Ink

I nk had grabbed his design work for Mace’s tat, and packed it up to go home with him. He was going to have to make up some time on his work at home, even if it meant working late into the night.

“Are you sure that you’re okay with this?” she asked. “You can still back out. My car is just across the street and I’m sure that I’ll be able to find a place to hide for a while.”

“And then what?” he asked. “You said yourself that you find a place to hide, your ex finds you, and then you go back to him. When will you break that cycle if he can find you wherever you go?”

“You’re right,” she whispered, “and I have to break the cycle for my daughter,” she said, rubbing her tummy. He looked her over and realized that she had been hiding a baby bump under her clothing. How the hell did he miss that?

“You’re pregnant?” he asked.

“Yes, and I wasn’t trying to keep that from you. We only just met, and well, I was a bit hysterical,” she admitted.

“Yeah, I picked up on that,” he teased, turning out the overhead lights and heading for the back door. “I’m parked out in the back alley. We’ll be able to get out of here without your ex noticing—I hope.”

“I know that it’s a lot to take on. I cry all the time and seem to make horrible decisions when it comes to my ex. But my baby didn’t do anything to deserve to have an asshole father like Zeb.” She was right. Neither she nor her baby deserved to be beat up by an ass like her ex and he was going to take it upon himself to make sure that it didn’t happen again.

“One thing that you need to know about me, Charlie, is that I never back down from a challenge. I can help you lay low while you decide what to do about your ex. I also have a few friends on the police force who might be able to help you get a restraining order against Zeb,” offered.

“Do you really think that a piece of paper will help keep me safe from him?” she asked. He wasn’t sure if it would or not, but it was worth a shot.

“If not, we’ll come up with a plan B,” he offered.

“I haven’t ever had a plan A, so that sounds good to me,” she whispered.

“You ready to get out of here?” he asked, holding his hand out to her. When Charlie hesitated, he worried that she had changed her mind, and why wouldn’t she? He was a stranger offering her his place to crash at, and most women would run the other way. But when Charlie took his hand, he let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding. Why was it suddenly so important to him that he help this woman? Maybe it was the fact that she was pregnant and there was an innocent life involved. Or maybe a secret part of him thought that Charlie was hot—not that he'd ever tell her that. Admitting that would definitely have her running for the hills.

“Ready,” she said, wrapping her small hand around his. He led the way to the back room and quickly checked the surveillance cameras on his phone to make sure that no one was in the back alley.

“We’re clear,” he assured. He pulled the door open and turned back to lock up behind himself. He didn’t miss the way that Charlie kept looking around, as though she expected her ex to pop up from behind the dumpster or something.

“Hey,” he whispered, “you’re safe.” She nodded and got into the passenger side as held the door open for her. He quickly rounded his truck and got in on the driver’s side, trying to give her a smile to put her at ease, but from the frown on her face, he was failing miserably.

“How far away do you live?” she asked.

“About ten minutes,” he said. “I bought this place because it was close to my house and my MC,” he admitted.

“MC?” she questioned, “does that stand for something?”

He chuckled, “Yeah, I sometimes forget that people who don’t live in my world might not understand the lingo. It stands for motorcycle club. I’m a member of the Road Reapers. I joined them shortly after I moved here. Hell, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have stayed in town or been able to open my business. The guys in the Reapers have become my brothers and for a kid who was raised by his grandpa and had no other family, that I know of at least, that means the world. I know that the guys will always have my back, and that works both ways.”

“That sounds nice,” Charlie said, looking out the window as they drove through the small town. “It was always me and my sister,” she said. “My father wasn’t easy to get along with and well, my mother just refused to stand up to him. But I knew that I could always count on my sister, and before I met Zeb, she could count on me. Now, I just can’t seem to get my life straight, and I feel like I just drag her down into my messy problems.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case,” offered, trying to make her feel better.

“I’d like to say that you’re right, but I haven’t been the best sister,” she mumbled.

“You said that you’d go back with your ex whenever he found you at your sister’s, wanting to protect her,” he reminded.

“Yes, but I was foolish for putting her in danger in the first place,” she insisted.

“But you made sure that she stayed safe by putting yourself in danger, Charlie. I’d say that makes you a damn good sister.” Charlie shook her head, and he was sure that he was arguing a moot point. He could tell that she had been so beaten down and defeated, she might never have any self-esteem.

He pulled into the driveway and opened his garage, parking inside. “Home sweet home,” he whispered.

“This place is great,” she said. “How old is your home?”

“Well, the actual house part was built in 1850, but the garage was something that I had added on when I bought the place. I knew that winters around her can be brutal, so I decided that a garage was a viable expense. Plus, I needed someplace to store my baby,” he said.

“Your baby stays in the garage?” she asked, rubbing her belly.

He chuckled, “Yeah, my baby,” he said, nodding to the motorcycle in the next bay over. “My bike. I call her my baby.” She giggled for the first time since running into his shop and he was convinced that she should always laugh like that. “I like it when you laugh,” he almost whispered.

“Yeah, I guess that it’s much better than crying, right?” she asked.

nodded, causing her to giggle again. “How about I show you around inside and you can get settled while I make a few phone calls. We can run down to the local precinct and file the paperwork for a restraining order.”

