Chapter Ten

What in the hot hell?

Meg

The RV was spinning.

Well, at least for me, it was.

I rolled over on my side, trying to quell the rolling in my stomach, but it wasn't helping much. I groaned and closed my eyes, hoping the world would stop tilting long enough for me to drift off to sleep.

"Stop moving," Reva called out from the other side of the RV. "My head is throbbing, and you keep moving around like a rabid raccoon."

I huffed and rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. "You're not even in the same room as me," I called back. "How the hell can you hear me moving?"

It was half-past two in the morning, and it was clear that I wasn't the only one having trouble sleeping. We'd all had a little too much to drink tonight, and now we were paying the price.

A loud snore came from Lennox's bunk, cutting through the quiet like a chainsaw. Well, at least Lennox was sleeping.

"Did you hear that?" Reva whispered, her voice suddenly sharp with tension.

"I didn't even move," I hissed back. Did she have bionic hearing or something?

"No," she whispered again, her tone urgent. "It sounds like someone is walking around outside the campsite."

"It's probably just someone walking to the bathrooms," Raven groaned from her bunk. "Stop talking and go to sleep."

But then I heard it too—footsteps crunching softly through the gravel right outside my open window. "Oh God," I whispered, feeling a chill run down my spine.

"See?" Reva whispered, her voice tinged with panic. "Someone is out there."

I didn't want to alarm her, but it sounded like more than just one someone. "I'm sure it's just someone who's lost," I said, trying to sound calm even though my heart was racing.

"Lost in our campsite?" Paige added from her bunk, her voice trembling slightly.

Okay, so this was officially terrifying.

Before I could even think about what to do, a knock sounded on the door, making us all jump.

"Oh. My. God!" Greta whisper-shouted from her bunk.

Maybe it was one of the girls from the Mini Weenie. Or maybe it was just a lost camper who needed help finding their campsite.

But then there was another knock, louder this time.

Or maybe it was someone polite enough to knock before they killed us all.

"Get the door," Greta said quietly.

"Me?" I strained, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why me?"

"This is your big-ass RV," Greta pointed out, as if that settled the matter.

I sat up, pushing my hair out of my face. "If I die, you're coming with me," I muttered, pulling on my hoodie for some semblance of bravery.

Greta sat up in her bunk and pointed to the door. "Nah-uh, honey. I am a young mother with years left to live."

"And do you think I'm a hundred years old?" I hissed back, standing up and making my way to the door. "Maybe it might be for the best if the murderer gets me," I mumbled under my breath.

Greta smacked my butt as I walked past her bunk.

"We're right here if you need us," Cyn whispered, her voice barely audible in the dark.

Another knock sounded on the door, and now I was irritated. "I'm freakin' coming," I shouted, stomping the last few steps to the door and flipped on the light. I quickly unlocked it and kicked it open, not bothering to be gentle.

The door swung open suddenly, catching the person on the other side right in the face. There was a loud thud, followed by a string of curses.

"Jesus fucking Christ, woman. How many times have I told you not to kick the damn door open?"

I blinked rapidly, instantly recognizing the voice. "Lo?" I gasped.

Lo stepped from behind the door, rubbing his face where the door had smacked him. He looked more annoyed than hurt, his brow furrowed as he glared at me. "Not exactly the welcome we were expecting," he grunted.

"We?" I squeaked, my eyes widening.

As if on cue, Jonas stepped out of the shadows, his tall frame filling the doorway as he climbed the stairs into the RV. "Where is she?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

I didn't need to ask who he was talking about. He was here for Lennox. Without a word, I pointed to the second bunk on the left bottom.

Jonas moved into the RV with purpose, heading straight for Lennox. I leaned against the doorframe, still processing the fact that Lo and Jonas were here. I looked down at Lo, raising an eyebrow. "You couldn't call and let me know you were on the way?" I asked, half-exasperated, half-relieved.

Lo shrugged, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Thought you might like the surprise."

