Chapter 7
Michelle woke up early the next day, feeling more refreshed and optimistic than she had since she was a child. It had done her wonders to be away from Alan, even just for a few hours, among people who treated her like a person, not like an indentured servant. She had almost forgotten that other people could be kind and caring. She’d come to expect everybody to treat her as poorly as Alan had.
Again, she heard a soft knock on the bedroom door and Blade’s deep, soothing voice summoning her to breakfast.
“Coming,” she said. She hopped in the shower, re-playing the events of the day before. Jo had been thrilled to take her out for an afternoon on the town, lavishing her with a delicious meal in the diner that Michelle’s father used to frequent, and joyously offering her opinion on clothing and everything else under the sun.
Jo was a kind, free-spirited woman with a foul mouth and a golden heart. A rare breed, especially in a place like the suburban neighborhood that Alan had insisted they move to. Michelle had had enough of fake people in her life. It was refreshing to be around these honest, outspoken people again. They felt like family.
When she emerged, Blade was already sitting in the kitchen and he smiled quickly at her.
“Thought maybe sausage and biscuits would suit the day more,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
“It looks incredible,” Michelle said, taking her seat. He didn’t stand up to greet her today, or to pull the chair out for her. Although she didn’t expect that kind of treatment, it seemed odd, somehow. As if he were forcing himself not to be overly polite.
“It’s my grandmother’s recipe. Don’t tell me if you don’t like it or she’ll probably roll around in her grave.”
Blade was going to laugh, but then a serious, pained look creased his chiseled features.
“Death is hard,” Michelle said, reaching across the table and gripping his hand. They sat like that for a moment before Blade cleared his throat and pulled his hand away quickly.
“We get used to doing hard things,” Blade said, shoveling a big forkful of biscuit into his mouth. “It’s what makes humans such amazing creatures. At least, the ones who are willing to own up to their own bullshit.”
Michelle nodded. She couldn’t see Alan ever getting used to doing something he didn’t want to do. In fact, he was a spoiled brat, and would rather destroy something than fail at it. Like that time with the puzzle she had gotten him for Christmas…that had been a disaster.
They ate the rest of their meal in silence and were just about to get ready to clean up when a commotion downstairs brought Blade to his feet.
“I demand to see her!” Alan was shouting. “I need to see my wife!”
Michelle grew faint at the sound of his voice and Blade scowled.
“You stay up here, kid,” he said darkly. “I’ll handle this.”
Michelle trembled and put her head in her hands. She had been stupid enough to think that she would be safe from Alan here at the MC. But, of course, he would get the entire police station to raid the place. That was the kind of asshole he was. She shouldn’t have let herself get comfortable here. She was going to pay dearly for the two days of freedom she had indulged in. Michelle swallowed hard, her hands shaking fiercely with terror. Why had she agreed to go to her father’s funeral?
“What do you think you’re doing, little man?” Blade shouted. “If you know what’s good for you, you’re going to get the hell out of here!”
Michelle cringed, but she knew she couldn’t let Blade fight her battles. She would just go home with Alan and pretend the whole thing had never happened.
“I just…I need to know that she’s all right!” Alan said desperately. “I want to see her.”
“You’re not going to see anything ever again, where you’re going,” Blade threatened.
“Stop!” Michelle cried.
“Aw hell, Michie! I told you to stay upstairs!”
Michelle descended the staircase quickly and looked Alan squarely in the eyes.
“Alan, you need to leave. These men are going to hurt you if you don’t.”
She backed away from Alan and raised her voice so that everybody in the MC could hear her.
“I don’t want any of you laying a hand on my husband. Do you understand me?!”
“Michie!”
She glared sternly at Blade, who clamped his mouth shut unhappily. She was doing it to protect them. If any of them laid a hand on the chief of police, it would be the end of the line for them all.
“Leave, Alan,” Michelle warned.
“Come with me!” Alan exclaimed. “You belong with me! Not in this bar full of pathetic thugs!”
“Listen to what I’m saying to you,” Michelle said, her voice quavering. “I am going to file for divorce. I’m not your wife, Alan. I’m nothing to you. And I’m not coming home. Now you can be a man about this and respect my wishes, or you can be a coward. But I have to tell you, the men in here don’t think too highly of cowards. It would take a lot more than my pretty words to hold them off if they set their mind to something.”
Alan glowered, looking helplessly around the room for some way he might gain the upper hand. Even if he had every squad car in the city outside the MC, he had no grounds to take her away and he knew it. He had come here as a spoiled brat wanting to take back what he thought was his, but now that she had challenged him, he would feel that his manhood was on the line. Was he going to act like a spoiled little bitch in front of an entire gang of bikers? Even Alan wasn’t that stupid.
