“Thanks.” I nod then zone back in on the conversation happening among the women at the table.
“So when do you leave?” Holly asks, taking a seat next to me.
“We fly out tomorrow with Ava.” Bell looks up, the tears she just managed to control start up again and her old man, Jesse, reaches for her hand.
Bell is the newest woman to walk her ass into the clubhouse and tame one of the Knights Rebels. I say newest, ‘cause she isn’t the first. Besides Brooks, who’s been tied down with Kelly for longer than I can remember, our club Prez and my best friend, Nix, was taken down first when his kid’s teacher knocked him on his ass and he willingly handed his balls over. It was fucking agony to watch. The last thing we needed was a pussy whipped Prez around the clubhouse. I gave him shit for a while, but in the end, I knew Kadence was good for him. For all of us.
Next there was Sy. The moody motherfucker was the last person I expected to take on an old lady. But the little blonde, Holly, who has a smart mouth on her, was able to fuck with his head enough to have him giftwrap his balls and send them to her.
Then there is Jesse, the latest bastard to be tied down. He might have fought his way against it happening, but he got there in the end. I can’t say he’s as whipped as the other fuckers, but wouldn’t be surprised if the prick has his balls sitting in Bell’s handbag.
“I’m so happy for you, Bell.” Kelly reaches out and takes her hand. The news is good. They found Paige, Bell’s sister who has been missing for the last six years.
“Thank you. I still can’t believe it. If it weren’t for all of you, this wouldn’t be happening.” Her eyes move around the table looking at all my brothers before landing on Nix.
“You all helped make this happen and I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“Nothing we wouldn’t do for family, darlin’.” Nix shrugs it off, but I know he’s tense. The people we’ve had to walk over to find Bell’s sister and the markers we’ve called in are going to come calling one day, and we will have to pay up one way or another.
“I know, but you’ll never know how much this means to me.”
Jesse throws his arm around her shoulders and kisses the side of her head. She relaxes against him and I quietly watch them.
They’ve come a long way the last few months. Jesse even more. The shit he pulled would have sent a weaker woman away, but not Bell. For that, I’m happy to accept her into our fold.
“Just bring her home safely,” I say when she catches me watching them. She looks taken aback for a moment before she nods. I’m not surprised by her reaction. It’s not like I’m a complete asshole, but I’m guarded. I don’t let people in easily. And I don’t talk for the sake of talking.
Her wobbly smile tells me she’s hanging on by a thread, but I know the strength inside of her won’t allow her to shatter; instead, it fuels her to keep it together.
“Umm, boss, we have a big fucking issue.” Hunter the club’s newest member’s voice carries across the club, halting all conversations.
“What the fuck now?” Nix looks up, fingers moving to his temples. I know he’s over all the shit we keep finding ourselves in. The last year and a half has been fucking drama after drama. Mostly to do with the business I’m in. Every time we catch a break and shit cools down, it all hits the fan again in the blink of an eye.
Hunter looks to me first before answering and I know right away I’ll be responsible for this shit.
“Spit it out.” My impatience isn’t lost on him, but before he can tell me about my next fuck-up, movement behind him takes my attention. A brunette walks around the corner. Her hair disheveled, face messed up, lip busted, and the start of a bruise dances over her cheekbone. My heart stops instantly as I take her in and realize who it is.
“Mackenzie?” I stand from my chair so fast it falls back with a loud thud; causing her eyes to snap down in submission.
“Oh, fuck,” someone curses, but I can’t place the owner’s voice because I’m too caught up in the fact that Mackenzie Morre just walked into our clubhouse, walked back into my life.
Fuck me.
“Beau, I’m so sorry I came, but I really need your help.” Her eyes don’t find mine again, staying glued to the floor in front of her. Her hair is shorter than the last time I saw her and she looks to have lost a few pounds. Has she been eating? An overwhelming urge to take her in my arms and carry her to my room pulls at me, but I don’t. I barely know this woman. I’ve spent no more than forty-eight hours with her, yet she has a hold over me, a hold I can’t explain, and not sure I want to.
Keep it together, asshole.
“Fuck,” I think I say before getting my shit together and rushing toward her. She trembles when I step in closer, but doesn’t back away as I reach her. “What the fuck happened?” I question as I place my hands on either side of her face. She finally looks up at me and I have a better view. Her dark brown eyes are drowning in fear, but I can see she is trying to fight the current. Her lip has been split and her cheek is bruised. It takes everything in me to keep calm.
“He found me, Beau.” Her voice is small, scared and it fucks with my head.
“Where?” I try to keep the disbelief out of my tone because I didn’t know where she was the last year and a half. How the fuck did he find her?
“In Ohio.”
Ohio? How did she end up there? Why did she end up there?