Annabelle
I heard the bell on the front door ding. I looked up to see Nathan striding toward me with a huge grin on his face. “Can I assume from the smile on your face that everything went well?”
He beamed even brighter. “You sure can, Mom. I made it!” He picked me up for a hug and spun me around before putting my feet on the ground again.
I laughed. “You’re going to have to stop doing that, son. I’m getting too old to be jostled around by a brute your size and I have a feeling you’re only going to get bigger.”
“You’re only 37 years old. That isn’t anywhere near old,” he replied.
“Talk to me when you’re 37,” I retorted. I refrained from adding, “And have been through all the shit I’ve been through.” He didn’t know about our past. What little he did remember was easily explained away by me. He was under the impression that his father died when he was a baby and we moved to another part of California a few years later. He thought we had always lived on the west coast. He had no idea we were from a little town located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“Yep. Wave, I’m leaving!” I shouted to my boss, who also happened to be one of my closest friends.
Wave got up and enveloped me in a hug, the same thing he did every day when I left the shop. He gave Nathan a man hug and patted him on the back. “Heard you talking to your momma. Congratulations, boy! I know how hard you’ve worked and we’re all proud of you!”
“Thanks, Uncle Wave. I couldn’t have done it without you guys helping me train.” He paused and lowered his voice, “If I do this, you’ll be sure to look after Mom, right? I can’t leave her alone.”
I gasped. My sweet, sweet boy was worried about me. I cut in before Wave could answer, “Nathan, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine, and yes, Uncle Wave will look after me. This is an opportunity I will not allow you to pass up. Do you understand me?” I asked in my mom voice with my hands on my hips.
“All right, Mom, you win,” he sighed and headed toward the door.
“See ya later, Wave,” I called over my shoulder, following after my son.
As soon as I stepped outside, I knew something wasn’t right. My heart rate picked up and goosebumps covered my skin. I distractedly took the helmet from my son’s outstretched hand and placed it on my head. Oblivious to my current state, he climbed onto the bike. I secured my helmet and climbed on behind him. The feeling I had intensified and it felt like holes were burning into my left side. I turned my head and scanned the area, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Still, I fisted Nathan’s shirt and inhaled deeply.
Nathan turned his head back as far as he could. “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I tightened my hold on his shirt. “Go, Nathan. Now!” I barked. Blessedly, he didn’t question me. He took off like a bat out of hell, flying down the road, weaving in and out of traffic.
At some point, he must have turned on the Bluetooth communication because suddenly his voice filled my ears. “Where do you want me to go, Mom?”
Where did I want him to go? Was anything actually wrong? I had no proof, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I had dreaded for years. The feeling of knowing we’d been found. Giving in to my delusions, I frantically shouted into my helmet, “Home, we have to go home!”
“Mom, tell me what’s going on!” Nathan pleaded, his concern evident in his voice.
“I don’t know. I’m mean, I’m not sure anything is going on. It’s just a feeling. Just get us to the house and do as I say. If I’m right, we don’t have time to waste.” I hadn’t worried about this day in years. I had gotten comfortable with our life. After five years of living in California with no problems, I started to relax and continued to do so over the last eight years. I tried desperately to remember my backup plan from years ago. Token! I would pack our shit and call Token. We would go to the clubhouse. We would be safe there until we figured out what to do next.
I calmed slightly once I had a plan in place, but my nerves wouldn’t even be halfway soothed until we were safely locked away at the clubhouse. Over the years, Wave and Token had gained my trust. I eventually shared some of my past with them, though I never gave them any names or told them exactly where I was from. Token had known more than Wave in the beginning, but it wasn’t much. After I opened up, Wave point blank told me if I ever felt like I was in danger, I was to get me and Nathan to the clubhouse as fast as possible and let them handle everything else.
“Nathan, when we get to the house, I need you to go inside and pack the essentials you would need for a week or so and anything sentimental you absolutely do not want left behind. Leave anything that can be easily replaced. Once you have your stuff together, start loading it into my car.”
“Damn it, Mom,” Nathan huffed in exasperation.
