by Jenika Snow
“Touch her again and I’ll come back here and fucking kill you,” Brendan said slowly, making sure the threat was clear. Brendan would make sure Bunny’s father knew he wasn’t weak, that he’d carry out the promise by any means necessary.
Brendan came back to the present, felt sweat cover his forehead, and wanted to see Bunny so fucking badly. Bunny had only been seventeen at that time, and although he’d been ten years older, she was friends with Lila, best friends, in fact. She was also close to both of them, and therefore like family. He protected her, watched over her, and he wasn’t about to let any motherfucker hurt what he cared about
He had needed stitches, and after he’d gone to the ER and gotten them, Bunny had stayed with him the whole time. Her father hadn’t touched her again, not after that night, but he knew the damage had already been done to her, that pain and brokenness she carried with her like another skin.
“I won’t let you get hurt again, Bunny,” he said to himself, focused on getting to her and making sure she was safe. “I will kill to make sure you’re safe, even after all this time.”
****
Bunny sat at the kitchen table, the house smelling, looking … feeling the same as it had all those years ago. She looked down at the yogurt cup and can of fruit in front of her, the same dinner she’d been eating for the last three days. Her appetite had been shit, her mind focused on everything she’d lost, left behind, and missed.
She thought she’d been doing well with her emotions, with how she handled things. She’d blocked them, buried them deep, but once she’d come back to Thorne, had seen Lila again, all those feelings rushed through her like a tsunami.
As she leaned back in the chair, the squeak from the wood came through loudly. The brown stained wallpaper, the yellowing Formica counter top, and the beige floral patterned linoleum were a disgusting display of memories of what she hated about her life.
The silence stretched on, and the sound of the clock above the sink ticked down the seconds. When she’d come back to Thorne a year ago she’d had no plans to stay, but now twelve months had passed and she was still here. Her job was shit, but the house was paid for, and what she did make working at the coffee shop made her just enough for groceries and to pay utilities. But she couldn’t stay in Thorne, couldn’t stay here.
You don’t have a choice until you save money.
She’d been away for years, and after losing job after job because she wouldn’t put up with anyone’s shit, her emotions shattered because of her past, and because of what she wished she had was now gone, she found herself back in her nightmare. She might be broken, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to shit on her, not again.
And your anger and attitude makes you not even able to hold down a job for more than a year.
Her thoughts were broken up by the sound of gavel crunching in the driveway. Standing, her heart beating hard and fast, she walked over to the living room window. The lights were off aside from the kitchen one, which gave her enough of a glow to see two large and dark SUVs pulling in front of the house. Her heart stopped. There shouldn’t be anyone even coming here, because she didn’t know anyone, didn’t have anyone that gave a shit about her.
One of the SUVs cut the lights and engine, and with the glare on the window, and the lights from the second vehicle shining right in her direction, she couldn’t see who got out of the SUV. All she could make out was a large body … a really big body, in fact. She saw his shadow as he moved over to the driver’s side door of the other vehicle, and after several moments of him standing there, presumably talking, the other SUV backed out of the driveway and drove off. And then, as she held her breath, not sure what in the hell was going on, the man turned. The moon was high, full, and there was a very soft glow cast over everything. With the headlights of the other car no longer in her face, she could see him more clearly, but he was still shrouded in darkness.
Stepping away from the window, this weird sensation moved through her. She didn’t know what it was, or why she felt like this suddenly. Shouldn’t I feel scared? Shouldn’t I be apprehensive some strange man is standing in the driveway, clearly staring at me?
With her back now to the window, she felt her hands start to shake, felt her pulse race, and droplets of perspiration lined the area between her breasts. It was when she heard three loud raps on the front door that her heart jumped in her throat, and everything felt surreal.
Why am I feeling this way?
There were several more knocks on the door, and she finally found herself moving toward it, gripping the handle, and pulling it open. And there, standing on the doorstep, was a man she didn’t think she’d ever see again, the man she’d run from because she’d been fucked up in the head and scared of her own shadow.
And the man I haven’t been able to clear from my thoughts, no matter how much I tried to.
Chapter Six
Seeing Bunny again after all this time was like getting kicked in the balls, like having every ounce of strength being pulled from him. She stood there, only a few feet from him, her hair a dark, wild mess around her head, and her light grey eyes wide, shocked to see him. She wore a loose t-shirt and a pair of sweats, but he’d never seen a more beautiful woman, never felt anything like this for any other female before.
She’d been it for him, and he’d let her go.
How I fucking hate myself right now.
“Brendan,” she whispered his name, and all he could do was stand there, look his fill, and tell himself that things were different. She wasn’t his anymore, hadn’t been for a long damn time. She’d left Thorne, left him, and gone to find something better for herself. At least he hoped she found something better for herself.
“You’re probably wondering what in the hell I’m doing here.” He got right to it, trying not to let his emotions haze this situation.
