CHAPTER TWENTY

Elaina—

Someone shuts off the music that's coming from the bar, and the sudden silence is deafening after all the gunfire and screams from a moment ago. I'm shaking, and so is Rosie.

The men rush out the door to pursue, but there's so much damage to their bikes, they can't leave. When they stalk inside, I can hear them making plans.

Rock has a pickup parked around back. They're going to take that and go out after these guys, who they've identified as the Rat Boys.

The women all gather.

Baja approaches me and cups the back of my neck, his face dipping low.

"I've gotta go. Rock's leaving some men here to protect you. But I don't think there's any chance they'll come back here."

I clutch at his wrist, his words sending another fresh fear through me. What if something happens to him? What if he doesn't come back? "I don't want you to go."

His eyes soften. "I have to, baby. You know that."

I nod, and he kisses me, then we hug each other tight, but it's over too soon, and he's striding toward the door.

I watch him until he disappears, and then my knees almost buckle. This can't be happening.

Isabella puts her arm around me. "They'll be fine."

I know she means to comfort me, but I shake my head. "You don't know that."

She rubs my shoulder. "You have to stay positive. If you think about what could happen, it'll drive you crazy. I know."

Kate walks over. "I heard someone say they were able to get the info from the plates you got on camera. They've got some addresses."

"They could be gone for hours."

I move to the doorway and watch the crew cab pickup pull out.

Rock's driving. Darko's in the passenger seat. Trez and Baja are in the bed of the pickup, which means Utah and Memphis are in the back of the crew cab. Wildman, T-Bone, Night Train, and the prospects remain here, guarding the clubhouse and all of us.

The prospects carry in some plywood and start boarding the windows.

Evelyn guides me toward the hallway. "Come on. We're going to hole up in Rock's office."

I follow along with the other women, Rosie at my heels.

Evelyn unlocks the door, and we all troop inside.

I take a spot on the loveseat, and Rosie lays at my feet. Isabella sits next to me, and Kate takes the chair. Evelyn moves behind the desk and opens a drawer.

"I knew it." She pulls up a bottle of whiskey and sets up five shot glasses, filling them, while Lola bends at the fireplace and tosses in one of those logs in a bag, lighting the corner.

It soon flames to life, warming the room.

Lola passes out the shots, then turns one of the chairs facing the desk around to face us. Evelyn comes around to take the other and lifts her glass in the air.

"Bottoms up, ladies. It'll calm your nerves."

We all drink, and I make a face at the harsh liquor.

"Does this kind of thing happen a lot?" I ask.

"No," Lola replies. "Usually, it's quiet and boring."

Isabella puts a hand on my knee. "Things will be okay."

Lola points her shot glass at me. "Don't let Baja throw up walls after this."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"It's his MO. He pushes women away."

"Why?"

She motions toward the front of the clubhouse. "Because of shit like tonight. He doesn't want to drag someone he cares about into this life because of it." She studies my reaction.

"You see, he once—" Kate starts, but Lola cuts her off.

"That's a story for Baja to tell, Kate."

"Oh, you're right. Sorry."

I can't help wondering what they're not telling me. Right now, I'm not sure how to feel. I absolutely don't like the fact that he's out there right this minute chasing down these guys. I also don't like the fact that something as simple as a sticker on his truck—because it indicates his MC—can draw such violence from the wrong people. I can't help the fear that crosses my mind. Am I picking the wrong man again? "It this what my life will be if I stay with him?"

"Of course not," Evelyn says.

Lola cocks her head. " Are you thinking of staying with him?"

"I don't know. Maybe. But after what you said, maybe he doesn't want me to stay. He said he did, but—"

"Look," Lola cuts in, "if you want that man, you're going to have to fight for him."

"What do you mean? Like fight off strippers like Desiree?" I snap with attitude.

Isabella sucks in a gasp. "What happened with Desiree?"

I cock a brow. "She came by the house. Seemed like she thinks she's staked her claim on him."

"Well, she hasn't," Isabella insists. "Trez and Baja are best friends. Have been for years." She waves her hand dismissively. "She doesn't mean anything to him, I assure you."

"How do you know?" I ask.

"He's never brought her around our house. Never introduced her to me, and he would have if she meant anything to him. I mean, I know some of those dancers from the Cherry Bomb hangout at the clubhouse now and then, but mostly that's just because the club owns the strip club."

"Let's change the subject," Evelyn suggests. "What are you all wearing to the Halloween party on Saturday?"

