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I pulled her into my arms for a quick hug, her body softened. “Don’t think about it. Just remember that Chelsea is back now and everything is good again.”
The danger had gone, lifted like a heavy weight off the back of the club. Harlyn and I were looking at apartments in Athens, deciding to stay around after a lengthy chat with Optimus. He wanted his daughter in his life. I guess, almost losing Chelsea had made him realize how quickly someone could be taken from him, and after spending years holding Chelsea at a distance, he was now refusing to do the same with Harlyn.
I got it.
I understood how he was feeling and what was going through his head, so I agreed. Needless to say, Harlyn was over the moon. She had the club, her new friends and her dad. It was like a dream come true for her, and fuck, no matter the trepidation in my mind, I would do whatever I had to do to make her happy. Even if it meant putting myself at risk.
I hung my dishcloth up to dry and brushed a few stray hairs away from my head. “I’m going to go and grab a few things at the store and then head up to the hospital.”
Skylar threw me a smile and a wave. “Tell Chel I said hi.”
“Will do,” I replied before rushing out of the room and heading for the parking lot.
Optimus had surprised me with a new car for Harlyn and me to get around in. I wasn’t really mechanically minded, but it was a cute sporty looking red car that had the right amount of speed that I loved. I zipped out of the compound, waving to Ham as he opened the gates to allow me through, and headed for town. Athens wasn’t a huge town but it did well. The population big enough to support the local businesses and keep them thriving. I’d grown up the next town over in Huntsville, it was much larger and wealthier, but as I drove through the main street in Athens, I couldn’t help but smile and imagine how one day I could open my shop here.
My passion was clothing and design. That was what I wanted to do—have my own line and sell it to your everyday women at affordable prices. I had hundreds of designs back home, clothes that Optimus was having friends ship to us here in Athens.
I couldn’t wait to get back to work. Sewing and creating, it was my peace, it was where I felt complete—at least as complete as I could be. After spending time with the club, I’d had a whole new load of inspiration from biker bitch to stripper chic, the broad range of personalities and body shapes helping to expand my mind and dreams.
A chill ran through me the instant I stepped inside the small supermarket. “Way too much air conditioning in here,” I grumbled, rubbing at the goosebumps that had settled on my skin. Grabbing a basket, I made my way down the aisle, remembering that Chelsea had commented about how desperately she wanted a KitKat bar. I was on a mission. Standing in front of the candy section, I licked my lips, eyeing the vast variety of sweets and chocolate.
Maybe I’ll just pick up a few things for myself while I’m here.
“Never thought you’d be silly enough to come back to town,” a smooth voice commented, causing my body to tense, frozen on the spot. “Does he know you’re back?”
I took a deep breath, clutching the shopping basket in my hands as I spun around to meet one of the ghosts of my past head on. “Eric,” I greeted, forcing a smile on my face. “Hey.”
His sky blue eyes lifted with his welcoming smile. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
I sighed, rolling my eyes to the ceiling. “Given that I saw Mom and Dad over a week ago and basically told them to go fuck themselves in the middle of the country club, I’m gonna guess that he probably does.”
Eric shook his head. “Why did you come back? Where have you been staying?”
“At the MC just out of town… with my daughter.”
His eyes shot open wide and his mouth dropped. “Well, that was a lot of information squashed into one sentence. Care to elaborate?”
“Not particularly, no.”
There was no awkwardness between Eric and me, not like one might think there should be. Eric was—at one point—Peter’s best friend and confidant. He and his wife would join us for dinner at least once a week, and it was common to have him around at Peter’s house on the weekends.
Eric wasn’t like Peter, and at one point I’d found myself during my moments of clarity, wondering why it wasn’t Eric that my parents had chosen for me to marry. He was successful, in his own right, making a name for himself and his businesses with hard work and dedication. Unlike Peter who had chosen to follow in his families footsteps and inherit every penny and success that came with their name.
When Optimus had finally decided to pack me up and ship me out, with his child growing in my stomach, Eric had caught me in the act. And surprisingly, he’d helped me gather my shit and get out the door before my husband returned home.
“Are you sure this is the best place for you?” Eric asked as he followed me down the aisle. “He’s not gonna stand down and be made to a look a fool with you back in the picture.”
I plucked several candy bars off the shelf, chewing on my lip. “I know, but I can’t hide forever. At some point, I’m going to have to face my demons head on and show him that he can’t fuck with me anymore.” My words shocked even me, knowing what Peter had done to me and to what extent he would go to in order to hurt me. But there had to come a time where I stood my ground and dealt with the consequences of my actions and fought back the shame that followed me around. That, and I had more to fight for now, I wouldn’t take his shit lying down. At least, that’s what I told myself even as the small bag that harbored my secrets burned a hole in my purse, screaming out how much of a liar I was.
Eric chuckled and shook his head, his light brown hair ruffling around his head. “Wow! I wondered for a long time if I’d ever hear you say those words. Obviously, not quite like that but something similar.”
I didn’t hide my grin as I looked up at him. “Not the weak little girl I used to be. I havethingsunder control now, and I have people behind me. I’m not alone and isolated anymore.”
His smile became more forced as he reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder. “It’s good to see you’re feeling better and stronger. I hope that’s enough because you and I both know that he’s not the kind to back down, Anna.”
“I know. But you know what? I have a little girl to think about now. So let him come at me with whatever shit he has because I won’t let him hurt her.”
“Look at you, mama bear…” He laughed. “Just know that I’m around if you need me. He and I aren’t as close as we once were. His ego, believe it or not, only got larger when you left.”
