Chapter 9

9

EMMA

Two Weeks Later

I walk out of my last class before fall break and let out a long exhale. Finally, some time to relax.

There has been an uptick in work with the Iron Guardians for Luke, but he promised me he'd take a few days just for us. I've been staying with him since the fire, making a million excuses to Sarah before finally admitting the truth. A week ago, I received the news that the residence hall was ready to move back into, but I quietly deleted the email and pretended it never arrived. I'll have to face the music and make a decision eventually, but life is just too blissful right now.

It's a Friday evening, and Luke has promised to take me with him for the group ride through the city tonight. I've met a few of the Iron Guardians here and there, but riding with Luke with all the other motorcycles roaring around us sounds exhilarating. I'm excited.

The sky is cloudless, a deep blue, with the sun setting and the evening just starting to grow colder. It's perfect, the kind of autumn day I've always dreamed of, and it's mine, shared with the man who means more to me than anything. I have no idea how we ended up here, but it feels right. It feels good.

I find said man waiting for me parked on the street, a jacket and helmet for me balanced on the seat of the bike.

"You ready for this, baby girl?" Luke asks. He's been working on his motorcycle, getting it ready for the group ride.

I can't help but smile. I've never really considered myself a "motorcycle girl", but there's something about being with Luke that makes it impossible not to feel exhilarated about the ride. "Absolutely."

Luke chuckles and helps me put the jacket and helmet on. He makes sure I'm properly secured and then climbs on the motorcycle. I climb on behind him, my arms wrapping around his waist instinctively.

I feel so content sitting pressed up against his back like this, my body flush against his, the motorcycle rumbling to life beneath us. I feel safe and protected with Luke. And as we start moving, I realize this feeling is more than just protection.

It's freedom.

With the wind blowing through my hair and the sky wide open above us, it's hard to remember anything else in the world exists. The roar of the motorcycle fills my ears, and all I can see is Luke in front of me, the world rushing by as we speed along the road.

The sun goes down right as we join the rest of the club at the Iron Guardians clubhouse, an array of bikes rumbling as the riders wait for their leader to arrive. They rev their machines louder as Luke pulls in, greeting him wordlessly. The whole thing gives me chills.

They know what to do without speaking, this ritual is something they've done so many times it's almost instinctual. Luke pulls to the front of the crowd, and then as one well-oiled machine, the entirety of the Iron Guardians pulls out onto the road together. The sound of so many engines roaring to life at once is almost deafening, but also strangely beautiful in its way.

We're not the only ones on the road. Stonebridge is a small town, but there are still other cars and pedestrians even at this hour. The bikers know how to maneuver around them, weaving in and out of traffic with ease. They're careful not to get too close to other cars, keeping a respectable distance. The respect for others and the safety of others on the road is something I've come to realize is ingrained in the culture of the club. It's another way in which they are more than just the stereotype, something I hope the town realizes.

I don't know how long we ride for, the cool autumn air biting at my face, but we end up on the outskirts of town at an overlook. It's the perfect view, the whole city stretched out beneath us in all its twinkling glory. We're on top of the world, and I'm wrapped in the warmth of Luke's arms, with my head resting on his shoulder as we take in the scene below.

It's the perfect evening, the other Guardians and some of their wives enjoying the view as well, until Luke's right-hand man, Gunnar, comes pushing through the crowd. He's trying to be inconspicuous, but I feel Luke tense next to me at once.

"Hey, boss." Gunnar keeps his voice low. "That asshole kid joined the ride somewhere in the last five or so miles. Slid into the group like he belonged. I was hoping he wouldn't stop with us, but he did, and everyone took notice. What should we?—"

Before Gunnar can finish or Luke can make a call, there's a commotion coming from somewhere to our right, a different figure elbowing and pushing through the group of Guardians. The energy around us changes as the bikers get pissed at the intrusion, but Luke, always calm in the face of chaos, turns and crosses his arms. Waiting for the intruder to reach him.

In the same movement, he makes sure I'm behind him, well away from any possible danger. My chest is tight, my heart so full. Luke shows me constantly how much he treasures me, and the word love ghosts through my thoughts. Does Luke love me?

Do I love him?

Oh my God. I think I love him.

Time slows to a crawl, even as Luke prepares for a confrontation. Here I am, out after dark, with zero fear in me. All the trauma, all of the uncertainties, disappear as long as he's with me. It feels so natural. Being with Luke is easy, safe, and right.

Even now, standing in his shadow, I feel that same safety. That same certainty that things are just the way they should be. Because I love him.

I have to tell him later. This certainly isn't the time.

"Don't worry," Luke says to me over his shoulder, cool and unbothered. "This guy is just some punk who tried to join the club and couldn't cut it. I kicked him out, and he didn't take it well. He's showing his ass right now because of that."

The intruder finally makes it to Luke, ripping off his scraped-up helmet and dropping it to the ground. I wasn't really paying attention until now, too lost in my revelation about my feelings for Luke, but when the man reveals his face, I feel like the floor has fallen away from beneath me.

