Chapter Three

Neve

I wait two minutes before heading back down the stairs. I find Mya in the hall chatting to another guy. She looks up at me and smiles, "Where have you been, I was looking for you," she asks.

"I got side tracked, everything okay?"

Mya eyes me suspiciously but decides not to push. "I got a call from Finn, he's angry because you didn't answer your phone," she explains. Panic fills me and I soon forget my humiliation. Finn's the kind of man to jump in his car and come to find me and I can't risk that, when he's got Harlee in his care. I didn't bring my mobile with me because I was caught off guard with this party that I didn't even want to come to. Mya reads my mind and holds out her mobile for me to use. I smile gratefully and rush out to the back garden to make the call. I move to the corner away from anyone else and dial Finn's number. I know it off by heart because of the need for me to check in constantly when we were still together. Not that it's really changed too much, he still expects the same and for a quiet life, I do it.

Finn answers within the first two rings, he doesn't speak, just connects the call and waits for me to explain myself. It's all part of his mind games.

"Finn, is everything okay? Is Harlee okay?" I ask, unable to hide the worry from my voice.

"Where are you, Neve?" he grates out.

"I'm having drinks with Mya, I told you that earlier."

"I spoke to Mya, she didn't know where the hell you were," he yells. I flinch at the volume of his voice.

"Look I'm not going to argue with you, Finn. Put Harlee on so I can talk to her."

"Don't dictate your demands to me, Harlee went to bed upset because her mummy wasn't around to talk to her. Were you with another man?" I check my watch, it's only seven in the evening, Harlee wouldn't be asleep yet, bedtime's usually half past seven and then she demands at least three stories before she'll snuggle down to sleep.

"You're only spiting Harlee by not letting me talk to her. No wonder she didn't want to come to you. Did you manage to spend time with her today?" I ask, ignoring his question. Finn laughs. He's trying to throw me off the subject, meaning he didn't spend time with her at all. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, I'll bring Harlee back at some point tomorrow."

Panic takes hold of me. "No, Finn, the agreed time is noon. I promised her I'd watch movies with her."

"Well you also promised to answer my phone call so you could speak to her. Jenifer is now having to spend time consoling our daughter because of you. I don't need to remind you of what will happen if your shoddy behaviour continues around my daughter."

I frown. I haven't heard the name before, "Jenifer, who the fuck is Jenifer?" I demand, beginning to pace back and forth in frustration. We'd agreed to keep new partners away from Harlee until they were established relationships. We also said we'd tell each other about new partners so we could work out when to tell Harlee, together. I didn't like the idea of introducing Harlee to people that wouldn't stick around for long.

"Goodnight, Neve. And don't forget the picture, or there will be issues with me returning her at all tomorrow." I take deep breaths to calm myself, blinking fast so that angry tears don't spill down my cheeks. I continue to pace back and forth after the call, keeping my hands on my hips and my head hung low. I'm so tired of his threats but he's a lawyer and he knows all the right things to say to make me comply.

"Is that lover boy checking up on you?" Ryders rumbling voice startles me and I spin to look at him, my face flushing slightly when our eyes connect. I assumed he'd left.

"No," I reply bluntly, my guard back up in place.

"I'm assuming you want to keep it on the downlow if you've just cheated. I'd also appreciate it if you didn't tell my brother, he'll get all stupid about it."

I inhale an angry breath, what is it with men treating me like crap just lately? "Firstly, I've never cheated on anyone in my life. That was my very first and very final one-night stand. Secondly, I don't have a clue who the hell your brother is, so I won't be telling him nor anyone else for that matter, I'm not the kind of girl to gossip especially about myself." I stomp away, not sticking around to wait for his reply.

I pass Mya in the hallway, "I'm going home. You coming?" I ask, holding out her phone.

She takes it and smiles. "Sure, let me just say goodbye to…" she trails off, looking at the man.

"Bear," he answers for her. I roll my eyes, Mya never seems embarrassed by her brazen ways.

