Dex
If my dick enjoyed waking up to Libby sleeping next to me in her underwear, it’s ecstatic with her naked body ablaze against me.
Last night was raw. In this shithole of a motel, I spilled my secrets to her and she accepted them.
I shouldn’t compare her to Melissa, but I can’t help myself, the difference between them blows me away. I didn’t think I would get past what I did, I thought my love for Melissa was my world and nothing could come close. Not that I’m in love with Libby, but as I held her, and she whispered in the dark she didn’t see me any different, I couldn’t help myself, I fell hard for her. I feel like this morning is a second chance for me. I should have felt this long ago, but it’s with Libby that I feel free from Melissa and what I did.
My phone pings, I know it’s Cas telling everyone to be ready to leave soon without having to read it.
Gently sliding my arm from underneath her, she doesn’t wake, giving me the opportunity to have one last glance at her without her knowing. When I first saw her, huddled in the corner of the shed in an oversized coat that didn’t belong to her, I told myself I wouldn’t let her get to me, and that’s exactly what has happened.
“What’s the time?” she whispers, not opening her eyes.
“Coming up to nine, I have to leave soon.”
I can hear the regret in my voice and I’m sure she can too, it’s hard to fucking miss it.
“It’s strange to think I won’t know where you’ll be tonight,” I say, sounding like a pussy.
“We have phones, we can check in if it makes you feel better,” she chuckles, “And, if you have anymore nightmares, you can always call, no matter the time.”
It didn’t occur to me she won’t be here the next time I wake in the small hours of the night. I’ll be alone again, and it feels me with dread.
I shower first and then she jumps in before the water goes cold. When I’m dressed, and she’s done drying her hair, she packs her things up and my mouth goes dry.
“Where are you going to go?” I ask her.
“I’ll start at home and go from there. Maybe my mom hid somewhere she wanted to go or something. If Slade finds anything, can you still let me know.”
I don’t want her to leave. I want to help her find her mom. We’re interrupted before I can say any of the shit running through my head and I open the door to Cas.
“Let’s go,” he says.
Nodding, I grab my keys and smokes, a part of me prolonging my movements to slow this down.
“You don’t have to leave now, you can go when you’re ready and slip the key under the door,” I offer, silently adding, stay and be here when I get back.
“Go? She isn’t going anywhere, she’s coming with us,” Cas butts in.
I thought he had left already.
“She doesn’t have anything to do with this now, Cas.”
“She has everything to do with it, brother, until I decide otherwise. Now, today is looking to be a shitter so I suggest we get going.”
He walks off and I turn to Libby. She’s already dumped her bag on the bed and zips her coat up.
“It’s starting to feel like I’m never going to leave town,” she mumbles, going to walk by me.
I step in front of her and block her way. When we step outside, there won’t be any privacy and I need a few more moments with her, especially if she’s going to scatter at the first chance she gets.
“Before we join the others, I want to tell you last night wasn’t just a fuck to me. I…”
Shit. How do I say the right words?
“It was more than I’ve ever had with anyone else, and I don’t know how I’m going to let you go.”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out.
“Come on, let’s get this over and done with and then we can talk some more.”
The ride to the Mercy Chapter clubhouse is tense. Our formation is tight and not one machine is out of place. Libby holds on like she already knows this will be the last time she holds me, and I fight to swallow the lump in my throat when we pull up outside the clubhouse.
I cut the engine, and neither of us move. Her arms stay linked around my waist and I brush my thumb over hands.
“Don’t leave my side in there,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
This makes me smile and she unlinks her hands around me. The only solace I have letting her climb off my bike, is knowing she will be riding back with me to the motel.
I don’t want to think past that, but for now, she’s here with me.
Gabe and Zander are the first ones out the door at our arrival, and I can sense the tension already. Cas can too.
“Cas, I wasn’t expecting you,” Gabe calls out.
“Twenty-six bikers ride into your town and you weren’t expecting us?”