"Emma," he sneers, a mean smirk taking over his face. "I thought that was you."

Then a man who I know well steps forward. Jason. His blond hair and blue eyes would be considered conventionally handsome by some, and yet all I see is a monster. The way he used to intimidate and control me. And now he's here to ruin my new, hard-earned life. I can feel myself spiraling back to that dark place in my mind, that horrible night so long ago with Macy, but then I feel Luke's hand in mine, warm and comforting. His voice is soft and reassuring, telling me to focus on him and his presence. It grounds me and calms me. I'm safe. Jason can't hurt me.

The whole situation with Jason was just one in a long line of terrible relationship experiences, but Luke has been a revelation. He squeezes my hand once for reassurance, and then turns back to Jason, all intimidation and power. Behind Jason, the rest of the Iron Guardians are gathering, all eyes on Luke, waiting for their leader's command. Feeling untethered, I pull out my phone and send a quick message to Sarah.

Me: OMG Jason just showed up at the Iron Guardians ride looking for me. I'm freaking out.

Having a connection to someone outside of this slowly building nightmare helps ground me.

"I don't care how you know her or what you want, Jason," Luke starts. "And I will give you this one moment of leniency for trying to ride with the Guardians after I made it clear you had no place with us. Get back on your piece of shit bike and get out of here. If I see your face again, I'm putting my fist in it."

There's a murmur of agreement from the Guardians, but Jason isn't swayed. There's a mania to the look in his eyes, and it makes me supremely uneasy.

"You don't care?" Jason laughs once. "You don't care that she's my girlfriend and that I've just caught her slumming around with you, old man?" His gaze shifts to me. "Is this some sick way to get back at me, Emma?"

Luke seems to grow even taller, and I feel red-hot rage start to bleed through the cracks of his calm, cool exterior. "We broke up forever ago," I assure Luke, stepping forward so we're side by side and I can see his face. "He's been skulking around the school trying to get my attention, but I swear, Luke..."

"Baby girl." He spares me one glance, and there's just a hint of a reassuring smile for me when he does. "You don't have to explain a thing. I trust you. Now let me handle this."

I take a few steps back and give him space. Jason, in true asshole fashion, snorts with derision when he sees it.

"Oh wow, he's really got you whipped, Emma," Jason taunts. "How far have you sunk to be sleeping around with an old man like that? Or maybe you aren't sleeping with him. Maybe you're still just a frigid bitch."

Luke starts to step forward, more of that rage seeping through. "You better fucking apologize right?—"

Then a horrible thought comes to me. "Wait." I turn back to Jason. "Luke said you tried out for the Guardians and didn't make it. But when? Were you..." I swallow hard. "Trying to get to me? Have you been watching me, Jason?"

Jason just laughs, a cruel and grating sound, like he's got the upper hand somehow. Like he's holding some kind of power over me. He's always been a controlling jerk, but this feels different. Like something more has tipped his scale into being unstable and unpredictable. "Yeah, maybe I have. Maybe I saw you kiss this guy when you wouldn't even give me a second chance, and I decided to join up. Is this what you want?" He spreads his arms out. "You want a biker? Fine, look! I'm a biker now. And you can be my old lady, Emma. Right here. Right now."

Luke looks shocked at this. I see it in his expression. It's clear to see, even as his face clouds with rage and he squares off with Jason, like he's a bull ready to charge. "You tried to get into the club to be close to Emma?" he growls, a low and dangerous sound. "My club? You fucking dare..."

He doesn't need to finish. The implications are clear. Jason has been stalking me—maybe both of us now and got way too close to the vulnerable people that the Iron Guardians protect. The rest of the club buzzes with anger now, and if Luke's command wasn't so solid, so unquestionable, I'm sure they'd all have beat the shit out of Jason and thrown him over this overlook already.

He has no idea that the guy he's mouthing off to is the person saving his life right now.

I feel sick, knowing Jason has seen this magical thing unfolding between Luke and me, all while trying to insert himself back into my life.

And for what?

For power? Revenge? Some twisted desire to own me, control me, and keep me to himself? It's too much to stomach, and I feel so grateful that Luke is here to handle this mess.

I watch him step up to Jason face to face, the height difference making the intimidation factor skyrocket. It's not that Jason isn't a tall guy. He's pretty close to Luke's height. But Luke … well, he's on a whole different level of masculine strength.

"Jason, I am warning you now," Luke growls, and the anger in his voice is like a blade. Sharp, precise. I can almost see how his words cut the man standing in front of him. "You need to go home right now. If I see your face around me, Emma, or my club, I will be putting your face in the dirt."

"Let me get you out of here, Emma." Gunnar is suddenly at my side, hand on my shoulder. "You don't need to see this."

"No," I protest, shrugging the other man's hand off. "I'm not leaving."

Not when this is all my fault.

"Fuck you," is all Jason says, full of crazed bravado.

