by Amelia Shea
She squinted, trying to find the appeal now. She couldn’t. His eyes stared back her. A soft hazel rimmed with a gold lining. When they’d first met, she remembered being struck by the softness in his eyes. Now? They were just eyes. She sucked in a breath. I trusted those eyes.
“It’s been a while,” he said.
God, five years. It seemed so long ago, yet not much had changed except the length of his hair. She inspected him carefully, looking for signs, the ones she’d missed five years ago.
“You look the same.” He smiled, and Bailey followed the curve of his lips.
I look the same? Her breathing grew heavy. I look the same? Heat coursed through her veins, and her blood boiled under skin.
Her brows knitted together. “No, I don’t.” Five years ago, her body wasn’t riddled with scars. Daily reminders of all the pain he’d inflicted on her.
His face flushed, and he clenched his jaw. I remember that. When he was frustrated, his jaw squared, and he ground his teeth. It was either followed by him snapping at her or ignoring her. Her heart kept an odd steady pace. How was he here? Ghosttown was her home, her safe place and yet, there he stood. Telling me, I look the same.
“What are you doing here?”
He stepped forward, and she immediately stepped backward, fumbling on her feet.
He froze, holding up his hands. “You don’t have to be afraid, Bailey.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “I’m better now.”
“Why are you here?”
“To apologize.”
“You already did, on the phone.” She gulped. “I told you not to call me again.” She licked her lips. “And here you are.”
He smiled. “You left me no choice.”
He did have a choice. He could have respected her wishes and left her alone.
“Adam.” She sighed, unsure of what she was going to say.
“Look, I’m sorry for what happened. My mind, I just wasn’t right back then.” He lifted his chin. “I did my time.”
She wasn’t sure what she had expected if she ever crossed paths with him again, but this certainly wasn’t it. He did his time? As if somehow his prison sentence would erase what he’d done to her? What about my time? The life sentence in a body he left mangled and scarred. This was surreal.
“Why are you here, Adam?” she snapped.
He shrugged. “To make amends. My sister, Elle, just moved out here a year ago to Lawry. She offered for me to stay with her while I get reacquainted with life outside, ya know.”
He lived in her state now. Only a few hours away.
“Yeah, anyway, heard you moved this way, and I figured I needed to come see you. Ya know, face my past, what’ve I’ve done.” He shrugged. “You keep dodging my calls, so I figured, face to face would have to do. The prison psych doctor said it would be good for me.”
She snorted. “Good for you?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She couldn’t wrap her head around what was happening. He was here to make amends, which would be good for him? Nothing he said or did could make up for what he’d done to her. An apology wouldn’t erase her past, her nightmares, and trauma, the pain she endured, all the hospitals stays, infections, the agonizing pain. Nothing he could say would take away the years of healing, the setbacks. It won’t regenerate new skin to take place of my scars.
His apology would change nothing, except make him feel better. Her stomach rolled in an aching twist.
“Come have lunch with me, we can talk, get shit squared away.”
She gasped and widened her eyes. “No.” What the hell was he talking about? She wouldn’t go anywhere with him, let alone share a meal.
The rumbling engines had her jerking her gaze over her shoulder. She saw three members getting on their bikes and a fourth making his way out of the store. She drew in a breath and watched. She wasn’t sure if he’d felt the weight of her stare or if it had been pure luck. Gage stopped at his bike and glanced over at her. He squinted his eyes, blocking the sun, then raised his hand, and the corner of his mouth curled.
Her breathing labored, and she stood statuesque, never taking her eyes off Gage. All she had to do was call for him, and he’d rush over. Gage would make it to her before anything could happen. She could, but she didn’t. I got this.
She turned to Adam and drew in a breath. “You need to leave and don’t come back.”
“Bailey, listen to me…” There was a sharp command in his tone.
“No,” she said, keeping her control intact and her fear at bay. She never saw it coming when he attacked her. It was a harsh regret she lived with. She wasn’t going to let it happen again. She straightened her shoulders. “I don’t have to listen to anything you say. I don’t want to see you or eat with you. I don’t owe you anything.”