“It’s different up here, you’re not in Willows Peak anymore. What brings you here?”
As if he doesn’t know.
Sparky follows Cas as he makes his way towards Gabe. Pope and Ricky follow close behind and the others linger closer than usual too.
I hang behind with Libby and my body tenses when Baze shows his face. Libby steps half behind me when she sees him and the urge to shield her completely takes over me.
Before I can, she steps out and comes to stand beside me. She tips her chin up and smiles at him.
I smile with her. I smile for the fact she is still here and that she isn’t letting him scare her.
“We’re here to discuss Cameron…”
Zander pounces forward ready to spew a load of bullshit and Pope slithers like a snake in front of Cas.
“Back the fuck up,” he growls.
Zander holds his hands up and steps back.
“Let’s take this inside, it’s fucking freezing here, and I need a drink.”
We all follow inside and the bar is crammed with brothers from the mother chapter and the northern chapter.
It’s hard to believe they weren’t expecting Cas, when I’ve seen for myself that our northern brothers aren’t awake at this time. Yet, this morning, they’re all awake and ready for visitors.
Libby and I are the last ones to walk inside and Baze’s eyes narrow at our closeness. If there wasn’t so much laying on the line, I’d wind him up and put my arm around her. I can’t have brothers thinking I’m blinded by a woman again and no one believing her.
These men are our brothers, yet, it’s one club one side and their club the other. There’s no unity here. The divide is clear.
I tug on Libby’s coat to get her attention and she follows closely as I lead us across the bar and next to Slade and Sparky.
Cas walks into the middle of the bar and puts his fingers to his mouth. An ear-piercing whistle hits our eardrums, and everyone falls silent.
Standing in front of Gabe, Cas looks ten times the leader he is. Gabe knows it too.
“You called asking for my help and I sent you a brother who is telling me a lot of shit I don’t like hearing.”
“It’s bullshit, Cas.”
“You might wear the president patch for this chapter, but I am your president and when a brother tells me you haven’t been as welcoming as you should, and you call him out as a liar, it makes me want to rip your patch clean off.”
“I understand you’re closer to Dex than you are to us, but I’m telling you, Baze didn’t take out Cameron.”
Pulling out his smokes, Cas takes his time lighting a cigarette and blows out the smoke.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he says, turning to face everyone, “We’re going to have a Lost Souls trial.”
Ayes, float around the room and excitement grows.
“Baze, a Lost Souls brother, you stand accused of the murder of another brother. Sit the fuck down.”
Sparky kicks out a chair into the middle of the bar, but Baze doesn’t move.
“Make me ask twice and I’ll find you guilty right now, and put a bullet between your eyes,” he growls, and Baze sits.
“Usually, I wouldn’t believe a brother of mine had killed another brother. But, and it’s a big fucking whooper of a but, my brother, Dex, tells me he heard Baze himself admit what he done.”
“Cas, I didn’t…he misheard…”
“Don’t speak until you’re fucking told to,” Sparky hollers.
“The reason I was quick to believe Dex and ride up here, is because he has shown me the upmost loyalty, and to my family. He has shown me how far he is willing to go for our club. So, as it stands now, I’ll listen to your version of events, and then I’ll listen to Cam’s daughter, and then we’ll put it to a vote. I warn you now, if you’re found guilty, you will die today. No ifs, no buts, no fucking coconuts.”
Libby snorts besides me, finding him amusing. If she knew him, she’d know this isn’t like him. The events of recent months have changed him, he doesn’t give many chances now. Losing Oak damaged him in a way that will never heal.
“If his daughter is found guilty, she will die. It’s simple, whoever is guilty will die.”
Libby tenses next to me and I wish I could tell her not to worry. Cas won’t go anywhere near her.
I stepped between a woman and him before, choosing to save my president over someone I thought I loved. I don’t know if I’d make the same decision when it comes to Libby.