Chapter 108
Alyssa
“Let’s ride!” Gray’s commanding voice booms through the parking lot, drawing a cheer from the crowd of bikers.
King helps me onto the back of his bike, his hands firm but careful. I slide into place, my arms instinctively wrapping around his waist. His scent- leather with a hint of spice–wraps around me, and I bite my lip against the heat stirring deep in my core.
Engines roar to life around us, the sound vibrating through my chest and sending goosebumps racing over my skin. As we take off behind Dave, Gray, and Niko, the others fall into formation, a unified force rumbling through the streets.
We take a scenic route out of town, and I’m momentarily mesmerized by the blur of rich autumn colors. The crisp autumn air fills my lungs, and for a fleeting moment, I allow myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, today will be okay.
Isaac can’t be stupid enough to show his face with this much firepower around me. But the tension in my chest refuses to fade. All I can think about now is that every dollar raised today represents hope–a lifeline for someone desperate to escape their own private hell like I did.
As we pull into the first stop, a small diner sponsoring the ride, my mind is still buzzing with anxiety. The procession slows, and the cheering crowds along the roadside snap me back to reality. Kids bounce on their toes, pointing excitedly at the line of motorcycles. I can’t help but smile at their wide, toothy grins.
But my smile falters as my gaze sweeps the crowd. My pulse skyrockets as I search for any trace of him. I know I sound extremely paranoid, but I can’t help it. He’s waiting somewhere.
Niko dismounts ahead of us, his easy grin masking the sharp vigilance in his eyes as he surveys the area. Nearby, Gray’s talking to Duve, his sharp gaze cunting through the scene. War stays on his bike, his presence like an onnous shadow. Even without looking, I can feel his piercing stare boring into me.
And then there’s King
His every movement declares what he doesn’t have to say aloud. You’ll have to go through me to get to her.
“You okay King’s voice pulls me from my inner turmoil. His hands settle on my waist as he helps me off the bike, his touch grounding me in the
IDOMCAL
“Yeah,” I reply softly, my eyes drifting to the donation table near the diner’s entrance. A line has already formed, people eagerly dropping cash into the jar and grabbing fliers about the charity.
King follows my gaze, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips: “This was a good idea.” he says quietly. “No woman should have to go through what you did, kitten. His voice hardens, his hand tightens slightly on my waist. “At least this way, we can help legally. But if it were up to me, Ed personally take out every piece of shit who thinks it’s okay to hurt women or kids”
The conviction in his words make my heart ache. Tears spring in my eyes, unbidden, as I stare at the complicated, unhinged man w heart that most wouldn’t recognize under his rough exterior. But I see it. I’ll always see it.
with
the kind of
I really used to think the Crimson Reapers were just a bunch of thugs, but doing shit like this, helping the community—it really shows that they re the good guys. They just have morals different from the rest of established society.
And maybe that isn’t exactly a bad thing.
Teup King’s face in my hands, pulling him down for a kiss. “Have I ever told you I love you?” I whisper against his lips.
He smirk is devilish, his breath minty and warm on my face. “Maybe once or twice, but I’ll never get tired of hearing it”
“Hey, save some of that for me later.” Niko’s teasing voice cuts in.
1 glance at him, and a sudden surge of desire coils in my belly. I giggle sofily. “I need all three of you later. King was teasing me earlier. King squeezes my ass. “Good. You deserved it”
But even as we laugh. I catch War’s gaze locked on me. I’m definitely not afraid of him, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t creep me the fuck out Why doesn’t he just find something to do with himself that doesn’t involve watching me like a damn stalker?
“Alyssa.
I snap my head toward Christine’s nasally voice, realizing she’s standing right next to us.
Where the hell did she come from Wasn’t she just on Gray’s arm a second ago?
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Chapter 108
King’s hand moves to the sinall of my back, a silent remember to behave.
I force a smile, but my stomach twists. “Christine”
“Oh, damn. I think Gray’s looking for me, Niko says suddenly, already making his escape.
Lucky bastard.
Christine looks at me with that practiced feigned concern, the kind that never reaches her eyes. “Gray told me how you’ve been feeling unwell since our last…conversation. I was starting to worry. Feeling better now?” I can feel the judgment lurking beneath her words, the quiet resentment she can’t quite like
For some reason, it surprises me that Gray hasn’t told her any of my personal business, but I’m definitely not complaining.
“Um, yeah, I am. Thanks for asking.” I say! hesitantly.
A part of me wants to blurt out that I’m pregnant just to piss her off, but I hold back. Maybe that would be going a little too far–even if I hate her.
But my body has other plans. Covering my mouth. 1 bolt to the grass on the side of the building, barely making it before I’m heaving into the dirt.
