The Biker Needs A Nanny (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Lucky—

The next day, the girls are downstairs, lying on the floor and watching a Christmas movie on television.

I grab a cup of coffee and spot Grace sitting on the couch. I move to her, and as I round the back of the sofa, I see she’s scrolling through her phone, looking at what appears to be real estate listings.

“You buying a house?” I ask, grabbing her phone from her hand, determined to end all the secrets. But when I study the screen, I realize they aren’t homes for purchase. She’s looking at rental listings, and they’re not here; they’re listings for Jacksonville, Florida. My eyes lift to hers. “What are you doing?”

“Um, just checking prices.”

“Why? You planning on going somewhere?”

“I mean, you talked about your aunt coming to take care of the girls after she recovers from her surgery, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but I thought you liked it here. I was kind of hoping you’d stay.”

“I… I’m sure the girls would rather have their aunt, though, right?”

I stiffen. “Is that how it’s gonna be then? What about us?”

“What about us, Lucky?”

“So, everything between us… What was that? Just fun?”

She shrugs.

“Say it.”

She won’t open her mouth.

“Because you can’t. And you know why? Because it wasn’t just fun, and we both know it. It was so much more. Wasn’t it?”

When she doesn’t reply, anger and hurt wash over me.

“Okay, then. Fine.”

I stalk off, because right now I want to put my fist through the wall. It’s been my biggest fear—that she’d run. It’s been her pattern, and I knew it from the start, so why am I so surprised that she’d leave me and the girls just like she leaves everywhere else? I walk in the room long enough to throw one more sentence at her.

“So it’s that easy for you to walk away from me? From the girls? I thought we had something.”

“We did. We do.”

I huff a laugh. “Really? Doesn’t seem like it. Not when you’re scanning for a new place in a new city in a different goddamn state.”

Ella and Poppy stare at me like I’ve grown two heads.

I grab my jacket; I need to cool off. “I’m going for a ride.”

I’m gone for most of the day, and it’s past sunset when I roll back up. I’m still down the street when I see a commotion in my drive, right in front of the house. At first, I can’t tell if it’s the girls wrestling around in the grass or what it is until I see an arm rear back and smash down as I’m turning in. I hit the throttle and roar up to the house, but the man hears my bike and disappears into the darkness.

By the time I slam on the brakes and jump off to chase after him, my gun drawn, he’s gone. I fire a shot into the air as a warning, or maybe more of a threat, then hear the sobbing and spin to see Grace curled up in a ball.

Holstering my weapon, I dash to her and cradle her to me. “Grace! My God. Are you okay?”

She’s in tears, but I see the trickle of blood from her mouth and the swelling along her cheek.

“Who did this? Who was that?” I’m ready to kill the man. I want to rip him apart. I’m on the verge of losing it. “Who did this?”

But Grace is trembling and perhaps in shock.

I pull my phone out and call my brother. “Brick, get me a paramedic here. Grace was attacked.”

Scooping her into my arms, I carry her inside to wait for them to show up. By the time the emergency vehicle turns in the drive, lights flashing, the club is right behind them.

I wave the paramedics inside and lead them to where I’ve got her on the couch. I’ve fashioned an ice pack for her, but she’s still shaking.

“If you could step back, sir.”

I do as they ask.

“Ma’am? Could you tell us what happened to you?”

“I was attacked. A man came out of the bushes. He jumped me.”

My club is waiting outside, but Case comes in and motions me to join him outside.

I follow him, and we talk on the porch.

“What happened?” he asks.

“Some guy was beating on her when I pulled in the drive. I jumped off my bike and pulled my gun, but he disappeared in the darkness.

“You know who it was?”

I shake my head. “She wouldn’t tell me.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know.”

“Someone has been scaring her. She keeps seeing this same guy, and every time she does, she freaks out.”

“She tell you who he is?”

“No, but she told me in not so many words that her ex was abusive. She’s moved around a lot. I’m beginning to think she’s been running from this guy.”

“Then we need to take care of him, VP,” Case decrees.

“Absolutely.”

One of the paramedics comes outside. “Sir, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure. How is she?”

“She’s okay, but she doesn’t want to go to the hospital. We checked her out and treated her abrasions. It doesn’t look like he broke any bones, but without an xray or a CT scan, I can’t be sure of the extent of her injuries.”

“Then you’ll be transporting her?” I ask.

“She’s refusing, and we can’t make her go if she refuses.”

I drag a hand down my face. The last thing I want to do is have a fight with her about this.

“If it’s a concussion, what do we look for?” Case asks the man.

“Physically? Headache, dizziness, balance problems, blurred or double vision, light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, or unusual pupil size. There are other symptoms that are mental or emotional. You can pull up a list on your phone. I’d suggest you get her to a hospital immediately if you notice any of them. She should probably be checked out by her own physician tomorrow if possible.”

Case shakes the man’s hand for me, because I’m in a state and pacing around the porch.

