Page 11 of Her Grumpy Biker
Diego nods, his blue eyes trained right on mine. I don’t see judgment or disgust in his gaze. He’s looking at me like hewants to know the source of my pain so he can destroy it. His thumb brushes against my knuckles, a silent encouragement to continue.
“Revenant has a compound up in the San Juan Mountains. My parents joined the church just before I was born, and I grew up on the compound with other extremely devout families. All the kids went to school at the church, and every social activity revolved around indoctrination. You were right when you said I was naive.”
“No, Camden, I–”
“I know you didn’t mean to hurt me,” I tell him with a small smile. I still can’t believe this man cares about me, let alone about hurting my feelings. Taking a deep breath, I look out the front window while I gather my thoughts. “But you’re right. I didn’t need to know how the world worked, how to be independent, or even how to think critically. If the Elders had it their way, women wouldn’t think at all.”
“Elders?” Diego asks. His voice is rough, causing me to look over at him. He furrows his brow and clenches his jaw. He looks livid, but I know his anger isn’t directed at me. I don’t think anyone has ever been upset on my behalf. I could get used to this.
“The five men in leadership,” I say in answer to his question. “The Elders have the final say in every decision, from what members can wear to who they marry. I didn’t know any other way of life until one of the kids snuck in a few banned books while in town at the library. I was fourteen at the time, and I devoured every word.”
A wistful smile tugs at my lips. It’s a bittersweet memory. Diego lifts a hand to my face and tucks a few strands of hair behind my ear. The gesture is sweet and unexpected, much like the rest of him, whether he’s willing to admit it or not.
“There were romance books, historical novels, mysteries, and even a textbook for high school-level chemistry,” I continue. “I got lost in the pages of those books and realized there were other ways to live. The outside world wasn’t this horrendously sinful abomination like I was always told. It’s full of people with rich stories and experiences different from mine. That’s when things got… complicated.”
I pause, trying to come up with a sanitized version of events for Diego. He doesn’t need to know all the sordid details.
“Tell me your truth, beautiful,” he murmurs. My cheeks flush with his new pet name for me. I love it. “The whole truth. You’re not going to scare me away.”
Tears gather in my eyes, and Diego looks horrified for a moment, but I squeeze his hand in reassurance. “You knew exactly what I was thinking,” I tell him. “I just… I don’t want to be… too much.” I shrug and break eye contact with him.
Diego gently cups my chin and tilts my face up so we’re eye to eye. “You’re perfect, Camden. You’re not too much. I want to know your story so I know how to take care of you.”
I try looking away from his intense gaze, but I can’t. My face burns under his scrutiny, making me incredibly self-conscious. Diego never looks away, nor does he drop his gentle hold on my chin. He simply sits with me in silence, letting me know without words that I can trust him with every part of me.
“We were caught reading the banned books by the stream one day. I knew our parents and the Elders would be upset, but I had no idea they would keep us under lock and key in the basement of the main building for two weeks.”
“Fuck,” Diego mutters. His muscles tense, then he takes a calming breath. I can tell he’s trying to keep himself in control, but truthfully, it’s nice to know he’s as repulsed by their actions as I was.
“We had food and water and everything, but we were isolated from each other and our families with only the Bible and our assigned Elder to watch over us. When we were released, the Elders held a book-burning ceremony to reinforce in our minds where people who read books like those end up - in a fiery hellscape. The incident broke the other girls. They kept their heads down and their voices quiet. I, on the other hand, was outraged. I wanted to be like the strong heroines I read about, and I knew I’d never get the chance if I stayed there.”
“I can’t imagine what that must have been like,” Diego whispers. “I’m sorry you grew up like that.”
I shrug, not sure how to handle all of his attention and validation.
“I ran away for the first time a year later, right after my fifteenth birthday. Then again, when I turned sixteen, and one last time on my seventeenth birthday. My so-called friends ratted me out each time, even though they knew the kind of punishment I’d receive once I was captured and brought back.”
“Punishment?”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “Disobedient children who didn’t learn from instructions were taught lessons with belt buckles and the back of their father’s hand.”
Diego growls and runs his fingers through his shoulder-length brown hair. “Never again,” he vows. “You’ll never know pain like that again, Camden. I swear, I’ll break the hands of the man who dared to touch you out of anger. Fucking hell.”
I take his hand in mine and rest it in my lap. I believe every word he says.
“I realized if I ran, I’d always be tracked down. So, I waited. I planned it all out and saved up money over the next few years. Eventually, I had enough to get a cheap car and pay for a deposit on an apartment. I did research on small towns in Colorado with affordable living and job opportunities. When I called Evie andasked about a job at Tall Tales, she said I could start as soon as I got to town. It felt like a sign, you know?”
Diego nods and strokes the inside of my wrist in a calming gesture.
“I called a meeting with the Elders and my parents and told them I was leaving. I reminded them I’m twenty-one, a full-grown adult, and I have the right to leave. My father protested at first, but the Elders knew what I was hinting at. As a minor, I was legally bound to my parents and the life they chose for me. As an adult, I could make a call to the police and tell them I’m being held against my will. I didn’t know all the details and shady dealings of the cult, and I still don’t. However, I knew enough that the vague threat of the law coming in and scrutinizing the compound wouldn’t be good for them. The Elders granted me permission to leave, even though we all knew it was my decision, not theirs.”
“So brave,” my tall, dark, and sweet biker says. “And smart. You went toe to toe with your enemies and defeated them at their own game.”
I shake my head and look down at my lap. “Not smart enough,” I sigh. “It turns out life is a lot more expensive than I planned for. Utilities? Gas prices? And good lord, groceries are outrageously expensive. I’m still waiting on my first official paycheck from the bookstore, and I have less than ten dollars to my name. When my landlord told me about a job that paid cash on the same day, I thought it was a great opportunity. Obviously, it was stupid to blindly trust him.”
“That doesn’t make you stupid, Camden. I don’t want you thinking that about yourself anymore.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, then nudges my head up with his nose. Our lips are inches apart, and I can taste his minty breath. “There are cruel people in this world, but you’ve shown me there are also good people with pure hearts. You’ve also shown me that peoplecan change.” I give him a questioning look. “I’vechanged since meeting you,” he clarifies. “I thought I was condemned to a life of bitterness and darkness, but then you smiled at me. You soothed my fears. You gave me something to hope for the first time in… god, I can’t even remember. But since knowing you, I actually look forward to waking up each morning because it’s another chance to see you.”
“Diego,” I gasp. “You really mean that,” I say more to myself. This time, it’s Diego who blushes. It’s kind of adorable on him and actually makes me less embarrassed about my own blush.
