Saving Glory (Hells Saints Motorcycle Club Book 4)

by Paula Marinaro

  Glory reached through the small hole of the cloudy, scratched Plexiglas window and handed the cab driver the fare. Then with a deep breath she grabbed her suitcase and made her way through the newly painted gate and up the brick pathway. A soft glow shown out in welcome from behind the curtained windows. Under the light of the full moon, Glory noted with a small smile the plastic toys and muddied sets of little shoes that sat on the front porch.

  Fearful to wake a houseful of sleeping children, Glory decided to forgo the doorbell and instead rapped softly on the frame of the screen door. Almost immediately, that door was opened wide and Glory found herself pulled into slim, strong arms. Annie’s hair had been highlighted and cropped in an adorable pixie cut and her pretty paisley sundress was a far cry from the drab brown uniform she wore back as a grocer at the Shop and Save. Glory was gratified to see that while her former neighbor’s eyes were still the same deep blue, they seemed free of the worry that had plagued her back when she and Glory were living in that awful apartment house in Maryland.

  Glory squeezed her friend back with all her might. “It’s so good to see you, Annie! You look beautiful!”

  “You too! Look at that gorgeous tan! I’m so happy you’re here! Come in!” Annie’s wide smile was filled with heartfelt enthusiasm and sincere welcome. She picked up Glory’s suitcase and ushered her into the center hall of the pretty colonial style home.

  “The girls will be so excited to see you in the morning. You won’t believe how big Janie has gotten. She’s walking now.”

  “Seriously? It seems like only yesterday that you were carrying her around on your hip going down those rickety old steps to the laundry room.” Glory shook her head and realized despite the dire conditions of their former circumstances, she and Annie shared some fond and sometimes hilarious memories together. She had come to the right place to lick her wounds.

  “Oh my God. I thought I was going to break my neck a million times. The only good thing that came out of living in that horrible apartment building was meeting you!” Annie gave out a short laugh and with a wicked grin continued. “Remember that old bastard, Mr. Taylor? You know he never did fix that elevator? And every time he replaced that backdoor lock, I had Cole jimmy it open again. Drove that old, miserable cheapskate crazy!”

  As Annie led Glory through the house to the kitchen, the two girls kept up the constant chatter of two friends who had not seen each other in a while. While Annie got busy putting out crackers, cheese and two wine glasses on the table, Glory looked around the pretty kitchen.

  “It’s a beautiful house, Annie.”

  Annie looked around and sighed. “The girls and I love it here. But sometimes I wonder why every bit of little happiness has to come with a price?”

  “I was so sorry to hear about your mom,” Glory said with feeling.

  “The flowers you sent for the service were beautiful.” Annie smiled her thanks. “I miss her every day. Every day. But this house has been a real blessing. I thought about selling it, but the kids love it here in Virginia and it was so good to get out of that horrible apartment building. My mom left a pretty good insurance policy, so that’s made life easier for me in about a zillion other ways. It gives me a minute to catch my breath and spend some time with the kids instead of working so much each week.” Annie poured the blood red merlot into the pretty cut-glass stemware. Then she handed a goblet to Glory. “How are things going out at the lake house? How’s your brother doing?”

  Hal? He’s okay—I guess." Glory hesitated as she contemplated the wine in her glass.

  “You guess?” Annie‘s eyebrows lifted into a question mark. “Has something happened? Has he had some sort of relapse?”

  “Relapse? No. he didn’t have a relapse.” Glory tilted the glass back and felt the full-bodied elixir spread into her tired cramped limbs and warm her. Then she added with slight sarcasm “As a matter of fact, according to Jules, my brother is doing just fine.”

  “Jules? He’s the guy you told me about. Right?” Annie prompted her. “Are you two together?”

  “Yup, he’s the one. And I don’t know what we are.” Feeling the sudden urge to escape any thoughts of Jules, Glory lowered her eyes and rested her head against the back of the couch.

