We spent that whole day at Wrench’s property, he helped Harlyn explore the ruins that had been left from the old concrete factory. They scaled the old slabs as Wrench told her all about the history of the place.

Then when the light of the day began to dim, we all crowded into one of the small rooms, watching as the walls became alive with glowing artwork. Names, pictures, sayings—all filled the space, painted with some kind of glow in the dark paint. It was eerie and strange, but I couldn’t help but love the way Harlyn lit up every time Wrench began to explain another piece of writing. She was eager to hear the stories of the people who were not just part of her life, but part of her family now.

Wrench didn’t touch me again, other than a gentlemanly hand on my back to guide me around fallen rubble, or to offer his hand as we climbed and explored. I knew he was trying to behave, knowing that it would have been inappropriate to do so in front of Harlyn, but I found myself disappointed.

Stupid.

The day after our excursion, shit hit the fan. The gym where Chelsea was working was shot up and destroyed. She was lucky to make it out alive. Fortunately, for the sanity of everyone inside the club, it was the final kick up the fucking ass that Optimus needed to realize just how incredibly idiotic he was being and he finally stepped up and claimed his girl. I was happy for him, for the both of them.

I knew people were looking at me sideways, maybe waiting for the point that I would break and try and fight for him. That was one thing that was never going to happen though. We enjoyed each other’s company, but we were young six years ago. I was the young, rich girl that the bad boy wanted to taint, and he was the biker that gave me the escape I needed at that time.

That was it.

I was never the one for him, and seeing him with Chelsea made that so damn obvious. But I was happy that he’d found that one woman who would stand by his side and be the person he needed her to be.

My love for Optimus was vast, he gave me the most precious gift I could have ever received, and for that, I would always love and adore him. He didn’t know it, but having Harlyn had possibly saved my life. There were secrets and lies buried deep within me, ones that he and the club were completely oblivious to, and for now, I’d like to keep it that way.

We would co-parent and love our daughter together, but things for me have never, and would never be any more than that.

During all the ensuing chaos, it had been days since I’d seen Wrench. When Harlyn started asking for him, Optimus had explained Wrench’s abilities with his computer and how he used it to track down people and find information that most other people would never be able to find. That was his superpower apparently.

I couldn’t help but be impressed and also maybe a little disappointed. I enjoyed his company and the way he made me feel like a teenager again. My body warmed when he was nearby, and I couldn’t help but lick my lips as I admired his stature and the way he held himself. The more I watched on, the more I realized that he was quiet, not outspoken like many of the members of the club. Since our day out, he’d spent most of his time locked away in his room, only venturing out for church or for food, and even then his eyes barely acknowledged anyone else in the room.

I reminded myself constantly that he was doing a job, trying not to be disappointed when he didn’t say hi to me or as he usually would, make a point to visit with Harlyn. She was missing her new found friend, but I think even she could feel the tension that had settled in the air and chose to keep that to herself.

The last week or more had been testing, for everyone, but it was obvious that having Chelsea back at the club made everything a little brighter, at least for a few hours before the shitstorm struck again, and this time we almost lost her.

It wasn’t until that point that I realized just how serious things really were. Hearing whispers about the mafia and seeing Chelsea lying in that hospital bed—not knowing whether she would wake up again, wondering whether her mind was too damaged—it hit us all like a ton of bricks.

Me especially, I found myself reaching for a comfort, one that I’d managed to curb so far since being back. The stress and fear set me off, it buried deep in my gut, swirling and tormenting me until I knew I couldn’t make it any longer without a reprieve.

I had to wonder if it was partially to do with Wrench and how he seemed to occupy my mind, or how whenever he was around I just felt… at peace. His promise to not let anything hurt Harlyn or me had really sunk into my bones, and for the first time in forever, I found myself believing his words.

But with his absence, I was weak.

“Are you going up to the hospital today to see Chelsea?” Skylar, one of the club girls asked as I helped her clean up the kitchen after breakfast.

I nodded. “Yeah, Op has already taken Harlyn up there to spend a couple of hours with her. Her speech is almost back to normal, but she’s still struggling a little with the movement in her legs and stuff.”

Skylar’s smile saddened. “I still can’t believe she was nearly gone, I heard the boys say that she actually died more than once. It’s scary.” Her eyes were glazed, almost as if she’d seen a ghost.