After they leave, I put her in my bed and sit on the edge.

“Grace, I need to know who this guy is. If you know, you have to tell me. This has gone too far.”

“It was my ex-boyfriend, Eric.”

“He the one you told me about? The one who abused you?”

Tears stream down her cheeks. “I’m so ashamed. When I was eighteen, I aged out of the foster system and had nowhere to go. It left me two choices: join the military or Eric. I should have chosen the military. It wasn’t long before he began the abuse. I pawned my grandmother’s ring to get the money to leave him. I’ve been running from him ever since. He always seems to find me. I’m so sorry, Lucky. I never meant to bring this trouble to your door. I never meant to put your girls in danger.”

“Shh, shh. I’m going to take care of this problem, and you’re never going to have to worry about this asshole again.”

“Please be careful.”

“Case is putting two prospects here. And Brick called Angie to come sit with the girls until I get back.”

She puts her hand on my arm. “Where are you going? Don’t leave me. Please.”

“I’ve got to, babe. I’ve got to get this guy. I will not have him threatening you or my girls. There’s no discussion to be had, Grace.”

She stares up at me, and her eyes fill.

I stroke her hair and kiss her forehead. I’m going to kill this motherfucker for what he did to her. I’m going to tear him limb from limb.

“You got a picture of this guy? Does he have social media?”

Grace digs her phone out of her pocket and scrolls, then turns the screen toward me. Eric Reynolds . I snap a picture of his profile shot, then scroll and see him standing next to that green metallic pickup. I snap another shot. And scroll for any other information.

“Please stay with me,” Grace begs, grabbing my hand.

“I can’t, sweetheart. My girls are involved… and the woman I love. I have to deal with this.”

I brush a barely-there kiss to her lips, cautious of her injuries, and leave the room.

Brick is leading Angie into the house and into the living room where my girls sit huddled on the couch. I gather them in my arms. They burst into tears.

“Is Grace okay, Daddy?” Ella asks.

“She is, yes. She’s going to have some bruises, but she’s going to be okay.”

“What happened? She went outside because I dropped my new doll in the driveway, and she went to get it. Then we heard her yelling for us to lock the door, so we did.”

“You did the right thing.”

“I was going to call 911, because that’s what they taught us to do at school, but then I heard your motorcycle.”

“That’s right, honey. And everything is going to be okay. Grace is getting some rest, and Angie and two of my friends are going to stay with you until Daddy gets back.”

“Where are you going?” Ella is panicked. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“I have to, sweetheart. I have to stop that bad man from every hurting Grace or you two again. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“That’s my good girl.” I kiss the top of her head, then Poppy’s.

Then I follow Brick out the front door, and together with Case and my brothers, we nail down a plan. I share Eric’s picture and that of his truck, and we decide to split up and search the town.

It’s after midnight when Brick and I return to the house.

The girls are in their beds, and Angie waits in the living room with our two prospects.

“Is Grace okay?” I ask.

“She’s fine,” Angie replies. “She’s sleeping. I just checked on her. Did you find the son-of-a-bitch who did this?”

“Yeah. I wanted to tell her that. Let her know she doesn’t have to worry about that asshole ever again, but I don’t want to wake her.”

“Yes, I agree. It’s best to let her sleep,” Angie says. “You can tell her in the morning.”

“Thank you for staying with the girls, Angie.” I hug her.

“Oh, it was no problem at all.”

“Come on, babe,” Brick says, capturing his ol’ lady’s hand.

I lift my chin to the two prospects. “You can take off now, guys.”

They all head out, and once the house is quiet, I go up to check on the girls, and then Grace.

I touch her forehead and then dip my head and replace my hand with a kiss.

Then I step back out and pace in the kitchen. I’ve realized now why she was putting up walls, but I’ve solved that problem. There’s nothing standing in our way. No secrets. No worries.

I can’t live without her. She makes me laugh. She makes me happy. The girls love her. Everything has fallen into place, and everything feels so right. I can’t imagine going back to my life before Grace walked into it.

I pace some more and stop to stare at the phone on the kitchen wall. Then I pick up the receiver.

“Pinky’s Pawn Shop. How can I help you?”

“I want to pay off a ring, and I want to know if you can deliver it first thing in the morning.”

“Sure, but we don’t usually do deliveries.”

“There’s an extra hundred in it for you, but I need it here first thing.”

“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, mister, and you’re an hour away.”

“Then how much?”

“How much what?”

I roll my eyes. “How much will get you off your ass to deliver it first thing tomorrow?”

“Um, I guess two hundred, and I’ll do it.”

“Fine. Add two hundred. Here’s my credit card number. You ready?”

After the arrangements are made, I lie down on the couch in the living room. I don’t want to disturb her, but I want to be close if something happens. I feel all the energy drain out of me as I stack my hands under my head and imagine the look on her face when I give her that ring on Christmas morning. Everything is going to be great.

It’s going to be the best Christmas we’ve had in a long time.