Chapter Eight
Amber
Amber stood there, looking around her apartment in complete shock. How could he do this? What did she do that was so wrong? Everything was destroyed. She didn’t know how to feel, how to process it all. Everything was at war inside of her. Hate. Sadness. Shock. Even fear.
She wanted to break down and cry, but she wouldn’t do that in front of Zander. She couldn’t. Amber hated, loathed, crying. Standing in her bedroom, she fought to control the urge. Zander finished snapping a few pictures, no doubt sending them to her brother. Devin would freak.
After telling her to grab what she could Zander walked back out of the room. The moment she could no longer see him, the silent tears fell.
What the hell was she supposed to take, Amber wondered.
Her clothes were cut to shreds. She shuffled around the room picking up items that could be saved.
She had to get herself under control. Taking a few extra minutes, she wiped off her face and took several deep, calming breaths.
With only a few things, Amber walked out of the room. This would have to do, maybe Zander or Devin would take her by Wal-Mart, and she could just buy some new ones.
Entering the living room, Amber stood there for a minute watching Zander on his phone. The look on his face promised retribution, and that just made her like him even more.
When he looked up and noticed her, Amber couldn’t help the pull she felt towards him. Lifting his arms in a way that would offer comfort, Amber couldn’t have stopped her feet from moving in his direction, even if she wanted to. Zander wrapped her up and all of her walls fell, right along with even more tears. Her self-control was completely gone. She would hate herself for this weakness later, but right now, she would take comfort in knowing that at this moment, she wasn’t alone.
“Come on Peaches, let’s get out of here. Your brother is sending over a cleaning crew. I promise, everything will get better,” he mumbled.
Amber felt herself lifted up into Zander’s arms and carried out the door. For a strong woman, this should have bothered her, but for some unexplained reason, it just felt right. Amber snuggled into him a little closer. She felt precious and truly cared for; no one had ever held her and invoked those feelings from her, she thought.
Suddenly, she heard her name being called and felt Zander tense. She would know that voice anywhere. Zander slowly lowered Amber to the ground and stepped in front of her, as a shield of protection.
“Well hello. Hanging out with the trash I see,” Ratchet said as he stepped out from beside his car. “Come here Amber, now!” he ordered causing Amber’s blood to reach boiling level.
“You motherfucker!” she yelled. “You destroyed my apartment. My clothes.”
“Amber, do as you are told,” Ratchet growled.
“Screw you! You pencil dick weasel!” Amber shrieked.
This was not the guy she dated for almost a year. He looked nothing like that guy. Yeah, his face was the same, but his clothes and mannerisms were completely different. The more she had to look at his face, the madder she became. Finally reaching her limit, Amber launched herself in his direction. At the last minute, Zander grabbed the back of Amber’s shirt, preventing her from damaging the rat’s face.
“She isn’t going anywhere with you Ratchet, so fuck off before you get yourself hurt,” Reaper threatened. His voice deadly, promising violence.
“Have it your way,” Ratchet sighed.
Amber watched in horror as Joe pulled a gun from the back of his pants. She gasped loudly. Amber felt the air rush out of her lungs when her back slammed into a parked vehicle. Zander had thrown her out of the way before she could even fully process what was happening.
“You are mine Amber,” Ratchet yelled. “If you will not come willingly, I will take you by force!” and then Amber heard a shot fired.
She watched in total shock as Zander stumbled backwards, gripping his arm. At the same time, he was pulling his own gun and aiming it at Ratchet.
“Bad mistake, bitch,” Zander said as he pulled the trigger. The bullet grazed Joe’s right shoulder as he dove into the backseat of his car; the next round of bullets sank into the open door and peppered the back of the car, shattering the window as it sped away.
Amber rushed to Zander’s side, trying to remove her shirt to use it to put pressure on the wound. “I’m okay, it just nicked me,” he told her. “Woman! Pull your shirt back down, damn! Someone will see all your goodies,” Zander shook his head. “Shit!” he roared, pissed.
Amber was in shock. She was woman enough to admit, she had never been so scared in her life. Zander grabbed her by the arm gently and hurried her to his truck. She just wanted to curl up in her bed at the clubhouse and never leave again. Zander opened the passenger door and started to lift Amber inside.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
“Me? I’m not the one who was shot,” she answered bewildered.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shove you so hard. I saw him move for the gun and just needed you out of the way.”
“Zander, I’m fine. I am more worried about your arm,” she protested, as he tried to lift her into the truck.
“My arm is just fine. Now come here so I can help you climb into my overcompensating truck,” Zander said with a smirk.
Amber just shook her head. How can he possibly be joking right now? The man was just shot and he is all of a sudden a damn comedian.
“Should we wait for the cops? I’m sure with the noise, someone has already called the police,” she asked, not wanting to get in trouble for leaving the scene of a crime.
“No. I’ll call your brother. He’ll inform our contact at the PD what happened. Come on, let me help you so we can get out of here.”
Amber grabbed the door and started to pull herself up into the truck, but felt Zander’s hand on her butt helping to push her in. After sitting in the seat, Amber looked him over and couldn’t help but smile. Badass biker. Enforcer. Protector. Amber knew he was all of those things, and so much more. Today proved that, when he stood between her and a psycho with a gun. This is not how she envisioned her day. Not. Even. Close. But Amber was grateful that Zander was with her. She could handle her own, but not against a gun.