Beauty and the Biker (Ghost Riders MC 2)

I pause for a second, trying to figure out what to do. I look at Abe and search his eyes. “Is that true?”

“Yeah, shortcake. I need to make sure you’re safe.”

I want to roll my eyes at him. Now he cares what happens to me? This isn’t just about me anymore, and if I’m in danger, that means…

“Oh God! I have to get my baby! If I don’t show up in the morning to pick him up, my mom will call the cops looking for me.”

“You have a baby?” Abe’s voice is softer than I’ve heard it in a long time. His eyes are suddenly filled with concern, and that small kindness makes me feel somewhat better. It’s been years since I saw that look of compassion.

“Yeah, a boy.” Who looks just like you. But I don’t say that last part out loud.

“Is his father in his life?” I see a sliver of hope in his eyes.

“No. Seems I can’t keep a man.” I let the bitterness roll off my words, and I don’t care that it’s directed at Abe. He may be hurting, but I’ve hurt twice as much as he has.

“Julie, you’ve always had me, and I was a fool to let you go. I’ve barely survived leaving you, and I can’t do it again. Please, just come with me, and I’ll make things right,” he pleads with me as he rips up the divorce papers in his hands, and puts the tags in his pocket.

Suddenly, dropping down to his knees in front of me, his big hands engulf my hips as he leans his forehead against my belly. “Please, shortcake, we’ll go get your baby in the morning, and we can all be together. I don’t care that he’s not mine, he’s yours and that’s all that matters. I’ve been so fucking stupid. Please, please don’t leave me.”

I look over at Mac, and she just stares at us, but I can see in her eyes the pain she feels for him. It’s the same pain that’s pulling at me. He’s a broken man who has sabotaged his own happiness, and we both see it. God, I love Abe. I never stopped loving him, but the hurt is just too much.

“He’s yours,” I say simply. Maybe calling him a baby was a stretch, but I always call him my baby even though he’s two now. He’ll always be my baby. “I didn’t want to keep him from you, Abe, and I wasn’t trying to hide him, but I’ve been protecting him from you doing to him what you did to me. He doesn’t deserve empty promises, to be left one day because you decide it’s too much. Besides, I tried to tell you about him, but you…”

My words trail off because I don’t want to say them. To remember all the times I showed up and was made to leave like I was nobody is too painful. Now isn’t the time to go into this, and I’ve got to think about my priorities. “Right this second, all I’m worried about is protecting him from this mess you’ve just made.”

Chapter Twenty-One

SAVAGE

I think if a truck came by and ran over me, I’d be less shocked than I am right now. It would probably hurt a fuck ton less too.

“Is he at your parents’ house right now?”

Hearing Vincent’s voice has us all turning in shock.

“You just had to follow me, didn’t you, Shield?” Casper looks just as surprised as the rest of us that her FBI agent boyfriend is here.

“Any good agent would have followed you. But a concerned old man would have tracked you, waited just inside the strip club to see if there was trouble, overheard everything you said, and then shown up to save the day.”

“Jesus, Shield. I’m putting a bell on your neck.” Casper goes over and rubs her hands on his body. “If this is supposed to turn me on, it’s working.”

“Yeah, he’s with my parents. I need to get there as fast as I can,” Julie says, interrupting them.

Hearing Julie’s pleas, I let go of her waist and stand up. I still don’t know what to say. She had our baby and didn’t tell me. Two years. Fuck, I’ve missed everything.

“The best thing you can do right now is go to the Ghost Riders clubhouse and wait until tomorrow. If Mac’s right, they’ll seek out revenge on you and Savage tonight. I’ll send a couple of squad cars out to your parents’ place just in case, but they’ll be looking for a fight with you guys first. My suggestion is to get your asses out of this lot and get to the club. It’s just for tonight, and it’s the safest option for you and your son.”

I look to Julie, and she nods her agreement, solemnly giving in and doing what’s safest for everyone. As she tries to get into her car, I take her hand and pull her with me to my bike.

“Abe, what are you doing?” She tries to pull away from me, but we don’t have time to waste.

“You’re leaving your car here. It’s faster on my bike.” Before she can protest, I grab her up and put her on the back, then get on and start it up. At first, she grips the side of the bike, but as I back out, her arms go around me. Feeling her on the back of my bike and having her hands around my waist, it’s in that moment I feel it again. It’s been years since I felt it, since the last time I touched her, but the click is there, and I’m back in place. My puzzle piece has fit right once again, and I know now what that feeling was all along. Julie is and always has been my soulmate. I know how much I fucked up and what I did to her. I’m trying to process that we have a child together, but there’s time for talk later. Right now, we need to get out of here.