"Will they still have it?" I ask. "I mean, after the damage tonight, I thought it would be canceled."

"Oh, we're still having it," Evelyn assures me. "The boys aren't getting out of it that easy. Rock will get the windows fixed."

Lola points at me. "And we're still picking you up tomorrow for girl's day out. Don't forget. We're getting costumes and hitting happy hour."

"You girls are all crazy. They're out right now, possibly getting shot. How can you think about anything else?"

"Because thinking about the other is stressful. You sign up for this ride, you have to know what you're signing up for. We have to take this kind of stuff in stride," Kate says.

"Exactly," Evelyn agrees. "You take the man, you take the club." She grabs the bottle off the desk and refills my shot glass. "Drink up, kid."

Take the man, take the club. I let a sip of whiskey warm me and think about if I'm ready to make that deal.

Two hours pass, and I'm staring at the fire that's now burned to embers.

Lola slaps her knee and almost snorts whiskey out of her nose at the joke Kate just made about the costume Utah wore last year.

"He had those strappy Roman sandals on that went all the way to his knobby knees," Kate says, and Lola laughs so hard she can't reply, but only nods and points at Kate.

Suddenly, Rosie moves to the door, cocking her head.

Evelyn checks her phone. "They're back."

We all head out the door. The women stroll through, but all I want to do is push past them and run. How can they be so calm?

When we spill into the great room, the men come through the front door.

I spot Baja and dash across the room to him, checking his clothing for blood. He sweeps me in his arms, and I cling to him.

His mouth dips close to my ear. "I'm okay, baby. Everyone is okay."

"I was so worried," I mutter against his chest.

He rocks me and pats my back. "It's all good."

"Did you catch them?" I can't help asking.

"Babe, it's over. That's all you need to know. I can't talk about it, okay?"

It's not okay. None of this is okay, but I am thankful he's come back to me in one piece.

He pulls away and stares into my eyes. "Let's go home, okay?"

"But your bike…? I thought they were all damaged."

"Mine just has a flat. I'll get it fixed tomorrow. In the meantime, one of the prospects is going to run us home in Rock's truck."

"What about everyone else?" I ask.

"Some of them are staying here. Some the prospect will come back for."

"Oh." I turn and find Isabella waiting to give me a hug.

"I told you everything would be fine," she whispers in my ear. "Remember what we told you. Don't let him put up walls." Then she pulls back and smiles at me.

"Thanks," I murmur.

Baja makes a clicking sound. "Come on, Rosie." Then he leads me out the door, Rosie on our heels, and we load up in Rock's pickup.

I get my first look at the outside of the clubhouse and see the damage that was done. The bikes have all been moved to the back, probably by the prospects while we were in Rock's office. But what draws my attention are the pretty logs now splintered and pockmarked with holes in horizontal lines from all the rapid gunfire.

Just moments before the attack happened, we were all standing out here, having just dismounted from the bikes. If those men had attacked a minute or two earlier, everyone could be dead.

When we return home, just like the girls warned me, Baja is distant.

When I try to kiss him, he mutters an excuse that he needs a shower.

I offer to join him, but even that doesn't tempt him, when I know it would have just yesterday. I try to push, like the girls told me, but he's not having any of it. When I try to kiss him again, he brushes my hands aside.

"Quit," he snaps.

I stare at him in shock, and then his face melts.

"I'm sorry, Elaina. I didn't mean it like that. My nerves are shot tonight."

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

"I'm just tired. Please don't read any more into it."

I study his eyes. They are tired, with lines radiating out. "Okay."

He dips to brush a kiss on my lips. "I don't want you out in the garage apartment anymore, okay?"

"Okay." I stare over his shoulder at his room.

"Why don't you lie down? It'll be a while before I come to bed. Feel free to grab one of my t-shirts to sleep in."

I nod, giving him the space he seems to need.

He disappears into the bathroom, and I hear the shower come on.

I take one of his t-shirts and strip to my panties, then slip under the covers. I fall asleep waiting for him.

Sometime during the night, he must come to bed, because I roll against a body. Peering in the light from the other room, I can see he's wearing a pair of sweatpants and no shirt. He's on top of the covers but sound asleep. Rosie lays at the end of the bed, making herself right at home.

I cuddle against Baja, rest my head on his chest, and wrap my arm across him. In the dim moonlight, his ink-covered chest and abs are perfect. No marks, no scars. I thank God for that and wonder if I'll be able to break down the walls he's building.

If tonight's violence reiterates to him why he can't bring me into his life, I'm not sure there's any hope for us.