by KB Winters
I rode and rode, trying to clear my mind of every goddamn thing haunting me. I pushed out the fucking cops determined to put me back in a cell. My brother’s upcoming nuptials reminding me of the normal life not meant for me. Teddy and her fiery personality, sexy body and simple understanding and acceptance. I rode until my back ached and my hands cramped, my bike eating up the miles and miles of desert landscape. When I finally stopped for gas, water and some fresh air, I realized I was just a few miles from Reno.
Pulling out my phone on the side of the road as the sun began to set, I called the shop. “Hey Lasso man, I need you to close the shop up tonight and open tomorrow. I’ll catch up with you then.”
“Sure thing, Golden Boy. Everything all right?”
I nodded even as my shoulders were rigid with tension. “Everything will be,” I told him and ended the call, taking in several deep breaths of the cooler, crisper air.
Hopefully the distraction of a new place would clear my head.
Chapter 16
Teddy
I was a lot of things, but a woman who couldn’t take a hint wasn’t one of them. I knew the way he woke me up, with a deliciously hard fuck, that something was wrong. But when he locked the door as he showered, I knew it was more than that, and when I stepped back into the bedroom we’d been sharing and saw that his boots were gone, I didn’t panic or freak out. Instead, I slowly got dressed, making sure I moisturized properly and looked out the window for what I knew I’d find.
Tate’s bike was gone.
I took my time and shook off the disappointment of being fucked and discarded so easily. I should be used to it, but after so many years of taking control of my life, my destiny, it stung. Made me feel like the abandoned little girl in foster care all over again, and I just could not abide that feeling. Not fucking ever again. I packed my bags and loaded up my car and went back home.
To a construction zone. Not that I expected the contractors to perform feats of magic, but I really didn’t want to think of so many people being inside my home. “I know I said I’d stay away but circumstances have changed.”
Jase, the head contractor gave a sympathetic grin. “It’s your house Ms. Quinton, but it would be safer if you used one of the other entrances. This flooring isn’t quite ready for any weight yet.” He sighed and met me in the back. “We should be no more than three more days.”
“That’s fine, Jase. I appreciate you guys fitting me in so quickly.” I expected I might have to wait at least a month just to get them out, so I was happy they were almost done. “I’ll be in my room.”
My emotions were all over the place and my room was the best place for me, anyway. Body still humming from that good hard fuck from Tate, mind still reeling from how he could just walk away from me and I didn’t even mean the sex stuff. It pissed me off that I’d let myself rely on someone else for my safety. I hadn’t done that since I was ten and a half years old and realized I only had myself to rely on, and I hated myself for caring that he’d left.
But I did care, dammit. And that pissed me off more. But that was over; he’d made it more than clear that he was done with the burden of my personal security. One call to a local security company and someone had come out to do a consultation within the hour. I went with the Cadillac package, video surveillance, motion lights and a loud alarm system. If that didn’t save me, nothing and no one would.
I spent the rest of the day getting my life back in order. Everything was all set for the engagement party, and after one final call to Mandy to check out the dessert spread, I felt pretty good about the party. I’d never thrown an engagement party at a biker gang hangout, but maybe it would expand my clientele. There was just this one thing to do and since I had no idea where Tate was, or if he was ever coming back, I called someone else.
“Hey Jag, sorry to bother you but I need you to send the invite for the party to Max and Jana.”
He took a long pause before he responded. “Isn’t Tate doing that?”
“He’s gone and I need to make sure this gets done. Can I rely on you to do this?”
“Yeah, sure,” he sighed. “I’ll make sure they get it and that both of them show up.”
“Thank you, Jag. You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell all of your friends. Please.”
I laughed but before I could say anything else he’d ended the call. As I made my way down the never ending to-do list, I became aware of the house falling quiet as the contractors and then the security consultant knocked off for the day. The quiet grew louder, highlighting just how alone I was again and the creep factor set my stomach on edge.
Too wound up to eat, I decided to try and get some sleep, figuring unconsciousness would make the sounds less terrifying, or at least quieter. It didn’t. Mostly because I couldn’t get to sleep. I got up and went to the living room where I worked in front of the TV until I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. Two hours later and my fitful sleep was over.
Frustrated, tired and frightened, and thoroughly pissed off about it, I figured a shower and then a pot of coffee would help my body pick a side. Standing under the hot shower spray did help me wake up, but that only made my mind race with thoughts of the stalker’s identity and what the hell had crawled up Tate’s ass. But I reminded myself that he didn’t owe me a damn thing. Basic human kindness would have been nice, but it wasn’t the first time reality and my expectations had crashed violently. And I doubted it would be the last.
The sound of glass shattering sounded over the shower spray. What the fuck? Every nerve ending buzzed like I’d stuck my finger into a light socket. Then another shattering sound. And another. Was someone bombing my house?
The unmistakable smashing of glass was followed by the thuds of bricks or stones or other heavy objects. My heart jumped into my throat and I swore it stopped beating. I wasn’t sure it was going to start up again. But then, my pulse began pounding like a madman. I was sure whoever was out there could hear it.