She nodded, but didn’t move to let him in. He exhaled, not sure what to say, but knowing he needed to just spit this shit out. He wanted her in the safety of the clubhouse, and he didn’t even know if she’d come willingly, or kick and scream. Either way, she’d be at the MC where it was safe.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was soft, hesitant even. He could tell she was nervous by the way she gripped the edge of the door tight enough her knuckles turned white. She also kept swallowing, her eyes still wide, and the pulse at the base of her neck beating wildly.
“Can I come in?” He wanted to talk to her about all of this, to explain everything to ensure she was safe. This was weird as hell for him, too. He hadn’t seen her in just as long, and seeing her after all this time was like a punch to his gut, mixed with a shot of what he felt for her.
Nothing’s changed on how I feel. I still fucking love you, Bunny.
But he had higher priorities to worry about right now.
She nodded and finally stepped aside, letting him in. The house still looked the same on the outside—shitty and depressing. The inside was pretty much the same, as well, although he noticed she’d gotten rid of some of the furniture, pictures, and other things that her piece of shit father had collected over the years. The house also was void of the scent of cigarettes and booze.
The sound of the door shutting had him turning and facing her. She looked so small, vulnerable, although she also still looked the same, too.
“You’re still so fucking beautiful, Bunny.” It was the sight of her face turning pink that made him realize he’d said those words out loud. But he wasn’t about to feel ashamed he’d said them.
Did she leave because of what I said? Did I scare her off all those years ago? Maybe she didn’t ever feel the same for me?
Maybe now that he was here they could confront this together?
She still hadn’t said anything, but finally she smoothed her hands down her legs and gestured into the kitchen.
“I don’t keep alcohol in the house, but I have other things if you’re thirsty?” she said, her voice tight. She kept her back toward him as she walked into the kitche
n.
“I’m good.” He followed closely behind, and once he entered the kitchen he saw the fucking thing looking exactly like it used to. All those years ago he’d only been in this house a few times, and that last time had been when he beat the shit out of her old man. That seemed like a lifetime ago now.
He took a seat at the same table that had been here all those years ago, and like a picture reel in his head, the memories of the times he’d been here flashed through his mind. Watching her as she got juice out of the fridge, he saw the way her hands shook. He hated that she was nervous, and knew beating around the bush about any of this was just making things even more awkward.
“Come sit down, Bunny.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, licked her lips, and finally moved toward him. Once she took a seat across from him, the chair scraping along the floor as she pulled it out, he told himself his priority was getting her safe, not remembering how much he missed and loved her.
“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked, her voice tight.
“I didn’t. I mean I knew you were in Thorne from Lila, but figured this was as good a place to start as any.” He leaned back in the chair, trying to seem relaxed when he felt anything but.
She was looking at him, and he wondered what she was thinking. “You look the same … but not.” She had her hands on top of the table and was twisting her fingers together, clearly nervous.
“You’re bigger, and I see you’ve added more tattoos.”
He nodded. They could talk about all of this once he had her back at the clubhouse.
“Lila’s been trying to call, and I tried a few times, but the last time I tried it said the line was no longer in service.”
She looked down at the table and ran her finger along the rim of the glass. “Yeah, I lost it, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because I couldn’t afford the bill.”
Tank was getting antsy to get the fuck out of here, to get her to the safety of the MC. But right now he needed to explain some things, and hope she wasn’t stubborn.
“I’ll just get to it, because I know seeing each other after all this time is weird as fuck.”
She nodded once, her hands curled around her glass of juice.
“I know you’ve spoken with Lila in the last year, and I’m sure you know the motherfucker she’s been around.”
Bunny nodded again. “Yeah. We haven’t spoken in a while, though. I figured she was in deep with that guy she’d been seeing.”
His anger over that motherfucker rose. But now wasn’t the time or place for that. “She’s run from him … brought her baby with her to seek protection with me and my club.” For a second Bunny just sat there, not moving, and not showing any expression. She finally blinked a few times and leaned forward in the chair.
“She’s had a baby?”
He nodded once, and Bunny looked down at the table again, her brows knitted. “And what do you mean by a ‘club’?” She looked up at him again.
“An MC, Bunny. I’m a Patch in a motorcycle club, and that’s where Lila is with the baby. It’s the only place I can ensure they are protected.”
Bunny just stared at him. “Is she in that much danger?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She was silent for a moment. “Okay, but if she’s safe why would you come all the way out here to tell me that? Wouldn’t you stay there with her if she’s in trouble?” Her brows were still knitted in confusion and worry.
Even though he’d thought to just spit that shit out, actually saying all the things he needed to tell her was harder than he thought. He wanted to just wrap Bunny in a bubble and make sure she was safe, even from the words he’d say that could put fear in her.