Reaching out, I patted her on the arm. “You all right?”

She blinked and shook her head. “Yeah, it’s just hard you know, the thought of losing someone you really care about.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you speak from experience.” I didn’t really know a lot about Skylar. She was a sweet girl, never got in your face like some of the other club girls, and was simply happy just doing what she needed to do to get by. She didn’t speak a lot about her past. All I knew was that her family was extremely religious, but that she didn’t follow those same kind of beliefs.

She swallowed harshly and nodded. “The decision to walk away from my family wasn’t one I took lightly. It wasn’t until I lost the one person who truly understood me, that I realized just how alone I really was with them.”

Skylar’s words were cryptic and confusing, her voice quiet like a child recalling a nightmare they’d had.

“Have you ever tried to reach out to your parents? Like you said, losing someone you love can really open your eyes to the world and show you just what is important,” I explained softly, even though I knew it hadn’t been what happened in my case. My parents were still happy to shun me and pretend I didn’t exist.

She shook her head, looking at me with wide eyes. “No. Going back there… it would be…” her eyes wandered as she tried to find the right words, “…detrimental. My family is here now.”

My heart warmed at her words, I could tell it was a struggle to even think about walking away from her family and starting new on her own. But just like me, we’d both found family here at the club, and that was all that mattered.

I pulled her into my arms for a quick hug, her body softened. “Don’t think about it. Just remember that Chelsea is back now and everything is good again.”

The danger had gone, lifted like a heavy weight off the back of the club. Harlyn and I were looking at apartments in Athens, deciding to stay around after a lengthy chat with Optimus. He wanted his daughter in his life. I guess, almost losing Chelsea had made him realize how quickly someone could be taken from him, and after spending years holding Chelsea at a distance, he was now refusing to do the same with Harlyn.

I got it.

I understood how he was feeling and what was going through his head, so I agreed. Needless to say, Harlyn was over the moon. She had the club, her new friends and her dad. It was like a dream come true for her, and fuck, no matter the trepidation in my mind, I would do whatever I had to do to make her happy. Even if it meant putting myself at risk.

I hung my dishcloth up to dry and brushed a few stray hairs away from my head. “I’m going to go and grab a few things at the store and then head up to the hospital.”

Skylar threw me a smile and a wave. “Tell Chel I said hi.”

“Will do,” I replied before rushing out of the room and heading for the parking lot.

Optimus had surprised me with a new car for Harlyn and me to get around in. I wasn’t really mechanically minded, but it was a cute sporty looking red car that had the right amount of speed that I loved. I zipped out of the compound, waving to Ham as he opened the gates to allow me through, and headed for town. Athens wasn’t a huge town but it did well. The population big enough to support the local businesses and keep them thriving. I’d grown up the next town over in Huntsville, it was much larger and wealthier, but as I drove through the main street in Athens, I couldn’t help but smile and imagine how one day I could open my shop here.

My passion was clothing and design. That was what I wanted to do—have my own line and sell it to your everyday women at affordable prices. I had hundreds of designs back home, clothes that Optimus was having friends ship to us here in Athens.

I couldn’t wait to get back to work. Sewing and creating, it was my peace, it was where I felt complete—at least as complete as I could be. After spending time with the club, I’d had a whole new load of inspiration from biker bitch to stripper chic, the broad range of personalities and body shapes helping to expand my mind and dreams.

A chill ran through me the instant I stepped inside the small supermarket. “Way too much air conditioning in here,” I grumbled, rubbing at the goosebumps that had settled on my skin. Grabbing a basket, I made my way down the aisle, remembering that Chelsea had commented about how desperately she wanted a KitKat bar. I was on a mission. Standing in front of the candy section, I licked my lips, eyeing the vast variety of sweets and chocolate.

Maybe I’ll just pick up a few things for myself while I’m here.

“Never thought you’d be silly enough to come back to town,” a smooth voice commented, causing my body to tense, frozen on the spot. “Does he know you’re back?”

I took a deep breath, clutching the shopping basket in my hands as I spun around to meet one of the ghosts of my past head on. “Eric,” I greeted, forcing a smile on my face. “Hey.”