  “Oh lord, Glory, I’m sorry. Here I am riddling you with questions and you must be exhausted,” Annie stammered in apology and got up to clear off the coffee table.” We can talk tomorrow if you want. Or we don’t have to talk about anything at all. You just let me know what you want to do while you’re here. We can go shopping and do dinner or just hang out.”

  Glory sat up on the couch as contrition at her friend’s embarrassment filled her. “No, it’s okay. It’s just been a rough couple of days, that’s all. I’m not really ready for bed yet. Will you have another glass of wine with me?”

  “If you’re sure?” Annie asked tentatively. At Glory’s insistent nod, Annie filled both their glasses then plopped herself back down on the couch. They drained the bottle and opened another while Annie entertained Glory with humorous tales of her recent foray into the world of internet dating and the trials of raising three growing girls.

  It was during that second bottle of wine that Glory spilt to Annie the real reason for her visit. While she did not go into full detail, she was able to convey the confusion, fear and disappointment that had led to her need to get away.

  “So you were all packed and ready to go and Jules just up and left with really no explanation?” Annie’s mouth formed a thin line after hearing Glory tell her story. “I’d be really mad too.”

  “It’s not that I was mad so much as—” Glory’s voice trailed off.

  “Worried? Disappointed? Scared?” Annie offered.

  “All of those things,” Glory concurred.

  “I totally get it.” Annie nodded.

  “You do?” Glory looked up at her friend with hope. When she saw more than a measure of compassion and understanding in Annie’s eyes she let out a long sigh of relief. “Then maybe you could explain it to me?”

  “Of course I can. I didn’t go through all those years of therapy for nothing.” Annie shot out a playful grin. Then after a slight pause she continued on in thought, “Actually I think this one is pretty easy to figure out. It sounds to me like you were looking forward to just getting away with Jules and doing something fun and normal for a change. God only knows you’ve earned it. I bet you were really looking forward to some R&R. Not just for yourself, but for Jules too.”

  “I was. I really was,” Glory agreed with vehemence.

  “And just like that.—” Annie paused, held her hand high and snapped her fingers in the air. “That chance was taken away from you. Not only was the trip cancelled, but you weren’t given any real reason. No explanation except that your guy was going off to do business that may be both dangerous and illegal. Considering what you had already been through I think it is safe to say that experience has taught you to expect the worst from the unexpected. And this whole thing just triggered some pretty powerful deep seated emotion.”

  “Yes. Yes. And Yes!” Glory responded wholeheartedly at the concise summary of every confusing and overwhelming feeling she had had over the course of the last few days. But then she sighed in consternation. “Everything you just said is dead on, but unfortunately it’s not as simple as just being worried or upset, Annie.”

  “Then what else is it, honey?” Annie asked.

  “Jules and I had a horrible fight. He said terrible things to me,” Glory said in misery as each razor sharp word flashed quickly through her mind and cut a jagged path straight to her heart.

  “Did you say terrible things back?” Annie asked gently.

  “No. I said terrible things first. And after that he responded with equally terrible things. And then I left. I was just so angry. And hurt. Things between Jules and I are so simple and so complicated at the same time. I left without a word to anyone.” Glory grimaced with the sudden realization that she had taken off like a thief
in the night. It was a ridiculously immature reaction to a very adult problem, but in her own defense she had needed to put some distance between herself and the situation.

  Between herself and Jules.

  “Well, that makes sense. I would probably have done the same,” Annie told her.

  Glory felt another surge of gratitude at Annie’s seemingly unflappable determination to make her feel better about herself and the mess she had made of things.

  “But having said that,” Annie continued on. “A little damage control might be in order. First of all you didn’t run anywhere. You took a trip out to see a friend—a sick friend who needed help with her kids. Yeah. That’s it. You should probably let Raine or Claire know where you are so no one worries or makes assumptions. Then you can just take some time to chill here and figure out your next step. Sound good?”

  “Sounds great,” Glory responded happily, glad at this chance to save face. “I’ll text them right now.”