“Bunny, Lila thinks the man she was seeing might come after you in retaliation for her leaving him.” He gave her a second to process that, but she didn’t move, didn’t even speak. “She thinks if he can’t find her he’ll go after anyone she cares about, and since he knows about you, and that you’re in Thorne, you’ll be an easy target.”
She had her hands on the edge of the table now, gripping the wood hard enough her knuckles were white. “What do you mean?” she asked, but although she asked the question, he could see on her expression she knew what he meant.
“Lila got involved with some bad people, Bunny, and because of that she ran away with her baby. She thinks the fucker will come after her, which is why I have her at the club. It’s the only place I feel they will be safe.”
She nodded slowly.
“I came to Thorne, looking for you, because I believe what she says, and that you may be in danger.” He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table. “And I’m not about to let anything happen to you.”
She didn’t speak for several seconds, but finally licked her lips and breathed out. “You came to Thorne to warn me, to tell me I should leave town?”
She closed her eyes and rubbed her head, looking defeated. He didn’t speak, knowing she was faced with a lot right now, and giving her a moment to just process it all. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, he felt like someone had punched him in the gut as his emotions rose up.
“Brendan, I have no place else to go.” Her eyes started to water, and her face turned pink as she was on the verge of crying.
Fuck.
He was out to his seat and crouched in front of her. Grabbing the chair and pulling it out and to the side, he cupped each side of her face and forced her to look at him. Touching her had electricity moving through him, and the urge to kiss her, to make her feel better, was strong, but this wasn’t about that.
“Bunny, everything will be okay. I promise.”
She shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks now. “I have no place else to go, Brendan. I am barely making enough to stay in this shithole, and I can’t go back to where I was living because I lost my job and my landlord kicked me out. I’m stuck here.” She chuckled humorlessly. “Maybe it was always supposed to be this way.”
He smoothed his fingers over her cheeks, liking that she wasn’t pushing him away. “What do you mean, baby?”
She closed her eyes and did push him away this time. “Maybe I was supposed to be born in this fucking place and die here, as well.”
He stood, anger filling him that she was in this situation, that she thought this about herself, about her life. She was over by the sink now, her back toward him, her shoulders hunched in defeat. He went up to her, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her around. She craned her neck back to look at him.
“You’re not going to die, Bunny, no fucking way. I came here to tell you I want you at the club. I want to protect you, Bunny.”
She shook her head, but it didn’t look like she was saying no to the idea. “Brendan, so much time has passed,” she whispered. “I left you, ran…”
He moved his thumbs under her eyes, wiping her tears away. “None of that matters, Bunny. The only thing I care about right now is making sure you’re safe.”
Although they would be talking about the past and them at some point very soon. He hadn’t wanted her to leave then, and after seeing her now, even after so much time had passed, he wanted her more than ever.
Chapter Seven
Bunny couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go with Brendan—or Tank, as he was apparently called now. The hours long drive from Thorne to River Run was done mostly in silence, but she’d slept off and on, thankful for that small window where she didn’t have to pretend like the past didn’t matter.
It did. It always has.
“Let me take that,” Tank said, and grabbed her bag before she could say no. He was walking in front of her toward the club, periodically looking over his shoulder at her. She was nervous, sure, but what was kind of fucked up was the fact she was more nervous about being here with Tank after so long, than about the threat he said she could face.
He held the door open for her, and the music came through instantly. Smiling at him, which felt forced, she moved inside. It to
ok a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the lighting in the club, but when it did she saw a lot of half naked women and bikers. Some were playing pool or cards, but several were sitting on the other side of the room watching a woman grind and move on a pole.
A stripper’s pole? Seriously?
She looked at Tank, and the way he shrugged told her he’d read her expression well enough.
“Come on, I’ll get you set up someplace quiet.”
She followed him past everyone, and noticed a few of the guys looking at her, their expressions hard, unforgiving. Tank led her into a room in the back of the building, set her bag on the bed, and stood there for a second.
“Listen, I know this whole situation is pretty fucked up,” he said and looked at her, his expression just as hard as those men out in the other room.
Brendan was the same man she’d cared about all those years ago, but he was also different. Which was honestly kind of frightening because back in the back he was pretty scary, tough, and never put up with shit. But now… She shook her head as she looked at Tank, saw the way he was bigger, scarier, if that were even possible. Tank was something altogether different.
“I’ll let you get settled, and have something brought up to you to eat. It was a long drive, and I’m sure you’re hungry and tired.” He turned to leave, but Bunny found herself taking a step toward him and calling out.
“Tank?” God, it sounds so weird calling him that. “It’s weird calling you that name,” she said and laughed, but it was strained, tight.
“You call me whatever you feel comfortable with, Bunny.”
Even hearing him say her name all these years later had this chill racing up her spine. It felt good, familiar.
She nodded, twisted her hands together, and knew if they were going to be here for an undetermined amount of time, things were going to get brought up, memories and the past that she’d tried to bury because she felt an array of emotions.