Page 52 of Property of Raider
“I’m okay.I’m at the biker clubhouse,” I manage through my sobs.
“We just got done with practice, and I will be there soon,” he says, and before he hangs up, I hear him tell his friends he needs to get home right away.
I hang up the phone and find the girls watching me with soft smiles.I chuckle, wiping my tears.“I’m sorry, I’m not usually so damn weepy.”
Charlie waves me off.“If you weren’t weepy, I would worry we have another psychopath on our hands.The psycho twins are more than enough for us all.”
“Are you talking about the two really, really big scary guys that say nothing, but you know are reading your weaknesses like it’s their job?”I whisper, looking between them.
They both burst out laughing.
“Oh my god.I have never heard a more exact description of them,” Ainsley gasps out between giggles.
I look between the two of them, completely lost on how they find them fun at all.They finally get their giggles under control, and Ainsley drops a bomb that leaves my head spinning.
“The more talkative of the two is my ol’ man,” her smile and eyes go soft.
I look between the two of them, waiting for them to tell me they are joking.
“Are you serious?”I know I sound judgy, but I can’t stop myself from speaking.“He’s fucking scary.I know I sound like a bitch right now, but blink if you need saving.”
Charlie and Ainsley both burst out laughing so hard that they fall off the bed.I just shake my head in disbelief.It takes them a lot longer to get themselves under control than before, and when they do, they come to sit beside me, each wrapping an arm around me.
“He is big, intimidating, has the emotions and ability to recognize emotions like a rock, and there is definitely a touch of psychopath there as well, but he is mine and I love him with everything I have,” Ainsley tells me.
“That’s the biggest thing about these men.They’ve all been through some shit and have walls built up so high you think you’ll never see past them.When they let you in though, it’s the safest, softest, and best place in the world to be,” Charlie says, a hint of longing in her voice.
“Right now, everyone is majorly on edge with the sex trafficking ring and the fact that they keep finding connections to people in the club,” Ainsley murmurs, looking sad.
“Hopefully, they will have it all figured out soon so we can finally enjoy the great things happening for the club,” Charlie cheers.
A set of hurried knocks catch our attention, and Ainsley squeezes me tight before standing to go answer the door.She pulls it open and standing in the doorway is my heart and soul, still sweaty and dirty from practice.Rusher’s eyes scan the room quickly, and when they land on me, I don’t see the half-grown man looking back at me.All I see is my baby.Heartbroken, scared, and completely devastated.Without a word, I hold my arms out for him, and he comes to me and wraps me in a hug so tight I can’t breathe.
“I got you,” I whisper, his hold on me tightening.
“You just walked out.I thought you were never coming back,” Rusher mumbles.“I tried to be strong, like you always taught me to be, but it was hard.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” is all I can say as he shatters in my arms.
“You were gone, and Auntie Lynn was gone.I was so scared,” he says just as the sobs take over him.
Sitting in that bed, I make a silent promise to him.I will fight until my heart no longer beats to make sure he never feels like this again.We’ve both been through so much, and it all ends now.I will not let anyone take anything else from him.
“We’re going to be okay.From here on out, it’s going to be better.No more running, no more taking small pieces from people.We’re going to be just fine.”I kiss the top of his head.
The sobs slow, and he pulls back, smiling up at me.“Ma, Ainsley and Charlie took me to the store and got me everything I could have ever wanted.You should have seen me out there today.It was so awesome.”
The smile on his face is so bright and happy I can’t help but smile back at him.While on the inside, my heart stops because I have no fucking clue how I am going to pay anyone back for the equipment.That look on his face as he talks a mile a minute about how great practice was means I will fucking figure shit out.I lay down beside him, and we lay there like so many nights when he was smaller, talking about anything and everything that pops into his head.
At some point his stomach growls, and he pops up off the bed, phone in hand and texting a mile a minute.“I’m going to find some food.Will I see you at dinner?”
With eyes half open, I answer, “I’m going to rest.I’ll check on you in a bit.”
He grins at me, looking so much like Raider as he leans down and kisses me on the head.“You sleep, Ma.”
Before he leaves, my eyes are closed and I’m asleep.I jump, and my body tenses when I feel a hand slide across my waist.
“Shhh, just go back to sleep, Tasia,” Raider’s voice washes over me, both deep and soothing.
