Property of Drex (Death Chasers MC 2)

“Drex asked me to come collect you.”

My brow furrows in confusion. “What does that mean?”

He blows out a breath, and I swear he looks a little sad. “It means you’re going home.”

Chapter 10

DREX

“You want to talk about what happened to Jessie last night?” Dash asks me as I sit on my bike, staring at the sweet little house across the street that is complete with the fucking white picket fence.

A set of twin boys are playing tag in the front yard, laughing like their lives are perfect. It’s the kind of neighborhood that’s so fucking sweet it would give you a migraine to spend too much time here. It’s so bright and cheery that I haven’t taken my shades off.

“Jessie got what he deserved. It also sent a message to anyone who gets any ideas now that’s she’s going home. No one will touch her. If I’d do that to one of our own guys, imagine what I’d do to someone else.”

“What happens if Ben tries to come to her?”

My jaw tenses. “If Ben comes anywhere near her, I’ll handle it. But I’m not worried about him right now. I roughed him up enough to send a warning. I’ll do more damage when the timing is right. Can’t strike against him too soon with Benny being such an issue.”

“You sure you don’t want to at least say goodbye?” he asks me quietly, propping his elbows up on his handlebars.

“Nope. It’s better I don’t. I’d rather not see how fucking thrilled she is to be returning home.”

“Yet we’re waiting on her to return home,” he points out. Ass.

“Can’t see the excitement in her eyes from here,” I grunt. “I just want to make sure my talk with her mother worked. I won’t leave until I know Eve will be taken back in. You didn’t hear how pissed her mom was that day Eve called her.”

“Still can’t believe you told her the truth,” Dash groans. “What if the mom goes to the cops? The feds will be all over her the first chance they get as it is.”

I shrug, wishing I could give a damn. “I trust Eve to handle it.”

Blowing out another harsh breath, I lean up on my handlebars, matching his stance. But breathing becomes impossible when I see the black SUV riding by.

I dip my head, trying not to be too recognizable as they pass, and I watch them pull into the short driveway. Axle steps out and opens the back door, grabbing a pretty pale pink bag.

Eve walks around the front of the SUV, and I grow thankful we’re far enough away for me not to truly see into her eyes when her gaze zeroes in on me like a magnet. Her footsteps pause, and she just stands and stares. I’m forced to look away when loud squeals of excitement ring out. The two boys race toward her, tackling her legs in death-grip hugs.

She laughs while bending and hugging them back, and they almost knock her to the ground when she does. The front door opens as Axle places the bag on the porch. The mother eyes him, seeming pale and hesitant, but Axle just walks away without saying a word.

As he backs out of the driveway, Eve’s eyes find mine again, but I crank up my ride, letting the engine roar to life. As soon as the mother embraces Eve and clings to her, shaking as she sobs, I drive away.

If Eve cries with her, I don’t want to see it. In fact, I never want to fucking think about her ever again.

Chapter 11

EVE

He’s right across the street, watching me but not making any move to say goodbye. I can’t believe he’s sending me away without so much as a goodbye.

It pisses me off and breaks my heart at the same time, and I’m still working on processing how I feel about any of this. Home. I’m supposed to be home. But it feels anything but like home.

There’s a void in my chest, and it’s leaving me with an aching feeling that unsettles me.

Mom’s arms are suddenly around me as Drex’s bike roars to life. My eyes stay on him as I hold her. She’s crying. Why is she crying?

Drex drives away without so much as looking back, and the first tear falls from my eye and rolls down my cheek as finality sets in. This is really happening. I’ll never see him again, and he won’t even tell me bye.

Mom sobs and speaks incoherently, but I don’t want my brothers seeing this.

“Let’s go inside,” I whisper to her. I’m not even sure why she’s crying since she hated me the last time I spoke to her.

She nods, and pulls back, wiping at her tears. Fortunately, neither of my brothers seem to take notice, and they go back to playing, chasing each other while giggling. Mom leads me inside, and I look back just in time to see Dash walking into the house across the street.