Chapter 3

LIZZY

Imake my way downstairs with Meli balancing on my hip. I haven't slept that well in weeks and neither has Meli. She seems so content here, and the thought of going back to living in my car fills me with dread.

I enter the kitchen and smile at the grown men surrounding the table all tucking into breakfast. I go to turn to leave, unsure whether I'm welcome. "Nuh-uh, no, you don't, Lizzy. Take a seat and I'll plate you some up," Maggie shouts as she piles up more food on Drifter's plate.

I offer her a smile and take a seat next to Rock as it's the only space left at the table. "Thanks, but you really don't have to."

"Nonsense. You need some meat on you," she says while handing me a plate off the kitchen side. Rock finishes his last mouthful of food and turns to me.

"Pass her here. I'll watch her while you get some breakfast." I observe the other bikers at the table who stare in bemusement at his offer.

"Are you sure?" I whisper.

"Sure thing." He reaches over, taking her off my knee. "Come on, princess, let's give your mum a chance to eat her breakfast," he says as he gets up from the table. My heart swells. Not even her dad had the time of day for her, so watching Rock treat my little girl like she's been a part of his life for a long time melts my heart.

Maggie overfills my plate, and I'm sure she thinks she's feeding an army, but my stomach rumbles and she offers me a small smile. "This is Gears," she says, placing her hand on his shoulder. "He's taking care of your car for you."

He rubs the back of his neck. "Morning," he grunts with a mouthful.

Maggie slaps him round the back of the head. "Manners!" I grin across at her, wondering how the hell she keeps all these big, burly bikers in order.

"Sorry, Mumma Bear," he groans after he finishes the food in his mouth. "Morning, Lizzy, lovely to meet you. I had a look at your car yesterday and it doesn't look good. There're some engine management lights that need sorting, but I can't get to that ‘til I've ordered the parts. It looks like it could be a few days."

I think over what he's telling me, and although I'm relieved at another couple nights in a warm bed, I've learnt that I can never stay still too long else Darius will find me.

"It's okay, though. You can stay here, right, Drifter?" Maggie questions.

"Of course, as long as it takes," he replies.

"Erm . . . thank you." I move the food around my plate, suddenly losing my appetite. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but any idea how long?"

"As soon as I have the parts, I'll let you know," Gears answers, shovelling another forkful of food into his mouth.

I eat a few mouthfuls, but anxiety begins to get the better of me. I'm worried about what Darius will do if he finds me. When I'm in my car, I move around a lot, never parking up in the same place twice so he can't track me down. As if sensing my unease, Rochelle reaches across the table, grabs my hand, and gives it a gentle squeeze. I offer her a weak smile in an attempt to reassure her. She's been nothing but kind to me and she really doesn't need my drama knocking at the club's door.

It's been a few days since I heard anything about my car, and if I'm honest, I'm relieved. I feel comfortable here. They've all accepted me as one of their own . . . well, all accept the club whores. They see me as some sort of threat. Meli is in her element. She's never been so relaxed anywhere before, and it's nice to see her flourish.

Rochelle and I have become close over the last few days, and she has been a godsend, helping out with my daughter. I know she'll make an amazing mum one day. I've never really been allowed friends, so having someone to lean on has made a huge difference to me. I dread them telling me my car's repaired and I need to be on my way.

And Rock, this huge biker, seems to consume my every thought. I want nothing more than to make a move, but he doesn't know the real me or the world I'm so desperately trying to escape. I'm lost in my thoughts when the doors swing open, crashing into the plasterboard. As I look up at the commotion, dread fills me. I grip Meli to my chest, my throat closes, and he takes a few short strides towards me.

Darius's frame towers over me. He's found me.

I tremble under his watchful eyes. "You fucking bitch," he bellows as he grabs me by the roots of my hair and pulls me to stand, "thinking you could hide out with my daughter with these fucking arseholes." I hold Meli closer to me as she kicks and screams to get out of my grasp.

Rochelle rushes from the bar. "Who the fuck are you?" she spits, and I look across at her, pleading with my eyes to leave it. I'd never forgive myself if he harms her.

The door to where the bikers have been holding church crashes open. "What the fuck is going on?" Drifter shouts, taking in the scene in front of him.

Rock follows behind him, looking positively pissed. He strides across to us, his jaw twitching and his fists clenched. "Take your fucking hands off her," he shouts, and Drifter is by his side in minutes.

Darius laughs maniacally, gripping my hair tighter and dragging me towards the exit. I scream as I feel the strands beginning to pull out at the roots. "She belongs to me. That's my pussy and my fucking daughter," Darius spits.

Rock places himself between us and the exit. "She isn't going anywhere with you," he growls, blocking the doorway. "Final warning."

"Is that so? And what are you and your fucking goons going to do about it?"