His nostrils flared, and he glared. “I just want to…”
“I don’t care what you want, Adam.” She stepped closer and tugged up her sleeve. His eyes immediately drew down to her scars, and his lips twisted. “I didn’t want these.”
He reached out, and her hand shot out, slapping his arm away. “Don’t you dare touch me. Now, get in your car and leave, and do not come back. If you do, I will have your ass thrown back in jail, you hear me?”
He clenched his jaw and his face flushed. She remembered. For all her brazenness, she realized she may have been in over her head. His hardened face and the shadowing of his eyes reminded her of the past. She stepped away and kept her eyes on him. He seemed to hesitate as his scowl hardened. Oh hell. Her heart raced against her chest, and she was strategizing her escape from the vacant street.
“Fine.” He turned and made his way to his car.
She moved forward, stepping slowly as he got in his car. He was leaving. She watched as he drove down the road. A wave of relief coursed through her, and her tense muscles relaxed. I made him leave. It was a small feat, but she basked in it. She’d spent a long time being a victim. A slow smile crept. It was empowering. She had faced off against Adam, and this time, she won.
When she turned, she slammed into a hard mass of flesh.
“Who’s the guy?” Gage asked, grabbing her waist to keep her from moving away. His gaze was set on Adam’s car as he drove away. Oh shit. He was not happy.
“No one.”
He glanced down at her and furrowed his brows. “Who is he, Bailey?”
She shrugged. “Just some guy.” She was well aware, all the members of the club were privy to her past. This would not sit well with any of them, especially Saint. She moved around him, but Gage fell in line with her steps.
“Saint know him?”
She chewed on her lips. She had every intention of telling Saint about her encounter. When the time was right. He would be livid. She knew this. She’d have to broach the subject delicately. For him. As for Bailey, she was damn proud of herself. She’d gone head to head with Adam.
“No.”
“Who is he?” Gage growled.
“I handled him, Gage.” Just saying it had Bailey straightening her shoulders. She took in a breath feeling a burst of pride. She had handled her first run in, fearlessly and on her own. It was a triumph. She had doubted her ability to stand strong, but she did it. She faced her fear, and he was the one walking away, not her running.
Gage was not on the same page. His scowl deepened. “Handled who?”
Be proud. “Adam.”
Gage’s reaction didn’t mesh with her high. His jaw clenched, and his scowl grew harsh as his cheeks burned. “That was the motherfucker?” Bailey flinched then scanned the street. No doubt, everyone within a half-mile radius would have heard him.
“Calm down.”
Her statement only proved to incense him even more. He stalked closer, towering over her and aiming his sharp glare at her. “Why didn’t you call for me? I was right fucking here, you saw me, Bailey.”
She winced. “I handled it, Gage. He left.” She pointed to her chest. “I made him leave.” She scanned his face,
waiting on understanding to filter through his features. It didn’t.
He shook his head and turned around, giving her his back. That was when she caught sight of Kase crossing the street flanked by Rourke and Trax. Oh God. If this was the reaction she got from Gage, she could only imagine how Kase would overreact.
And then there’s Saint. Shit.
She rushed closer to Gage who furrowed his brows when she leaned close to him. “Can you not tell Saint?”
Gage’s mouth dropped open, solidifying his nonverbal answer.
“Please.” She forced a smile. She had every intention of telling him. Next week, next month, ten years from now.
“What’s going on?”
Bailey whipped around. Oh hell, this was the last thing she needed right now. If Gage, the most laidback of them all, had been upset, the others would not handle it well. Bailey grinned. “Hey, guys.”
Kase eyed her and glanced up to Gage. “What the fuck, I heard you from inside?”
Bailey snorted, doing her best to play it off. “We were just talking.”
Kase didn’t even glance her way. Instead he was fixated over her shoulder. Bailey turned to find Gage with one arm crossed over his chest, and his phone lifted to his ear.
