15. Isabella

I stare after Priest,watching him disappear into the crowd.

"So, how is everything?" Stella presses as soon as Priest is gone. Before I can answer, she frowns. "Oh my God, is that… bruising?"

Crap. I know it was a risk coming here and having people recognize me, but it's quite another having to explain what happened. Yet, I don't want to lie to Stella. She also helps out at the Soup Kitchen and Rueben could go back there.

I swallow hard. "I… I was attacked," I whisper.

Her face slowly changes as she spares Summer a glance. She's pretty with a kind smile. I don't know either of these women really, yet I feel safe with them. Something that I've not felt in a long time.

I thought it would be different coming here… awkward and scary, but it's nothing like that.

"Oh God, what? When?" Stella gasps.

"Are you okay?" Summer leans in, her eyes flicking up to the cut above my eye. "I'm a nurse, that's all…"

"Yes." I nod. "Casey came to Priest's house and cleaned me up."

Stella looks angry as she places her hands on my shoulders as I look up at her. "Do you know who did it? Did they…uh?"

I nod. "I know who did it; Rueben, the guy who comes to the Soup Kitchen sometimes. He asked you about me but I gave him a fake name; Sarah. And no, he didn't get to do anything except hit me. I kneed him in the nuts and ran for it."

"Holy shit," they both whisper in unison.

"I'm so sorry," Stella says, genuine concern in her eyes.

She and Summer share a look. "Priest won't be happy," Summer says, looking up across the bar. "He'll be working out what to do right now."

I know the bikers have their own justice system in their world, much as we have it in ours, but the idea that they'll hunt him down isn't the worst thing in the world. He deserves it.

"What will they do? Priest didn't really answer me when I asked."

"He'll take care of it," Stella replies. "He'll make sure he never hurts anyone ever again. One thing about the men in this club — and don't get me wrong, some of them can be complete assholes — they keep us safe. Now you're with Priest, you fall under that same protection."

It's not the first time I've heard this; Casey said the same thing when she cleaned me up.

A thrill goes through me at her words: Now you're with Priest…

"I'm not with Priest." The words sound foreign. I don't like them. "He found me. He gave me a place to stay for tonight, until… things calm down."

Stella and Summer share a look and Summer bites down on her lip as she says, "I hate to break this to you, but Priest hasn't brought a woman in the clubhouse for…" She starts to count on her fingers but gives up eventually. "A long time. And he came in with his arm around you and his chest puffed out. He's sending a message."

"Yeah." A nervous laugh escapes me. "He told me he was doing that on purpose. So guys wouldn't approach and things wouldn't get awkward. He was just being nice."

Stella blinks at me a couple of times, then she and Summer burst out laughing. "Uh huh. That's a good one."

"Hold up." Summer holds up a hand. "You're at Priest's house?"

"He took pity on me." I shrug.

They share another look. I wish they'd stop doing that; it's making me nervous.

Stella gives me a soft smile. "Whatever you say, honey. Just know that he must think an awful lot about you to do that. He never lets anyone into his home. I've only been there a few times, and I'm his goddaughter."

I toy with that for a few moments.

Okay. So, not entirely the worst news I could hear. And after what happened this morning in Priest's bed… I wonder if he's being entirely truthful with me when he said it couldn't happen again and we couldn't go any further.

I mean, he was into it. I'm not a dummy. He just feels guilty because I'm on the street with nowhere else to go. Hearing that this isn't his usual repertoire, however, warms my heart.

"I was pretty shaken up, and Rueben knew where I was staying at the shelter," I tell them. "He was worried Rueben would try again. He just wanted me to be safe."

"Of course he did, he's a good guy," Stella says. "One of the best. I'm sorry that jerk did that to you, but he'll be wishing he never laid a hand on you when the club's done with him."

"Touché," Summer reiterates.

I keep my lips pressed together. I don't need to know the details, but justice has to be served. God knows if this is something Rueben makes a habit of. I take a sip of my drink, my mouth dry. I feel a flourish go through me that isn't normal. I know it's not.

I can't thrive on the idea of violence. It may be what I know, but that doesn't make it okay. It doesn't make any of it okay… Yet, I can't stop the thudding of my heart.

I can't stop my thoughts. I can't help it… it's what I know. Even if I know Priest would never be violent with me, he had a look in his eye that told me all I needed to know when dealing with asswipes like Rueben.

"So this club," I begin, "they're not like the Sons of Anarchy types on TV? Casey gave me the basic rundown…"

An amused look crosses Summer's face and Stella plonks down noisily on the stool next to me.

"I wish we had a Jax Teller," Stella sighs. "Now that would be something."

"I saw you've already met Nevada," Summer chuckles. "And don't worry, he's harmless. But guys like him are gonna try with new chicks. Whether you're with Priest or not, it's their nature. They act like dogs in heat, I swear to God."

I can't help but chuckle, and Summer does too. They're easy company, and I like that.

