22. Safety In Numbers

Chapter 22

Safety In Numbers

G rizz

I was standing at the window, peeking through the blinds. We'd driven about an hour north before we'd found a rundown motel that rented by the hour. We hadn't asked questions, and neither had anyone else. The cartel wouldn't come looking here, and even if they did, the pimps would drive them away. We'd only rented two connecting rooms, and by the sounds, their business hadn't been affected.

It was snug in the room. We'd rolled the bikes in, and there wasn't much space to maneuver. Twig was laying in the tub. He'd complained that there was too much noise, and he was a light sleeper. On one bed, Wreck was spooning Pretty. They needed to decide what they were doing, since they weren't actively hiding anything anymore. Sabre wouldn't give a damn, and anyone who dared to object would face his violent wrath. On the other bed, Meredith and Aunt E were sleeping. Berry and Snake claimed the beds in the other room. They said it was better than sleeping on the floor. I'd grabbed Snake on the way out as my riding buddy.

What a fucking night. It was far from over, and I had a feeling this was just the beginning. Looking back out the window through the slats in the blinds, I noticed the sun coming up. I'd give them a few more minutes, and then it was time to go.

I had already talked to Sabre. The plan was to text him when we left, and he'd ride out with a calvary to meet us. Safety in numbers. I planned on sorting this out when we got back .

A little guilt crept into my stomach. I'd made the decision to come get Meredith, but I shouldn't have included the other brothers. This was my mess, and my need to clean it up had only trapped the other men into this situation. At the same time, I didn't give two fucks. She wouldn't escape me. I would not let her outrun her shit. She was going to stand and fight it. I wanted to know what was going on, and at the end, she'd realize she belonged to me.

As my mind wandered to my kid, a small pair of hands wrapped around my middle, holding me tight. She laid her head in the middle of my back. I didn't want to move, but there was a still a part of me that was severely pissed off.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

"Later." I wanted to get back to the clubhouse, work all of this out, and then fuck her silly. I didn't share Sabre's dumbass philosophy. I had no problem fucking Meredith while she was pregnant. Hell, I'd probably fuck her more, and that was saying something. My kid was going to have to learn to share, and now was as good a time as any. I wrapped her hands in mine and brought them closer to my lips. Leaning over, I kissed her knuckles, and then broke our hold.

"Time to roll out."

***

Grace

I was laying on the couch when Sabre walked back into his office. I'd been awake for a little while, but I hadn't moved. Cyph was still clicking away at his computer, not really paying attention to anything but his screen. It was easy to see that he needed an intervention.

"Hey," Sabre said, as he patted him on the shoulder. "Head to bed."

"Nah, I got a few more things I want to look at." Cyph didn't even look up, nor did he stretch .

"Give it a rest," Sabre told him. "Head to bed. We'll work on this when I get back." There was no give in his voice, and Cyph packed up his laptop and walked out of the room, his decision overruled.

"You should have told me you were an experienced parent." I smiled as I shifted onto my side to look at him. He walked over to me, kissing my forehead.

"Mama," he sighed. "I feel kind of bad for my kid. He won't be able to pull any shit."

"It'll make him work harder." I laughed as I fluffed the pillow and lay back down. Sabre chuckled with me and sat on the floor near my belly.

"You hear that?" he said to my stomach. "Don't even think about it." He placed a kiss on my belly, laying his hand gently across the spot. "I know," he said, still talking to the baby. "You'll wrap your uncles around your little pinkie. Heaven help them when your mama gives them a niece." He raised his eyes to meet mine. "Grizz called, and they're okay. They spent a few hours in a seedy motel."

I said nothing as I reached down to interlock our fingers. He gave mine a squeeze but didn't let go.

"Are you ready for the ride?" I asked.

"Mostly. I've already spoken to the brothers who will ride out with me. They'll be ready in about an hour. Once Grizz calls again, they'll leave the motel, and we'll leave the clubhouse. Meet somewhere in the middle." He squeezed my fingers again. "There's no work today. I've closed the club businesses, so every brother has their assignment. The ones not riding with me will stay here to protect the club." He looked down at our hands and sighed. I could see that he was worried. These were his men, his brothers, and he took responsibility for them as their president. It made my heart want to reach out to comfort him. "I hate leaving you, mama. I absolutely despise it." He was still staring at our entwined fingers.

"I know, but I am safe here. They need you more right now." I was worried, but I wouldn't show weakness. This was the first time that Sabre needed my strength, and I wouldn't let him down .

"Mama, I've talked to Thunder and Chef. They're both former military, and I've asked that they be your personal bodyguards until I get back." Sabre sighed. His brow furrowed.

"Alright. If you think that's best." I wouldn't argue with him.

He laid his cheek against our hands. "I honestly don't know, and I think that's what's bothering me. I have these little pieces, and I have no clue how they go together. If I can't figure it out, how do I protect you? How do I protect our family?"

"I watched the officers work together earlier, spitting ideas back and forth. When you get back, you'll lead them again. It may not be in the next few days, but you'll figure it out. From there, I have every confidence that'll you know how to move forward. We have to. There's no other option."

He raised his head to look into my eyes. "You're right. We'll figure this out together." He leaned back over and kissed my belly again. Letting go of my fingers, he stood up from the floor and leaned down to kiss me. "Thank you," he whispered against my lips.

***

As I stood on the porch, my stomach was upset. It rumbled in time with the hum of the bikes. I couldn't shake this feeling of intense dread that today wouldn't be as simple as Sabre had made it seem. My heart pounded as negative thoughts took over my mind, the what ifs playing havoc on my emotions. I could't let him leave without giving him a piece of me to take with.

