Page 48 of Joyride
29
Wren
This morning,we had a recap in the shower before going to visit Cali and Buster at the hospital. We spent a couple hours with them, getting lots of baby Caden snuggles. Sketch couldn’t stay long because he had to get to Savage Repairs to help out there for a few hours. He left me at the hospital with Mouse to escort me back to the clubhouse.
“Mouse, we need to stop by my apartment before going to the clubhouse. I need to get some clothes.”
“You got it.” He climbs onto his bike while I slip into Sketch’s car. He’s been letting me drive it since we got back. Unless I’m going somewhere with him, then I’m on the back of his bike.
With Sketch working at Savage Repairs to cover for Buster, we decided to stay at the clubhouse. It’s right by the shop and I can hang out at the clubhouse or Minx’s house while Sketch works.
When we pull up to the apartment, I invite Mouse to come in. It could take me a while to pack. As I’m packing a bag, my phone vibrates with an incoming text message. I smile, expecting it to be Sketch. My smile falls when I see it’s an unsaved number. I recognize it instantly.Zack.
From Zack:I’ve let you have your fun. It’s time to come home.
From Zack:End things with that biker trash or I’ll ruin the happy family.
With the second text was a picture of Cali, Buster, and Caden, sleeping together in their hospital room.
“Oh my God,” I mutter to myself. Ending things with Sketch is the last thing I want to do. I’m falling for him hard and fast, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to Caden, Cali, or Buster because of me. For a split second, I consider running again. If I did that, I would be running for the rest of my life.
With a heavy heart, I call Sketch.
“Hey, Little Bird. Everything alright?”
“Sketch.” Tears well up in my eyes. I do my best to fight them from falling. “I’ve been thinking, and I can’t do this. I can’t do us.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
A tear falls down my face, but I keep a steady voice. “I don’t want to be some biker whore for the rest of my life.”
“Bullshit. What’s really going on?” He growls out. “Is it Zack? What is he using against you this time?”
My words get stuck in my throat. “Logan, stop. Please don’t do this. Don’t contact me anymore. I’m sorry.”
I hang up and tears rush down my face like a waterfall. Covering my face, I sob into my hands. My heart shatters into thousands of tiny pieces. I want to call him back and tell him it was all a lie, but I don’t. I leave the bag on my bed and walk out of my room.
“Wren, what happened? Are you okay?” Mouse jumps off the couch.
“Mouse, will you have someone come pick up Sketch’s car, please?” I find the keys to my car in one of the kitchen drawers. “Stay here until someone gets it. Don’t worry about me.”
I walk out of the apartment, only stopping to grab my purse. My car is in the same spot I left it before I went to New Orleans. I climb in and sobs rack my body. I allow myself to cry for a couple of minutes before I start the car and leave. If I stick around for too long, Sketch will show up to stop me. I drive on autopilot to Zack’s, becoming more and more numb the closer I get.
Pulling into his driveway, I sit in my car for a couple minutes. I work up the courage to slowly climb out and walk to the front door. I shut down all my emotions. With my head down, I ring the doorbell. The door opens, feet come into my line of vision and I lift my head. Zack is standing in front of me, an evil smirk painted on his face.
“There’s my good girl.” His voice low and sinister. I have no problems keeping my face void of any emotions. Breaking things off with Sketch broke me. I had to do it to keep my friends safe, but it left me dead inside. “Come in. We have some things to discuss.”
My feet move on their own accord. Zack closes and locks the door behind me.
“Now . . . this is where the games stop. You’re home now and it’s time we set a few rules.” I follow him with my eyes as he takes a couple steps toward me. “First and foremost, you are not to have any more contact with anyone from that dirty biker gang. You are to be my wife within the next year, and I can’t have my wife hanging around a bunch of criminals.”
“Why me, though? What’s so special about me?”
“Because you are mine. You and your innocence were promised to me. You were payment to my father to repay your father’s debt. Now, you belong to me.” He takes another step toward me, wrapping his fingers around my neck. “And no one takes what’s mine.”
He smashes his lips on mine, shoving his tongue in my mouth.
“Go get cleaned up. We have an important dinner tonight, and I need you presentable,” Zack demands. “Your clothes are still in the closet.”