  As Glory reached into her purse for her phone, Annie moved to a closet at the far end of the hallway. She was back in a flash with a pile of soft cotton. “Here are some towels for you. The guest bedroom is the first door on the right and has its own bathroom. It’s a nice quiet space and you’ll be able to rest there. The girls have a birthday party to go to tomorrow, after the party I have to bring them to the doctors for their regular check-up. We won’t be around and the house will be quiet. Sleep in tomorrow morning, take a bubble bath, and eat ice cream. Oh and there’s one more thing,” Annie turned to the key holder on the wall and tossed a set to Glory. “Use my mom’s car—it has a navigation system. Look around the area. If you like what you see and decide you don’t want to go back, you can move in here with me and the kids. There’s more than enough room and it will be like old times. Only without the creepy landlord and the death-defying staircases.”

  *****

  That night Glory lay awake for a long time listening to the unfamiliar sounds of her surroundings—the quiet ticking of the clock, the gentle hum of the wind rustling through the trees, the cacophony of the crickets as they sang their midnight song. After the long trip she had had, Glory had hoped that sleep would find her easily. But the inner turmoil brought about from the events of the last few days would not be stilled and kept sleep at bay.

  Glory was frightened.

  She had no idea what the future held for her.

  Even more terrifying than the uncertainty was the freedom that came with it. For the first time ever her fate was hers alone to decide—the decisions that she made from here on out, the mistakes, the path her life would take would be hers to determine. Her future no longer hinged on the fallout from a catastrophic event or anyone else’s need to survive. There were no desperate circumstances, or life and death matters hanging in the balance. There was no one’s needs for her to consider but her own.

  Just her.

  Instead of relief, Glory felt loneliness and uncertainty creep around her like a rising tide.

  This was not how her life was supposed to go.

  For the first time in a very long time, Glory let her mind wander back to her childhood. Back to the time before her father had gambled everything and lost much more than anyone could have imagined. Glory thought back wistfully to the lavish celebrations, the fancy premieres, the elegant tea parties that she and her beautiful mother had shared with a favorite doll and a ratty old bear on the manicured lawn of their small estate. Her mother had assured Glory that one day she would be an elegant lady with a beautiful home and happy children and a loving husband of her own.

  Maybe it was an old fashioned wish for her child, and maybe some would have thought that Glory’s mother should have aimed higher—should have wanted more for her only daughter.

  But Asta Thomas, the wife of a wealthy, West Coast movie mogul, had grown up as Asta Nordin, the daughter of a poor Swedish pig farmer. And if fate had not intervened, she most likely would have become a pig farmer’s wife. So the big house, the lifestyle that came with, and all the glamorous trappings had played out like a dream come true for the young woman—until of course it hadn’t.

  But Asta’s earliest and most fervent wish for her pretty little girl was that she would grow up to live the life of a princess. When Asta bought Glory a small diamond tiara on her seventh birthday, Glory wore it like it was her birthright.

  And Glory had gotten the fairy-tale, all right.

  Only she got the poisoned apple, evil sorcerer, forbidden forest version of the tale.

  But she had also gotten the rescue from a handsome prince in her story too.

  Well sort of.

  For the first time in two days, Glory felt her heart lighten and she let out a small giggle as she pictured the big, scarred, Hells Saints outlaw wearing tights on his muscular thighs, ermine fur on his broad shoulders, and a tarnished crown on top of his long blond hair.

  Jules.

  Prince Charming?

  Certainly not.

  Dragon slayer?

  Most definitely.

  And with that somewhat strange and comforting thought, Glory drifted off to sleep.

  *****

  Two mornings later, Glory was shaken gently awake by a little girl who smelled like Fruit Loops and orange juice.

  “Glory, wake up,” the sweet voice whispered. “Mommy said you have to wake up. There’s a giant in the house.”

  Chapter 38

  It couldn’t be.