I stood between Thunder and Chef, but my feet moved on their own. I walked down the porch stairs and made my way in between the bikes that were lined up in two neat rows.

"Wait!" I called as I tried to move as fast as I could. It wasn't more than a waddle, but I tried to pick up the pace. "Wait!" I called again .

I could see Sabre up ahead, putting his helmet on. The rumble of the bikes blocked out any other sound. He wouldn't hear me. I tried again as I kept walking. "Wait!" I screamed.

The brothers must have heard me the last time because the bikes shut off in pairs, like a symphony. It was eerie as the yard went deadly silent. I didn't know if this was an omen of what was to come, but I tried to run to Sabre.

As the last couple of bikes turned off, Sabre realized that something was off. He quickly scanned over his men, looking for any reason they wouldn't be ready to ride. I called out to him, and this time, he turned toward me. A smile played at the corner of his lips. Laying his helmet on his seat, he made his way towards me.

We met in the middle, and I threw my arms around him. I tried to wiggle my way closer, but this was a bad angle. He shifted me to the left, and like puzzle pieces, we clicked together.

"I couldn't let you leave without telling you," I said, catching my breath. My chest was rising and falling in rapid succession. It might have been exertion or emotion. I didn't know which. "I need to tell you."

"Tell me what?" he asked. He held me tightly around my waist.

I looked up at him. The words wouldn't be enough. I needed him to know how much he meant to me. "I love you." It came out clear and crisp in the yard's silence. "I need you to know. I love you."

He swooped down and kissed me like tomorrow would never come. Right now, it didn't feel like it would. I could hear the brothers whooping and hollering, but I grabbed Sabre by the neck and returned the kiss.

His phone dinged with an incoming text. It had to be Grizz. They were ready to head out.

Sabre didn't check his phone, but he pulled back from my lips. Resting his forehead against mine, he drank me in as if he was thirsty, and I was the only glass of water he wanted.

"I love you," I whispered to him. "Bring them home." I kissed him lightly. "Come home safely." I pecked him again. "We'll be waiting for you, Daddy."

** *

Meredith

How could I have been so stupid? I was well aware of the fact that I had fucked up, but so had Grizz. I was still angry, and until I could figure out how to let it go, we'd be in this constant battle.

My aunt and I were sitting at the picnic table that was in front of the roadside diner we'd stopped at. There was a low roar rapidly approaching us. We watched as Sabre led the club into the lot, parking near the rear. He quickly dismounted and made his way over to us.

Sabre hugged Grizz, and I watched as they exchanged a few words. Turning together, they made their way over to the rest of the brothers. Sabre hugged Pretty, and I couldn't help the jealousy that deepened within my chest. Had Grace and I ever been that close? There were a few more words said, but we were too far to hear.

Sabre walked towards us, and my aunt stood to greet him. I didn't bother. I would not treat him like the white knight that rescued us. Fuck that!

"How are you, Aunt E?" he asked as he hugged her.

"I am fine, Sabre, but it has been quite the night. I am not sure I've ever had that much excitement," she said with a smile as she hugged him back. "How's my girl?"

"She's worried but good," he answered. Turning towards me, he nodded. "Meredith."

"Sabre," I said, just as coldly. Fuck you, asshole.

"We've brought a car so that the two of you will be more comfortable." He turned and whistled through his fingers at the rest of the club. "Pulse! Come here." I'd expected a kid to turn around, but I couldn't place Pulse's age. He had a baby face, like life hadn't kicked him around yet. However, his eyes told a different story .

When he reached us, Sabre clapped him on his shoulder. "Ladies, this is Pulse. He'll drive you back to the clubhouse." He turned towards the prospect. "You fuck this up, you won't patch in." Pulse turned a shade of green, and I almost made a wisecrack. My aunt stepped up to diffuse the situation.

"It's lovely to meet you, Pulse. We appreciate the ride," she said as she smiled at him.

"My pleasure, ma'am." The prospect had manners. What was he doing riding with a motorcycle club?

I was ready to be done with this shit, so I walked towards the car. I didn't know where they had gotten it from, but it smelled like old hamburgers when I opened the back door. Grace hadn't even bothered to lend us hers.

As I climbed in and went to shut the door, an enormous shadow passed over me. Grizz was blocking the door, and he crouched down so that he was at my eye level. "You're not going to say goodbye?" he asked me.

"We're going to the same place," I retorted with a snort.

"You're cute. I am going to have fun breaking that sass out of you." He was bouncing on his heels, his hands touching my thigh on the seat.

"Not interested."

"I am not walking away. Fuck, Mer! I am not letting you push me away, either. Once this is over, you're going to submit to me because that's what we both want."

I tried to close off my emotions. I wanted it with him, but I also wanted more. He was waiting for me to agree, but I didn't say a word. Shutting the door, I could hear him mutter every single curse word known to man.

It didn't take us long to move. My aunt was sitting in the passenger seat, Pulse was driving, and I was sitting with my back to the window behind him. The radio was playing some rock song, but I wasn't paying attention.

I was in my little world when the car turned to the left, suddenly. Pulse had turned around in the middle of the road, using one of the emergency turnarounds .

I tried to gauge the situation. My aunt was talking to Pulse. The brothers that had been behind us were following us, and at the back of the pack, I saw Grizz.

When I turned around again, that was when I realized what my aunt had been saying. She was trying to talk Pulse off a ledge as he balanced a gun on his knee, pointed at her.