GUNNER
My girl's hand tenses in mine, making me snap my gaze to her. When I notice where she's looking, I feel my own body go rigid.
Helena looks furious. What's wrong?
Once we're closer, I notice the dark circles under her eyes. She looks like she hasn't slept all night and so does Scooter, who watches us with tired eyes. There's an exhaustion in both of them that goes beyond physical, the kind that comes from worry eating you alive hour by hour.
The compound feels different suddenly. Quieter. The other brothers have made themselves scarce, sensing the storm about to break.
"Good to know someone had a good night."
Helena sarcastically remarks, making me frown. There's venom in her voice, sharp and cutting.
"Wh..."
I'm cut off before I can say anything.
"Stay out of this, Gunner."
Helena sneers my way, getting off Scooter's lap and turning to Michelle. Her movements are controlled, precise. Dangerous.
"I brought you some clothes to change into, in case you decide to not come home tonight either."
She throws the bag at Michelle's feet with a hard expression on her face. The bag hits the floor with a thud that echoes in the quiet room.
"And make sure to not call me. It's not like I'm worried, right?"
She sneers sarcastically then turns to leave.
"Don't you think you're being a little overdramatic?"
I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. Wrong thing to say. Very wrong.
Helena stops dead in her tracks and turns back to me. The look on her face could freeze hell.
"No, I don't."
She states, her voice hard and stern. Each word clipped, final.
I watch as Helena storms out of the clubhouse, while Scooter just sighs in what seems to be disappointment. Not at Helena. At me, I realize. For not understanding what this is really about.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to call. I didn't mean to."
Michelle stammers apologetically, her voice small and scared.
"It's not me you should apologize to."
Scooter sighs deeply, running his hand through his hair.
"She hasn't slept the whole night, worried out of her mind about you. The least you could do was warn her that you wouldn't come back."
He puts his hands in the pockets of his ripped jeans as he speaks. He frowns in frustration before sighing and leaving without further word.
The door closes behind him with a finality that makes my chest tight.
"Oh God, Helena must be so mad."
Michelle bemoans and I pull her to me, leaving a kiss on the top of her head. Her body is trembling slightly, caught between relief and guilt.
"I'll talk to her. Don't worry, she'll get over it."
I assure, even though I'm actually not sure of it myself. After learning about Michelle's past, I understand Helena's reaction. She must've been worried about something happening to my girl. She's really protective of people she cares about. And for good reason. She knows what monsters look like, knows what they're capable of.
Michelle and I have a quiet breakfast in my room. The prospects bring us food without being asked, reading the mood. But I can tell she's still worried about Helena's reaction.
I get a feeling Helena will not let this go easily. She's been through a lot, so she knows what could possibly happen. Not that I would let my girl get hurt. Whoever those bastards are that are after my treasure, they will not get her. I'll kill them myself if I have to.
The rest of the day is spent with me and my girl in my room, ignoring the teasing we get from the club members. Wolf makes a crack about me being whipped. I flip him off without heat. Let them talk. I don't care.
We talk, we kiss, we enjoy ourselves. I found out that Michelle has a lot of insecurities when it comes to her body, so I made sure to show her how beautiful she really is. How every curve, every soft place, every inch of her drives me crazy. She doesn't believe me at first, but I'm patient. I'll spend however long it takes convincing her.
In the evening I drop her off at Helena's house, but much to my surprise, she's not in. The house is dark, empty. This causes Michelle to have a small mental breakdown, thinking that Helena got so mad that she left her.
"She wouldn't do that," I tell her, but Michelle's not listening. She's spiraling, fear taking over logic.
I stay with my girl, waiting for the angry house owner to come back. I know that if I leave Michelle alone she's just going to cry herself to sleep. I don't like seeing her tears, so I keep her in my lap, caressing her hair and back, calming her down with quiet words and steady touches.
The living room is nice. Comfortable. Not what I expected from Helena. There are books on the shelves, photos on the walls. A life built from nothing, made into something solid.
It's around 11 pm when Helena finally makes her appearance. She stops dead in her tracks when she sees us in the living room then goes to the kitchen without a word. She comes back with a water bottle in her hand and drops onto the couch opposite to us.
The silence stretches. Tense. Waiting.
"So I'm guessing you decided to come back, huh?"
She scoffs, still angry. But there's something else underneath. Hurt. Fear. Exhaustion.
"Helena, we're not here to fight with you. Michelle just forgot to call you. Is it really that big of a deal for you to treat her like this?"
I defend my girl. I don't like how harsh Helena is being about this.
"Yes it is! Do you have any idea what could happen?"
She turns to Michelle.
"Did you tell him?"
She questions, getting a shy nod in response.