  That was Glory’s first thought before she sent Tory off with assurances that she would be right there, then she threw off the covers and went into the bathroom. After a quick sweep with both a tooth brush and a hair brush, she tugged on a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. Then, filled with apprehensive curiosity, Glory set out down the hallway where she hesitated just before she crossed the threshold of the kitchen doorway.

  Her heart almost stopped beating in her chest and a gasp of surprise flew right of her mouth when she saw him.

  Jules.

  He was leaning against Annie’s kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in his hand and a smug smile on his face.

  Oh. My. God.

  “Well, there is the little sleepyhead now.” He greeted her with suspiciously good humor and a sly wink. “Heard you had to come out here in a hurry to help with a sick friend. I figured I’d come along and see what’s what.” He shrugged and looked at Glory with an expression that all but shouted out—gotcha! “You know, with my medical experience and all, I thought I could help you out. But I must have got the message wrong. Your friend Annie here looks fine to me. Quick recovery?”

  Glory heard his words through the whirling sensation of adrenalin coursing through her body.

  “Well, yes. I mean no. I mean it was a close call—almost a miracle really—that she recovered as quickly as she did.” Glory blushed under his scrutiny and lied through her teeth.

  “Mommy, are you sick?” Tory turned to her mother and frowned. Glory looked on guiltily as Lily immediately stuck her thumb in her mouth and Janie wrapped her little arms around her mother’s neck.

  “Huh?” Annie looked from Glory to Jules in dazed confusion before the light of understanding dawned and she cleared her throat nervously. “Yes, mommy had a little touch of the flu, but I’m better now.”

  An awkward silence filled the room before Annie burst out, “Okay, girls, time to get washed up and dressed.”

  Annie looked from Jules to Glory and back again before herding her children upstairs.

  “Unless you want me to stick around and …uh…make breakfast or something?”

  “No.” Glory tore her gaze away from the stormy eyes that held her and focused on her friend’s questioning face. “Go on up with the girls, everything’s fine.”

  Annie gave Glory a long are you sure look and Glory nodded in the affirmative. Satisfied that her friend would quickly get the situation under control, Annie directed her children out of the kitchen. But ever the gracious hostess, Annie turned politely to Jules b
efore she left the room. “Nice to meet you, Jules.”

  Jules lifted a chin in response. “You too, Annie. And thanks for the coffee.”

  As Glory watched Annie and her little tribe head upstairs, she had the sudden urge to pull on her friend’s shirt and beg her to stay…

  “You want coffee?” Jules asked, like he owned the place.

  Glory’s attention volleyed back across the room to the big, rough man leaning against the counter. He looked oddly out of place as his shadow fell against a backdrop of kids' pictures, delicate lace curtains and chintz wall-paper. And, Glory noted perceptively, it wasn’t just any Jules that was standing there either. It was the badass biker version of Jules. The leather cut, symbol of his band of brothers, sat ruggedly on his shoulders, serving as a proclamation to all just who he was and where he belonged.

  Coincidence?

  Glory thought not.

  “Have a seat, Glory.” Jules moved close to her, pulled out the chair and pushed down none too gently on her shoulder. Then he took the seat next to her, and Glory couldn’t help but notice how he dwarfed the ladder back chair. When his muscled thighs brushed against hers under the table and sent shivers through her traitorous body, Glory clutched the warm mug with nervous strength. Silence filled the air as she swallowed a bracing gulp of the hot brew.

  “What are you doing here, Jules?”

  Jules cocked his head and studied her for a long moment. Then his eyes softened and his voice was a gentle rumble as it washed over her in waves.

  “What are you doing here, Glory?” He regarded her carefully. Then he added, “Why did you run away from me?”

  The unexpected gentleness of his tone and the concern in his eyes proved to be Glory’s undoing. All of a sudden the million reasons she thought she had for leaving him did not seem so important anymore.

  “I don’t know,” Glory cried out in anguish. “I don’t know why I left.” She could not help the mournful shudder that shook her body. “I just know it was awful. We had such a bad argument. The things I said, the things you said…”