Annabelle

 

Matt got back long after Raquel and Megan had gone. It felt good to see them, but after they’d gone I felt more confused than ever. Raquel presented me with all the reasons to not keep the baby that I’d had coming into this whole mess. Megan seemed to be a window into my future, having done what I had been planning to do all along.

 

But what do I want now?

 

I wasn’t sure, but I was beginning to think it had more to do with Matt than I ever would have guessed.

 

Matt seemed a little frazzled when he got back, stressed out or something. Frowning, I went to him and put a hand on his shoulder after he’d shucked off his jacket. “Is everything okay? Did something happen at work?” I hadn’t ever felt so domesticated and was surprised to find out that part of it was sort of fulfilling.

 

I’ve never had anyone enjoy having me around like this, I thought.

 

He looked up at me uncertainly, considering me as his eyes slipped across my face. For once, his eyes didn’t dart down to rake over the rest of my body and I felt like he was really looking at me. Not like I was his new sex toy, but like this was something else. Something…tender. Or even real. I wasn’t sure what that all meant, but I felt it in my chest.

 

After a moment, he cracked a small smile. “Are you going to wear my shirt to the cookout?”

 

I glanced down at myself in surprise, then laughed. I’d forgotten that I’d been wearing his shirt today. Looking back up at him, I smiled sweetly. “Sorry. It’s comfortable.”

 

He reached for me and pulled me to him so our bodies lined up together perfectly. His arm went around my waist, holding me there against him. He leaned down and kissed me, soft and sweet, nothing like our passionate embraces. Today, things seemed different. “It’s all right. You borrow anything of mine you want. I’ve never seen my shirt look so good on anyone before.” He winked at me then, grinning.

 

I laughed again. “What can I say? I should sell men’s clothing.”

 

This time he laughed and agreed. “Baby, you could sell me anything you wanted.”

 

My heart fluttered a little bit at his comment and the strange, sweet way he was looking at me. It was so weird to think how quickly things were changing between us, but I wasn’t opposed to it. If anything, I liked it.

 

“I’ll go change,” I said finally. “For the cookout.”

 

He held me a moment longer, his eyes searching my face for something that I wasn’t sure of. Finally, he released me. “Okay. I’ll wait down here. I need to make a call.”

 

I nodded, feeling breathless after his touch and his tenderness. I hurried up the stairs, glancing over my shoulder at him once. I found him staring after me looking almost wistful. Then I hurried back to the room I was sharing with him. I hadn’t even bothered to put my clothes in the guest room he’d offered me.

 

Jerking his shirt up over my head quickly, I tossed it to the side and began to undo my pants. I wasn’t sure what kind of cookout this was going to be. Of course, I realized it would be with the people who he knew, which meant predominantly if not entirely Reaper’s Thorns, but what did that mean really? Were women even part of the club? Or was it just girlfriends and wives? And if that were the case, how were they expected to dress?

 

I could have asked Matt these questions, but decided that would seem too concerned about what others would think of me. I wanted to be confident and sexy, not some little girl he had to take care of.

 

Shoving down my pants, I reached for the dress I’d gotten at the store the other day. It was a compromise between my periwinkle blue dress from the first day I arrived and the darker, sexier clothing I bought with Matt when I knew I was going to stay here with him. It was a silky dark blue dress with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed in the back. Laid over the top of the blue was a black, shimmery mesh that was embroidered with roses along the hem and up one side to wind around one breast. It wouldn’t look as goth as I felt so much of the red and black did, but it also wasn’t the sort of thing anyone would wear to Sunday church.

 

I hoped it was the right choice for a Reaper’s Thorns get together.

 

I grabbed the black heels I’d gotten, because it was either them or boots and I didn’t think those would work with the dress. I slipped them on, dragged a brush through my hair, and touched up my makeup. When I deemed myself presentable, I headed back downstairs.

 

When I reached that front hall, I didn’t immediately see him. “Matt?” I called, glancing into the kitchen. I found him there, still on the phone, fixing a cup of coffee. He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled, then he handed me the cup of coffee. I took it and mouthed a “thank you” so I wouldn’t interrupt his conversation.

 

I sat at the table to wait for him and couldn’t help but overhear his half of the conversation at least.

 

“Yeah, I know,” he muttered in a low voice. He didn’t sound thrilled. “It can’t be helped now.”