“You’re all going to pay for this,” Alan said, his voice quavering. He didn’t look at any of the bikers. He was talking only to Michelle. She was going to be the one he punished. He probably didn’t give a damn about the MC, as long as he was able to put his wife in his place.
Alan turned away from her and stomped out the door and Michelle sank back against the wall, sighing heavily. He had been ballsy to come in there and try to order these men around like that, but that only served to show what a fucking lunatic he was.
“Are you all right, Michie?”
Blade’s strong, comforting voice suddenly enveloped her and she felt her body become weightless as Blade’s well-muscled arms scooped her up against his broad chest. She was carried up the stairs and laid down gently in the nearest bed, in Blade’s bed, and a cool cloth was applied to her forehead.
“It’s going to be fine,” Blade whispered, his voice deep and soothing in the cool, darkness of the bedroom. It smelled like him, and Michelle suddenly had the urge to hold him close, or be held by him, and never let go again.
***
Michelle woke up with a start. She hadn’t realized that she’d fallen asleep and panic welled inside of her. She had been dreaming that she was falling down a long, spiraling hole, with no end in sight. It was exactly the way she had always felt with Alan.
“That little slime ball really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
She was surprised by the deep rumble of Blade’s voice in the darkness.
“Could I have some water, please?” she asked. She didn’t want to answer the question, to acknowledge all of the ways that Alan had harmed her over the years. Some things he’d done might never stop hurting her, really. It would be impossible for her to feel like she once was.
“Of course,” Blade said, moving quietly through the room. A few moments later he returned to her side with a glass of cool water and she sipped it gratefully.
“What happened?” Michelle asked. She had fainted a few times before but usually only after a beating. This time had been different. Unnerving.
“I reckon you weren’t quite ready to see that ugly mug of his again,” Blade said with a wry chuckle. “Decided to go and pass out on us so you wouldn’t have to look at it anymore.”
Michelle laughed weakly.
“That’s a very scientific theory,” she said.
“Hey, they call me Blade, not Beaker,” he said, laughing quietly.
They were quiet for a moment and Michelle took the opportunity to study Blade’s form in the darkness. He was so well put together. Everything in the room was neat and organized. Even his beard was trimmed meticulously. The man knew how to take care of himself. And, apparently, he knew how to take care of her, too.
“Do you think he’ll come back?” Michelle asked. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the MC again. Especially not now that she had just started feeling comfortable here. The idea of going back with Alan made her feel nearly mad with apprehension.
“Nah,” Blade chuckled. “Not if he values his life. Did you see his face?!”
Michelle laughed despite herself. Alan had always been quite the coward. He liked to pretend he was a big bad alpha male, but when it came down to it, he was just an insecure little boy. At first it had been a quality that had endeared Alan to her, ironically enough. Now though, it had nearly been her end.
“I’m serious though. I don’t want any of you taking needless risks. You stay on your turf and he should stay on his. If anything happened to Alan because of me, they would crack down so hard on this place it would make your heads spin.”
Blade shrugged.
“We’ll see about that,” he said. “But it isn’t happening now, so don’t worry so much about it, got me? Just try to work on feeling better.”
He bent down and kissed her on the forehead, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The soft warmth of his lips and the scraping of Blade’s mustache against her skin instantly set Michelle ablaze. The man was just trying to be fatherly, but somehow, the innocent little gesture had reminded her of just how much she had wanted Blade. From the moment she’d seen him standing on her porch to the moment he had stepped up for her against her husband, all she’d wanted to do was to feel more of the forbidden desires his body might have to offer.
“I should really get back to my own room,” she said quickly, locking eyes with Blade. His eyes were dark, almost tortured. Or maybe she was imagining it.
“Right,” he said, moving out of the way so that she could stand up from his bed.
She didn’t want to leave. The masculine smell of the room, the smell of Blade himself, was tantalizingly comforting. It was like being in front of a campfire on a warm summer day. But she couldn’t be trusted with her feelings. If she allowed herself to be drawn in, they would both regret it. Not only was she married, but it was a horrific thought to be so drawn to her father’s best friend. The man was far, far older than she was. It just wasn’t right. In fact, her father would probably be furious at the both of them for it.
Besides, there was no way that Blade was interested in her. He had known her since she was a child. All she would ever be was a kid to him. How would he ever see her as a grown woman? It wouldn’t work. It was all just too creepy to even consider.
“Do you want me to walk you to your room?” Blade asked, his voice tight with concern. “I could bring you some dinner, if you want.”
“No, it’s all right,” Michelle said quietly. “I’m feeling much better. Thank you though.”
She swallowed hard. She would just have to work harder to fight her feelings for Blade, that was all. She couldn’t let the grief win out. There was no way that she would ever be able to have a healthy relationship with Blade, was there? They were from two different worlds, and he would probably always see her as a child. It was time to accept it and put her crush behind her, once and for all.