Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Vault

CHROME TOOK ME to Hound's when we left the clubhouse. They've been working on my bike since I crashed and have gotten a lot done. There's still work to be done, but they've made a ton of progress. Mainly Valor has I should say. Chrome told me that my brother has taken on the project of fixing my bike and rarely asks for help. That's one of the reasons he didn't come here today. Valor isn't sure what I'm going to say or think about him doing this for me with the rift that's been between us. I need to sit down and talk to him about everything and let him know that I truly love him and I'm so sorry for pushing him away when I should've been leaning on him as we worked through our grief together. Hopefully I can sit down with him soon so we can get past this rift and start rebuilding our relationship. I miss my brother and I know moving forward with Annabell, I'm gonna need him to tell me when I'm being a stupid fucker and pissing her off.

"I can't believe you guys are doin' this shit for me," I tell Chrome as I walk around my bike again and take in what they've managed to get done already.

"We weren't gonna leave you with no ride when you got cleared," my best friend says, remaining behind me as he lets me look everything over. "That's not the only reason I brought you here, though."

"What the fuck else could there be?" I stop walking and turn to face him as he holds up two sets of keys for me. "What's that?"

"The keys to my truck that you've always wanted to drive and the second set is to my bike that's been sittin' in storage. I've gone over everythin' so it's ready for you to ride when Doc clears you. Had them brought up here so you could have somethin' instead of constantly ridin' in your girl's car. Though, I can't even think of why you'd ever want to fuckin' ride in anythin' else other than that beast."

I can't help but laugh at Chrome. He's a car and bike guy and always has been. Chrome is always buying new cars, trucks, and bikes because he doesn't have anything else to spend his money on. He's never wanted to settle down in one place for too long and that shit sucks because I know I'm gonna lose him once the boys patch in and move here. Chrome will leave and I'll only see him every now and then. I'm gonna miss the asshole and the way he's helped me since we moved here. Chrome has been at my side every single day and stopped me from going back to Benton Falls to drag Annabell here so she's at my side. Neither one of us were ready for that. Now, we are and I want Chrome at my side as Annabell and I build our lives together and move forward from the past, pain, and everything that's ever happened to us. This is our fresh start.

"Are you fuckin' serious right now?" I question, walking over and pulling him into a man hug. Chrome doesn't let anyone touch his shit and it doesn't matter who you are.

"I'm serious. You're like a brother to me, Vault. I want to make sure you have a way to get around when Annabell is at the clubhouse. It's killin' you that you're not out searchin' with the rest of us. Now, you can. The second Doc clears you to ride, we're goin' on a long as fuck ride. Just the three of us. I know you're dyin' to get Bell on your bike and since you don't have yours, you can use one of mine. What the fuck good are they doin' me just sittin' in a shop where no one's usin' them?" he questions me, a smile on his face as I take the keys from him and rush out back to find his truck and bike sitting there waiting for me.

"I'm gonna head to my spot. Gotta clear my head for a bit and think about this shit so maybe I can figure out what we need to do next," I tell Chrome who knows where I disappear to when things get to weigh too heavily on my shoulders and I need time alone.

"Okay. If you're not back within two hours, I'm gonna come find ya and bring ya back to the clubhouse. You got plans with your girl later today and nothin' better happen to your stubborn ass so you miss out on that shit," Chrome states, losing all his happiness and turning deadly serious as he watches me get in his truck.

"I know. I'm not gonna do anythin' to fuck that up," I tell him, my voice full of determination because I know that this is my last chance with Annabell. "She's my girl and I've already fucked up so many times with her. Chrome, what do I gotta do to get you to stay in Pine View with us?"

"We'll talk about it later. Just know, I've got plans in place and I think you'll be happy with the decisions I'm makin'. When we go back to church, we need to talk about gettin' some houses or some shit built on the compound. It's not like there ain't enough room to do that shit. Give the guys another reason to want to come down here when they patch in. Not everyone wants to live in the clubhouse with nowhere to go for privacy," he states, making hope fill me as I wonder if he's gonna tell me that he's planning on staying once the rest of the guys move down here.

