by Kayley Shaye
Why? Because he was the one who built the club from the ground up. He wanted to make sure it turned into everything that he had intended it to be.
“I haven’t coughed up blood after chemo before.” Ryder’s eyes were tired as he spoke. “It only happened when I first found out about the cancer.”
“That doesn’t mean something else is wrong.” My chest was aching. “Just a side effect. It has to be.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.” Ryder pushed the trash can away from him but made no effort to get off the floor. I wasn’t even sure if he could get up. Instead of asking, I sat silently across from him.
It was two in the morning and the moon light was flickering across Ryder’s tattoos from the window that he was leaned up against. For once, I was glad Jesse wasn’t here because seeing Ryder like this wouldn’t be good for either of them.
“Do you still need the trash can?” I asked quietly.
“I think I’m good.”
I nodded, took the trash outside, and returned to Ryder. “Did you take your medicine tonight?”
“Yes, because you pestered me until I did,” he responded.
“That’s right,” I hummed. “I did. Come on. You need to get some sleep.” I got back up on my feet.
“I’m not going to be able to sleep for a while. I’m just going to stay right here. I’ll be fine,” he reassured.
“I don’t want to leave you on the floor and go to sleep. What if you need something?” I asked.
“Then I will get it myself. I’m perfectly capable of that, Sage. I’m a grown man.”
I sighed. “I know that. I’m sorry.” This is what the doctor warned me about too. “If something happens, call, okay? I should hear you.”
“Will do.” He nodded. “Goodnight, Sage.”
“Goodnight.” Instead of going straight to bed, I went downstairs to make myself a cup of hot tea. Maybe it would help put me back to sleep.
Once the tea was made, I stepped onto the porch. The wind was chilly as it hit my skin, and it was peaceful outside despite the two houses across the street.
With all the chaos from the clubs, I rarely ever had time to just breathe. The time I got to myself these days was the short thirty minutes I had to shower and get dressed . . . most of which Jesse was involved in, if you know what I mean.
Point being, it was nice looking at the stars and enjoying the chilly weather by myself. It gave me more time to think.
After I finished my tea, I walked back inside and locked up. I washed my cup and turned off the kitchen lights before quietly walking back up the stairs.
I sighed with relief when I noticed Ryder had gotten back into bed, snoring lightly. I tiptoed back to my bedroom and shut the door softly behind me before falling back on the bed.
I spread out completely to sleep, perks of not having a muscular huge man taking up half the bed and then refusing to let me have a little space of my own. Well ha, Jesse, I get it all to myself tonight!
***
I took the cigarette from Ryder’s lips and put it out in the ashtray. “You know what we should do?”
“You could tell me, or you could tell me why you just put out my damn cigarette,” Ryder responded hastily.
“Because you shouldn’t be smoking cigarettes right now,” I muttered as I got off the kitchen stool. “We should cook breakfast.”
“Unless you want a repeat of last time, I will have to say no. I don’t think my brother wants to come home to a burnt-down house.” Ryder sipped his coffee.
“But I know how to make scrambled eggs now . . . and you won’t leave the toast unattended, right?” I asked.
“Not right. You haven’t put your hand on an egg since that morning. Am I right?” Ryder’s eyebrows raised as if he was winning this game.
I guess I was defeated. “You may be right. Oh! I have a better idea. If we’re not making breakfast, we’re going to do something else.” I rushed upstairs to throw on a pair of ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and my cut. I made my way back to Ryder and smiled at his skeptical look.
“So what are we doing, Mrs. Suddenly Adventurous?” Ryder smiled.
I was so glad he was feeling better this morning. His smile made me smile. “We’re going to adopt a dog.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
I crossed my arms. “No, I just want a dog. I LOVE dogs.”
Ryder stared at me like he was trying to see straight through my soul or read my mind. After a few moments, he shrugged. “Oh, what the hell. Let’s go get a damn dog, but not a little one, a big one that has a resting bitch face.”
Yes! “Like me?”
“Exactly.” Ryder grabbed his cut from the dining room chair and followed me out of the house. To the shelter we go.
Once we got there, the shelter staff let us go right in and check out the animals. They even said we could get one animal out at a time and play with them if we wanted. “Let’s see the cats first.”
“Good,” Ryder said. “I could use some ‘pussy’.”
I choked on my coke to the point that Ryder had to hit me on the back, so I’d start breathing again. “Wow, Ryder.”
Ryder threw his hands out in front of him and gestured to me. “You can talk.”
I laughed and grabbed his arm. I dragged him into the room with me. We were the only ones there at the moment. “Look at this one.” A black-and-white cat was against the bars of its cage, swatting its paws at me.
Ryder stuck his finger up to the cat’s paw, and it grabbed a hold of it. It looked a little painful to me, but Ryder wasn’t complaining.
We took a couple more minutes with the cats and then went into the large 40-kennel dog adoption room. Ryder didn’t often get excited, but boy was he excited when we walked into the room. I knew he loved dogs just as much as me, but he wouldn’t say it.
“Sage, come look at this girl.” Ryder kneeled down a few kennels away from me. “She’s sweet but has a resting bitch face.”
