by Megan Lowe
He takes my face in his hands. “It’ll be okay. I’m here with you. My whole family is with you, no matter what happens.”
I bend down to kiss him.
“We better get back,” he says, and I sigh.
The Thomases are already at the house when Reed and I get back.
He squeezes my hand. “Just hear them out. I’m here with you, okay?”
I nod. “Thanks, honey.” We walk into the house.
My parents and the Thomases are in the living room. I see Colt and Anne and all the good times I had with Rome and Grayson come flooding back. Anne gets up and gives me a hug, a sad smile on her face.
“Hey, Anne,” I say.
“Bria darling, how are you?”
“I’m good.”
“A man in your life, I see.”
I smile. “This is Reed Ryan.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Thomas,” Reed says.
“You too, Reed. You be good to our Bria, now.”
He smiles and chuckles. “I fully intend to, ma’am.”
“Colt,” I say and hug Rome’s dad.
“How you doing, Bria girl?”
“I’m good. This is Reed Ryan.” The two men shake hands.
“Ryan as in Ryan Racing?” Colt asks.
“Yes, sir.”
“The same Reed Ryan who retired a few years back after all that nasty business with Hunter David?”
“Yes, sir.”
Colt shakes his head. “He’s no good. The racing series doesn’t need someone of his type involved with it. They made a mistake choosing him over you.”
“That’s kind of you to say, sir.”
“You know my boy?”
“No, sir, but my brother Parker has seen him on occasion. He says he has real talent.”
“It’s a pity he doesn’t get to show it. Spent the best years of his career hanging on the coattails of that no-good demon.”
This is fascinating conversation and the rest of us are loath to interrupt. It’s as I have this thought, Reed and Colt seem to realise we’re all listening.
“I’m sorry, we’re hogging the conversation,” Reed says politely.
“Let’s go on through,” Mum says, smiling kindly.
Reed takes my hand as we walk into the dining room and pulls my chair out for me. I give him a quick kiss before sitting down.
Mum has made lasagne, garlic bread, and salad, and Reed wolfs it down. My mum is a pretty awesome cook, so I'm quick to clear my plate. We go back into the living room after dinner and I know the dance is done; the moment of truth is here.
“So as you know, we asked to see you,” Anne says to me.
I nod. “I do.”
“And I bet you’re wondering why.” Again, I nod.
“First off, we want you, both of you,” Anne says, gesturing to Reed and me, “to know that we don’t approve of Hunter David, his actions, or anything to do with Devil Racing.”
“Okay,” I say, not knowing where this is going.
“Roman has been in touch with us.”
“That’s great,” I say, still not knowing where this is going.
“He seemed like his old self,” Anne continues. “He apologised for everything that’s happened during the past five years, all the heartache, the pain…. Roman’s back, Bria.”
“I’m glad.” And call me slow, but I’m still not putting the dots together. I’m genuinely glad Rome has reached out to his family again but I don’t know what that has to do with me.
Anne smiles. “He’s asked that we get in touch with you and—” She pauses. “—Grayson,” she says tentatively.
“Anne—”
She holds up her hand. “Bria, I know the position I’m putting you in, both with Grayson and the Ryans, but he’s sorry and he’s reaching out. He wants to make things right.”
Okay, so now that I know where this conversation’s gone, I really wish it could go back.
“Bria,” Colt says, getting my attention, “trust me. I know what you’re feeling and thinking but please, hear us out, hear him out.”
“Is he here?” I ask, panicked, looking at Reed. He’s solid, showing no emotion. He sees me staring and squeezes my hand reassuringly.
“No, he’s not here. He’s still in Booker,” Anne answers.
I release my breath. “Okay, good.”
“He’s not a bad man, Bria.”
“What does he want?” I ask in a small voice.
“He wants to get back to the old Roman.”
“Just like that?”
“He said he wants to leave Devil, that there’s some stuff going on there that he doesn’t like or support and he wants out.” She glances at Reed.
“That’ll be tough,” Reed says.
“He knows,” Colt says, “but he wants to try.”
“So why does he want me and Grayson?”
“He wants his friends back, Bria. He wants to know if he leaves Devil, that he’ll have something to come back to.”
“I can’t put Grayson through that again,” I say. “He broke her heart and she still hasn’t gotten over it.”
“Just think about it. That’s all we’re asking. He’s a good boy, Bria, and deep down he’s still the boy you grew up with. He lost himself for a while but he’s back now and he wants to come home. You and Grayson are his home.”
Tears slip down my cheeks and Reed wipes them away.
“What do you think?” I ask him.
“I think it’ll be tough to leave Devil and when he does, he’ll need support, friends.”
“You think I should meet him?”
“If you want to. I can’t tell you what to do, baby. I’m sorry.”
“What about your family?”
“Roman’s not Hunter. We’ve never really heard of him, so I don’t think there’d be too much hostility, but if you decide you want him back in your life, we’d deal.”
“You really think they’d be okay with it?” I can already feel myself leaning towards meeting with him.