Luke has him by the collar too quick for me to even see, jerking Jason so close to him that they're almost nose to nose. Jason struggles, but Luke's grip is iron, the muscles in his back and arms bulging. "I gave you two outs, you little prick. Now I'm going to need to see you on your knees, apologizing to my woman. You hear me?" He shakes Luke once before dropping him unceremoniously. "Grovel. To Emma."

Now that he's felt Luke's strength, there's fear in Jason. For the first time, he seems to really see how big the crowd of Iron Guardians behind Luke is. How outnumbered he really is. But still, he resists.

"I don't owe her shit," Jason snarls.

"I will kill you," Luke growls, so quietly it almost seems to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. He steps closer again and gets in Jason's face. "I said grovel."

And finally, after seeing that Luke means it, that he would kill Jason to keep me safe, the threat of the whole crowd of angry bikers at his back, Jason wilts. His shoulders slump, his hands drop to his sides. There's an unreadable expression on his face for a long moment, and then it passes. Jason gives me one more hate-filled look, and then turns and heads for his bike. The rest of the crowd parts like the Red Sea as he goes, giving him plenty of room.

That isn't what Luke demanded, though, and he grabs Jason by the shoulder and turns him around in a flash. Jason's feet scramble in the dirt, but Luke pulls him to me, forcing the man to his knees. It would be sweet retribution, except Luke's words, the words of the man I love, echo in my head.

‘I'll kill you,' he told Jason.

‘I'll kill you.' The same words the mugger said before he knocked Macy to the ground and cracked her skull open all those years ago.

The world is tilting again, a horrible deja vu hitting me hard, but Luke is there at my side. Holding me upright with one hand as the other pushes Jason to his knees before me.

I feel sick, I feel faint. My pulse is in my throat as I look down at Jason on his knees, at the hate in his eyes, and then Luke's words, so sharp they cut through my fear. "I told you to fucking apologize. You want to keep that face?" He leans in again, voice low. "Say you're sorry for what you did. To Emma."

A flash of rage, and then, finally, defeat. The words come out a sneer. "I'm sorry." He turns those hate-filled eyes up at me. "Sorry that I'm on the ground for this frigid bitch. Maybe if she'd put out more, you and I could share?—"

And just like that Luke is dragging Jason away from me. The bikers around me are all shouting, surging forward like an angry mob. There are more hands on me now, gentle and comforting, and then I'm being pulled away from the scene by Gunnar, but I don't want to leave. Something hits the pavement, hard, the crack of it echoing through the roar of the Guardians, and I'm reminded again of Macy's head hitting the ground. It sounds so similar.

Was that Jason's skull? Are they killing him?

"Luke!" I yell, even as Gunnar pulls me away towards his bike. "Luke, stop! LUKE!"

I don't care about Jason's well-being, but the idea of the Iron Guardians, these symbols of protection and justice, killing him has panic welling in me. No, no, no, I think, screaming out with all of my heart, all of my soul, "LUKE!"

Gunnar is all but begging now, trying to get me away from the building riot. I realize Luke must have given him this order a long time ago, to protect me if things ever went south, and his second is desperately trying to follow the order. But I'm not leaving with another man I barely know on a motorcycle while a murder might be happening. All of it resting on my shoulders.

A true, blood-curdling scream builds in my throat, panic welling, my breathing coming in short gasps. Then an angel arrives in a red Toyota Corolla, bright headlights blinding Gunnar and me as she screeches to the curb.

Sarah. My best friend. She came for me.

She doesn't dare turn the car off, but in the madness, only Gunnar and I really notice her. Sarah rolls the window down and yells, "Let her go, asshole!" to Gunnar, and then her gaze fixes on me. "Emma, let's go! Get in!"

But I can't move, and I know Gunnar won't let go until Luke or the club give the word. He's so big, his bulk blocking my view of Sarah's car. The roar of the crowd of bikers seems to grow even louder as the seconds tick by.

I feel sick. I feel like I might pass out. And then Gunnar releases me, just as Luke breaks free of the crowd. "Take her," he yells, gesturing towards the car, but he's not talking to Gunnar. He's talking to Sarah. "Emma, get in the car!" He turns to Gunnar, and I can see how the adrenaline has him shaking. "Make sure they don't do something stupid!"

Without a second thought, I pull the passenger door open and climb in. And then Sarah's car is roaring off with Gunnar on his bike at her back, but my gaze is still trained behind us, still locked on the scene that's slowly receding.

I watch the Iron Guardians descend on Jason, who is being held on the ground by two other men. They haven't started beating him yet, but I can picture it, the sound of flesh hitting flesh over and over echoes in my skull. Then we're turning the corner, and the only thing behind us is Gunnar on his motorcycle, escorting us to wherever Sarah has decided to go.

The silence in the car is deafening, but finally, my friend speaks. "We were still sharing locations from that vacation we took together last year. When you texted me, I just felt this dread, and I ran to the car to come find you. What the hell was all that?" she demands, a tremor in her voice. She sounds upset, scared even, but when she turns to look at me, she's still beautiful, her red hair shining like fire in the street lights. Sarah is gorgeous, even when she's angry with me, her bright blue eyes fixed on my face as she takes another turn and we speed through the streets of Stonebridge. "Was that Jason they had?"

