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Stumbling up the stairs, I stagger into the one room and fall down on the couch, tears blurring my vision so bad that I can’t even see and almost miss the couch.
I’ve never seen so much pain in my life. It hurt to look at him. So much damn pain and loss.
And what am I scared of? Being bullied into something I don’t want? Surely I can manage to fight against my stepfather’s machinations without turning into a big pussy and letting him take over.
But there’s something else there that I don’t like and that’s what worries me. That darkness hiding behind his smarmy smile.
But he’s not here and Petrol is. He’s hurting and I want to help him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I want to make him whole. My heart longs to be more than just a salve for his pain but my body’s willing to be a band-aid. Willing to cover up his wounds and keep him from further pain.
“You up here, Sassy?”
I wipe my eyes hastily as Zero pushes the door all the way open. I didn’t even get it closed behind me.
His brows scrunch as he eyes me uncertainly. “What’s wrong?” He searches the room like he’s looking for trouble and I fight the uncontrollable urge to giggle. These men. Protectors all. Big and touch and scary-looking but as mushy and sweet as any marshmallow fluff out there.
He almost tiptoes closer and I fight a smile. “I’m fine. There’s nobody else here.”
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying,” I huff, sniffling and pushing the tears back.
“Uh-huh. Why are you not crying then?”
“Do you know what happened to Petrol’s family?”
He nods and his lips twist. “Almost all of the MC has a story like that, sweetheart. We’re all loners for a reason.”
“But his family.” I shake my head, the tears fighting to fall again.
He drops to a squat in front of me. “Princess, don’t cry for that. It’s in the past and he wouldn’t want you to cry for him. But it’s part of what makes him so damn focused on doing good. On taking care of women and children that need help. Do you know what he does for the MC?”
I shake my head, quiet, studying him. He smirks. “He’s a fixer. He finds problems and fixes them. We’ve all run into women and children over the years, innocents in whatever drama is twisting them up, and he finds the solution. The man’s smart as a whip and he knows the ins and outs of life on the street. People look at all of us and they see dumb men just lookin’ to fuck around and have a good time. I want what most of us want. A good woman riding on the back of our bikes, holding on tight and laughing, leaning into life’s curvy roads and loving every minute of it. But Petrol? He doesn’t see that. He sees scales.”
“Scales?” I ask, sitting up, confused.
He pauses and shrugs. “That’s the only way I can describe it. He wants to balance the shitty hand he was dealt and the bad things he’s done with the good that he can do out there.” His gaze turns inward. “But I’m warning you now, sweetness. He won’t love anyone again. He’s alone and that’s the way he wants it. He thinks he’s a bad guy and he refuses to let any woman get past that.”
A chill cruises through me and I wrap my arms around myself, shivering. Zero sighs and chucks me under the chin. “I see the sparks between you two but I don’t want you to get hurt. And that man doesn’t have anything but hurt left in him.”
“Thanks, Zero. But I’m alright.”
He stands up and shakes himself out. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re gonna ignore me and do whatever the hell you want. You’re a stubborn woman, Addie. A good woman but a stubborn one for sure.”
I grin at him sheepishly, batting my eyes. I’m not a flirt. I’ve never been a flirt. But something about these guys makes me feel safe.
Maybe I should tell someone what’s going on. Maybe these guys will be too much for my stepfather and his goons.
But the last person that was willing to help me was the old cook and she disappeared. I don’t know where. She just didn’t turn up for work and one of the guys took care of breakfast. I really don’t think I want to know what happened to her.
Suffice it to say, I learned my lesson. Keep myself to myself and get the hell out of there as soon as I could.
And nobody is ever taking me back.
Zero sighs. “I really wish you’d tell one of us what the hell you’re running from, Addie. We can help you. Hell…we’d love to help you.” His big knuckles crack and he grins. “Just tell me who to fuck up.”
Sighing, I reach up and hug him, smiling when he has to bend down to grab me and lifts me until my feet dangle.
“You need someone to look out for you.”