I knew I couldn’t spend the rest of the night under in the shower, so I slipped out but left the water running to hide my movements and tiptoed across the bathroom floor. I pressed my ear against the door with my eyes squeezed shut. I hadn’t heard anything after the last very heavy object hit the floor somewhere near the living room. No footsteps. No soft voices.
I held my breath and waited, listening for a few more seconds before I made my decision. I had to take action and decided to take a chance that I was alone. That the crazy fucker was outside and not in the hallway waiting for me to show my face. It was either that or spend the rest of my life in the shower.
I took the deepest breath ever, opened the door and vaulted over to the bedroom and grabbed the clothes I’d laid out off the bed and my phone off the dresser, then made a crazy-assed dash back to the bathroom. I locked myself in, images of some motherfucker letting loose an AR 15 through the bathroom door while I was making my hysterical call to the police. I dialed 911 and swore at my phone until the dispatcher answered.
“Someone is throwing things through my windows and I can’t tell if they got inside the house or not.”
I trembled against the wall, making sure I would be out of the line of fire from the window and the door while the 911 dispatcher assured me help was on the way.
I didn’t believe her soft, soothing words but just the sound of them prevented me from freaking the fuck out any more than I already was as I pulled on my clothes. Her voice lulled me into a sense of false security that was quickly shattered when a loud pounding sounded that made me jump out of my skin.
“Ma’am it’s the police, open up!”
The dispatcher heard them and gave me instructions. “It’s okay Teddy. Ask for their names before you open the door.”
I did and the dispatchers said, “It’s all good. Those are the officers responding to this call. Open the door, sweetheart. You’re all right.”
I stood on shaky legs, my hands fumbling as I turned the little lock and twisted
the doorknob. I pulled it open barely an inch and saw two tall men in uniforms. Police uniforms. They helped me to the sofa in the living room and ten minutes later my house was full again, this time with all manner of law enforcement.
They dusted for fingerprints. Picked up glass and bagged it. Asked me a thousand questions, took my statement and ninety minutes later they were gone.
And then, I was alone.
Again.
But this time, the two huge plate glass windows in the front of my house were broken along with all windows visible from the street. A cool breeze darting through the house was making me shiver. Tears welled up in my eyes as fear tried to overtake me again, the terror that had paralyzed me in the bathroom. But now I wouldn’t let it. I refused to let those tears fall, because that wasn’t me. I wasn’t weak, but being around Tate too much had made me forget how strong I was on my own. I wouldn’t cry. Not now, and maybe not ever. When this was over and the asshole stalker was caught, I’d worry about tears then. If I remembered.
For now, I had shit to do. Like call the contractor and ask him to price a shitload of windows when he arrived in a few hours. I wanted to call the security company and insist they install my shit right now, but that would probably only succeed in them taking their sweet ass time, so I scanned the empty house and went to my bedroom.
To unpack and then re-pack my bags. There were a few dozen hotels within spitting distance of my house and so many of them were luxurious and incredible so I decided that for the next week—at least—I would exile myself in luxury.
***
“I’ve been calling you for twelve fucking hours!”
I stared at the phone for a minute and then grinned. “Jana, it’s nice to hear from you too.”
“No! Dammit, Teddy, no! I went by your house yesterday and do you know what I found? Do you?”
“Uhm, my windows all busted out?”
“Your windows totally busted out,” she replied as though I hadn’t said a word.
“It’s fine,” I sighed. “The police are handling it, that’s all they can do. In a few days I’ll have a security system installed,” I told her after glossing over the details of how my house came to be without windows. “No big deal.”
“No big deal? Teddy, you need to tell me about this stuff. I’m your friend, hell you’re like a sister to me and I need you to tell me when you’re in danger like this. Please. I’m pregnant, not disabled.”
I sighed and nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I got it, Jana. But you can’t make me believe that keeping you and that little nugget of yours safe isn’t the most important thing.” She was finally getting the life she’d always wanted, the life she deserved, and I wouldn’t let my drama interfere with that.
“And who else but you, Teddy, is going to think about my kid like that? We need you around, so stop keeping shit from me!”
I tried not to laugh because she was so clearly distraught, but there was something funny about it and we shared a good laugh. “Where are you staying?”
“A hotel with a good security team.” The guys wore suits but you could tell them from other casino employees because they were all the size of gladiators. They all looked like former military bad asses and I felt safe. Safe enough, anyway.
“I don’t like it. They care about you as long as you’re inside the hotel, but what about work? What about walking you to your car? I’ll call Tate.”
“No, you won’t.” I didn’t mean to use that harsh tone on her, but he was the last thing I needed.
“Where is he, anyway?”
I knew she would find out sooner or later. “I don’t know. He left a few days ago. I guess I overstayed my welcome. I don’t know Jana, but I don’t want or need you to call him. I can take care of myself.” If I’d remembered that sooner, I might have already had a security system installed at home.
Jana huffed her disagreement, damn near growling in her restraint. “I’ll call him.”