“We can bring it up tomorrow at dinner if you want.”
“I want to make sure they’re okay with it. I know Rome himself hasn’t personally victimised you, but he’s part of an organisation that has made your life hell.”
Reed smiles kindly. “He’s your friend. They’ll be fine and if they’re not, they’ll answer to me, okay? Nobody upsets my angel.” He winks at me.
“Okay, but no visible bruises. I don’t want to have to explain that to the press.”
He chuckles and pulls me to his side.
“So can we tell Roman to call?” Anne adds hopefully.
I nod. “But,” I start, “if any of the Ryans are uncomfortable, I won’t take it any further.”
Anne nods. “And Grayson?”
I huff out a breath. How the fuck am I supposed to bring this up with her?
“I’ll figure that out once I’ve met with Rome, if I meet with Rome.”
Anne relaxes. “Thank you, Bria.”
I just nod. I feel like shit, tied up in knots and totally and completely torn as to what to do. I saw first-hand what a perfect couple Rome and Grayson were. I was also there through the utter devastation she felt when Rome left. I know deep down they’re meant to be, but how can she trust him again? How can she forget the pain and the heartache he put her through?
These questions swirl through my head making it pound.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say.
“Are you okay, baby?” Reed asks, concern written all over his face.
I nod. “I just need some air.”
I go up to the gazebo, a place where I plan to have one of the happiest days of my life, and wonder if I’m giving Grayson hers or tearing it away.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
REED
“We’re sorry,” Anne says after Bria’s gone. “We didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “Bria and I haven’t talked much about your son but she has told me about h
is relationship with Grayson.”
“They were perfectly suited for each other, thought the other hung the moon, much like you and Bria.”
I smile. Personally, I think the world revolves around Bria, or at least mine does, but I get the point.
“Do you think he can do it?” Colt asks.
“Get out of Devil?”
He nods.
“It’ll be tough, really tough. Hunter doesn’t give up easily, to that I can testify, but if he’s strong and determined he’ll make it through. But be prepared.”
“For what?”
“I can’t say for sure, but threats maybe, vandalism, physical violence definitely. Does Roman have his own apartment?”
Anne shakes her head. “He lives with other guys in Devil.”
“He’ll need somewhere to go. I don’t know his job situation, but if he’s working for Devil, then that’ll disappear too. I imagine you’d welcome him home but if he wants to stay in Booker, that’s something he’ll need to think about.”
Colt slumps in his seat. “It’s a lot to handle.”
I nod. “It is, but at least Roman has you and possibly Bria.”
“Do you think your family will mind?” Anne asks.
“They’ll be sceptical, but it’s not in our nature to hold grudges. Time and time again Hunter hits us. He’s slashed tyres, stolen merchandise, tried roughing us up at our diner, and I’m sure you’ve heard about the explosion at our garage the other weekend. We’ve never hit back, never tried to, and never will. We didn’t do anything wrong. This is all Hunter.”
“And the guys who are on his team?”
“There’re a few guys on the team we know do Hunter’s bidding. As far as we know, Roman isn’t one of them, which frankly is surprising considering he’s been around Devil for so long. What is going to be of concern for us is how all this affects Bria, and I assume a lot of that will have to do with how this all affects Grayson.”
“Jesus,” Colt curses quietly.
“I know it’s messy, but I understand why he did it. Roman was seventeen, eighteen when he went to Devil?” I’m met with nods. “At that age all you want to do is ride. Get on a bike, impress some people, and bang, you’re the next Mick Doohan. That’s what Hunter promises guys, all of them talented, but young and impressionable. He promises that if they pay their dues for a few years, eventually they’ll get that ride. The lucky ones are let go, the useful ones, for whatever reason, are kept around. Seeing as though Roman isn’t thick with Hunter, I can only guess it’s because he has real talent.”
“Could he still have a career?” Colt asks.
“I don’t know enough about him to say but anything’s a possibility.”
“Thank you for this, Reed. I know it’s not a great topic,” Anne apologises.
“It’s fine. Roman’s your family and Bria is mine, just as much as I am part of hers. But if you’ll excuse me, I better go check on her.”
I’m met with smiles and nods on my way to the garden and up to the gazebo, where Bria is deep in thought.
“You okay?” I ask.
She looks up and when she sees me, smiles.
I fucking love that I can put that look on her face.
“Eh.” She shrugs.
I tug her up from her seat, sit down, and pull her on my lap.
“You wanna talk about it?” I ask as she snuggles into my chest, my arms holding her tight.
“Yes and no.”
“All right.” I kiss the side of her neck.
“Fuck,” she exclaims after a while. “What do I do, Reed?”
“I wish I could tell you, baby, but it’s something you’ve gotta work out yourself.” She swings around so she’s sitting sideways.
“I’ve been sitting here, in the place where I intend to tie myself to you for the rest of my life, and I know Gray and Rome have the same love we do, but how do I know it’s going to stick? That she can trust him again? That I can trust him? How can she forget the pain and heartache? I don’t want to get them back in touch if he’s only going to do it again. She won’t survive it, Reed. She barely survived it the first time.”