Before I know it, Rock has pulled back his arm and his fist crashes into Darius's nose. He instinctively lets go of my hair and covers his busted nose. I wrap my arms around Meli as Rochelle does the same to me, walking us away as Rock continues to rain blows down on Darius.

I've done this. This is my fault.

"I'm so sorry, Rochelle," I cry, and she places her arm around my shoulders.

"You have nothing to apologise for," she announces while leading me up to the bedroom.

ROCK

This prick's nose pisses with blood. He eyes me, and I dare him to test my ability to put him on his arse. Seeing his hands on Red made me lose my shit. No man should ever touch a woman like that, especially one I've come to feel something for. Who does this arsehole think he is, coming into this fucking clubhouse and dragging a woman out by her hair?

"You'll pay for this," he grumbles, spitting blood onto the floor. "You don't know who you're fucking messing with."

I flex my knuckles, inspecting the damage. "Don't let the door kick you on the way out, you prick," I retort.

He walks away with one arm wrapped around his chest where I've clearly broken a few ribs and another holding his busted nose.

"Not seen you lose your shit like that in a long time, brother," Drifter says, grabbing my shoulder.

"Well, you didn't have me as your Enforcer for no reason, right?" I smirk, and he throws his head back, laughing.

"Brother, you like her, don't you?" I side-eye him and sigh. It's pointless hiding anything from him.

"I don't know what it is about her, Pres. It's like I'm a moth being drawn to the flame." I sit on a stool at the bar, and he follows me.

"Sometimes, Rock, you just know."

"She isn't from this world, though, Pres."

"That may be so, but over the last few days, she's fitted in pretty well. And by the looks of what just happened, she could do with being a part of this world."

I place my head in my hands. What the fuck? I'm well and truly pussy whipped and I haven't even had a taste yet. But I've not been able to fuck a club whore either. Every time I close my eyes, I see Red's piercing blue eyes watching me, taunting me.

I make my way upstairs to check on her. As I open the door, I spot her sitting on the bed. Her eyes are puffy, letting me know she's been crying.

Rochelle sits on the bed next to her with Meli in her arms.

"Can you give us a minute, please?" I ask Rochelle, and she gives me a nod as she stands with Meli.

"Be gentle," she whispers as she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.

Red looks away, twisting her hands in her lap, not wanting to make eye contact. I approach the bed, kneel in front of her, and place my hand over hers, stopping her fidgeting. She looks up at me. Her eyes are full of pain, and it makes my heart twist. "I'm so sorry," she whispers, her voice wavering.

I reach up, placing a stray hair behind her ear, and she leans into my touch. "There's no need to apologise."

"There is. Me staying here has caused trouble." She pauses, biting nervously at her lips. "It's only going to get worse. He won't leave it."

"Then let him come back." I stand and sit on the bed as her eyes follow me. "You don't have to go anywhere or do anything with him that you don't want to." She looks away, and I feel her pulling away from me. I grab her face gently, drawing her attention back to me. "But," I hesitate because I don't want to push her, "I need to know everything. I can't protect you if I don't know what the fuck is going on."

She presses her lips into a firm line and straightens her shoulders. "I don't need fucking saving," she snaps. "I was doing fine without you."

I run my hands through my dishevelled hair. "Sure fucking looked that way, Red," I bark and stand abruptly from the bed. She flinches slightly but soon regains her composure.

"You men always think us women can't do shit for ourselves, always feeling the need to be fucking Rambo to protect us."

"He was pulling you out this fucking clubhouse by your hair and you want me to apologise for punching the cunt?" There's no way I'm apologising for protecting what's mine. Even if she doesn't know she's mine yet . . . she soon will.

"He's a fucking judge," she screams, standing from the bed with her fists clenched. "He's going to have you arrested and it's all my fucking fault for staying here. For once in my life, I felt safe. I felt protected. Meli was relaxed and now . . ." She turns away from me as her voice wavers. "And now, I've got to leave again."

I approach from behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her against me. She tries to move away, but her small frame is no use against me. A small sob escapes her lips. "You aren't going anywhere, Red," I whisper in her ear, and her body instantly relaxes against mine. "He doesn't intimidate me, whether he's a judge or not. He's a nobody to me. You think being arrested scares me, Red?"

"I can't have you going to prison because of me, Rock." She whimpers as her head leans into my chest.

I laugh, and she looks up at me. "It won't be the first time and it's certainly not gonna be the last. I will do anything to protect what's mine."

She turns to look at me and frowns. "What's yours, eh?" I place a gentle kiss on her lips, hoping to hell she doesn't push me away. When she doesn't, my tongue darts out and she parts her lips, kissing me back with the same force.

I break the kiss and rest my head against hers. "You are now, Red," I whisper. She reaches up on her toes to kiss me again, and I lift her at the waist. She wraps her legs around me as we deepen our kiss. My cock strains painfully against my jeans, and I'm not sure how long I'll last before I shoot my load. This is all I've thought about since I met her.