Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

RYANN

"Damnit, Vaeh, that cat is a demon-possessed," Mayhem shouts, jumping around and wiggling a leg like he's got something in his pants leg.

I glance down to see a pretty orange kitten latched on his jeans.

"Oh my god, who's kitten?" I ask, wishing I could find one just like it.

"It's Nevaeh's kitten," Sabotage answers, tucking me closer to his side. "Some guys named Milo and Jasper gave it to her for her birthday."

Instantly, I find it hard to breathe, knowing I'd completely forgotten Nevaeh's birthday. She might not remember telling me, but she'd told me her birthday and that she couldn't stand her birthday because of what happened.

I get it. I totally get it, and it sucks.

"Mayhem, stop before you hurt Gizmo," Nevaeh snaps, glaring and stomping toward Mayhem, Maverick right on her heels. "If you hurt my cat, I'm going to hurt you."

"The cat's a damn menace," Mayhem grumbles. "I was minding my own fuckin' business, and the damn thing attacked me."

"Maybe you should bribe him," Pirate suggests, getting to Mayhem before Nevaeh. "Come on, little man," he coos. Actually, he uses a baby talk voice with the kitten, which seems to work ‘cause in the next second, Gizmo lets go, jumps to the floor, and moves to Pirate.

"Unbelievable," Nevaeh yells, throws her arms in the air, and pivots to face Maverick, who's giving her a shit-eating grin. "Pirate is stealing my cat from me."

"Vaeh, baby," he starts, but she whips back around, stomps to Pirate, and yanks her cat away from him. "Stop stealing Gizmo."

"Babe, I'll file for joint custody of him," Pirate states, planting his hands on his hips.

"Whatever," Nevaeh snaps and twists once again, but this time, she stops when she sees me. "Ryann," she gasps, gives Gizmo to Maverick, and rushes across the room.Sabotage barely lets me go before she's got her arms around me. "I'm so glad you're okay." Her words are no more than a breath in my ear.

"Me too," I whispered right back.

Nevaeh pulls back, and Sabotage secures me back in his arms while I look at the cat. "Gizmo is cute."

"Thanks." She smiles.

"Gorgeous," Sabotage calls, giving me a squeeze.

I glance up, and he jerks his chin in a direction. I slowly look that way to see my mom and brother standing there. Tears in my mom's eyes, and a strange look in Ryland's.

"Come on," Sabotage urges, taking us a step forward.

My brother keeps an arm around my mom, and I see she wants to rush forward. I'm glad he does this because right now, I'm freaking out.

Mom's gaze goes between Sabotage and me, something unreadable.

A part of me wants to run. Go back upstairs to Sabotage's room. Back to what we were doing in his bed. Or better in the shower. That was fun. He hadn't restrained himself, well, not entirely. I'd gotten to feel his hands on me, and it had been heaven.

After our shower, we stepped out to find a bag with my clothes in it on the bed. Someone had gone to the house and packed me a bag, which was nice of them. I didn't want to have to borrow clothes.

Thankfully, there were jeans and leggings both. I went with my jeans and a tank top. It's hot out, and I know the clubhouse stays pretty warm even with the AC on because of so many people in and out. I matched these with a pair of flip-flops, and I threw my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head.

Sabotage stops us about two feet from my mom, allowing me the space I need. Viking comes up on the other side of me.

"Risk, Warrant, ma'am," Sabotage greets.

"Took you long enough to get down here," my brother mutters.

"Hush," Mom says, swatting at Ryland's hand, steps forward, hands coming up.

I suck in a breath as she cups either side of my face. "My baby," she whispers.

"Mom," I croak, struggling to get anything out past the lump in my throat.

Mom makes a noise in the back of her throat and launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around me, forcing Sabotage to have to let go. He may have done this, but I can still feel his heat on my back. Tears I never thought I'd shed again stream down my cheeks as my mom sobs.

"You're safe. Alive," she says between sobs and holding onto me.

I close my eyes and hold onto her, allowing her to get it out. I get it was selfish of me not to let her know two years ago that I was safe and alive. Not only did I lose the time I could've had, but she suffered. She and Ryland both had to live with not having the answers they both deserved.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I whisper and open my eyes, lifting them to meet Ryland's, seeing the hard look in his eyes. He might be glad to see me, but I know he's probably pissed at me.

Honestly, I wouldn't blame him. I couldn't even if I wanted to. No matter how we've always bickered growing up, he was always looking out for me. Always. He's my big brother.

Ryland nods, and that's that. He's over it and forgives me. Granted, he probably most likely won't ever be forgetting any of this. There's no way I'd forget, so I'm sure he won't either. Though our reasons are definitely different.

"Why don't you two sit at a table?" Sabotage suggests long moments later once my mom's sobbing ceases.

I nod, and Ryland moves in to take my mom, and Sabotage wraps an arm around me once again, guiding me to a table. Sabotage pulls a chair out for me, and almost instantly two mugs of coffee were set on the table by Fawn.

"Gorgeous, you gonna be okay while your brother and I attend to business?"

I knew what that was code for and that I didn't need to ask what that was to pertain to. Even if it's about me, which I'm sure it does.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I remark, nodding and tilting my head back to be able to look at him.

Sabotage holds my gaze long enough to assure himself that I meant it. He must see what he needs to because, in the next second, he's dipping his head down to touch his lips to mine. "Be back soon then. If you need me, just let one of the prospects know."

"Brother, I'll stick around and keep an eye," Scorpion announces. "Something happens, I'll let you know."

Scorpion, I knew, wasn't just a club member and brother to Sabotage. He was one of Sabotage's best friends. The two of them are tight and look out for each other the same way Rock and Sabotage do.

"Appreciate it," Sabotage grunts, not taking his eyes away from mine. "You need me, gorgeous . . ."

"I know," I murmur, nodding. "Go ahead. I'll be okay."

"Right," he remarks, leans in, and presses his forehead against mine briefly before pulling away completely.

I watch him as he walks away, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I'm bruised, and my body hurts, but still, I can't help but admire the fine ass he has.

The one and only time we'd had sex, I dug my nails into that ass while he took me deep.

I probably shouldn't even be thinking about sex with him, but who can blame me? Sabotage is hot.

Once he's out of sight, I return my attention to my mom as Fawn and the others join us. I'm thankful for them. In a way, these women aren't just my friends, they're my family. All of them, including Shyann and Apricot.

Each of them introduced themselves to my mom, easing the way for me so I don't have to tell my mom what happened. I'm sure she wants to know, but honestly, that's something I don't think I can tell her. Not ever. It would probably break her to know what I went through. Which is something I don't ever want to see happen. Maybe that's why I didn't want her to know I was alive. I'd been gone so long she was able to move on.

It was selfish.

Regardless, what's done is done. There's no changing it.

While everyone talks, I allow myself to think more about Sabotage and what's going on between the two of us. As much as I want to believe him. Believe what he says, I'm struggling with this because what happens when he tells me we're through and tosses me to the side? What would I do then?

What happened between us, I was able to live with it, but if we keep it up and start over, it'll change everything.

That scares me more than what happened over the past several days because I know the truth. Unlike the others who hurt me, Sabotage has the power to break me in ways I'll never come back from.