"I've been thinkin' about it. But with everythin' goin' on with Annabell and the drugs fillin' Pine View, I kind of put it on the back burner. I don't wanna stay in the clubhouse long-term with Annabell. We're gonna need our own space eventually," I assure him, knowing this will be the first thing we discuss when we get over the current situation we're dealing with.

"Okay. See ya soon, Vault. I'm gonna head back and will keep an eye on Annabell with Valor for ya," he says, a smirk back on his face because he knows saying certain shit to me is bound to get him a reaction. Instead, I climb in his truck and shut the door on him so I can get to the lookout point.

Lookout point is a place on the very edge of town. It's in the middle of the forest surrounding the end of Pine View. At the very top of the incline through the forest, there's a dirt parking lot from people going up there over the years. Someone has added a few picnic tables and a guardrail to prevent anyone from pulling too far ahead and driving over the edge of the cliff into the valley below. When you're up here, you can see for what feels like forever. There's no city lights up here to block out the stars on a clear night. When you look over the edge of the cliff, you're taking in nature in its purest form. There's no development going on, taking out the trees and disrupting the animals in their natural habitat. I've spent countless hours up here since moving to Pine View just taking in the sights and letting the peace I feel here fill me when everything gets too much and I don't feel like turning to the guys to help me sort my shit out.

Mainly I used to come up here when I couldn't get Annabell off my mind. I didn't want to go to Valor or Chrome about her because it feels like memories I should protect and keep just between the two of us. So, I'd come up here, sit on my bike and get lost in the peace of this place. I used to imagine bringing my girl up here with me and watching as she took everything in while we sat on a blanket together. Now, I can make that a reality. It's just a matter of time before I bring her up here to spend time with me while we sit and talk like we used to.

My mind drifts to the time I spent with Annabell last night. For the first time in my life, I was with a woman for more than just finding my release and moving on. I explored every inch of her body and found every place that makes her moan and squirm under my touch. My lips and tongue traced all of her tattoos and I will never get enough of her. One taste of my girl was better than I ever dreamed it would be and now I'm fucking addicted to her. I want to spend the rest of my life learning everything about her and making sure I never forget all the ways I can give her pleasure.

Watching Annabell explore my body with such a tentative touch was the best experience I've ever had. She doesn't pretend with me and every single response I pull from her is natural and not over the top. Bell is completely genuine and her touch was feather-light until I pressed her hand harder into my skin and showed her exactly what I like. Still, my girl managed to find places on my body no one has ever touched that caused me to clench my entire body and close my eyes against the onslaught of emotions and pleasure filling me. She took her time and didn't rush anything between us and I gave her the same treatment in return. We didn't get a lot of sleep and I'm exhausted today, but it was worth it for sure.

The only part I hated was waking up without her in bed with me this morning. Falling asleep with her in my arms was the best feeling in the world and I want to experience that shit every night I climb in my bed and close my eyes to go to sleep. When I found her in the office, I knew from the look on her face that she was still so unsure about the two of us and wasn't sure how to move forward. If it takes me showing her on a daily basis that I want her in my life, by my side, and as my woman, then I'll show her. I'll prove to my Angel that she's the only one I want and if I have my way, we'll be going to Benton Falls long enough to pack up the rest of her stuff so she can move to Pine View permanently.

After sitting up at my favorite spot for a few hours, I finally get back in Chrome's truck and head back to the clubhouse. The drive down from the lookout point and to the edge of the city is taken slow because the roads going up and down to my spot are horrible. They're filled with pot holes, ruts, and rocks that will blow a hole in a tire quick as fuck. I never go fast up and down these roads or through the city because traffic is horrible on a good day. When the weekends hit, it's even worse because no one's at work or school and the roads are a fucking mess. There are more accidents in the city on the weekends than any other time of the year.