"You did what!" screeches Mya glaring at me in shock. I'd blurted out my surprise one-night stand with the mysterious Ryder, as soon as I'd closed my front door.

"I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't uptight, I know it sounds stupid, but I wanted to live a little."

"And you thought you'd have sex with the motorcycle gang leader?" Mya laughs.

"Leader?" I repeat, "I thought he was just friends with Griffin. Is he important? Oh my god is he some kind of criminal mastermind, cos I'll be honest with you, I thought he was a mute at first."

"He's the club president. I don't know how it all works but he's a tough guy, he's got a lot of respect amongst the others," Mya explains.

"They're in a gang?" I ask. "Oh God, is Griffin dangerous? I don't want them next door if they are."

"Relax, they're harmless."

"I guess it doesn't matter now anyway. He was good for my first one-night stand, but I won't be doing that again. How do you do it? I felt so used," I groan, making Mya laugh out loud.

"Neve, you're so innocent." She shrugs. "You go into it knowing you just need one thing, don't expect any more," she explains, "That way, you don't feel used or let down afterwards."

I don't know how to turn my emotions off like that, isn't sex about feelings and love? Without those, it feels cheap and dirty. "I did go into it knowing that, actually I didn't even have chance to think about it, he kind of ambushed me. But it was the way he acted afterwards that threw me. He must have women falling at his feet looking the way he does with all that brooding manliness, and he made me feel like I was a dirty secret that he regretted instantly. He said something about not wanting club girls and ol' ladies finding out?" I pour us both a large glass of white wine and pass one to Mya.

"Women that hang around and keep the guys satisfied if you know what I mean, most of them hope to get a husband out of it, become ol' ladies to the guys, but most don't ever get that."

"What are ol' ladies?"

"Women they make theirs. Like a wife I guess. If a biker claims his ol' lady, she's treated with respect by all members and protected by the club."

"You're like a mind of knowledge, how do you know all this? I have zero knowledge on motorcycle gangs let alone all their gang terminology."

"I read books," Mya replies.

"I don't believe for one second that you read," I tease, "Anyway I'm gonna hit the sack, I'm exhausted," I say on a sigh. I drain the wine. "Are you staying over?"

She shakes her head and smiles. "I might pop back next door for a while, it's still early to us single, non-parent girls."

I climb into bed and reach for my mobile phone. I take a picture, just a headshot, showing my pillow in the background. I send it to Finn to appease his incessant need to know where I am. Within seconds my phone lights up with an incoming call from Finn. I sigh before accepting the call. If I ignore him, he'll just keep trying. "Are you alone?" he asks, and I roll my eyes.

"Of course."

"Video call me, I don't believe you," he snaps, disconnecting the call.

"For goodness sake," I mutter out loud to myself. I video call him straight back. He smirks, pleased he's still controlling me. "See, all alone," I mutter, moving the phone to show the room.

"Good. See you tomorrow."

I get woken early the next morning by someone outside, screaming and laughing. I sit up quickly, alarmed by the noise and dive from my bed to look out the window. There's a group of people next door having a water fight. Griffin is running around topless, chasing my best friend around his garden with a jug of water. Mya screams as the water hits her, soaking her shirt through.

In the doorway of the house is Ryder, and wrapped around him is a female with long blond hair, short denim cut offs and a bikini top. Her legs and arms are wound tightly around him like a baby chimp clinging to its mother. He still has that blank look about his face. Suddenly, Ryder glances up at my window, almost like he felt me staring. We briefly lock eyes before I step back out of view, mortified that he's caught me.

I tap my fingers impatiently on the tabletop. Finn was supposed to return Harlee over two hours ago. I've tried numerous times to contact him, but to no avail. And I know he'll bring her eventually, but I can't relax until he does. Mya bursts in through the front door, a happy smile on her face. One look at me wipes that smile, "Are you okay?" she asks with concern.

"No, Finn hasn't brought Harlee back," I mutter.

