10. Cat

Chapter 10

Cat

S aint was reluctant to leave me. But he had to go to the garage that’s right across the parking lot. I guess things have changed since he’s been gone and he’s taking over some different responsibilities. I don’t ask him about it. I’ve been around the club long enough to know that it’s club business and not my concern.

I told Saint that I had an appointment in town, but really I just needed a breather. I felt bad lying to him but he’s so intense and already only two days after he walked into the bar and into my life, I’m a goner for him. He’s everything I could want in a man. Yeah, he may be a little rough around the edges, but how he treats me, heck, how he makes me feel is too much. Especially after I swore off men. I try to reason with myself and tell myself that I’ve sworn off violent men, not necessarily all men, but I can’t help second-guessing myself. Can I trust Saint? I think I can.

I stroll down the side of the road and step into a lingerie store. I have plenty of money saved up since all I ever do is work. The club allows me to live above the bar for free. I guess it used to be Ranger’s apartment until he met Ruby. Now Ranger, Ruby and Ruby’s sister Lydia live in a house down the road from the bar. I haven’t taken any free time to myself. I walk around the store until I stop at a black see-through baby doll nightie. The soft feel of the material as it slides through my fingers has me thinking of Saint.

I pull it off the rack and hold it up against myself. The roar of a motorcycle outside draws my attention and I lift my gaze, already smiling, knowing it could be Saint or any of the other Heartlands.

But as soon as I look, I jump behind the tall rack, peeking around it to see outside. I know there’s no way they can see me from this far away, but I’m not willing to chance it. I watch them as they all stand around their bikes, looking out at the town. What are the Outlaws doing here? I recognize quite a few of them, but luckily, Roach isn’t with them. Are they looking for me? I thought for sure that he had assumed I was dead. I mean, if the Heartlands hadn’t found me, I would be dead. So why are they here?

“Would you like to try that on?” The woman that works the store is looking at me expectantly, pointing at the garment I have wadded up in my hands.

I hand it to her, apologizing. “Sorry, no, uh, do you have a back door?” I look back at the street and the bikers and then back to her.

The woman must see the scared look on my face, because she nods her head, leading me to the back. “Why don’t you let me call someone?”

I shake my head, telling her, “No, no, I’m fine.”

I walk down the back alley. It’s only me, but I still keep looking behind me, waiting for them to find me.

I come to the end of the alley and spot Roxanne across the street. She’s stuffing some packages in her saddle bags. I look up and down the road, and even though the Outlaws are still there, they surely can’t see that far.

I run over to her. “Roxy, can you give me a ride back to the club?”

She fastens the bag. “Hey girl! Sure –”

She finally looks at my face and reaches a hand out to me and I grab it. “Cat, what’s wrong? You look like you saw a ghost.”

I step in close to her. “Outlaws.” I nod my head down the street. “We gotta go.”

She peeks over my shoulder and immediately gets on her bike. “Let’s go, girl.”

She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I jump on the back of her bike, holding on to her as she takes off down the road. She’s going fast and I can’t help it, I keep looking behind me. Only when the Ride or Die is in sight do I finally take a breath, believing I’m safe. For now, anyway.

I get off the bike and my legs are shaking. I see Saint standing at the garage doors of the Heartlands Garage, wave at him and run into the bar. Roxy’s right behind me. “Hey, wait up. Look, I don’t know your story, but the Outlaws are not supposed to be in our territory. I’ll let the guys know, but you have to know, nothing’s going to happen to you here.”

I want to argue with her. Tell her I’ll never be safe, not really, but I don’t. I simply thank her and give her a hug, which surprises us both. Neither of us are the huggy type. “Thanks, Roxy. I’m going to get cleaned up for my shift.”

She nods her head and looks at me with pity on her face.

I take the stairs two at a time and bolt the door behind me.

Throwing myself down on the bed, I think about the day and everything that’s happened. It’s been a roller coaster for sure. Maybe seeing the Outlaws should be my wakeup call. Sex with Saint wasn’t just great. It was the first time that I connected, truly connected with someone during sex. With my ex, there was always a part of me that checked out… but not with Saint.

With my head in my hands, I feel silly with how much I miss him already. When I saw those bikers in town, Saint was the first person I thought of. I wanted to call him, to ask him to come get me. But I didn’t. And I’m glad I didn’t. If I had called him and he didn’t come, well, then hell, I would have survived it, but I know my heart would have broken in two. It could have been my wake-up call, though. I have to remind myself that I’m on my own. I have to take care of me. Plus, even though we had sex, Saint probably won’t even look my way again. For all I know, he could have already moved on to the next girl.