Before I could respond, a scream echoed across the campsite from Alice's camper. It was loud and piercing, cutting through the stillness of the night.

"What in the hot hell?" Alice screeched, her voice filled with shock and confusion.

"You bring company with you?" I asked Lo, already bracing myself for the answer.

Lo nodded, stepping further into the RV. "Wrecker and his kid."

I stared at him, my mind racing. Wrecker and his kid? This night just kept getting crazier. "You bought the guys from the Fallen Lords? Why did you bring them?" I asked, my voice incredulous.

Lo nodded again, not seeming the least bit bothered by my growing alarm. "We've been talking this week, and I gave Wrecker a call when Jonas was going on about coming up here. I thought he might like to take the ride with us." He nodded down the hallway where Jonas had disappeared into Lennox's bunk. "He was worried about her, and I didn't want him to drive here by himself."

"Is he going to take her home?" I asked. I knew Lennox would love seeing Jonas, but I didn't want her to leave.

Lo shrugged. "Not sure. He just wanted to get eyes on her. You know how it is, babe. If you would have called me crying and upset over some bitch, I would have been here, too."

I sighed and walked into his arms. "I know," I whispered. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"Missed you," he gruffly whispered.

"Can we go to sleep now that we know there isn't a madman outside come to kill us?" Greta asked.

"You got room in your bed for me?" Lo asked.

I leaned back and smiled up at him. "Always handsome."

The guys showing up in the middle of the night was unexpected, but it was nice.

I turned off the lights and led Lo back to my bed.

Jonas was snuggled up with Lennox, who somehow was still asleep.

"Night," I whispered to him.

Lo and I made our way to the back of the RV, the narrow hallway feeling even tighter with him beside me. The dim lighting barely illuminated the way, casting long shadows on the walls as we walked. The familiar hum of the RV's generator was the only sound, grounding me in the moment.

Lo kicked off his boots with a casual thud, each one landing in the corner like they belonged there. He reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one fluid motion, tossing it aside without a second thought. The sight of him, all rugged and tired from the road, made my heart ache in a way that was both comforting and bittersweet.

I climbed into bed first, the sheets cool against my skin. The mattress dipped as Lo followed, settling in beside me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close until my back was pressed against his chest. His warmth enveloped me, a feeling so familiar. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the quiet strength that I'd missed so much.

I sighed contently, nuzzling into the crook of his arm. "I didn't realize how much I missed you until I saw you," I whispered, my voice barely breaking the quiet.

He tightened his grip around me, his chin resting gently on the top of my head. "Same, babe. Fucking same," he murmured, his voice low and rough, laced with the kind of exhaustion that only comes after too many miles on the road and too many nights apart.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. We just lay there, wrapped up in each other, letting the silence speak for us. There was no need for words; everything I needed was right here, holding me close. The world outside the RV, the noise, the chaos—it all faded away until there was nothing left but the two of us together in the small, cozy space that had seen so many of our moments.

I closed my eyes, letting the steady rhythm of Lo's breathing lull me into a peaceful calm.

Alice

"What in the hot hell are you doing here?" I repeated, unable to keep the shock out of my voice.

Wrecker didn't answer right away, just pushed his way into the camper, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

"Hey, Mom!" a voice called out from outside, unmistakably Fox's.

I blinked, staring at the closed door as if it could somehow explain everything. "Was that Fox?" I asked, my mind still struggling to catch up. "And who is watching my cows if you two are here?"

Wrecker shook his head, the barest hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Fox is here, and Kingston is watching the cows, babe."

I shook my head, trying to wrap my brain around the sight of Wrecker and Fox being here in the middle of the night, completely out of the blue.

"Am I dreaming?" Karmen mumbled from her spot on the bed she was sharing with Wendy.

"Is that Wrecker?" Wendy asked, her voice heavy with sleep and confusion.