"Yes," I admit quietly.

She's silent for a long moment, and then she says quietly, checking the rearview mirror to see Gunnar still tailing us protectively, "Your new boyfriend's club is terrifying. I didn't think … I thought the Iron Guardians were all show." She takes a deep, slow breath and finally relaxes back into the seat. She seems to think about things for a while, glances at me, and says, "Are you okay?"

Am I?

I think about the question for a long moment. Am I okay? No, I think not, and that realization hits me hard, so hard that I have to reach up to wipe away tears. No, I am not okay. I feel so tired and so confused, and I want to just sleep until everything goes back to normal. ‘I'll kill you,' Luke told Jason. Then that crack of something on the pavement. It's all so familiar.

My voice is small when I tell her, "No."

Sarah's expression goes hard, like it does when she knows it's time to lock in and deal with some real shit. "Okay. I'm staying at my sister's place still as you know, feeding her mean ass cats, because she's still staying in our mom's guest room as she recovers. You're coming there with me."

There's a finality to her words, and I'm overwhelmed with relief to be able to let her take control. "Yes. Thank you, Sarah." I reach over and grab her hand, squeezing it tight. "I love you."

"I love you too, girl." She smiles sadly but rolls her eyes when she glances back at Gunnar again. "Just go straight inside when we get there. I'll send our shadow on his way."

Sarah's sister doesn't live too far from Stonebridge, and her neighborhood is quaint and quiet. When we pull up, I do as Sarah says and head inside without looking back. Just as I'm about to shut the door, I hear Gunnar's bike pull in and the engine shut off as he and Sarah talk. I don't know what they say to each other, but he's still here when I shut the door and go straight for Sarah's room. I'm just in time too. She arrives not more than a minute later, shutting and locking the door behind her, and then leaning against it like it's been a long night and it isn't even ten.

"You good?" she asks me softly.

I don't answer immediately, instead letting my head thump against the wall. The sudden burst of movement reminds me how sore my neck is from all the tension. It feels like every muscle is pulled tight as a rubber band about to snap.

"Yeah," I say, trying not to think about Luke and what the Iron Guardians might be doing right now. "You?"

Sarah smiles at me. "You want something to eat? You look pale." She says the words casually, like the past hour hasn't happened at all. It's just us two besties hanging out together, like always. "There's some leftover chili in the fridge. Let's eat and watch a movie."

I agree, even though my chest hurts so badly that tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I want Luke, want to know he's okay, want to know that there isn't the blood of a murder on his hands. At the same time, his chilling words are haunting me. How can I ever look at him the same now? I just want this night to be over. "I'd love that. Thanks, Sarah. You're the best."

She waves it off as we walk towards the kitchen, as if saving me from an ugly mob and a guy with a grudge was the easiest thing in the world. "I am, and you're the best for acknowledging that."

My friend won't be gone for long, so I take advantage of the alone time, bury my face in the pillow, and cry.

Luke calls me once, but I end up turning my phone off, my pulse skyrocketing when I see his name on the screen. The impossible mix of longing for him and terror about what he might have done makes me feel crazed, and as much as I want to throw myself into his arms and forget about everything, I can't get the image of Jason being surrounded out of my mind.

My ex could be dead even now, and I wouldn't even know.

I leave my phone off till morning, sharing the bed with Sarah so I'm not alone in the dark, all of my fears working overtime from all the stress. She's such a good friend, how can I ever repay her?

Sleep is spotty and restless, but even though I get up a little after 3 AM, I still don't turn my phone on. I'm a coward, I guess. I'm not ready to face Luke or the Iron Guardians.

Padding out to the kitchen, I fill a cup with lukewarm tap water and lean against the counter to drink it, already feeling the need to get back in the room with Sarah so I'm not alone. I shift, and outside of the bay window in the living room, I see the streetlight catch on something bright and chrome.

Sarah's sister's house is in a cul-de-sac, but no one parks in the circle. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I pull the curtains aside to see what it could be. Gasping, I cover my mouth in shock when it hits me.

Outside in the cul-de-sac, eight members of the Iron Guardians are standing vigil. Silent, sitting on their bikes, and guarding the house—an impenetrable wall of bikers. I look for Luke, but he isn't among the guards, and my heart drops.

I rush back to the bedroom and turn my phone back on, ignoring Sarah's groan, and see that I have a single text. From Luke.

Luke: I understand you aren't ready to see me. Until you are, the Iron Guardians stand watch. So you know you're safe.

That's it. That's all there is. I let out a shaky breath as the phone slips out of my hands. I curl up next to my sleeping best friend, cover my mouth with my hands, and silently cry, yearning for Luke. And at the same time, afraid that things will never be the same again.

Three days and nights pass. Each night after dark, eight Iron Guardians roll up to do their silent vigil outside the house.

Luke is never with them.

