“She’s alone in the cage because the other dogs wouldn’t accept her while she’s injured.”
To my surprise, she trotted toward the fence the moment she spotted me. Considering our first encounter, we’d come a long way. “Hey girl,” I said. She huffed and wagged her tail. Properly fed and with a big yard to run in, she seemed so much more relaxed than the dog I remembered.
Seeing her also brought back many memories from my captivity that I didn’t want to recall. I still felt caught in a sort of limbo, back at home physically, but with my mind still lost in the clubhouse. I patted her gently through the bars. “Will you find a good home for her?”
“It won’t be easy, given their upbringing.”
“I wish I could take her in but Dad would never allow it.”
“Your father wants to protect you.”
“I know,” I said. “From everything. Maddox, dogs…”
“Maddox needs to earn your father’s trust. That’s not an easy thing to do, but I was your father’s enemy once and he gave me the benefit of the doubt. Maddox can do the same.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Growl.” I glanced at Satan who watched me. “Can you do me a favor and call her Santana? That’s still close to her name but much better.”
“Sure. You want to spend more time with her?”
“Yes.” I stayed for another hour to pat her before Growl took me back home. I went up to my room to research possible tattoos so I wouldn’t constantly think about Maddox.
In the early evening, a bike engine rumbled outside. My eyes widened and I jumped up from the sofa in my room. I stormed downstairs and toward the front door, my heart galloping wildly. I opened it and deflated when I saw Matteo on his bike—the bike he’d given to Maddox.
He ran a hand through his hair and gave me a small smile.
Steps sounded behind me, and Dad appeared beside me. His expression didn’t bode well.
“What’s wrong? Where’s Maddox?”
Matteo came up the stairs, exchanging another secretive look with Dad.
“Dad,” I said angrily. “Where’s Maddox?”
Amo and Mom were in the foyer by now.
Dad touched my shoulder. “He showed up at Growl’s shelter this afternoon and dropped off two more dogs and Matteo’s bike.”
We must have missed each other by an hour. “But where is he now?”
“He ran off like we all knew he would,” Amo said.
I whirled on him to lash out, but Mom’s compassionate expression told me Amo’s words were true. “What?” I whispered, shocked. “He wouldn’t just run off. He saved me, he betrayed his club for me…”
“Maybe he’s come to regret his decision,” Matteo said gently.
Dad touched my shoulder. “Maddox only knows his biker lifestyle. He doesn’t want to be bound by a woman or social conventions. The call of the road, of freedom, was too strong.”
“You think he chose freedom over me?”
“What he considers freedom at least.”
“That’s what he told Growl?”
Matteo nodded. “I talked to Growl when I picked up my bike. Maddox didn’t stay long. He made sure to run off as quickly as he could. He’s probably heading out of our territory now. The men who followed him yesterday saw him picking up a bag full of cash.”
I swallowed hard. “He could have been free by my side.”
“Good choice. If he builds up his fucking club again, I’ll kill him, and this time Marci won’t stop us,” Amo muttered.
I ignored him. Mom wrapped an arm around me. “You have a wonderful future ahead of you, Marci. You don’t need him. You have us.”
I didn’t need him, but I wanted him by my side. I’d wanted him to become part of my life, of my family. I’d thought we could overcome the chasm between our backgrounds.
But our bond had been fatal from the very beginning. Maddox had saved me, and I had saved him. That was all there was.
Now I just had to convince my heart of it.
To be continued in
By Sin I Rise - Part Two...