Spending most of my life around men, it comes harder for me to talk to women or know what to say, but these girls make it easy. I relax a little.

Priest was right. He was right to bring me here, even if I know the dangers.

These people won't hurt me. They have my back.

A few moments later, a tiny blonde-haired woman strolls up and takes the other stool next to me with a sigh. "Please tell me it's the weekend."

Stella laughs and Summer gives her shoulders a rub. "It's the weekend," they chime in unison.

Then her eyes switch to mine. "Who are you?"She frowns, and at first I'm not sure if she's friend or foe.

My eyes go slightly round at her curtness. "Uh, I'm Bella, Rock's friend."

"Oh." She waves a hand at me. "I'm Jas, the club's accountant and the Road Captain's ol' lady."

I've no idea what that is so I just smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. So where is Rock?"

"He went into a meeting," Stella pipes up. "Some dude from the Soup Kitchen attacked Bella, and Priest is gonna take care of it." She says it so nonchalantly, like it's nothing.

"Oh," Jas says, her eyes assessing my face. "Damn asshole deserves all he gets. He won't feel so brave when they're done with him."

"So I keep hearing," I say. "He's a snake, so he's probably already left town. He knows I was hanging out with you guys."

"Best to not tempt fate," Jas replies. "If he knows you're an easy target, he might try again."

That's what I'm afraid of. I don't like being an easy target, but she isn't wrong. I'm by myself and homeless. You couldn't get more easy than that.

It makes me want to get to Texas even more. This is my lifeline. And now Priest is going to take me — he promised.

"She's staying with Priest," Summer chimes.

I feel Jas' eyes on me. "Well. I never thought I'd see the day."

"I had nowhere else to go," I say. "Priest took me in. I ran away from home a month ago, I can't go back."

It isn't like I'm keeping it a secret — well, the part where I'm supposed to be dead, perhaps.

Jas looks at me with a sympathetic face.

"Hey, did you think any more on the job at the bakery?" Stella asks. I try not to wince. Not because I'm not grateful, and the fact that I do need money, but I can't be seen in the busiest bakery in New Orleans.

"I have to go to Texas," I say, which isn't a lie. "But I'll be back after that, so I'm definitely interested." I can't make it seem like I don't want to help myself, either.

"Okay, sounds good." She smiles and I feel bad for partly lying.

A few moments later, two large men make a beeline toward us as Stella yells out, "Hey, Dad!"

Dad?

Which one of them is Dad?

The taller, darker one of the two lifts his chin and smiles. "Hi, buttercup," he says, his eyes warming as gets closer.

"Hi, grumpy," she says to the other man.

He just looks at her and he might just be the scariest human I've ever seen.

"What's up your ass, Tag?" Jas spits out, and I refrain from laughing.

"This Bella?" He motions in my direction.

Instead of just asking, he doesn't even make eye contact.

"Good news travels fast around here," I mutter.

"I'm Harlem," Stella's dad says. "I'm the club's Enforcer, you know what that means?"

I nod. I only know because Priest told me.

"So, we need to pinpoint this Rueben guy. Priest had a couple of the prospects out lookin' today. He's not at any of the places he usually hangs out, but the little fucker will no doubt pop back up again. They always do."

"I don't know where he hangs out," I say, my voice wavering at their confrontation. "I only met him a couple of times at the Soup Kitchen."

The man named Tag grunts.

Then I see Priest coming up behind them as he seeks me out. I'm right where he left me, of course, but he has a frown on his face. "Fellas, you wanna back up?" They shift as he slides between them and comes to stand in front of me.

The testosterone around here is pumping, it's palpable.

Priest touches my chin. "You good?"

I nod. "I'm fine."

He's so sweet and he doesn't have to be. This is his club.

The men here are not like men anywhere else, even if they are a legitimate motorcycle club. But Priest doesn't seem to care who sees him touch me like that.

It warms my belly and makes butterflies dance in my stomach.

He turns to look back at the two men, towering over us. "Rememberin' what we discussed in church?"

I frown. Church? He can't mean a real church.

Tag rolls his eyes, looking unimpressed. "Since when did we take orders from you? Cash wants us on the job, so here we are."

"What Tag means to say is we were just askin' Bella if she knew where Rueben might be hangin' out." He shoots his counterpart a side eye.

It's cute how Priest thinks I'm made of glass, but he doesn't have to worry.

Each day that I've been away from the prison I was living in, I get stronger.

It doesn't matter that I've been living like this for over a month… Nothing can break me. I know that now.

I also know I have so much pent up inside that is dying to escape and I have no one to talk to.

Then I have an idea… But before I can say anything, Priest stands his ground.

"Gonna be takin' a road trip to Texas," he tells them. "Day after tomorrow. Call me if there's any updates. I'm gonna spend some time tomorrow lookin' around with Pipes and Rodeo. My old man's comin' around, I'll rope him in too."

"More the merrier," Harlem agrees. "The sooner we get this fuck face off the street, the better."

