Logan

 

This wasn't what I'd imagined for a romantic night with Selena. It felt like every time I planned to do something with Selena that was just for us and all romantic, May stepped in and managed to mess it up. I was really starting to get irritated with that bitch.

 

The problem was that it was a lot more than just my relationship that she was threatening. The sign up at the library where Selena worked - fine - that could be seen as her keeping track of my relationship. But slashing my tires? May knew how important my bike was to me and she knew my bike, as the leader of the Thorns, didn't just signify that I was a biker but that I was a leader. It was my pride and joy. Her little act tonight - and I was pretty damn sure it had been her - was a challenge, a threat, to my men and my club, as well. And I would not stand for that.

 

I trusted Saul to deliver Selena safely home. He was the one man I trusted with everything I had and I knew he would never in his life let something happen to her. I felt calm about her safety, but I was glad she'd been able to get some time off.

 

Getting away with her wouldn't only help me relax with May around, but I couldn't wait to have her all to myself without any interference. I knew exactly where I was going to take her, too.

 

I drove on the bike Saul had brought me. I was headed to the clubhouse. The bike felt foreign underneath my seat. A bike was so much more personal to me than a car; it was the difference between a hooker and a girlfriend, almost. I didn't feel comfortable riding another bike, but it was the quickest way to get to the boys and I needed to make sure they were safe.

 

Before I'd left Selena with Saul I'd sent out a group broadcast that the guys all needed to head to the clubhouse. It was dangerous having them all together like that, I knew, but I mentioned it and I needed to speak to them. They would watch their backs and look out for each other until I arrived. They were good men, noble men, and the one thing we'd all retained from our criminal days was the habit of sticking together.

 

When I pulled into the club parking lot it looked like they were all present. The lot was full of bikes but it was quiet inside where usually there was music and laughter and conversation. My stomach turned and I took a deep breath to try to calm myself. The biggest thing I had to show now was courage and calm. In times of hardship the leader couldn't panic in front of his men. I would do that behind closed doors if it came down to it.

 

When I walked into the club everyone looked at me. They were all there, from what I could see. They looked grim, unsure, just as nervous as I felt. I put my hands on my hips and looked at the floor for a moment, not sure what to say.

 

"May slashed my tires tonight," I said, staring with facts. There was no point messing around before getting down to businesses. A murmur rippled through the group. They understood just as I did what it meant. The door opened and everyone froze, but it was Saul. We made eye contact and he nodded. Selena was home safe.

 

"I have news," one of the boys said. "She was seen meeting with Tank."

 

I raised my eyebrows. Tank was the head of a club we used to be rivals with and sine we'd turned a new page they'd seen us as pussies.

 

"She also met with Don," someone else said.

 

"And I heard she set up a meeting with the Greek." The last was from Saul.

 

I frowned. They were all heads of very big gangs, rival gangs. This was not good.

 

"They sound like they're planning on making a move."

 

They all nodded in agreement. This really wasn't good. I thought for a moment. First priority was to get my family safe. Now that included Selena.

 

"I want you guys to start meeting at the Restaurant from now on," I said. "I got that one after May so she won't have tabs on it the way she has on this one and the other clubs might not either. Still, watch your backs."

 

I turned to Saul. "I'm putting you in charge of everything until I'm back."

 

He nodded and pounded his chest twice with his fist. It made a deep sound. I turned back to my men. "I'm leaving for a couple of days. May has taken it a step too far and I'm going to lay low, take care of someone, but I will be in touch and the moment something happens, I'm here."

 

They muttered amongst themselves but I didn't care what they thought. I knew I was a good leader and I knew I would never let anything happen to them. And while I was gone I knew Saul wouldn't let anything happen either. That was all that mattered.

 

I clapped Saul on the shoulder and walked out of the club. I took out my phone before I got on my bike and dialed Selena's number.

 

I made sure she was okay and that she knew I was coming and drove to her apartment. This was where I was supposed to pick her up the first time. I parked my bike close to the building and climbed the stairs up to the third floor. There were only two doors and hers opened just as I lifted my fist to knock.

 

"I heard your bike," she said. She was out of breath like she'd been packing in hurry.

 

"Are you ready to go?"

 

She nodded and stepped aside so I could walk into the apartment. It was neat and tidy and so much like her, I would have known it was her place even if she wasn't in it. It suited her perfectly. It was so different from my place, which was stark and lifeless with dark colors and clothes on the floor. Mine was a real bachelor pad. Hers was homey.

 

She disappeared into the bedroom and brought out a bag. I took it from her.

 

"I'm nervous," she said.

 

"Don't be. I'll make sure nothing happens to you. She's just a bitch from my past. Every break up has a psycho ex."

 

"I've never had one slash my tires."

 

That was true. I shrugged. "Worse things have happened."

 

Selena pulled a face. "That wasn't exactly what I needed to hear right now."

 

I shook my head, feeling silly. "Come on, let's get out of here."

 

I managed to get her bag onto my bike before I drove to the rental company where I was picking up a car. I wasn't going to drive a hundred miles out of town on a bike that wasn't my own in the middle of the night. When I got there the car was ready for me. I knew enough people that could make something like this happen.

 

"We just need to stop at my place so I can grab some things and then we'll hit the road."

 

I left the bike with the guy who promised to return it to the club where it belonged. We drove the short distance to my apartment and Selena waited in the lounge for me while I went into the bedroom and threw clothes into a bag. Jeans, muscle shirts, T-shirts, a jacket. Shoes. I wasn't sure what else. Whatever I forgot I could buy in the nearest town. When I came out of the bedroom Selena was looking at the only photo I had of Elijah. It was against the wall with a black frame, the color of mourning.

 

She looked at me and in her eyes I could see the condolences even though she didn't say anything. I was glad she didn't. I walked to her and without a word I kissed her. I pulled her in for a hug and locked up. When we had everything packed in the car and drove out of town it was well past midnight.

 

"You should get some sleep," I said. "There's a long drive ahead of us."

 

Selena protested, telling me she wanted to stay awake with me, but her routine was a day one. I was up most nights and I was used to a lack of sleep. By the time the sky colored with the promise of dawn she was asleep next to me. There was something peaceful about her sleeping. She looked younger and even more innocent than when she was awake. It was magical that she was here with me, and as the sun rose, casting it orange rays on her face, I wished we could run away and never come back.

 

The cabin was in the middle of nowhere, in wild country with rolling hills and trees everywhere. A big lake lay in the middle of the basin like the water just never drained there. A cabin was built in the edge of the lake that I used for a safe house now and then. It was private, this part of the forest belonging to the land on which the cabin was built, which meant it belonged to me. It was peaceful. It was quiet. It was exactly what we needed.

 

Selena woke up when we parked and looked around. God, she was adorable when she just woke up, half asleep still. "Are we there?" she asked in a husky voice.

 

"We are."

 

I smiled at her before getting out. She got out too, and walked toward the water. I unlocked the cabin door and put our bags in the bedroom. The place was a bit dusty but that was something we could sort out. We just needed groceries and I needed to get the park inspector to connect the electricity.

 

When I walked outside Selena was on the edge of the water, looking around. She had her arms wrapped around herself. When she heard my approach her she turned around.

 

"This place is beautiful."

 

I nodded. "It's my getaway."

 

"And you brought me here? It seems so personal. So special."

 

I shrugged. "You're so special."

 

She smiled and leaned into me. I kissed her and wrapped my arms around her, drinking in her body heat. The heat and the closeness quickly turned from something comfortable to something spicy again and I looked into her eyes. Here we were alone. We could do whatever we liked for as long as we liked. And when we were done, we could do it all again.