"Then you know that there are some dangerous people after her. They're nothing like my parents or those debt collectors. They want to kill her! And she carelessly decides to spend the night out of here, with no warning, no call, not even a text! Do you have any idea what was going through my head when I couldn't get a hold of her?! You told me you would take her home, so that's what I was expecting! I called her almost a hundred times! I thought something happened to her!"
Hell. I feel like garbage. I should've called Helena myself to tell her about Michelle staying with me. But I was so caught up with my treasure that I hadn't even thought about that. Selfish. Thoughtless.
"I am happy for you, don't get me wrong. But at least try to think about consequences of your actions, okay? Michelle, you're not alone in this anymore. You can't just ignore me like that."
She sighs, sounding defeated. The anger has drained out of her, leaving only exhaustion behind.
Michelle gets up, rounds the coffee table and lunges at Helena, crying into her shirt.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, I'm sorry."
Helena hesitantly wraps her arm around Michelle and pats her head comfortingly. The gesture is awkward but genuine, like she's not used to being the one offering comfort but does it anyway.
"Just don't do it again, okay?"
She gets a firm nod in response against her shirt. I get up from my seat on the couch. My movement catches Helena's attention.
"I'll get going now, it's late."
I declare, but Helena just shakes her head, making me frown in confusion.
"You can stay the night here if you want. I'm going to Scooter's house anyway. I just need a change of clothes."
With that she gets up and heads down the hallway, not even letting me answer. The girl moves like a ghost, silent and quick.
"Do you want to stay?"
Michelle shyly asks, making me grin. She's so damn cute.
"If the owner of the house is okay with that, then why not..."
I trail off, my voice dropping lower. I stalk towards the squirming beauty in front of me. I love how she reacts to me, the way her breath catches, the way color floods her cheeks.
"I am fine with it, but don't you dare make babies in my house. Squirrel, remember to lock the door."
Michelle squeaks in protest hearing the ridiculous nickname, while I burst out laughing. Squirrel? Where the hell did that come from?
Helena chuckles, giving my girl a smug smirk, before leaving the house. The door clicks shut behind her, and we're alone.
The house settles around us, quiet and safe. This is Helena's sanctuary, and she's trusting us with it. That means something.
"She gave in faster than I thought. Come on, baby, let's get you to bed."
I pick my treasure up and carry her to the guest bedroom, following her directions. It's actually my first time being in Helena's house, not to mention spending the night here. The hallway is lined with photos. Helena and Scooter. Helena fighting. Her father. A life documented in snapshots.
"Bathroom's that way. I'll use the one in Helena's room."
Michelle says once we're in the room then sprints out, leaving me here. I shake my head in amusement. She's so shy and adorable.
The guest room is simple. Clean white walls, a queen bed with dark blue sheets, a dresser. Nothing fancy but comfortable. Helena's practical in everything she does.
I'm already undressed, staying only in my briefs in Michelle's bed, when she finally enters the room. She's wearing a cute purple camisole and satin shorts that leave her thick thighs bare for me to admire. Oh, how I want those legs wrapped around me.
The thought sends heat through my body, but I keep myself in check. She's not ready for that yet. And I'm a patient man.
She stands by the door for a moment, unsure of what to do. Her fingers twist in the hem of her camisole, nervous energy radiating off her.
I pat the space next to me, urging her to come closer. She tentatively comes to bed after turning the lights off, leaving only the nightstand lamp on. The soft glow casts shadows across her face, making her look younger somehow. Vulnerable.
I pull her close to me once she comes under the covers and spoon her, kissing the back of her head. She fits perfectly against me, her body soft and warm and mine.
"Thank you for staying," she whispers into the quiet.
"Nowhere else I'd rather be."
She's never leaving my arms, that's for sure. This girl, with all her scars and fears and insecurities, she's mine now. Mine to protect, mine to cherish, mine to keep safe from the monsters hunting her.
Guess it's time to go house hunting. Can't keep bringing her back here every night. She needs a place where she feels safe. Where I can keep her secure. Where we can build something together.
The Iron Brotherhood has connections. Properties. Safe houses. I'll find something perfect for us. Close enough to the compound that my brothers can help watch over her, but far enough away that she has privacy. A real home, not just a room at the clubhouse.
I stroke her hair as her breathing evens out, sleep claiming her. She feels safe here, in my arms. That's all that matters right now.
Tomorrow I'll start making calls. Start putting plans in motion. Start building the life I want with this girl who stumbled into my world and turned everything upside down.
But tonight, I just hold her. Feel her heart beat against my chest. Listen to her breathe. This is enough. This is everything.
The house creaks around us, settling into the night. Outside, the world is dangerous and unpredictable. But in this room, in this moment, we're safe.
And I'll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.