Sarah is annoyed the first night but waves the odd sight off. We don't talk about Jason, or Luke, or the riot, but the subject hangs over everything I do.

Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Sarah sighs and says, "Girl, you need to talk to your man and let him know you're okay. Those bikers out there aren't protecting us from anything, and they're scaring away everyone from the neighborhood. People think we're hiding the mafia or something."

I groan and bury my face in my hands. "I know. But I'm not sure that Luke is even mine anymore. I..." Despite how much I try to hold it back, the dam breaks. "What if the Guardians killed Jason? I'm in love with Luke, but what if he's a murderer?" I'm sobbing by the end, and Sarah sighs, coming over and pulling me into her arms. When I settle, she stands, looking like she's made up her mind about something.

"Just chill here, girl. I have a few calls to make."

Two hours later, I'm still curled up on the couch, feeling miserable for myself, when there's a knock at the door. This isn't even my house—heck, it isn't even Sarah's house—but still, my blood runs cold.

Sarah isn't bothered and answers the door. I can hear her talking quietly, and two voices answering her. One masculine and heartbreakingly familiar to me, and the other feminine. The second voice pulls at something in my mind, like a dream I had ages ago, but I can't place it.

"Emma," Sarah calls. "Come here."

My heart rate kicks up, but I trust Sarah. Slowly, I rise from the couch, finger-combing my hair as I approach the door. When I reach Sarah's side, I force myself to look at our guests, but I can't tear my eyes from the first one I see. Luke. He's here. He's here for me, even if I've been a coward the last few days. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a slight smile that sends butterflies winging in my stomach, even if I still feel the ache of doubt.

"Hey, baby girl," he rumbles, pushing his dark hair back from his face. "I brought someone to see you. Maybe she can make you feel better."

My brain is working at a glacial pace, but the woman next to me speaks, and all the pieces finally click together in my head.

"Hey, Emma," Macy says. I look at her and finally, FINALLY, see the woman next to Luke.

The world stops, time itself stops, and then starts again. Macy. She's here—alive, whole, healthy, and beautiful. The horrible memories of that night we were attacked, her head hitting the ground, the blood—they disintegrate and blow away like ashes in the wind. I can't move. I'm stunned. It feels like all the air has been sucked out of my lungs as I try to make sense of it.

I knew I hadn't been the same since that horrible night in the alley, but now my friend is right in front of me.

"I can't believe it. You're alive, Macy! I thought..." The last word gets lost as tears of relief flow down my face. She's not dead or still injured or even angry. She's alive and standing next to me. "I thought your parents moved you away because you weren't recovering, and you hated me, and—" I babble, wiping tears off my face.

"Emma." Luke's warm arms slide around my waist, and he pulls me to his broad chest. He holds me while I cry, his stubble tickling the top of my head. "You did not abandon Macy that night. You got help."

"Yes," I hear my friend say. She sounds like she might be crying too, her voice choked up as she takes a few steps towards us. "My parents didn't want to stay in the city after the attack. They moved us out to the country and used the excuse that it was better for my recovery, but I think it was because my mom was terrified of the city after that. Every time I tried to contact you, she would tell me the phone lines were down. We never even got the internet out there. I think she just didn't want to be reminded of what happened to me. And you reminded her. It wasn't fair. It wasn't your fault."

I finally turn my face up to look at Macy, and she takes a shaky breath, holding back her own tears.

"I wanted to tell you how I was doing, Emma, but my parents were so strict." Her lip trembles slightly, and I step away from Luke's warm embrace, my arms opening up in a wordless request. "I missed you so much," Macy admits, taking a hesitant step forward.

"I missed you too, girl. I missed you so, so much. And I was so, so afraid I had lost you forever. I thought I had lost my best friend, that I had failed you and ... and ... that it was all my fault," I finally manage to get the words out, my eyes filling up with tears.

Luke moves out of the way, clearing our path, and I move to embrace my best friend. She squeezes me tightly, and we cry into each other's hair for a long time, relieved beyond measure to see each other. When we finally separate, I turn to Luke, awed.

"You did this."

He crosses his arms and nods to the doorway behind me. "It was her idea."

Sarah, looking a little lost at this reunion, gives me a small wave. My head whips from Luke to Sarah, then to Macy, and back to Sarah. My best friend as an adult, Sarah, had given the love of my life, Luke, the information he needed to find my childhood best friend so I could finally have closure from that terrible night. Three people that I love so much are all here for me. My heart couldn't be more full.

With happiness bubbling up in me like a fountain, I take Macy's hand and lead her inside the doorway. "Macy, this is Sarah. She's my best friend. Sarah, this is Macy. She's also my best friend."

I expect Macy to shake Sarah's hand or maybe just stand there, overwhelmed and unsure. But, to my surprise, Macy steps forward, pulls me in a hug, and wraps her other arm around Sarah's shoulder, drawing us in close. I don't think anyone could've been more shocked by the embrace than Sarah, but she always rolls with the punches, and she immediately embraces both of us with her arms.

My world, after so long, is complete.