Niko’s there immediately, holding my hair back, while King rubs small, calming circles on my back. I gag again, the acid taste burning my throat.
“Oh my god. Is she okay?” I hear Christine ask over the sound of my retching
“She’s fine,” King says gruilly clearly not wanting to explain.
in shit to her.
“Tim sorry, baby,” Niko murmurs, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “Was it the smoothie, or does our baby hate her as much as we do?”
Despite throwing up everything in my stomach and then soane, I snort, but the motion triggers another wave of nausea. I retch again until tears are streaming down my face and the foul taste in my mouth feels unbearable.
When I finally straighten, my cheeks burn with humiliation as I realize several bikers are watching me with concern.
Shit. They know.
To make things worse, Christine’s face drains of color, her lips parting in shock. “Are you pregnant?” She says the word like it physically pains her, and knowing how hard her and Gray have been trying, it probably does.
1 cringe, feeling everyone’s eyes on the. Can the ground open and swallow me up now, please!
The silence hangs thick in the air, and I force the worth out, “Maybe a little bit.”
War’s amused, teasing voice breaks through the tension. What exactly does a little but pregnant” mean, Aly! Care to enlighten us?”
I glare at him silently telling him to shut the fuck up, and his infuriating smirk only widens
Christine’s gaze flickers to my stomach, then to Gray, her expression hardening-
“Babe-” he begins, but she cuts him off with a raised hand.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she seethes before storming into the diner, 2)
Gray’s jaw tenses, emotions raging in his eyes. The other bikers, sensing the shift, return to minding their own business.
King, sensing it too, tums me toward him, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. His gaze softens as his voice drops to an agitated murmur. “You okay, kitten?”
I can tell he doesn’t like the way that just happened either, but he’s trying not to lose his shit for my sake.
“Yeah, I’m okay, baby, I rasp. Then, I turn to Gray, “Why didn’t you tell her? That was…so fucking awkward.”
“Because I was hoping I could just get her pregnant before she found out, Gray mutters. “You couldn’t have just not thrown up in front of her for one day?”
Oh hell no. I know he’s not blaming me for this!
I glare at him. “I couldn’t exactly hold it in, asshole.” I glance towards the diner, feeling uneasy. “Um, so are you going to go in there and comfort your wife? Or are we going to all stand out here pretending we don’t know she’s in there having a meltdown?”
I choose the latter, Niko mutiers.
Chapter 108
Gray sighs, pulling a piece of licorice from his pocket. “Nah, that’ll only upset her more. She’ll be back in a few minutex”
Well..okay, then.
Christine eventually returns when it’s time to mo
to move on to the next stop, her eyes slightly bloodshot, but she looks composed.
Ugh, do I really feel bad for her right now?
She gives us a tight, forced sanile. “Congratulations to both of you,” she says stilly before climbing onto Gray’s bike and pulling on her helmet
The rest of the morning goes by in a blur. At each stop, the bikers laugh, share stories, and take pictures, all while raising awareness and funds for domestic violence.
King keeps me practically attached to him, his arm wrapped around my waist at all times. I honestly thought all of his extra protection would eventually get on my nerves, but it doesn’t–not when I feel safe with my boys and the rest of the club, plus War, looking out for me. The gun in my pocket doesn’t hurt either.
Christine doesn’t say anything else to me nor Gray, but I catch her glancing over occasionally, the green–eyed monster clear on her face. It lowkey makes me nervous because, right now, she’s giving off the vibe of someone you’d hear about on the news–you know, the ones who cut a woman’s baby out of their stomach and run off with it.
But Gray would know if he married a complete crazy person, right?
Still, I’ll be keeping my guard up around her from now on.
After the last leg of the ride, I feel myself getting tired. Pressing my check against King’s back, I let his steady heartbeat lull me to sleep.
When I wake up, we’re nearing the clubhouse and all I can see are red and blur lights, a black Cadillac, and at least three police cars.
My heart drops.
Gray barks. “I don’t need anyone getting arrested today”
“Everybody stand down” Gray
As we pull into the parking lot and everyone starts getting off their bikes, I find my legs turning into jelly as King helps me off and removes my helmet.
“What’s going on!” Lask, my voice trembling. I just called Mace before we left the last stop to check on them, and he said everything was fine. So, seriously, what the hell is going on now!.
“Don’t know, but don’t leave my side, Alyssa, King says, his voice low and edged with a dangerous calm.
The black car’s door swings open slowly, every second stretching like an eternity. My heart hammers in my chest as polished leather shoes scrape against the asphalt, sucking the air from my lungs. Esaac steps out, his eyes–cold, burning with something darker than hatred–locking onto mine, pinning me in place.
Fuck
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