“Saint, get over here. We’re on Main.”
“Gage, no,” she whispered and tugged his arm. He flicked his glare at her and continued.
“I’m with Bailey. Guess who just showed up here?”
He paused and sighed.
“Didn’t see him until he was driving away, but he had her cornered.”
Bailey crossed her arms. “No, he didn’t. And I handled it.” She stepped closer pointing at the phone. “Tell him that I took care of it. He’s gone.”
Gage ended the call and glared at her. “Saint’s on his way.”
“What the fuck is going on here? Who cornered you?” Kase was standing a foot from her.
“No one,” she said simultaneously as Gage said, “Adam.”
From the looks on their faces, they were all familiar with his name. It came as no surprise to Bailey.
“I handled it. It’s my issue, and I dealt with it.” They were missing the big picture. This was something to be celebrated. She had gone up against Adam and won. Why couldn’t they see it?
“Why the fuck didn’t you call us?” Kase snapped, taking a step closer and towering over her.
Bailey squinted. “I took care of it, Kase. I didn’t need any help.” She straightened her shoulders. “I told him to leave and not to come back.” She drew in a breath. “And he left. See, it’s over?” She smiled at Kase. His jaw clenched as his temple pulsed. She’d never seen his face darken to that shade of red. She furrowed her brows.
“Saint’s gonna fucking lose his mind.” His brows knitted together, and his sharp glare was aimed directly on her.
“Lose?” Gage scoffed. “He fucking lost it.”
Bailey groaned and closed her eyes. They were overreacting and missing a huge detail. “How many times do I have to say it before it actually sinks in with you guys?” She scanned their faces. Rourke and Trax, who had remained silent seemed just as angry as Gage and Kase. “He’s not coming back. He didn’t hurt me or corner me. I had the situation completely in my control. I was never in any danger.”
“Bailey.” Kase’s voice shook with anger. He was losing his patience. He widened his eyes, then jerked his head up. “I wanna fucking strangle you right now.”
“You are blowing this out of proportion.” She snapped as her own frustration mounted.
“Really?” Kase barked. “Showing me your fucking arm, Bailey. Then tell me you aren’t in any danger with this motherfucker.”
Bailey flinched, and her bottom lip fell open. It was for shock value, she knew it. Kase wanted her scared. It was a shitty way to go about doing it. She gritted her teeth and squinted her eyes. His own glare never wavered.
Fuck you.
Bailey eyed the men and threw her hands up. “I’m leaving.”
“The fuck you are,” Kase said.
She shook her head and started toward her car, parked a few spots away.
“Bailey.” Kase growled. “Get your ass back here. Now.”
Bailey paused and glanced over her shoulder. “No.” She continued walking and was prepped for Kase to block her. Much to her surprise, he didn’t. She got in her car and drove home. She was supposed to meet Saint at his house, but a little time apart might be best. She had all intentions of telling him, just not on Main Street surrounded by the members.
When she pulled in her drive, she heard the rumbling engine come down the street. She recognized Trax’s bike as he pulled in front of her house. He didn’t even glance her way even when she made her way closer.
She stopped at her walkway. “Trax, you don’t have to stand guard.”
He slowly turned his head, glaring back at her. She held up her hands up in defeat. Insisting he go away wouldn’t make a difference, and she’d had enough confrontation for one day. I’m done.
He remained on his bike in front of her house until she got inside. Even then, he sat waiting.
Bailey knew exactly who he was waiting on.
****
Saint had prided himself of being a master of self-control. There weren’t many times he’d allowed himself to let anger and fury get the best of him. Currently, his boundaries were being tested. He couldn’t recall a time he’d ever been so livid to the point of destruction.
He’d gotten the call from Gage when he was home. It took him less than ten minutes to get to Main Street, just to find out Bailey had left. Kase had tried to settle him down, insisting he gave it a few minutes before storming to her house. It was one of few times Kase had been the one calming Saint down. Usually, he was the voice of reason and patience. Not this time.
