Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
I gasp! “Oh God no! I … I …I,” I stutter, “I’m on a road trip.”
Her face gets this edge to it, more so than before if that is even possible. “Don’t know you, don’t want issues with you. I’m Princess, my man is Cruz, President of the Ravage MC. We don’t like visitors and I damn sure don’t like damsels in distress. You need to find yourself sweetheart, this ain’t the place for you to do it.”
A man wearing a leather cut calls out to her to come on. Only then does her face soften. “Seriously, you’re too soft to be in this town with my club. Get going and don’t look back. You aren’t meant to be an ol’ lady. Been around long enough to read that all over your face.”
Before I can respond, she walks off like she didn’t just judge me in the harshest of ways.
No, I’m not meant to be an ol’ lady in a motorcycle club, fate has made that clear. How can she think I’m a damsel in distress, I didn’t ask her for anything. I’m trying to figure this out! I’ve been shot. I have battle scars outside and inside.
Her judgement sparks a fire inside me. I won’t cry anymore. Fuck anyone who thinks I can’t tough it out as an ol’ lady or not. I’m stronger than anyone thinks. With this new resolve. I hit the road once again.
South bound.
It’s the only thought I have as I pull away with her stone-cold eyes watching me go.
A place where a stranger can’t read me in less than sixty seconds. One thing about this trip, it’s going to make me stronger or kill me.
I don’t know which.
FOUR
WESSON
Boomerism: Waiting, watching, and wondering is a true test of patience.
“You sure about this?” Boomer asks as I sit at the table with him and Tripp.
“She doesn’t want it.” I give them honestly. “Emmalee made it very clear. She was going out on her own and not to follow, not to invade her privacy. She wants me to let her go.”
“And she means it?” My dad, Boomer asks me with a raised eyebrow. “Sometimes women say one thing and mean another, son. Like your mom will tell me it’s fine when indeed something is not fine. That said, yes, women do say things they mean. I’m asking you as her man do you think she means it to her core to let her walk away?”
I give a sigh. “I know she meant it and wants nothing to do with me or the club. I don’t know how deep this goes.”
Tripp sits back in the chair studying me. “What is the threat level to you, to the club?”
I shake my head. “None, yet.”
“Just gonna say this because it’s what I would tell BW,” Tripp begins, “if a woman matters, you put in the work. I think Emmalee matters but busted, you ain’t put in the work. Never in a million years you ask me in my early twenties if I would have an ol’ lady, the answer would be a hell no. Told Doll I wasn’t the man to take home and I wasn’t the man to marry.” He raises his hands up, “you see how all that worked out. Doll is absolutely worth the work even all these years later. I think you know Emmalee is worth the work.”
“All due respect, Tripp, I’m putting in the work my way. Sometimes the things you do in quiet move mountains far faster than the things everyone can see. I’m watching her the best I can and giving her the play she’s asked for. Do not doubt my dedication to Emmalee, but know the man I am, I won’t force her to stay when she clearly left and wants to stay gone.”
“I think you need to loop Kick in,” Boomer states what he’s been saying since we got into this meeting. “At least on the off chance something comes from nothing with this shit.”
My brother can’t know. If things come back too close to home, I’ll be the one who tells him the truth. Right now, this won’t touch him or Diem. I won’t let it.
I wish I could change the way she left. I missed the clues. I close my eyes and my mind goes back.
Her lips hit mine and instantly my soul soothes. Having her home, right here with me, it has changed everything inside me. The months by her side in the hospital were agony. If I could have changed places with her, I would have in a heartbeat.
I never realized the true value in a partner. A real relationship is a give and take. Almost losing her, rocked me. I don’t want to be apart from her. Getting up in the mornings to go to work is a challenge when I want nothing more than to stay in this very bed with her forever. It’s more than sex. She understands my need to sit and hold her some nights to feel her with me. No words, no movement, just her body wrapped up in my arms close.