"Wow that man is such an arse hole. I take it you called him?" She turns on the coffee machine and grabs a cup.

"Yep, no answer."

"Well look, you know he'll return her, he's just playing games again. Ignore him. Seriously, the man doesn't want to have Harlee at all, we both know he takes her just to annoy you. He will bring her back." As she finishes her words, the sound of a car engine stopping outside has me rushing to the door. Finn's car is out front with Finn in the driver's seat and a blond woman unstrapping Harlee from the back seat. I glare at Finn angrily, he winds down his window and rests his elbow there, a picture of calm.

"Where the hell were you, Finn, she was supposed to be back two hours ago."

"And you were supposed to answer your phone last night," he says sternly, removing his shades and giving me a pointed stare. I watch the blond lift Harlee from the car seat and hold her on her hip while she closes the car door. Her tight purple dress clings to her curvy frame and I find herself wondering if she's had breast and arse implants. She totters on her high black heels, handing Harlee over to me with a kind smile.

"Hey baby girl, I missed you," I whisper, placing tiny kisses all over her face.

"Finnegan, how totally not lovely to see you," says Mya, stepping out beside me and smiling sarcastically.

"Mya, still a bitch I see," he retorts.

"Wow look at this piece of arse, did you pay for her to look this good for you?" Mya asks with a grin, pointing to the blond.

"We need to talk about this," I cut in, "We said no introducing Harlee to new relationships, Finn."

"Harlee loves Jenifer, don't you bunny," Finn smiles awkwardly at our daughter, and I wonder why it doesn't come naturally to him to love her, the way I do.

"That isn't the point, Finn, and you know it. I'll call you later so we can talk about this."

"Oh sweetie, what have you let yourself in for," Mya asks Jenifer, with a fake concern, "Don't you have parents that love you, that want the best for you? Because honey, he is not it and I feel like I should be the one to warn you under girl code or some shit, that this man," she says, pointing towards Finn, "Is a complete bastard."

Finn gets out of the car abruptly, slamming his door. "Shut the hell up bitch, I never liked you," he growls, making a beeline for Mya. Harlee snuggles into me, burying her face into my neck. It's a well-practised move I taught her, to avoid her seeing the anger in Finn.

Mya laughs and steps closer to Finn to show him she isn't scared. "Well, that's great because I never liked you either, you bullying piece of shit," she snarls.

"Is there a problem here?" comes Griffin's voice, and he saunters across the garden towards us, looking the picture of calm. "Because the body language ain't great from where I was watching," he adds, his eyes firmly fixed on Finn.

"Wow the great Eric Griffin Fenton," Finn says with a smirk, "How's your brother? I heard he got out early, was he a good boy or did he bend over for the guards and get a deal?"

Griff's eyes change and I see the subtle switch, telling me that things are about to turn to shit. I pass Harlee to Mya and move in front of Griff. "Go back inside Griff, this is my business."

"Your cards are marked. Ryder has a long memory, and you'll regret making him your target," he spits.

"Please don't threaten me. I'm not scared of you or your little gang," snaps Finn, and then he turns his anger on me, "And you, you'd better call me tonight or I'll be turning up for a little visit." I watch him get back into his car, Jenifer rushes to join him and he drives away at speed.

"Arsehole," mutters Griff.

"How do you know him exactly?" I ask, reeling from the fact that Griffin had just confirmed that Ryder was his actual blood brother.

"He's the most dishonest lawyer I've ever met and trust me I've met a few. Screwed my brother over and got him sent down for something he didn't do. Ryder's gonna make his life a misery."

"Starting with me?" I ask, wondering if that was the reason Ryder slept with me last night. All the pieces begin slotting into place.

Griff gives me a blank stare, clearly not understanding me. "Look, we're having a cookout at the clubhouse this evening. Kids welcome. Just a fun get together, why don't you and Mya come, bring Harlee, she'll love it."

"Yeah we'll be there," I answer, without hesitation. I'll get answers from the man himself because I need to make it clear he's not using me in his game against my ex.