He didn’t want to stand on the box naked. He didn’t want strangers touching him. He didn’t want them putting their hand on his privates.
He only wanted him and his mommy to go home.
Maybe if he closed his eyes and wished really, really, really hard, it might happen.
And if it did, he’d even promise to never ask for ice cream again.
Chapter Six
With the power of his Night Train between his thighs, Shade gave his purring girl a little more throttle to make sure he stayed in formation and didn’t drift out of line.
Unfortunately, he kept losing his concentration, kept disappearing back into his head. He kept replaying the nightmare that had woken him during the early morning hours. A nightmare, but also an unfortunate memory.
One of many that had the tendency to replay in his mind when he slept.
One of many that woke him up in a sweat.
One of many that caused him to lie awake at night.
One of many he wished he’d forget.
Especially of the one where his mother had been auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Then disappeared.
That was the last moment he ever saw her. That large room in the large house surrounded by strange men was the last place.
He had lost his father, then his mother.
Shortly after, he lost himself.
That day and for the next decade, he gained new “daddies” and “uncles.”
That one large room turned into ten years of countless smaller rooms.
Different room. Same reason.
Different time. Same result.
One day blended into many.
Weeks blended into months.
Months into years.
He didn’t know what sparked that particular memory last night. Maybe spending yesterday with Chelle, who was a mother. One he could tell would do anything for her daughters.
She loved to talk, even though he didn’t, but that didn’t stop her.
She was proud of her girls and talked about them a lot. What—or who—she didn’t talk about was the man in the photo. The one standing next to her holding her hand while she wore a white dress.
While she wore his ring.
Before she bore his children.
He didn’t ask because it wasn’t his business. Shade was only there to make a little extra scratch for him to squirrel away. So he could get back to his plan. To his list.
The worn, folded piece of paper tucked in his wallet.
No. Not now.
He rode toward the rear of the pack, next to Easy. As Road Captain, Cage led the formation. Behind Cage, Trip rode with Stella wrapped around his back, holding tight, her long black hair with blue stripes pulled up and hidden under a purple bandana. Sig as VP rode next to Trip with Red, his ol’ lady, holding on tight.
Out of everyone who rode with them on a run, Shade watched Autumn the most. Her red hair reminded him of fire and she hardly ever contained it. She liked the freedom of it whipping around her and her ol’ man. Even though it had to become knotted like hell from the wind.
Seeing her so free on the back of Sig’s sled did something to Shade.
Red was so strong—the strongest woman he ever knew—but they all looked out for her like she was the most vulnerable. It wasn’t only Sig who would do anything for her...
Especially after they all went up that mountain and found out what happened to her. How she was kept, how she survived, what they did to her.
Fuck yeah, she was the strongest woman he knew. He also knew exactly what she’d been through. Though, her nightmare lasted about a year, unlike Shade’s decade.
But a year was a year too long.
Red was free now. Happy.
Even though no one said this out loud, she probably saved Sig’s life. She definitely motivated the VP to stay out of prison. That right there was a win for Trip. It gave the two half-brothers a chance to mend their relationship and become close again like they were when they were kids. It hadn’t happened overnight but they were working on it. Slowly. With the help of Stella and Red.
In the next row, Judge and his cousin Deacon rode side by side with Cassie clinging to the club enforcer and Reese’s cheek pressed to the treasurer’s cut. As uptight as the lawyer could be, Deacon’s ol’ lady tended to loosen up during every run and always wore a big smile by the end. Riding on the back of Deacon’s sled probably cleared her mind, just like spending time on his own sled usually did for Shade.
Those intelligent, strong women had caught the hearts and souls of Shade’s brothers.
The rest filled in behind them. Rook, Rev, Whip, Dutch and Dodge. All ol’ lady free like Shade and Easy.
Then there was Ozzy, who had Reilly along for today’s almost four-hour ride. Reese’s sister slipped right into being part of the club whether Reese wanted her to or not. Headstrong and outspoken, Reilly easily became everyone’s little sister. Even though she wasn’t little at all.