“Just what I’m looking for.” I smiled as I looked at her. She was a chocolate Pitbull with one white paw, and she did indeed have a resting bitch face. I kneeled down by Ryder and let her lick my hand for a moment. “She looks so sad.”
Ryder got up to look at her card. “Been here for two months. Her name is Adaline.”
“Ryder, do you see all of those scars?” I pointed to her.
“Mhm,” he hummed. “She must have been used for fighting.”
My heart broke. “What do you think?”
“I think you need to call my brother and ask him what he thinks before you do anything else,” Ryder suggested.
“You’re right. Stay here. I’m going to step out.” I walked out and dialed Jesse’s number. Hopefully, his hangover wasn’t too bad.
“Sweetheart?”
“Hey.” I smiled. “Where are you?”
“Clubhouse. I was going to come over to the Warriors clubhouse when you head over there with Ryder. Are you two okay?” Jesse asked.
“Sounds good and yeah, we’re fine, but I’ve got a question for you.” I was just going to ask flat out. “Do you like dogs?”
I heard a sigh over the phone. “Did you get a dog, Sage?”
“Well, not yet . . .” I paused. “I’m at the animal shelter.”
Jesse was silent for a moment. “I’m not cleaning up dog shit.”
“I didn’t ask you to, now did I?” I was hopeful now.
“I’m going to regret this, but get the damn dog if it makes you happy.”
YES! “Thank you!” I nearly yelled over the line and hung up without another word. When I walked back into the room, I was surprised to see Ryder on the floor with Adaline in his lap. Her head was against his chest. “Oh my God,” I whispered.
Ryder looked up with a grin on his face. “What? You know all the ladies love me.”
“That’s true.” I laughed. I pet her head, and she looked at me from the corner of her eye. “He said yes.”
“Good, because I don’t think
she plans on leaving my lap anytime soon.”
Adaline was so content now whether her face fooled you or not. “I don’t think so either. She loves you.” I smirked. “I’ll go fill out the paperwork. I’m sure you’ll be here when I get back.”
“Yeah, if she has anything to say about it at least.” He laughed.
I was happy to find that Adaline had already been fixed and had her shots, meaning we could take her home immediately. The shelter staff walked her out to the van after I had finished the paperwork. Ryder was not too far behind.
I thanked them and waited until they went back inside to say anything. “You okay?”
“Little dizzy, that’s all.” Ryder got into the passenger seat.
I nodded and hopped into the van. Adaline was trying to jump into the front despite my arm’s efforts to keep her in the back. “Let her come up here.”
“What? Is she going to sit in your lap the whole way home?” I raised my eyebrows and moved my arm.
“Duh.” Ryder patted his lap, and Adaline jumped right over to him. I cringed slightly as I saw her nails dug into his leg, but she licked the side of his face as if to say she was sorry.
“I think it’s love.” I laughed.
What Ryder didn’t know was that I filled out the adoption papers in his name. Adaline was his.
I figured he needed her more than me and vice versa. He had also picked her out, so it only made sense. The guys at the clubhouse would have to get use to a new family member whether they liked it or not.
Chapter Forty-Two
I called Jesse once we were headed towards the clubhouse and told him to meet us there like he said he was going to. Adaline still sat in Ryder’s lap. The moving car scared her so much that she was shaking.
“We’re almost there,” Ryder told her as he pet her head.
I thought it was extremely cute how much he seemed to care for her already. “What are you going to do when you head home? She can’t sit on top of you.” Ryder chuckled.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. I hadn’t told him yet she wasn’t coming home with me, but instead she was staying with him. Once we pulled up at the clubhouse, I was happy to see all of the boys were there as was Jesse . . . and Emily. “Why don’t you let her come inside?”
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Ryder asked. “Wait, Sage. Who’s car is that?” He pointed.
I gulped. He was about to get mad. “Yes, let her come in, and that’s Emily’s car.”
“Emily? As in my nurse Emily?” Ryder raised his voice, which in turn scared Adaline.
“Yep.” I pulled the keys from the ignition and got out of the van before he could yell at me some more. From the other side of the van, I could hear Adaline’s feet hitting the dirt.
Ryder walked over to my side. “Why the hell did you do that?”
I sighed and watched the dog. “So she could check on you. Make sure everything’s okay.”
“Is that even legal?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “It’s not like you two are dating, but since when have we followed the law, Ryder? She’s a nurse. Let her check you.”
Ryder was silent. He knew I was right, but he was still mad and I couldn’t blame him in the least bit. “Seriously, Sage?” He sighed as he asked the question that he didn’t want an answer to. “Is she still in the car? Please tell me she didn’t walk in there.”
I peered towards the car mirror and squinted my eyes. “Yeah, she’s watching us.” Realistically, it didn’t make sense.
Realistically, Emily would have just told me to take Ryder to the hospital. However, she wanted to get to know me, and I wanted Ryder to get to know her. The least she could do was ask him a couple of questions.
“Take Adaline in. I’ll talk to Emily.”
I nodded. “Adaline, come here, girl,” I called as I walked towards the clubhouse doors. I waved in Emily’s direction as she got out of her car and told her I’d talk to her in a few.
