change them at least once every day, often more than that.
The bathroom was next, and I shoved our toiletries in a plastic bag, the only thing I could find on short notice.
Gears showed up when I squeezed the bags shut and forced the zipper closed. “It’s not so bad there. You might even like it,” he said and shrugged when I narrowed my eyes at him.
He took the bags and walked out of the room. Luca had been following me around the house, and I could hear Lena’s voice in the living room, telling Sebastian a story about a unicorn and a ball that made no sense. My girl had an active imagination and a vast vocabulary for a two-year-old.
I stalked back to Sebastian, my nostrils flaring. I was sure I looked like an angry bull, ready to charge. Which was exactly how I felt. I didn’t get riled up very often, but once I got to this stage, it was hard to talk me off the ledge.
“Let’s go,” he said, turning on his heel and carrying Lena out with him. I had no choice but to follow, Luca skipping along next to me.
“This is ridiculous,” I argued.
“You’ll get over it. Now move. I’ve got shit to do.”
“Language,” I ground out.
As usual, he ignored me. He put Lena in her seat, even buckled her in. I didn’t want to be impressed that he’d figured out the car seat so fast, but I was.
Once the kids were safely in the car, I walked around to the driver side. Sebastian stopped me as I was about to get in. “I’m going first. Gears and the guys will take up the rear. Stay close.”
I stifled the urge to flip him off and got in the car, slamming my door with enough force to rattle my teeth.
I took deep breaths the whole way there, putting every ounce of energy I had into calming down. There was no point in pissing off a bunch of bikers.
The thought finally got my emotions under control and stopped my head from exploding. I’d sit this out just like I had so many other things that came before. This was another bump in the road. Nothing more, nothing less. A bump that came with a building full of bikers. Easy. I could do this.
My newfound confidence evaporated when we drove through the big entry gate and stopped in front of the massive warehouse. There were a few people outside, standing in groups and talking.
They all turned as one when my little car gave off the backfire to end all backfires, making me jump. It didn’t help that the squeal of the brakes was loud enough to wake people three miles away. I took one last deep breath for good luck and turned the motor off.
Guess this is it. A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed my kids looked as happy as they did when we got in the car. I hoped they would stay that way.
“To the bikers’ den we go,” I said, opening my door.
Sebastian opened Luca’s door, and I got Lena out. Luca wasn’t good with new people, especially not with so many guys at one time. I didn’t blame him. There was a lot of muscle, a lot of hair, and a lot of leather.
“Hey, everyone,” I said and waved at the bikers closest to us.
“Hey, darling,” an older guy with a long Santa beard said.
I gave him a wobbly smile, and his expression told me he saw right through my false bravado. Oh well, couldn’t win them all over.
Lena wiggled in my hold, but this time I refused to let her go. I needed her right now. She was something else to concentrate on instead of all the people staring at me.
I looked around for Luca and saw him hiding behind Sebastian’s leg. Poor buddy.
“Sötnos,” I called out to him, but he didn’t move from his spot. “Do you want me to carry you?”
I still received no answer, and Sebastian put his hand on my son’s head. “Buddy, you good?”
His deep voice was low, and I appreciated his effort to not freak Luca out more than he already was.
“Wanna hold my hand?” Sebastian tried again.
I saw Luca’s little head peek out from behind Sebastian’s leg, and to my surprise, he took the outstretched hand.
“I’ll show you to your room,” Sebastian said, and I followed him into the warehouse.
I was just as impressed with the inside as the first time I was there. This time there were more people here, making the space feel more lived in.
“Who’s this?” a giant of a man asked, coming up to us.
I stepped closer to Sebastian while Luca hid on his other side.
“This guy here is Luca,” Sebastian said, nodding down at the human currently attached to his leg. “And this is Lena.” He nodded to my girl, then lifted his chin in my direction. “And Nora.”
Our eyes locked, and I couldn’t read the soft expression on his face. He was usually all hard angles and tight mouth, but if I hadn’t known him, I would say he almost looked proud to introduce me.
But that was just crazy talk.
“This is Grim,” Sebastian said, looking at the big guy. “If you need anything and I’m not around, you go to him.”
“I finally get to meet your girl,” Grim said, his eyes crinkling at the corners with what must have been a smile under his beard. “We’ve barely seen this guy lately. You’ve kept him busy.”
My face went hot, and I was glad for my olive complexion to hide the worst of my blush. Sebastian cut in before I had a chance to answer.
“She’s staying here for a few days,” he said, ignoring the comment.
“She got trouble?” Grim asked, one brow raised.
Sebastian clapped him on the back on his way past. “I’ll fill you in at the meeting later.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” Grim said when I walked by.
I managed another wobbly smile and passed more people who gave me a myriad of chin nods, winks, and smiles. Not one of them looked like the limb-cutting type. Well, except the guy brooding in a corner, arms crossed, staring at me. He was the one who’d dragged me from my house and slammed the door on my head. He seemed to have had a close encounter with a wall. His nose was taped up, and he sported two black eyes and a cut lip.
Karma is a bitch.
I made a note to stay far away from him
. Not that I would leave my room much. Not with so many people around.
Sebastian led us upstairs, and I marveled at the intricate metalwork of the stairs and railing. There were little motorbikes and vines on the railing, and the stairs had tire marks etched into them to give them more grip.
The view from the top was impressive. I could see all of the downstairs area, and since it wasn’t that high, I could also make out every detail from bald patches to tattoos. The rooms spanned around three sides of the vast warehouse, and I guessed there were enough of them to house almost everyone.
The railing on top gave me nightmares since the gaps were big enough for kids to slip through. Good thing I wasn’t planning on letting them out of my sight.
Sebastian stopped a few doors away from the stairs and swiped his watch across a pad. The door opened with a beep.
He pushed it all the way open and stepped back, motioning me in. Luca was still at his side, watching everything with big eyes. I walked inside and took in the spacious room. There was a king bed on the far side and a big four-seater couch to the right, facing a large TV.
There was a door to the left that was open, and I saw tiles and a sink, guessing it led to the bathroom. The room was clean. The only thing indicating that anyone lived there was the messy bed; there was nothing on the floor, the coffee table was clear, and there were no photos on the wall.
A second door led to a walk-in closet the size of my bathroom. One chest of drawers along the wall to the left made up the only other piece of furniture in the big space besides the bed.
“Is this a spare room?” I asked, wondering if I should ask for fresh sheets or a washing machine. I didn’t want to insult anyone, but I also didn’t want to sleep on sheets that held someone else’s DNA.
Sebastian studied me. “It’s my room. We’re at capacity at the moment, and it’s the only one available.”
The door snapped shut, blocking out all noise. We’d gone from music, laughter, and chatter to gaping silence. The room must have been soundproofed to drown out the noise like that.
Lena decided she’d had enough and pushed her chubby hands against my collarbone, determined to make her escape successful this time.