It's great that the club are coming together to find Rueben and stop him from doing this to anyone else, and the more I've gotten used to the idea of them being vigilantes, the more I'm okay with it.

Priest turns to look at me. "We're leavin'."

"Wait, so soon?" Stella pouts. She links her arm through mine. "We haven't even had a dance yet and my song just came on."

‘Friends In Low Places' blares from the juke box.

My eyes go wide. I don't dance. I wouldn't even know how… before I can protest, Stella is pulling me off the stool.

"I'm not really very good," I tell her.

She shrugs. "Neither am I, but it's a club tradition that anyone new has to have a dance before we let them leave."

I can't help but smile. "That isn't true."

She pretends to think, tapping her chin as we join some of the other girls swaying to the music in the middle of the room. "Maybe not, but you seem like you might need something to take the edge off."

"Is it that obvious?"

She leans toward my ear. "They can be a little intense, babe. And Priest is being all protective over you, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun in between. Plus, if you really wanna get Priest to notice you," she waggles her eyebrows, "this is one sure fire way to do that."

"I'm not trying to do that," I protest.

"You're right. In fact, I think you've already made an impression."

She lets go of me and as we weave our way through the small gathering, I turn back and see Priest standing by the bar, his hands on his hips.

She's right. He is protective, but it feels good.

I give him a smile and turn back to Stella. She's already swaying her hips and her arms are raised above her head. It's dark, so I don't have too much fear of anyone really seeing me looking like an idiot, so I do what feels natural to me and begin to sway my hips too, moving to the beat. After a while, I start to get the hang of it.

"See!" Stella laughs. "You've got the moves."

I laugh too. "I really don't, but this is kinda fun."

The other girls move around and I try to copy their moves, but in the end I just do what feels right to the beat. The energy all around me makes me lose my inhibitions.

I'm secure. I'm surrounded by people who won't hurt me. I'm safe.

When I glance up, Priest is staring at me. His eyes roam my body and a warm tingle spreads through me as eventually he meets my eye.

"Don't look now, but Priest is staring at you," Summer say as she sidles up beside me. "I don't think he likes you being out here."

"Why not?" I yell over the music.

She just shrugs.

Yeah, this isn't the Priest that I met at the Soup Kitchen. It's more like the Priest from last night… when we fooled around and he made me feel things I haven't before.

He had hunger in his eyes then, just like he does now.

If he wants to pretend this is just platonic, he's kidding himself. I know it's not.

And I know he knows it's not.

We shared something, and not just feels.

I know that he wanted more, just like how he's looking at me now.

I stare at him and smooth my hands down the side of my body, my head falling back as the song switches and the tempo picks up.

Our eyes lock. I imagine his arms around me — his rock hard body behind me, his chest pressing into my back as he holds my hips. And I want it.

I want that feeling of security and protection, just from him.

This may be just about sex to him, but it isn't to me. This is about how I feel and how I make him feel.

Should I be planning my life, trying to get out of here and never look back? Yes.

Should I run from a place like this and never look back? Also yes. But I don't want to.

This newly found freedom wraps itself around me, but it isn't like the chokehold I'm used to. This feels like a bubble I don't ever want to burst.

It feels real.

Still. His eyes watch me with a calmness and ferocity that makes goosebumps rise on my flesh. Only Priest could look at me with two very different, mixed emotions.

From behind, Stella grabs me by the hips and spins me around. A sly smile crosses her face. "Told ya."

I shake my head. "You're wrong."

She taps her nose. "Uh, uh, Stella knows best."

We dance for two more songs until I feel his presence behind me before I see him.

Just like in my reverie, his hands land on my hips and he pulls me to him. His mouth at my ear as he says, "We're leavin'. For real this time."

I don't even get to say goodbye to the girls as he takes my hand and pulls me across the dance floor, heading the way we came in. His hand is large and warm in mine.

I glance up at his huge figure and his jaw is set as he stares straight ahead.

I've never seen Priest this intense. This isn't like him.

Did I do something wrong?

We pass by Nevada as he gives me a lopsided grin, and another guy holding a pool cue who calls out to Priest but he ignores him.

He's walking awfully fast…

"Priest?"

He glances down. "Yeah?"

"Where's the fire?"

He loosens my hand in his but still holds it. "It was time to go."

"You get to decide that?"

"When you're movin' like that on the dance floor, yeah."

"Moving like what? It's dancing."

He shakes his head. "Every man in the bar had his eyes on you."

"Sounds like you don't like that."

"I'm just tryin' to keep you safe."

"Uh huh." I know I sound sarcastic, but I don't care. "You're the one who brought me here, remember?"

He doesn't say anything as we get to the doors at the front and he finally stops.

"I had no other choice. Until this asshole is found, I don't trust anyone outside of this club."

"Or in it?"

"No. But shakin' your ass like that attracts attention. Typical of Stella to take it up several notches."

"Looks like I got to your notch," I challenge. "Didn't I, Priest?"

My throat thickens as his lips part and I have no idea what he's going to say next.