Page 57 of Texting the Wrong Bikers

“It’s safer with us,” Chief says quietly. “The cameras will give us a better idea of who this guy is, of what the threat level is, but it doesn’t mean they can protect you from him.”

I look away, not willing to admit he’s right.

Trigger steps closer slowly, so close I can feel the tension radiating off of him. His voice lowers. “You’re scared.”

The simple certainty in his tone almost undoes me, because he’s right, I am scared. I’m terrified. Every creak in the house suddenly sounds wrong. Every car that drives past makes my pulse spike. Every dark window feels threatening. Worst of all, I don’t know who’s doing this.

Trigger’s expression softens slightly when he sees something crack across my face. “Come stay with us.”

Us. Not me. Us. The clubhouse flashes through my mind. It’s started feeling like a sanctuary.

I look toward Owen, sleepily curled against Shadow’s side on the couch, while Shadow pretends not to notice tiny feet kicking his ribs. Then toward Dash, unusually quiet and calm as he watches the rain outside. Toward Chief, quietly giving me space to decide. Finally, my gaze lands on Trigger, standing closest to me, looking like he’d personally fight the entire world singlehanded if it kept Owen and me safe.

My throat tightens unexpectedly. “One week,” I whisper.

Relief flashes across Trigger’s face so quickly it almost hurts to see. “Minimum,” he mutters, unable to help himself.

I hold up a finger. “One week.”

Dash grins. “Oh, cute, she thinks she’s leaving after a week.”

“Dash,” Chief warns. But even Chief looks relieved now.

Shadow finally relaxes slightly, and Owen cuddles in closer, reaching up to trace his chubby fingers along his scar. Shadow flinches but then softens.

“But not tonight,” I say quietly. “I’m not fleeing in the middle of the night. It will scare Owen, and I won’t do that. We’ll pack in the morning, turn it into a vacation.”

“Sadie,” Trigger starts to protest.

I hold up my hand. “It’s that, or I don’t come at all.”

Something in my tone must convey how serious I am, because they don’t try to fight me. “Fine, but I’m staying here tonight.”

“No, you’re not,” Chief and I say at the same time.

I try to ignore the hurt in Trigger’s eyes. “You’re too wound up. Owen will notice something’s wrong,” I say as kindly as I can.

“Sadie’s right,” Chief agrees.

“You’ll end up shooting the postman,” Dash says, only half joking.

“Shadow can stay,” I find myself saying.

Trigger looks wounded, but as always, he respects my decision. Shadow only nods when we tell him the plan. Finally, with the promise that we’ll come over first thing in the morning and that we’ll call at the first sign of trouble, the others leave.

The fact that all four of them look calmer knowing I’ll be with them makes this feel real, makes me feel protected, safe. Part of me knows that deciding to stay at the clubhouse changes everything; it’s one step further past the point of no return. The other part, the reckless, dangerous part, can’t stop thinking that maybe I don’t mind at all.

Chapter 16

Shadow

I carry a sleeping Owen back upstairs to his room, feeling the solid, trusting weight of him and trying not to think about what my life could have been. Sadie follows behind, quiet as a ghost. We don’t speak until we’re back downstairs. I want to ask why she chose me to stay, but somehow, the words don’t come.

She surprises me when she asks. “Do you have any kids?”

“What makes you ask?”

She considers the question, as if unsure why she even asked it. “I guess you just have that air about you. The others are great with Owen, but it’s obvious they’ve never had kids of their own.” She chuckles lightly. “I guess it’s similar to how military vets recognize other vets.”