His sky blue eyes lifted with his welcoming smile. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes to the ceiling. “Given that I saw Mom and Dad over a week ago and basically told them to go fuck themselves in the middle of the country club, I’m gonna guess that he probably does.”

Eric shook his head. “Why did you come back? Where have you been staying?”

“At the MC just out of town… with my daughter.”

His eyes shot open wide and his mouth dropped. “Well, that was a lot of information squashed into one sentence. Care to elaborate?”

“Not particularly, no.”

There was no awkwardness between Eric and me, not like one might think there should be. Eric was—at one point—Peter’s best friend and confidant. He and his wife would join us for dinner at least once a week, and it was common to have him around at Peter’s house on the weekends.

Eric wasn’t like Peter, and at one point I’d found myself during my moments of clarity, wondering why it wasn’t Eric that my parents had chosen for me to marry. He was successful, in his own right, making a name for himself and his businesses with hard work and dedication. Unlike Peter who had chosen to follow in his families footsteps and inherit every penny and success that came with their name.

When Optimus had finally decided to pack me up and ship me out, with his child growing in my stomach, Eric had caught me in the act. And surprisingly, he’d helped me gather my shit and get out the door before my husband returned home.

“Are you sure this is the best place for you?” Eric asked as he followed me down the aisle. “He’s not gonna stand down and be made to a look a fool with you back in the picture.”

I plucked several candy bars off the shelf, chewing on my lip. “I know, but I can’t hide forever. At some point, I’m going to have to face my demons head on and show him that he can’t fuck with me anymore.” My words shocked even me, knowing what Peter had done to me and to what extent he would go to in order to hurt me. But there had to come a time where I stood my ground and dealt with the consequences of my actions and fought back the shame that followed me around. That, and I had more to fight for now, I wouldn’t take his shit lying down. At least, that’s what I told myself even as the small bag that harbored my secrets burned a hole in my purse, screaming out how much of a liar I was.

Eric chuckled and shook his head, his light brown hair ruffling around his head. “Wow! I wondered for a long time if I’d ever hear you say those words. Obviously, not quite like that but something similar.”

I didn’t hide my grin as I looked up at him. “Not the weak little girl I used to be. I have things under control now, and I have people behind me. I’m not alone and isolated anymore.”

His smile became more forced as he reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder. “It’s good to see you’re feeling better and stronger. I hope that’s enough because you and I both know that he’s not the kind to back down, Anna.”

“I know. But you know what? I have a little girl to think about now. So let him come at me with whatever shit he has because I won’t let him hurt her.”

“Look at you, mama bear…” He laughed. “Just know that I’m around if you need me. He and I aren’t as close as we once were. His ego, believe it or not, only got larger when you left.”

I cringed, the idea of Peter getting any cockier than he already was, was just a recipe for disaster. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He pulled me in under his arm and dropped a light kiss on the top of my head.

“Sugar!”

Shit.

I looked up to see Wrench standing at the end of the supermarket aisle with his arms crossed over his chest, his hand twitching like at any moment he might pull out his gun and shoot Eric where he stood. Instantly, I pulled away, throwing Eric a shy apologetic smile to which he returned.

“I’ll see you around, Annabelle,” he murmured, his eyes moving to Wrench for a few brief seconds, enhancing the tension swirling in the already frigid air before turning and walking away.

For a second, my breath stalled.

Annabelle.

No, stop. That wasn’t me—that isn’t me.

His face.

His words.

Numb.

I was just numb. I wanted to be numb.

Wrench stormed toward me, his eyes narrowed and angry. “What the hell was that?” He grabbed my shoulder.

The shock of his touch brought me back. I sucked in a deep breath, my back bristled with the subtle accusation, and I turned my back. “I grew up around here, too, Wrench. I know people.”

His hand took hold of my arm, spinning me back around. “You don’t need to be mixing with people like him.”

I snatched my arm away and took a step back. “You don’t even know him. Just because he wears a nice suit and has a professional job, doesn’t mean he’s a complete asshole.”

“Wolf in sheep’s clothing,” he shot back, but before I could question him, he took my hand and pulled me toward the register. “Come on, let’s get to the hospital.”

I didn’t argue, given that this was the longest conversation we’d had in almost a week. But he was mistaken if he thought I’d let another man treat me like shit and try to control me.

Hell no.

Not again.

Never again.