I rub up and down her back. “I know, baby, it’s not an easy decision to make, but maybe it’ll be easier once you meet with him again.”
“You sure your family won’t mind?”
“The only thing they’ll worry about is how it affects you. We’re here for you, Bria.”
She rests her head on my shoulder. “Will you come with me to meet with Rome?”
“If you want me to. I’ll do anything you want me to do, anything you need me to do.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“You don’t need to thank me. This is all part of my promise to always take care of you.”
“I don’t want to hurt her, Reed.”
“I know, baby, but hear him out and then give her the rundown. Let her make the decision. I know you want to be there to protect and mother everyone; it’s part of who you are, but every now and then you have to let people make their own decisions.”
“Fuck!”
“I know, but I’m here and we’ll get through this together, okay?”
“Okay.” She snuggles further into my chest and we sit in silence contemplating the future for two people just like us, but in a wildly different situation.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BRIA
I get my first text from Rome on our drive back to Booker the next day.
Rome: Hey, Bria, it’s Roman. Mum gave me your number. I’d really love it if we could get together sometime.
I read the message and sigh.
“You okay?” Reed asks and grabs my hand.
“I just got a text from Rome.”
“What did it say?”
“He’d love it if we could get together sometime.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I want to run it by your family. You never know, they might be able to offer some advice for him.” I shrug.
“You’re not worried about their reaction?”
I shake my head. “Not so much. I know they love me and support me and they’re smart enough to realise Rome isn’t Hunter.” It’s true. I know whatever I do the Ryans will support me.
Reed squeezes my hand. “We do support you, no matter what.”
“I’m going to tell him I have to talk with a few people and I’ll get back to him.”
Reed nods. “Sounds good to me.”
I text Rome.
Me: Before we meet, I’d like to talk with a few people. I’ll get back to you.
He texts back almost immediately.
Rome: Grayson??
Me: No. I don’t want to bring her into this just yet. I’m with Reed Ryan and I want to run it by his family.
Rome: The Ryans are good people. I hope this doesn’t disrupt your relationship. I just really want my friend back.
“What’s he saying?” Reed asks.
I read the message to him.
My phone beeps with another message from Rome.
Rome: I know I have no right to ask this of you and I fucked our friendship up once before but I’m so sorry Bria.
After reading the new message out, I ask, “What do you think?”
“I think at the very least I want to hear what he has to say.”
Reed nods and smiles.
“What?” I ask.
“I knew that would be your decision.”
I turn to face him. “And why’s that, oh wise one?”
“Because that’s the kind of person you are, angel. Loving and caring.”
“You’re still going to come with me to meet with him, right?”
“As long as that’s what you want me to do.”
I nod. “I do.”
“Then I’ll be there.” He lifts our entwined hands and kisses the back of mine. It amazes me how such a simple touch can quieten my nerves even just a little.
When we’re ten minutes from home, my thoughts drift
to Gray. “What if Grayson finds out we’re talking before I have a chance to explain? She’ll never forgive me.” I’m silently freaking out. Okay, not so silently.
Reed pulls into his driveway and shuts off the car. He turns to me and cups my face.
“Baby, it’ll be fine. If Grayson finds out, you’ll explain to her that you wanted to check everything out before involving her. She’ll realise that you’re only trying to protect her. Let’s cross this bridge if and when we come to it, okay?”
I nod, even though thoughts are still running through my head a thousand miles a minute.
“Hmm,” he says, and I know he doesn’t believe me.
He gets out of the car, comes around to my side, opens my door and throws me over his shoulder.
“Reed!” I squeal and pound his back. “Put me down!”
“Nope,” he says as he walks us into the house.
“Reed!” I pound harder this time with a giggle.
“Stop it, you’ll fall.”
“So help me God, if you drop me, Reed Ryan, I will cut off your balls.”
I hear laughter and look to see Liam and Mason sitting in the living room.
“Hey, bro, sis,” Liam says.
Reed grunts out a “Hey” but continues to walk us straight to his bedroom. He lays me gently on the bed and undresses me. Every thought in my head flies out as he kisses his way down my body, and proceeds to “distract” me.
“Better?” he asks, wiping his mouth.
“Huh?”
“All those thoughts that were running through your head, they gone now?”
Oh, that’s what that was about. I lean up to kiss him.
“Yes, thank you, honey.”
“It’ll all be okay, Bria.”
“I know,” I say with a yawn.
“Go to sleep, baby. I know you probably didn’t get much sleep the past few nights and dinner’s not for a while,” he says, running his hands up and down my back, lulling me to sleep.
I wake to find Reed kissing my neck, his hands all over my body.
“Mmm.” I moan and rub myself against him.
“Have a good nap?” he asks from behind me.
“Very good.” I feel him smile against my neck. “What time is it?”
“Just after five. Dinner’s in about an hour. How are you feeling?”