We spend the day catching up at Sarah's sister's house, Luke leaving to get us food and giving us some space to talk. Our conversations last hours and hours, and I'm thrilled to see that Macy and Sarah get along swimmingly.

Luke pulls me aside into the hallway at one point, and I'm sure he's going to kiss me, but instead, he presses his phone into my hand. "Watch this."

Perplexed, I look at the screen and press play. A video starts. It's of Jason, with a black eye and swollen jaw, but quite obviously alive and in one piece.

"Hey, uh, Emma. So...I'm alive. And, uh...I'm sorry. About the stalking and the shitty things I said. The Guardians..." He laughs, and it's both sad and embarrassed. "They beat some sense into me, obviously, and told me that if I didn't reflect on my actions, they'd give another dose of sense, which I obviously don't want. So I'm sorry for being a prick, for scaring you, and for fucking with the Guardians. I hope you have a good life. I won't bother you again."

The video ends, and it isn't until I'm left in the silence of the hallway with Luke that I realize how pure and powerful the relief I'm feeling is. Luke didn't kill him. The Guardians didn't kill him. Thank God.

"I thought … I thought I heard his head hit the ground," I whisper, eyes turning up to Luke.

"It was his helmet," he explains. "He threw it down with some force when he tried to get away from us. It hit him, but that's about it."

I take a few deep breaths, steadying my heart and emotions, then meet his eyes again. "You really did all this for me?"

"Yes. But we'll talk later." His rough, calloused knuckles skim down my cheek. "Go enjoy this time with your friends. Because after this..." His gaze turns heated. "You're mine."

And oh, does that look do something to me. Heat blooms deep inside my stomach, spreading to the very tips of my toes and making me bite my bottom lip to keep from gasping. Luke growls softly in the back of his throat and turns away, striding from the house, leaving me dizzy in the hall with thoughts of his heated look and promise for the future.

It's early evening before we finish up. After dinner, we call Macy and Uber, and I give her the longest hug possible.

"I'll see you soon," she tells me.

"Promise?"

Macy's laugh is like balm to my injured soul. "Yes. I promise."

It's as natural as breathing to take Luke's hand afterward and let him lead me to his waiting motorcycle. Sarah waves at us from the doorway, and I climb on the back of the bike, happy I haven't lost my touch with it.

Helmet and jacket on, I wrap my arms around Luke's waist, holding him close. His hand goes on top of mine, squeezing softly. The engine roars, and he revs the engine for a few moments before he finally takes us onto the streets.

We make a few twists and turns, but it isn't long until we're back outside Luke's house. There's a tension building between us—the knowledge that now it's time for our reunion. Physical and spiritual.

We aren't even off the bike, and he can't keep his hands off me. His fingers drag up my arm, caressing the delicate skin at the crook of my elbow. The contact sends tingles dancing through my nerves. The air is heavy with promise as I step off the bike. I'm hyper-aware of his eyes on me, the way his gaze is taking in every inch of me with hunger and need. It sends a thrill through me, the idea that he wants me as much as I want him. I know he feels my attraction to him, but I need him to know that this is so much more than that. It's a longing I didn't know I had. A desire for more than just my own satisfaction, but also to share a closeness and connection with him that goes beyond physical.

Everything he's done for me—having the Guardians guard the house, finding Macy, proving that Jason was fine—Luke did it all to wipe the slate clean of any of the problems between us. Now there is nothing but us and the short walk into the house stopping us from being able to eat each other alive.

"Wait." The word comes out breathy. "Before we go inside..."

He turns to me, eyes flashing in the dim light of the driveway. "What is it, Emma?"

I bite my bottom lip. This isn't going to be an easy confession. "I, um, I haven't exactly … well ..." My face heats up. Why is it so hard to tell him? He brought me Macy. Compared to that, this is so simple. So, I blurt it out before I can second guess myself anymore. "I love you."

He sucks in a breath, but I forge on.

"And I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier. I've just never … well, I've never said it before, not like this. Not when I actually meant it. So I was scared because you make me feel so much, Luke, and it's like my entire world is being flipped on its head."

I pause, out of breath from speaking too fast, and watch his expression change. At first, I think he's going to say something vague, try to smooth things over, but in an instant, he's pulling me to his body and crushing his mouth to mine. It's like lightning bolts are zapping through every inch of me as he devours me, tongue slipping through my lips and dancing with my own. I melt against him, lost in the passion and the way our bodies just fit together like it was meant to be. His fingers slide along my jaw and tilt my chin up to meet his, deepening the kiss and turning me into a hot mess of desire.

I'm panting and dazed when we finally pull away, and Luke's eyes are hooded with lust. "I love you too, Emma. Fuck, do I love you." His thumb runs along the swell of my bottom lip, and it feels so sensual, so intimate. "I want you in every way, baby girl."

His voice is husky with need and my stomach flutters in anticipation.

I can feel his heartbeat thudding through his shirt, the warmth of his body seeping through mine. My hands are clenched in his shirt, clinging to him. The electricity between us is palpable. I feel like I can hardly breathe.