He pulled in her driveway, not bothering to acknowledge Trax parked in front of her house. He double-stepped the stairs and ripped the door open so hard he may have loosened the hinges. He barreled in, and Bailey sat crossed-legged on the couch, staring up at him.
She spread her hands. “I handled it, Saint.”
He needed to gain control of his anger. He stood silent and still, with his gaze locked on her. She was reading him, and from her uneasy shift, she was getting the full understanding of his fury.
“Why didn’t you call me?” He spoke through gritted teeth. She was one of the last people in the world he’d want to unleash on, but he was teetering on the edge.
“I was going to.” She licked her lips. “When I got home.” She shrugged and averted her gaze. “Gage beat me to it.”
His jaw locked, and he ground his teeth. She was lying.
“You’re lying.”
Her eyes widened, and she clamped her lips. They were in a staredown. She was the first to avert her gaze. Because she was lying.
“Bailey.”
Her shoulders sagged and she peeked up through her lashes. “Okay, so maybe I was going to wait a few days, a week tops before I mentioned it.”
He balled his fists.
“B-but, I was going to tell you.” She swallowed her breath and hoisted herself forward, sitting on the edge of the couch. “I didn’t want you to get mad, Saint. Or worried. I planned on waiting for the right time.” She paused and tilted her head. “I was going to tell you, I promise.”
His pounding heart remained beating viciously against his chest. He was mentally rationalizing her position, gaining a bit of control. He kept his breath steady.
“It’s over now, Saint.”
Her inability to see the truth was his breaking point.
“For Christ’s sake, Bailey.” He dragged his hand over his head. “It’s not over. This is just the beginning for this sick fucking bastard. He came to where you live, Bailey. How can you not see the danger in this situation?”
“I do.”
“Clearly, you don’t,” he barked.
“Why is it so hard for you or anybody else to see, I handled it.
” She folded her arms. “Five years ago, I didn’t.” Her breath hitched, and her eyes welled. “Today, I did.”
It took a moment for it all to soak in. Her handling the situation was a milestone for her. As much as it pissed him off, she needed this, and he wouldn’t take it away. However, he couldn’t let it go. Her safety was everything to him.
“Bailey, you’ve handled enough.” He stepped forward and narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t have to handle anything from him.”
She sighed. “What would you like me to do, Saint? Should I go into hiding? Should I run?” She tossed a pillow onto the couch and rose. “Tell me. I figured if I ignored his calls, he’d go away. I didn’t think he’d actually come here,” she shouted.
What the fuck?
His blood instantly heated. “He’s calling you, and you didn’t think to share with me?”
She clasped her hands, twisted her fingers. “I didn’t want you to get upset.” She waved her hand in his direction. “More upset.”
He understood where she was coming from, but it was unacceptable.
“Is this how you want our life to go? We keep things from each other to spare each other’s feelings and concerns?”
She pouted and dropped her gaze to the carpet. “No, of course not.”
“Then you tell me everything, Bailey. No secrets.”
She nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
He spread his palm over his forehead and dug his pinky and thumb into his temples.
“Do you still want me to come over tonight?”
He furrowed his brows. She was set about ten feet from where he was standing, awkwardly fidgeting and swaying on her feet.
He stalked forward, grabbing her waist and yanking her against his chest. “What happened changes nothing about our plans. Not for tonight, tomorrow, or fifty years from now, Bailey.” He cupped her jaw. “This will be the first of many arguments in our future, I’m sure.”
The corner of her lip curled. “’Cause I’m trouble?”
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. Yes, she was trouble. But worth it.
Chapter Twenty
Bailey took a deep breath and walked onto the porch. She sidled up near the column, opposite of where Saint stood watching his daughter mope across the grass. The usual, enthusiastic, and happy Cia looked as though she was having the worst day ever. Bailey glanced over at Saint and caught the flash of concern marring his features.