“I just said I can take care of my damn self!” Jana was talking but I couldn’t listen any longer and disconnected the call, feeling guilty and pissed off. I wouldn’t trust my safety to anyone else, not again. But none of that was Jana’s fault so I called her back. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. But I meant what I said. I’ll keep you informed if you trust my safety to me.”
“I don’t like it, but of course. Whatever you need to do. Did I mention that I don’t like it?”
I laughed. “I know you don’t, but I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, girl. Thanks for worrying, Jana.”
“Always.”
“Good, now go get some rest. Love you.”
“Love you too,” she responded sadly, but I hung up before she could sate her curiosity with more questions about Tate. Questions I had no answers for and didn’t really want to think about at the moment.
I had a quickie wedding tomorrow and Jana and Max’s engagement party a couple days later. That and my personal security were the only things on my mind.
Certainly not some golden-haired biker who didn’t know how to be a friend.
Chapter 17
Tate
Nothing made a man feel like more of a loser than knocking on a woman’s door in the middle of the day and having her ignore you. Teddy’s car wasn’t in the driveway and her garage was empty, but there were workers in the house, which meant she had to come home regularly. Didn’t she?
I’d been back from Reno for a few days and she hadn’t answered any of my calls, not that I blamed her. I was an ass to her for no reason, and worse, I’d abandoned her when she needed my protection. Now she was determined to do without it, even if it compromised her safety. Stubborn damn woman.
As soon as Max called me in Reno, I hopped on my bike and returned to Mayhem as quickly as I could and found her things gone from my place, and her house vandalized. Again. And Teddy was nowhere to be found.
Not at her office, where a pretty young thing in a tight sweater had greeted me and told me she was in a consultation. An hour later another pretty young thing, this one in a short skirt said she was meeting with a vendor. Finally, a scrawny dude in hipster glasses said she was out to lunch. Yeah, I got the message loud and fucking clear, but that didn’t mean I was giving up.
I sat outside in my car, watching as the three youngsters filed out of the office and locked up at the end of the day. Teddy still hadn’t materialized but I didn’t think she stayed away. There must be another entrance that she used. I could have laughed at the irony of her now using evasive techniques when I needed to find her. I called her again, hoping she would at least pick up and tell me to fuck off.
But she wouldn’t. I knew she wouldn’t, because of how I’d left. She was used to people not wanting her, particularly after her usefulness to them had run out, and I’d shown her that I was no different than countless foster families, social workers, agents, photographers — and men.
The phone rang in my hand and I grinned, thinking it was Teddy. “What’s up?” I tried to sound casual, but the sound of my brother’s voice pissed me off.
“Are you finally off your fucking period, man? Jana is stressing out so whatever the fuck you’ve done, fix it.”
I laughed. “Based on these cramps, I think I might have another day or two of bleeding.”
“Don’t be a smartass, Tate. I’m serious.”
Yeah I knew it. “I was an asshole. There’s nothing to fix because she won’t even answer my damn calls.”
Max sighed but I could hear the frustration and stress he carried. “Mine either and now I know why. Jag sent us this invitation. You know anything about it?”
Jag? I should have known Teddy would let nothing or no one slow her down. I felt a small pang of ego at being replaced so quickly, but I knew it was unjustified. “I do. I know that you both need to be there, which is why I’ll pick you guys up.”
“That sounds good. What about Teddy, will she be there?”
There was no way she would miss this party,
not when Jana was the only person she let get close to her. “I assume she will be, since she put it together.” I let that piece of information hang in the air between us, hoping it would give him enough of a clue to understand why they both had to show up. It didn’t matter though. I’d drag them to the clubhouse if I had to.
“Fine. Fix this shit with Teddy. Please.”
Yeah, if only it was that fucking easy.
***
“You’re really not going to tell us what this party is all about?” Jana was practically giddy in the passenger seat as we pulled into the parking lot at the clubhouse. The Reckless Bastards partied so much we rarely went all out except for weddings, funerals and the welcoming of new brothers. Tonight though, was special. While I’d been locked up, they’d worked hard to keep Max on this planet, so for him to find this happiness was reason enough to fucking celebrate.
“I’m really not. We’re here, anyway. Show a little patience, Jana.” I rolled my eyes, laughing when she smacked me in the chest. “Don’t want to knock that baby loose.”
She gasped in outrage, green eyes lit with amusement she tried to hide. “I can’t believe you just said that about your niece or nephew.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on, Mom.”
She stopped and looked up at me. “It’s kind of creepy to hear you say that. Why do guys like being called ‘daddy?’”
I blinked and then looked over at Max, who only shrugged. “Where does she get this shit?”
“Don’t ask, brother. Just smile and nod.”
I did as my older brother said, holding the door open so they could both enter before me.
“Oh my God! This is …” she looked back at me with a big smile and watery eyes. “Oh, Tate! This is incredible.” She looked around, awe-filled green eyes taking in the decorations that I had to admit, looked spectacular. Everything looked like what could only be called biker princess heaven. Onyx chandeliers hung from above, chrome and black tables and chairs dotted the room and in the front were two bad ass biker thrones, complete with his and hers chalices. “You did this for us?”