“Don’t you cuss at me, son. I don’t have time to explain. Just get your stuff and then we’re going to the clubhouse. I’ll explain there. I promise.”
When we pulled up to the house, I was off the bike and through the front door before Nathan could turn off the engine. Tearing through my house like a mad woman, I started cramming things into suitcases, laundry baskets, trash bags, anything I could find. I couldn’t believe how much stuff we had acquired in the last 13 years. I literally had nothing but the clothes I was wearing when I arrived.
My phone ringing startled me to the point of weakening my knees. I grabbed it and was not surprised in the least to see Token’s name flashing across the screen. I was kind of surprised it took as long as it did for one of them to call. Knowing Nathan, he was probably on the phone with them as soon as I was inside the house.
“Hey, Token,” I answered, completely out of breath.
“What in the fuck is going on, Taylor? You sound like you’ve been running a marathon. I’ve got your boy calling me scared as hell because of the way you’re acting. Start talking, half pint,” he ordered.
“I think I’ve been found!” I shouted into the phone. “I’m trying to get our stuff and get to the clubhouse.”
Token’s entire tone changed instantly, “Stay calm, squirt. I’ll be there in five. You want to stay on the phone with me until I get there?”
“No, I can work faster without the phone.”
“All right, I’m going to call Wave. See you soon.”
The call disconnected and I got back to packing. I was almost finished with my bedroom when I heard the rumble of a bike pull up in front of my house, shortly followed by another rumble. That meant Wave and Token had arrived. I sagged with relief. They would get us to the clubhouse and everything would be okay.
Just as that thought entered my head, I heard shouting outside. Loud, angry shouting coming from more than two men. Fucking hell. I ran through the house and yanked open the front door. I took one step outside and when my eyes connected with the steely blue ones that frequented my dreams, the world around me ceased to exist. I covered my mouth and nose with my hands and inhaled sharply with disbelief. It couldn’t be, could it? Was it really him? I was too afraid to move, knowing if I took my eyes off him for one fraction of a second he would disappear before my very eyes.
“Doll face,” he breathed. Those words jolted me from my stupor. I leaped off the front steps and ran at him with everything I had.
“Phoenix,” I cried as I launched myself into his arms. “Oh, God, Phoenix,” I sobbed.
He held me against his chest with an unforgiving grip while my feet dangled in the air. My arms wrapped tightly around his neck. It’s a wonder either of us could breathe.
“Baby,” he murmured with his lips pressed against my temple.
I heard another bike pull up and a bit of commotion, but I couldn’t tear myself away from him long enough to see who it was or what was happening. I was lost in the comfort of his familiar scent, the safety of his strong arms, the warmth of his body pressed against mine.
“What in the fuck is going on here?” Wave bellowed.
“This guy pulled up and said he was looking for someone named Annabelle. Said he wasn’t leaving until he spoke to her. Then, Taylor comes flying out of the house, runs to him, and burst into tears,” Token explained.
Phoenix gently placed me on my feet and I tried to take a step back to wipe the tears from my face, but he held me firmly against his side. “Not ready to let go of you just yet, doll face,” he said quietly.
I opened my mouth to start explaining to Wave when he exclaimed, “Holy shit. Is that Phoenix Black I see standing in front of me?”
“The one and only,” Phoenix said, spreading his arms out wide to display himself. I leaned away from him to get a look at him. Damn, he was still sexy as sin.
“You two know each other?” Token asked, gesturing between Wave and Phoenix.
“Yeah,” Wave answered. “Met in the Marines. He’s also Copper Black’s cousin.” Wave directed his attention back to Phoenix. “It’s been a long time, man, and it’s good to see you, but what are you doing at Taylor’s place? You two know each other?”
“Taylor,” Phoenix muttered.
“Yeah,” Wave pointed at me. “That’s Taylor Davis and this is her place.”
“Her name is Annabelle Burnett,” Phoenix insisted, “and there are quite a few things her and I need to discuss.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. I was pretty sure I knew some of the things we needed to discuss and I had no interest in talking about any of them, especially not with an audience.
