My head jerks up at the familiar voice. My blood turns cold as Ian strides across the room.
Cody senses the change in me, and he unlatches. My breast flops out of the bra, and I scramble to push it back into the fabric and re-fasten it. My cheeks heat under Ian’s look of disgust, and Cody starts to cry.
“What are you doing here?” I try to keep my voice steady, but seeing Ian again brings up memories of him smashing the glass above our heads, his grip on my wrist that left bruises, the disgusted look on his face that became a permanent feature once I became pregnant.
I thought he’d given up looking for me. But somehow he’s managed to track me down.
“What the fuck areyoudoing here is the real question.” He looks around the clubhouse, and the disgusted look on his face turns to a scowl as his gaze runs over the bike paraphernalia on the walls and the vintage Harley in the corner. “A fucking motorcycle club,” he hisses. “You’re not safe here.”
I bark out a laugh, and it’s high-pitched and hysterical. I’ve never felt so safe in my life.
“How did you find me?”
Ian smirks. “Your mother is concerned. Her and my mom want to know when we’re going to make up and get on with the wedding.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Typical Mom. Ian’s managed to charm her around to his side.
“There won’t be a wedding, Ian. You must see we’renot suited to each other. You’ll be happier with someone else.”
He takes a step forward, so he’s towering over me. “I’ll be happy when you stop embarrassing me and come back home where you belong.” Cody cries, and I hold him close to my chest against my racing heart. My hands tremble as fear shoots through me. “And shut that fucking baby up.”
“You need to back the fuck up.”
Relief floods me at the sound of Luke’s voice. My eyes dart to the back of the restaurant as Luke maneuvers toward me. He’s moving as fast as he can and he knocks a table, sending a wine glass smashing to the floor.
Ian spins around and smirks when he sees Luke. “Who the fuck are you?”
Luke stops in front of Ian. “I’m the guy who’s going to kick your ass if you don’t back the fuck away from Isla and Cody.”
Ian laughs, a hollow sound. “You?” He steps back and makes a show of checking out Luke and the wheelchair. “What you gonna do, cripple? Run me over?”
Luke’s breathing hard and a vein pulses in his neck. “Try me, motherfucker.”
He slides off his Wild Riders MC leather jacket and folds it over the back of a chair. He’s wearing a black tank top underneath, and he flexes his muscles, but Ian’s too stupid to notice. All he sees is a man in a wheelchair. He can’t see past that to the determination and the grit that fuels Luke. He can’t see what I see, the loyal, protective, and devoted man who will do anything for me andCody. Suddenly the only person I’m scared for is Ian, and that fucker deserves everything that’s coming to him.
There’s movement in the back of the restaurant as Arlo, Davis, and some of the other guys come into the room.
“You need a hand with this, Luke?” Arlo asks.
Without taking his eyes off Ian, Luke shakes his head. “I got this.”
Ian narrows his eyes and chuckles. “You should take the help from your buddies cripple; I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Isla,” Luke speaks slowly through gritted teeth. “Take Cody and go out back.”
I push my chair back, and Ian reaches out a hand to grab me. I dodge out of the way and the chair falls to the floor, making Cody howl louder.
“You make a move Isla, and I swear to god I’ll hurt this cripple.”
I pause as blood thunders in my ears. Ian is mean, and he’s a bully. He could hurt Luke badly, and I don’t want to be the cause of that. I’m frozen on the spot, unsure what to do.
I glance at Luke, and he gives me a small nod. “I can handle myself. Go stand with Arlo.”
Our eyes lock and I see determination there, and I understand. He needs to do this. Even if he gets hurt, he needs to protect me, to know he tried.
I clutch the wailing Cody to my chest and scurry to the back of the restaurant. Arlo puts a protective hand on my shoulder and guides me behind him. But I’m notgoing to miss whatever happens next. I stand with the line of men, feeling confident knowing they’re here for me.
“Isla,” Ian thunders, “you’re responsible for this. I’m going to fuck up your cripple boyfriend.”