“Will I have to press charges against Zeb?” she asked. He knew that no cop downtown would take one look at her black and blue face, and not advise her to file charges against her asshole ex.

“I’m sure that the police will want you to file charges against him. It will make your job easier,” he admitted. “And it will definitely stop him from coming after you anymore.”

“Can I have some time to weigh my options?” she asked. He didn’t understand what kind of options she needed to weigh, but he didn’t want to spook her or talk her into something that she wasn’t ready for.

“Sure,” he agreed, “but the longer you take, the more time you’re giving your ex to find you.” He knew that he was playing hardball, but he needed to get that one fact across to her before he showed her around his place. Then, he was going to call Mace and the Blaine brothers to give him a bit of help. Actually, was going to ask for more than a bit of help, because he had a feeling that protecting Charlie, and her unborn baby was going to take a whole lot of help from his friends down at the Road Reapers.

After he showed Charlie around his house and helped her settle in the guest bedroom, across from his room, he decided to take a minute to call Mace. He knew that his club’s Prez would be able to get the guys together for a quick meeting. It was going to have to be at his place, since leaving his new house guest wasn’t an option.

Mace answered his phone and growled, “This better be good .” If he had to guess, Mace was either having a shitty day, or he was fucking his hot, new wife. Mace had filled him in on Brooke’s niece living with them and knew that having private time with a teen in the house must be tough.

“It is,” insisted. “I need a favor, and it can’t wait.”

“Hold on,” Mace said. could tell that he had his hand over the phone like he was on a landline or something. The thought of Mace doing that almost made want to laugh. He heard Mace say something about seeing someone later, and knew that his second guess was correct.

“I’m back,” Mace grumbled.

“I’m sorry that I interrupted whatever you had going on, man,” insisted.

“I don’t want to talk about having to watch my wife walk out of my office unsatisfied because you interrupted,” Mace said. “Now, tell me this problem that you have so that I can meet Brooke at home and finish what she started.” felt a pang of jealousy—something that he had no right to feel about Mace and his wife. He was happy for his married buddies, but a part of him worried that cupid had passed him over because the women in his life didn’t stick around for very long. And finding a girlfriend in a small, new town wasn’t as easy as he had hoped. His fresh start had been a lonely one, but he wasn’t about to give up.

“Cutting to the chase then,” breathed. “I was at my shop today and a pregnant woman came running in crying. Her face was black and blue and after she told me that her ex-husband was chasing her down and that he was the one who beat her up.”

“So, you asked her to come home with you, right?” Mace said. wasn’t sure if he was asking or telling him.

“Yeah,” breathed. “I really could use some help.”

“How can I help?” Mace asked.

“You know how you and the Blaine brothers came by my shop and hooked the place up with a security system?” asked. He tried to pay the guys for their help, but they all refused. Owen even told him that no money was necessary since they were brothers.

“You need us to come over to your place and hook you up?” Mace asked.

“Yes,” said.

“Let me call the Blaine Brothers and I’m sure that one of them can find the time to stop by tonight with me,” Mace promised. “Are you sure that this is a good idea, man?” he asked.

“Am I sure that taking in a pregnant woman who’s on the run from her ex, who likes to beat the shit out of her, is a good idea?” he asked. It wasn’t and he had known that from the start, but something about Charlie had him throwing his common sense right out the window and there was no going back for him now. He had promised her that he’d help her, and he planned on keeping his promise.

“It’s not,” finally said, answering his own question. “This whole situation is going to turn into a cluster fuck, and I know it, but I’m still going to help her, Mace.”

“Of course, you are,” Mace agreed, “it’s who you are. It’s also one of the reasons why the guys around the club warmed up to you so fast, . You’re a good guy, and if helping that woman is what you want to do, then you have our support. We’ll be over in about an hour.” It was good to know that his brothers had his back no matter what. That was something that he missed about his old club when he moved to town. He was a part of something again, and that made him want to stick around and make his life in this new town work out.

“Thanks, man,” he said. He ended the call and turned around to find Charlie staring him down. She looked both pissed and like she was about to cry all at the same time, and he had a feeling that he was going to have to take on both of her moods before their conversation was over.

“You think that I’m a cluster fuck?” she asked.

“No,” he said, quickly trying to put her at ease, “I said that your situation is a cluster fuck, not you. It’s not your fault that you were married to an asshole who liked to hit you.” He almost choked on those last two words as the spilled out of his mouth. The thought of a man hitting any woman pissed him completely off, but there was something about Charlie that seemed so fragile, he couldn’t help but try to soothe her—even if it meant crossing a line.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you just kicked me to the curb,” she sobbed.

“Hey now,” he said, “there will be no kicking of any kind. You’re here and I am glad you are. We’ll figure out how to keep you safe, and in the meantime, how about you meet me in the kitchen when you’re ready and I’ll make us both something to eat.”

“I am hungry,” she sniffled pulling free from his hold. He instantly missed having her in his arms, but that was something that he’d keep to himself. Charlie had enough on her plate. She didn’t need to worry about his overactive hormones or the fact that he couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself in the two hours since they met.