“Oh, fuck me,” Token blurted. “He’s from—”
I cut him off. “Stop right there, Token. Yes is the answer to the question you didn’t get to ask, but this isn’t a discussion that needs to happen outside or in front of just anyone.” I cast my eyes toward the front door just as Nathan stepped outside hoping Token would get my meaning.
“He’s not him is he?” Token asked quietly.
I shook my head quickly. “No, he’s not.” He’s the good guy, I thought to myself.
Wave stepped in. “Nathan, can you go inside and pack an overnight bag for you and Taylor? You two are staying at the clubhouse tonight.” Nathan nodded and went into the house. “Before he comes back, is there any chance that anyone else has discovered her location or possibly followed you?”
“If you’re talking about Octavius, then no, he's dead. Has been for over a year now.”
My hand flew to my chest. “What?” I breathed. Octavius was dead? I suddenly felt very unsteady on my feet. My body swayed to the right. I reached out for Wave or Token to steady myself when I felt Phoenix wrap his muscular arms around me to hold me steady.
I couldn't help myself. I melted into his broad chest, my arms circling around his waist. He smelled just like I remembered, a mix of leather, spice, and something woodsy. Before I could stop it, another sob escaped, followed by a torrent of tears. I had missed him so damn much.
I felt my body being lifted and moved. Phoenix’s deep voice whispered softly into my ear, “Just taking you inside, doll face.”
Doll face. How I had longed to hear him call me that over the years. He called me doll face the first day we met and continued to do so the entire time we were a couple.
Phoenix gently placed me on my sofa and sat down beside me. Nathan came running into the room. “Mom! Mom! What's wrong?” my son frantically yelled. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
I felt Phoenix’s body stiffen, but I had no idea why. I was in such a state, I couldn’t even scold Nathan for his foul language.
“Nathan, calm down,” Wave commanded. “Your momma’s okay. You know neither Token nor I would ever let anything happen to her. She just got some shocking news, that’s all.”
I sniffled and looked up at my son. “I’m fine, honey. You know how I can get when I’m really tired. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
He studied me for a long minute. “I’m not sure I believe you, but I’ll drop it for now. Are we ready to go to the clubhouse?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. I needed to talk to Phoenix, and, honestly, I didn’t want to go anywhere without him, but I knew Wave had a party planned to celebrate Nathan’s new contract and I didn’t want to miss that either.
Making the decision for me, Wave answered, “I think it would be a good idea if we all went back to the clubhouse. That okay with you, Phoenix?”
“Sure, man. Whatever you think is best,” Phoenix replied.
I went to the bathroom and freshened up my appearance, grabbed a few more things for the night, and rejoined everyone in the living room, more nervous than I had been in years. I couldn’t even begin to figure out how Phoenix found me and more importantly, why he found me.
I followed the men outside and glanced between the bikes. I desperately wanted to ride with Phoenix, to cling to his waist and bury my nose in his back. Phoenix leaned down and whispered into my ear, “Go ride with your boy. I’ll be right behind you.”
Reluctantly, I climbed on behind my son. I glanced back at Phoenix several times before I finally told Nathan I was ready. Once we were on the road, he started talking. “Mom, who is Phoenix?”
I sighed. This was not a conversation I wanted to have with my son. I had to choose my words carefully, particularly until I saw confirmation that Octavius was indeed dead. I didn’t think for one second that Phoenix was lying to me, but I wanted proof. No, I needed proof.
“Phoenix is someone I knew in high school. I haven’t spoken to anyone from my hometown in a very long time. I don’t know why he’s here, but you know Wave wouldn’t have invited him to the clubhouse if he didn’t trust him.”
“So, if he is just some old friend of yours, why were you so upset?”
“Honey, I’d really rather not have this conversation while we’re on your bike. Can we table this for now?” I asked.
He reluctantly agreed and we rode the rest of the way to the clubhouse in silence. My mind was flooded with memories from the past, memories that made my heart ache with the thoughts of what could have been.