 

What can’t be helped? I wondered. He was probably talking about the motorcycle club, I realized, and I felt a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. My entire time with Matt had been with just him, as a man. I was aware that he ran a business, or at least worked there, but that was a legitimate place, whether my father liked it or not. But the other side of that was that he was a biker. And what little I knew about motorcycles—besides them being dangerous and sexy—was that they tended to deal in illicit activities.

 

Sipping at my coffee for something to do, even as it began to slosh uncomfortably in my stomach, I focused more intently on his conversation.

 

“Look, Mathis isn’t a problem. I’ve got him covered,” he said, sounding equal parts annoyed and dismissive. “No one’s going to follow him now. And the mayor…” He broke off hesitating, but I sat up straighter, my eyes widening a little.

 

The mayor? They were talking about my father! Oh no! I hope he hasn’t realized who I am. That could ruin everything!

 

I hadn’t told Matt I was Annabelle Louis, daughter of the rich Mayor Louis, who happened to absolutely hate the Reaper’s Thorns. Knowing that about me didn’t seem like a good thing. They were constantly at odds and I doubted he would think it was wise to be hooking up with the mayor’s daughter—not unless he thought it was a good swipe at my father’s character.

 

No, Matt wouldn’t use me just for that, I admonished myself, though a small bit of the fear lingered.

 

“You worry too much. The mayor will cool down. He just doesn’t like being approached on his own turf.” Matt paused. Then, “Yeah, it probably was, but I can’t take it back now. Just keep a look out. We’re still coming to the cookout. Yeah, all right. See you in twenty.”

 

Matt hung up the phone and let out a sigh that sounded a little worried, a little frustrated, and very tired.

 

I bit my lip to keep from asking about my father. Instead, I got up and went over to Matt. Softly, I asked, “Are you sure you want to go to that thing tonight? We can just stay home instead.”

 

He looked over at me, letting his eyes trail over my body and then back up to my face. I could see desire flickering there—good to know it hadn’t disappeared—and hesitancy. Like he was considering it. Seriously, he said, “Would you rather stay? We don’t have to go.”

 

I shook my head. “It’s not that. I’d really like to go. But if you’re too…” I wanted to say if you’re in too much trouble, but refrained. I didn’t want him to think I’d been eavesdropping. Which of course I had been. “Too tired, we can stay in. I’ll make you something for dinner.”

 

He smirked at me, pulling me against him. I wrapped my arms around him easily. “You must be the perfect woman,” he muttered against my mouth. Then he kissed me before I could say anything in response. “You ready?”

 

I nodded.

 

“Let’s go, then.”

 

***

 

Despite wearing a dress, we took his motorcycle. It was fun to ride on the back, clutching him tightly as the wind completely messed up my hair and tugged at the fabric of my dress. It reminded me of our first night together.

 

It didn’t take us long to get to the cookout, which was held in the rather large backyard of a very beat up little house. The yard had thick grass, several trees, and surprisingly enough rose bushes that were thriving. William lived here and Matt explained that, while not much of a housekeeper, he was great with plants.

 

I’d laughed at that and thought of The Gentle Green Giant.

 

When we made it around back, the place was already pretty full. There were men and women both, the woman Matt explained were the wives and girlfriends of the Reaper’s Thorns. I realized instantly that I fell into that category, too. They were dressed in different ways, thankfully. Some wore leather pants, some wore short skirts, some wore dresses like me. It meant I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb, though I seemed to be the center of everyone’s attention.

 

“They’re all staring at me,” I murmured, leaning up to whisper in his ear.

 

He smiled and nodded. “I don’t usually come to these things with a woman.” He left it at that, but I couldn’t help but wonder if this was significant, that he was taking me. Maybe it was only because I happened to be living with him and he thought it would be rude to leave me behind. Maybe he didn’t usually have a live-in girlfriend, but if he did, he’d bring her just as easily.

 

Or maybe I’m special, a little voice whispered hopefully in my head.

 

I bit my lip to keep my smile from becoming too big and silly. Matt took me around the whole place, introducing me to everyone. They seemed mostly nice, though some were a little more aloof and some were downright rude. I’d seen at least one nudge Matt and say that I had an ass he’d love to tap sometime if Matt wouldn’t mind. Matt’s reply had been too low to hear, but I could tell by the tone, his expression, and the way the guy backed up quickly that his answer hadn’t been an affirmative one.

 

It made me relax a little bit. No one would mess with me, even if they weren’t friendly, because Matt would protect me.