"What on earth are you guys doing here?" I demanded, glancing between Wrecker and the door. "It's the middle of the night!" It was obvious, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"We rode up with King and Snapper," Wrecker said, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

I reared back, shaking my head in disbelief. "King and Snapper are here, too?"

"Yeah," Wrecker said, his voice thick with exhaustion as he took off his cut and hung it over the back of a chair. "You think we can have this conversation in the morning? I'm pretty fucking tired, babe."

I pointed my finger into my chest, feeling like I'd stepped into an alternate reality. "I'm the one who's supposed to be spontaneous in this relationship, Wrecker. I do crazy things like showing up somewhere in the middle of the night."

He grunted in response and began making his way toward the back bed where Nikki and I had been sleeping.

Nikki appeared wrapped in a blanket, her hair mussed from sleep. "I'll sleep with Wendy and Karmen," she muttered, shuffling past us. "Pretty sure Pipe would flip his lid if he heard I shared a cozy bed with you two," she laughed softly.

"Wait, what?" I hissed, completely thrown off.

"Incoming," Nikki called right before she flopped down between Wendy and Karmen in their bed.

"I don't like to be the big spoon," Karmen mumbled, clearly not fully awake.

"I don't care as long as everyone stops talking," Wendy moaned, her voice muffled by a pillow.

I rolled my eyes and reached over to turn off the lights. "Get going," I whispered to Wrecker.

We made our way to the bed in the back, and Wrecker kicked off his boots with a heavy sigh.

"Where's Fox going to sleep?" I asked, glancing toward the front of the camper, where I could still hear muffled voices from the girls.

"Fire," Wrecker grunted. "He brought a sleeping bag. He'll be fine outside."

"There could be bears out there, Wrecker. He can sleep with us."

He leveled his gaze at me, his expression firm. "I will not be sleeping in this tiny-ass bed with my wife and twenty-one-year-old son. He'll be fine outside."

"But—" I started to protest, but Wrecker cut me off with a shake of his head.

I knew Fox would be fine outside. He'd camped with the Boy Scouts his whole childhood and was probably thrilled to be sleeping under the stars. Still, I couldn't help but worry.

Wrecker pulled his shirt over his head and climbed into the bed, sliding under the covers with a tired grunt.

I rolled my eyes but climbed in next to him, feeling the warmth of his body instantly against mine.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close until my back was nestled against his chest, his breath warm against my neck. "Here I thought you were going to be excited to see me," he mumbled, his voice rumbling in my ear.

I sighed, relaxing into him despite the whirlwind of emotions still swirling in my head. "Well, you scared the shit out of me, Wrecker. I thought you were a bear trying to break into the camper."

He scoffed, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck. "I don't think bears know how to unlock doors, babe."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, though a small smile tugged at my lips.

We were silent for a moment, the night settling in around us, but my mind was still buzzing. "You guys really rode all the way here for Lennox?" I asked quietly.

"Snapper rode all the way here for Lennox. Fox and I rode here for you, and King for Meg. We didn't know you guys were at a campground with a bitchy Karen. There may be more out there."

"And you guys are going to protect us from them?" I couldn't help but laugh softly at the absurdity of it all.

"Don't I always protect you, babe, no matter what?" he murmured, his voice filled with a tenderness that made my heart squeeze.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the familiar scent of Wrecker, a mix of leather and something uniquely him. "Yes, and I can't help but love you for it."

"Good," he grunted, holding me a little tighter.

"None of the other guys are headed this way, are they?" I asked, suddenly dreading the idea of more late-night visitors.

"No, babe, just us."

I rolled over so I was facing him, our foreheads almost touching. "Good. I don't think I have it in me for more late-night visitors."

He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before cradling my face in his large hands. "Love you," he whispered, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine.

"Love you, too," I whispered back, feeling a sense of peace settle over me.

"We all love each other!" Nikki called out from the other bed, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Now go to freakin' sleep!"

Wrecker chuckled low in his chest, and I couldn't help but laugh along with him, the absurdity of the night giving way to a warmth that only Wrecker could bring.