Luke sweeps me into his arms, and in seconds we're in the house, to his room, and he gently tosses me on the bed before starting to strip his clothes off.

"I want you naked. Now, Emma," he commands, the harsh words at odds with the gentleness with which he says them. He's a walking duality, all harsh angles and rough edges, with a core that lives to protect. It's addicting, and I feel my fingers moving to the hem of my shirt. I strip slowly, teasing him, loving the way his eyes follow the slow movements of my hands as they skim down my front, slowly baring more and more skin to his eyes.

Luke kicks his boots off and pushes his jeans down, stepping out of them. He's all muscle and tan skin, his cock jutting out proudly. I only have a moment to look before he's on me. He pins my arms to the bed above my head, the action forcing my body to arch into his as he leans down. His eyes are a storm, so many different emotions flashing through them as he holds himself over me. "Tell me what you want."

The answer is easy. "You."

Luke's breath ghosts across my lips. "Say it right."

What he wants clicks for me, and I smile slowly. Wickedly. "I want you, Daddy."

I think I'm going to burst from happiness when his face goes dark, lust spilling into his eyes as he stares at me with that look. "Oh, I'll take care of you, baby girl." He grinds his hips against me, making sure I can feel the hardness of him against the wetness of me. I shiver at the promise, but Luke is done waiting.

His mouth is on my nipples, hands plumping my breasts as he laves his tongue over me. His beard scrapes deliciously over the sensitive skin of my breasts and stomach, causing a pleasant friction that leaves me whimpering.

He sits back on his heels, and his fingers dip between my legs. They tease my outer lips for a moment, but he's not waiting for permission. One moment he's touching me softly, and the next they're gone and he's dipping those thick, strong fingers inside my soaked core. His other hand continues to play with my nipple, and he watches me as he brings me to a fever pitch of desire.

I'm moaning and writhing on his hand, hips arching to meet every thrust, and he adds another finger. It feels so good, I could explode just like that. "Daddy, oh God. Oh, please!"

Then, he stops all at once, raising himself above me. I whimper from the loss of his touch, but Luke is on a mission. "We're going to try something new. On your knees, ass in the air."

I scramble to do as I'm told, flipping onto my stomach and arching my back until my butt is up in the air and exposed to him. A sharp slap against one cheek has me gasping, then the other cheek. He spanks me again and again, the delicious sting setting me on fire and making me feel wild and out of control. I can barely hold still when he grabs a fistful of my hair, forcing me to arch back further and pushing me into him as he brings me up for a rough, hot kiss.

"You like it when I spank that round little ass, baby girl?" His words are like fire, licking through my veins and sending me even higher.

I nod. "Yes, Daddy. I like it a lot."

I get one last smack on my ass before he pulls away. There's rummaging at the bedside table, and then a liquid sound. I turn my head to look and watch as he coats his cock in shiny lube from a brand-new bottle. He must have bought it just for me. Despite being naked, wet, with my ass in the air, the thought makes my cheeks heat.

Luke is behind me again, one hand on my hip steadying me, the other gripping his cock. I yelp in surprise when I feel the huge, blunt head sweep over not my pussy but my asshole. "Now that I've warmed up your pussy and your ass, I'm going to fuck you right here," he says roughly, pushing ever so gently inward. It burns, but in an interesting way. "Say yes, Emma."

I don't even hesitate. I want him to have all of me. "Yes!"

A spank lands on my asscheek, and I jump. "Say it right, baby."

Heat radiates over my whole body as I let the words fall from my lips. "Yes, Daddy."

"That's my good girl." Before I can suck in my next breath, he pushes his cock inside. Little by little at first, claiming more of my back channel with each thrust. I feel like the air has been knocked from me. My ass clamps down around him, and he gives a guttural, choked noise as he enters me. It doesn't hurt exactly, but it's so, so strange. My head hangs and I pant, trying to get used to the foreign sensation, while Luke groans in pleasure above me.

I'm so distracted by the newness of it that it takes me a minute to notice that his free hand has slipped from my hip down to my pussy, rubbing my clit in gentle, small circles. I whimper and moan, hips rocking involuntarily, and I can hear the smile in Luke's voice. "You're a good girl for Daddy, Emma. Such a good girl."

"Oh!" His words send a thrill of heat through my core, and I bite my lip.

"You want me to keep fucking you, Emma? Keep filling your tight ass with my cock?"

I gasp for air as the sensations flood my body and my mind. "Yes. Fuck my ass, Daddy!"

Luke growls. "My sweet girl. So fucking dirty. That's what Daddy likes." Then he moves his hips, slowly but surely sliding more of himself into my back hole until, to my shock, his balls slap against me. He's in to the root. "Fuuuck, that's tight."

It is. Tight and burning and amazing too. It feels right having Luke buried deep inside me this way. His cock fills my ass like his fingers and tongue fill my pussy. Like we're made to be together in any and every way. It's perfect, even though it's intense.