 

I went to the grill and got myself a hamburger. William was the cook and he gave me a one-armed bear hug, his laugh booming, as he slid a burger onto my plate. Matt was off talking with a couple of other guys; one was that young guy Buck from Body Canvas. I waved and he waved back, though the group looked tense.

 

I found a space for myself to sit and eat at an old bench table that looked like it had been stolen straight from a park. Maybe it was, I thought mildly.

 

When I was about halfway through my burger, a man a little older than Matt and a little gruffer slid onto the bench beside me. I had a mouth full of meat when he greeted me, offering his hand to shake. “Hello there. I’m Mathis. You must be the pretty little thing everyone’s been talking about.”

 

I chewed quickly, pointing at my mouth, then forced down a not entirely chewed mouthful as quickly as I could. “Sorry. I’m A—I’m Annie.” My heart thumped at my near slip. I’d almost said Annabelle, and especially after Matt’s earlier phone conversation involving my dad, I definitely didn’t want anyone figuring out who I was.

 

He smiled at me. He had a tan that looked like a darker version of what was a natural olive complexion. His eyes were dark to match his hair, which was hardened by gel and slicked back. There was a little bit of stubble across his angular jaw and I admitted that he was pretty attractive. But I didn’t feel attracted to him. In fact, I felt a little uncomfortable, though I couldn’t say why.

 

“Annie. That’s a pretty name. Is it short for something?” he asked innocently, tilting his head to the side as he continued to smile.

 

I swallowed and forced a return smile. “It’s what my friends call me,” I told him, avoiding a direct answer. “Do you work with Matt?” I asked hurriedly so we wouldn’t get stuck on names for any longer.

 

His smile faltered, but he regained it easily. “We are members of the Reaper’s Thorns. I suppose everyone here works for Matt, though I don’t work at Body Canvas.”

 

I frowned. “For him?” I repeated, picking up on the thing that sounded weird.

 

He nodded. “Sure. Matt hasn’t been leader for very long, but we do all work for him.” He smiled tightly and looked like he wanted to add something, but I wasn’t listening.

 

Instead I was focused on what he told me. Matt hasn’t been leader for very long.

 

Leader. As in the head honcho when it came to the Reaper’s Thorns, the illicit motorcycle club that my father was working so hard to get off the streets. The leader whose child I had growing in my womb as we spoke.

 

Mathis was speaking and had asked me a question, but I didn’t care. I stood abruptly. “I’m sorry, I have to go find Matt. It was nice to meet you.” Then I left him before he had the chance to say anything more. I knew in that moment that I had to talk to Matt and come clean about a few things.

 

I didn’t care that he was the leader of the motorcycle club.

 

I didn’t care that my father was the mayor trying to get rid of him.

 

But he might.

 

I found Matt still talking to Buck. Smiling as best I could, I grabbed Matt by the elbow and apologized to Buck. “I’m sorry, but I need to borrow him for a moment. Is that all right?”

 

Buck nodded before Matt could say anything. “Oh, yeah, sure. I really need a burger anyway.” He winked at us, then headed towards the grill.

 

Making sure there wasn’t anyone else in earshot, I whispered to Matt, “I need to tell you something.”

 

He must have sensed the urgency or the panic in my voice, because his brow furrowed and his voice dropped, too. “Annie, what is it?”

 

Annie. Jesus, I didn’t even tell him the truth about my name!

 

I opened my mouth to come clean about all of it—me being the mayor’s daughter, how he’d kill me if he figured out this baby’s father was a Thorn, much less the leader—when a sudden sharp pain tore through my middle. I let out a sharp cry, my hands going to my stomach automatically.

 

“Annie? Annie! What’s wrong?” Matt cried, reaching for me and holding me by the shoulders as I doubled over in pain.

 

It was excruciating, searing, and in a hot flash I had a sudden thought: what if there was something wrong with the baby?

 

I clutched at Matt. “Oh god. The baby. I think there’s something wrong.” But I couldn’t say anything more. I slumped to my knees, Matt keeping me in a sitting position when I felt like just slumping over into the grass. I was sucking in harsh breaths through clenched teeth, tears forming in my eyes. My vision was starting to go dark and in a faraway sort of voice, I heard Matt talking to someone.

 

“…have to get her to the hospital!”

 

“You can’t go!” cried someone else. “They’re looking for you.”

 

“I have to risk it. The baby…”

 

And then I slipped into unconsciousness, hoping the baby would be okay.