When I opened the door, I saw a few of the guys at the bar, two in the recliners, and Jesse on the couch. I leaned against the door and called Adaline again because she was so scared. “It’s okay.” I shut the door when she finally walked in.
I had many, and I mean many what-the-hell looks from the boys, especially Damien. “I hope none of you are allergic to dogs . . . because you have a new roommate.”
Jesse called Adaline over to him, and she slowly went to him. Her tail remained tucked between her legs. “Wait, what? I thought you adopted her?”
“I did but then I realized how much she loved Ryder and vice versa.” I shrugged.
Jesse raised his eyebrows and smirked. She sat on the floor between his legs. “Didn’t know he liked dogs.”
“Yeah, well.”
“I’m not cleaning up after her,” Liam pointed. His lion tattoo was visible under his white t-shirt.
“Neither am I. That mutt better stay out of my way,” Talon hissed.
I glared at him. “And you better stay out of hers.”
Talon narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?” He readjusted himself on the stool, one foot on the floor.
“You heard me. You don’t touch the dog, or I’ll cut your balls off.” All Talon was, was a rude hateful man that hated life. Everyone knew that. His brother was smirking beside him.
I paid no attention to his comeback. Instead, I headed for Jesse and leaned down to kiss him. “She’s sweet, isn’t she?”
Jesse scratched her behind her ears before he moved over on the couch. “Yeah,” he said, “but not as sweet as you.” He wrapped his arm around my ass and pulled me down on him. I laughed, embracing the warmth from his body as he wrapped his arms around my waist and back.
I rested my arms on his shoulders. “Nice one.”
***
Ryder
I knew good and well Sage didn’t invite Emily over here to check on me. Well, depends on what type of checking she was thinking about.
Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to tell my nurse to get the hell off my property. Next time I saw her, I might “accidentally” end up in the morgue. You never know. That was what movies were made of, right?
Emily sent me a smile. “Mr. Scott—”
I cut her off instantly. I couldn’t stand my last name or being called “Mr.”
“Call me Ryder.”
“Sorry.” Her cheeks reddened. “Ryder. Right. Sage told me you’ve been having some problems.”
Well, I have a lot of problems. “Yeah. You came all the way out here because Sage asked you to?” I asked. I shoved my hands into my ripped blue jeans with a frown on my face.
“Uh, yeah, kind of.” Emily’s cheeks were still red. “I didn’t want you to have to pay for another visit if it was just a symptom. If you haven’t noticed, it’s a lot of money.”
I raised my eyebrows. That sounded like an excuse if you asked me. “How will you know if it’s a symptom? We aren’t at a hospital, and trust me . . . I know it’s a lot of money.” I was sure that confusion was clear on my face.
Emily shifted her weight uncomfortably and played with the ends of her hair. “I won’t know for sure, but I’m usually pretty good about figuring out what’s wrong and I can tell you whether or not you need to go to a hospital.”
I stood there for a moment and watched her. The way she would look anywhere else but into my eyes got to me—in a good way.
And her face was still slightly red. I couldn’t ever remember her acting this way at the hospital. There, she was confident; here, she didn’t seem to be. This wasn’t her territory. It was mine.
“You want to go in?” I pointed to the doors. “With lots of scary, tattooed big bikers?”
She crossed her arms. “Well, where else will we talk?”
I turned my head and coughed into my arm. “Fine.” I coughed again, “Suit yourself, but I’m not talking around my guys. We’ll go somewhere private without prying ears.”
“Okay.” Emily’s voice softened. “Lead the way.”
That was one of the last times I saw Emily. A few weeks after the adoption of Adaline, Ryder and Emily started dating.
When the hospital caught wind of that though, she lost her job. Nurses were not allowed to date patients under any circumstances.
After that, she stopped talking to Ryder completely. None of us saw her again. I lost my only female friend that I’d had in a long time.
Did I feel bad that it was my fault that everything had happened? Absolutely. However, Emily was a grown woman and knew exactly what she was doing.
That was ten months ago. Since then, things had changed drastically.
Ryder was currently in partial remission. That didn’t mean he was cancer free; it just meant his tumors had reduced in size and the cancer wasn’t spreading anywhere else in his body right now. He was still receiving chemotherapy, but it was a smaller dose and not as often as he used to have it.
He wasn’t as sick either. He would often throw up and become weak, but he could do more than he ever had been able to since his diagnosis. I’m happy to say Ryder was happy.
When Emily first disappeared off the face of the planet, I could tell he was torn up about it—really torn up.
Just recently, he told me that it helped him for the better. His new girlfriend had been a constant reminder of the cancer and sickness, and now that she was gone, he didn’t have to think about it as much.
He also mentioned the fact that had she stayed with him and this lifestyle, she would have ended up dead just like Cassie or Ashton or anyone else we lost. Ryder said it was the best for both of them.
Adaline, on the other hand, had been thrilled when Emily left. That meant she got her owner back all to herself. She was one happy dog.
As for the club, we had made some big changes over the last few months. For one, we had all decided it was time for a patch over, which means it was time for both clubs to join as one, and that’s what we did.
