Page 36 of Rox

She gets up from the chair beside me and walks over to her dad. He stands and pulls her into his embrace. I can’t hear whathe says to her, but I watch as her body melts into his. I looked around at the men who all agreed keeping her safe was priority one. None of them were against it. All of them want to find the person responsible for what’s been done to her. And every single one has the same expression—what is happening?

When they pull apart, Rox quickly wipes her eyes before she smiles at him. “I know this is a lot, okay? Let’s put a pin in it for now. I want to do something.”

“What’s that, Dad?”

He doesn’t answer. He grabs his phone out of his cut and after a moment, music comes blaring out of the little speaker. It takes a moment, but I recognize the music for “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett. The guys, except for Angel, all look as confused as me, but Rox looks like a whole new person. She and Dizz start singing and dancing, and for a moment, I see a woman without a single care in the world. Every worry she’s ever had is no longer on her shoulders.

She looks incredible.

There’s an air around her. It looks like freedom. For three minutes, I see who she truly is without any inhibitions. Zero dangers are lingering in the dark. It’s her and her dad. He’s no longer the President of an MC. He’s the man who raised her and knows her best.

When the song ends, they both breathe hard before they turn to us. Her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink while Dizz locks down.

“Prez, I love you, man, but I hope you never had the dream of being a singer,” Duck tells him. Laughter fills the room as Rox makes her way over to me. She quickly kisses me, tells me she’ll see me at my house, and leaves. The door closes, and I turn back to Dizz.

“What’s the plan, Prez?”

He looks around at all of us, “Exactly what we said it is. Her life means more than her being mad at me or any of us. But Mimic, can you handle it?”

“Without a doubt.”

Eighteen

Roxie

Times like now make me happy to have the family I do. Sure, we’ve had our issues and our moments, but I’m thankful. Losing my house and everything I had put everything in my life into a new perspective. I sympathized with others in the worst way due to the worst things. Now, I have this, too. It’s an entirely new type of pain.

But the same as before, I have support.

Looking around the room, I smile at the piled bags. My mom and Mama Judy went through the supplies we have for the families and were able to find me enough to get by. Staying with Max, I’ve learned wearing his clothes is also a new favorite of mine. Plus, I didn’t want them to spoil me in the way they would and give me more than they should. They gave me enough to get by, and I intend to replace everything they gave me.

Max bought me a dresser, and getting it organized isn’t something I’m looking forward to. It solidifies that I don’t have my home anymore. But ultimately, living with him was the best choice for me. I miss what I had. I worked hard for my home,and moving on from it isn’t easy. Such is life, though. Plus, being able to be with Max a lot more isn’t a bad thing—just a new thing.

Standing in my bra and panties, I feel as if I’m intruding. His home is his space; I’m only in it because mine was taken from me. This moment in our relationship was supposed to come later, not moments after we started. We were supposed to have that awkward, long-drawn-out talk about why it’s what we should do. He was supposed to give me all the reasons why. I was supposed to give him the why-nots even though we both knew we’d live together.

Are we moving too fast? Yes, but it’s not because it is what we both wanted. It’s all because of everything that’s out of my control. If there’s anything I hate most in this world, it’s not being in control of my life. Exhibit A: All the fights I’m picking with everyone because they’re trying to control aspects of my life.

Sighing, I do what I need to. I smile as I pull a bag toward me because my family is the best. Mom and Mama Judy didn’t waste a moment getting me what I needed. It’s time for me to stop sulking and start doing. It takes me a moment, but I find something to wear. I need to feel somewhat normal, given my situation, which means going to work in a few hours.

Can it be considered normal at all, though, when I know Max is currently taking a call from my dad in the other room about following me around? I can, I will, and I have told them until I was blue in the face that I didn’t need an escort. I’m okay on my own, but they’re not going to listen. And, as I mentioned before, I hate when others attempt to control my life.

“Rox,” his rough voice makes me jump. I close my eyes as I compose myself. I’m sure he’s doing the same if the tone of his voice is anything to go by. It seems as if we’re both waiting for afight to come. I’m not one to back down, and yeah, Imightjump in before I should.

Like now.

“You and the worry wart, also known as my father, don’t need to hover over me. I can hold my own.” I don’t look at him. I still need to find clothes, and even if this is about to turn into an argument, I won’t be able to handle even an ounce of hunger in his eyes.

“I have no doubt when push comes to shove, you would be on the winning side of a fight.”

I hear him walk further into the room. His hands land on my hips, sending a rush up my spine. More than once, we have found ourselves in this position. Somehow, always with less clothing on.Be strong, Roxie. This is why you didn’t look at him.

“Then why are you guys having me tailed, watched, stalked, whatever you want to call it, by every brother in the club?” I ask him, pushing myself back into him. When my back touches his front, I push my ass back into his crotch. His cock already hard beneath his jeans.

“Because we don’t want you to have to defend yourself,” he kisses my neck as his hands start to roam. “There’s no doubt you can, but we want to protect you. We want to keep you safe. It has nothing to do with your ability and everything to do with our need to protect you. I don’t know if you know this, but everyone kinda loves you.” Max starts to rub himself on my ass, and I can feel him getting harder and harder the longer we do this dance.

“I love them too, but I feel like their time is better slotted elsewhere. I’ve seen some shit in my life and learned the ways to handle it.” I straighten up and spin so I’m facing him. I lay my arms softly on his shoulders, and my fingers dance in his messy hair.

“I see we’re gonna do this the hard way,” Max murmurs. He burrows his face in my neck and slaps my ass before he picks me up and tosses me on the bed.

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