Getting close to the clubhouse, I take in the cars lined on the side of the road as normal. People park on the road and then walk all over the city just to get out of the house on a daily basis. It's not too hot out today and that means the streets are even more packed than normal. Soon, it's going to be either too hot or we'll have pouring rain every day. I've ridden my bike in the rain plenty of times. However, when it rains in Pine View, it's horrible and there's no way you can ride. At the same time, the thunderstorms we get through here feel so different from the ones back home. I always find somewhere to sit outside and just watch the lighting and listen to the thunder as it cleans the world around me and everything is fresh once the storm has passed by. It's perfection and I can't wait to sit outside with Annabell through one.

My eyes go to the gate of the clubhouse and I can't help but notice the gate sitting wide open with a body on the ground. Slamming my foot down on the brake of the truck, I throw it in park and get out of the driver's seat without shutting the engine off. Racing toward the compound with Chrome's truck left in the middle of the road behind me, I see red. Someone has gotten Martin to open the gate somehow and now they're trying to force my girl into the back of a van. Rage fills me and forces me to run even faster and harder toward her.

Annabell is thrashing and fighting with every ounce of strength she possesses, but she's no match for the three men holding onto her. I make it through the gate and slam my fist into the face of one guy, knocking his ass to the ground. The other two look up at me and shove Annabell in front of them so if I try to make any moves against them, I'll hurt her instead. I look at my girl with tears sliding down her face as she looks up at me. She looks at the ground and I know she's gonna make a move against at least one of the men holding her. With a nod of my head, she slams her foot down on his foot before kicking back and hitting him square in the nuts. I want to cringe from the pain I know he's feeling. Using the distraction, I take out the other fucker only to be hit from behind.

Three more men pour out of the van and get Annabell and me inside the van. I watch as they toss my girl to the ground and she screams out in pain. Climbing over to her as the men laugh, I pull Annabell into my arms and hold her close to me. My arm is on fire from being jarred when I hit the floor of the van. Still, I don't let go of my girl as she cries in my arms and I hold her as tight as I can without adding to the pain I'm already feeling.

"Tie them the fuck up or something," one of the men yell, his voice barely audible behind the mask covering every inch of his face so no one can tell who he is.

"Fine," another one grunts out as he helps toss one of the other men with them into the van with us.

I keep an eye on them as the fucker looks around the van for something to tie us up with. He's cursing and tossing shit all over the place, getting angrier with every passing second because he can't find anything. Apparently none of them put any thought into how they were gonna restrain Annabell. I'm sure they thought she'd just go with them because she's a girl and won't have the strength or determination to fight against them as men. Little do they know every woman under the Phantom Bastards gets taught how to defend herself and learns how to fire a weapon and take down an opponent twice her size. The only reason my girl was having a hard time is because they chose to come at her three at a time instead of one-on-one. It's something we'll have to work on when we get brought back from wherever they're taking us.

With Annabell's body in front of mine, I reach between us and press the button on the back of my belt. All of us have them. It will alert Buzz that something is going on and I'm in trouble. He can pull up a map and follow me if the guys don't get outside the clubhouse before we leave here. And, we're not going to because one of the guys gets in the driver's seat and starts the van. He pulls away without the side door being shut or the rest of his men being loaded up. Something we'd never do. You don't ever fucking leave a man behind.

"Help will come for us, Angel. I've alerted the guys that somethin' is goin' on and Chrome will see his truck sittin' in the middle of the road. Are you okay?" I ask her, looking over her body the best I can.

"I'm okay. Sore, but I'll be okay. How's your arm feeling?" she responds, her voice a whisper as she tries to stop the tears from falling.

"It's sore as fuck. I jarred it when I hit the floor," I tell her, my voice as low as hers.

Before either one of us can say another word, I watch as the man in back with us picks up a pipe of some kind and slams it against Annabell's head. She immediately slumps down in my arms and is unresponsive as I try to wake her up, yelling her name and glaring at the dead fucker while running my hand down her face as gently as I can. I try to fight back against the pipe hitting me, but with Annabell in my arms and my shoulder still fucked up, it's impossible. I'm not about to let her go because then she'd hit the floor and I'm not gonna hurt her. So, I let the fucker hit me and I fold my body over hers as much as I can to protect her as I slip into the deep black void sucking me under.