His fingers never stop teasing my clit, and soon, I feel the rising waves of pleasure threatening to sweep me away. "Please," I moan, and he responds instantly by pounding me hard and fast from behind, fingers on my clit making sure I can't last. In moments, the pleasure explodes, whiting out my vision. I scream out his name and my pleasure, the sounds echoing through the room.

I collapse forward, his cock popping free, but I hear Luke's groan and feel his cock jerk against my back, warm come hitting my skin. He rubs it into me as he collapses onto his back, taking me with him. "Goddamn, Emma," he groans.

"Good?" I ask.

He chuckles and rolls us so we're on our sides, and I snuggle into him, loving the heat radiating from his skin and the solid comfort of his chest under my cheek. His arms wrap around me, and it's everything I've wanted and never let myself ask for.

"Yeah. So damn good." He kisses my forehead before raising himself from the bed. Before long, I hear the sound of the shower turning on, and despite wanting to fall asleep right here and now, a hot shower is just what I need.

When Luke returns, he scoops me back into his arms and carries me towards the sounds of the water. "I love you, Emma." His words send a shiver of delight through me.

I smile, happy, content, and safe. "I love you too, Luke."

Sunshine peeks through the windows and warms my skin as Luke gently wakes me up, kissing the back of my neck and shoulders as I emerge from sleep.

"You've got to get up, baby girl," he says against my skin. "I've got a breakfast reservation for us."

A breakfast reservation? That doesn't sound like Luke at all.

He chuckles as I roll over in bed, coming face-to-face with him. He looks so handsome like this, eyes crinkling and dimples on display. He's practically beaming with excitement, and it sets me abuzz. I don't want to let him down.

"Okay," I say, kissing him lightly on the lips before sitting up and stretching my arms above my head. "Let me get ready. Where are we going?"

Luke just smirks and shakes his head. "It's a surprise, baby girl."

I stick my tongue out at him in a moment of playfulness that surprises me. Luke brings it out of me. It's been so long since I've felt safe enough to really be myself. It's like he's awakening something deep inside me, and I love it.

He slaps my ass gently as I slip out of bed.

"Now, now, none of that or we'll never get there on time," I tell him, giggling.

We both get ready, managing to resist each other long enough to get out the door and onto his motorcycle. I'm still sore from last night but only a little, and the rumble of the bike against my backside reminds me of what exactly we did. The feeling makes my core tingle, but I put that out of my mind.

Right now I have other things to think about, like where we're headed. Luke won't tell me where we're going, and that's got me wondering what the heck he has planned. When I ask him what I should wear, he says to dress comfortably and warm, so that's what I do, slipping on my favorite sweater and jeans and a light jacket. It's been getting chilly outside.

Luke is in a T-shirt under his jacket, and he's warm in my arms where I grip him. He takes us into town and the wind whips through my hair, the exhilaration making my stomach swoop with giddiness. I laugh, the sound flying away into the breeze, and I feel free and alive and like nothing in the world can ever bother me.

The scenery starts to look familiar, and it hits me where we're headed. "We're going to the clubhouse?" I yell over the wind, confused.

"Just have to make a quick stop," he replies.

I settle back down against him, my cheek on his back, but as we approach the Iron Guardians clubhouse, I see something odd. The entire parking lot is full of Guardian riders, all dressed in their vests with their patches on and standing in front of their bikes, all of them arranged in a semicircle.

Luke pulls into the center of the circle and turns the bike off, helping me to stand and taking both our helmets off. I blink in the bright morning light, looking around at the gathering. "Luke, what...?"

My words turn into a gasp of shock as Luke, leader of the Iron Guardians, unbreakable protector, lowers himself to one knee in front of me. The crowd is silent, and all I can hear is my pulse in my ears and my heart pounding.

"I wanted to do this in front of the Iron Guardians, the place where I found the first bit of meaning in my life. Now, Emma, with you here, I am complete. You make my days bright, and I love you with every bit of my soul. I can't see spending a single day without you."

He reaches into his pocket and takes out a box, opening it to reveal an engagement ring, simple but stunning, a solitaire diamond in a silver band. My hands fly up to my face. This is unreal, impossible, but I've never seen anything I've wanted more than this.

"Emma Lawson, will you marry me?"

The answer bursts from me, an explosion of joy, and I throw my arms around him as I cry "Yes" again and again. He spins me in a circle as the crowd erupts around us in applause. Luke sets me down, still dizzy with joy and happiness, and takes the ring from its box to place it on my finger. The diamond shines in the sun, and it feels so perfect on my finger, I can't even describe the emotions welling up inside me.

Around us, the cheers combine with the revving of the dozens of motorcycles as the Iron Guardians celebrate their leader. This is the biggest moment of my life. Luke cups my cheek with his hand and wipes away a tear I don't even remember shedding, eyes full of love and wonder.

"I love you," he says before pressing his lips to mine in a tender, possessive kiss.

"I love you," I reply. Then I'm being scooped up into the crowd and congratulations are being thrown my way by dozens of Guardians, all dressed in their leather and patches and smiles. Luke's family and now mine, too.