And there was Chains: rugged, sweet, brooding, and sexier than any man had the right to be. I’m just on the rebound. That’s it. But he’s so damn nice. Why does he have to be so nice and dangerous at the same time?
The roar of an engine followed by the slight rattle of the windows cut through her musings, and Autumn watched the man on the black Harley. He was decked out in black leather and denim, and by the way he pushed into traffic, she figured he was a Night Rebel—an outlaw … just like Chains.
“Those guys purposely rev their engines,” Sadie said as she put her cup of coffee piled high with whipped cream, along with a decadent-looking brownie down on the table.
“It’s their way of saying, ‘Fuck you’ to the citizen world,” Autumn replied, her gaze fixed on the disappearing rider.
Sadie laughed. “Where the hell did that come from? Have you been watching those documentaries on the History channel about the biker gangs?”
Autumn shifted her attention to Sadie. “I didn’t even know they had documentaries on outlaw clubs.”
“They do, but they’re pretty one-sided—I mean, the cops always come out as the super good guys and none of the bikers has one redeeming quality. So, what’s new with you?” Sadie scooped up some of the whipped cream with her finger.
“I bumped into Bret last night and he was with his ex-girlfriend.” Autumn smiled as the memory of Chains putting his brother in his place on her behalf flitted through her mind.
“What a bastard! Why aren’t you pissed as hell?”
Autumn shrugged. “I guess I’m dealing with it all pretty well.”
“Do you think he was cheating on you?”
Autumn shook her head. “No. I think he ran to her because Bret can’t be without female attention.”
“So he runs to this skank? I remember how obnoxious her mother was at the bridal shower. I hope you smashed that stupid cup and saucer she gave you as a gift. Believe me, you’re so much better off without him in your life.”
“I think so too,” she said.
Sadie chewed on a piece of brownie. “This is so good—it’s worth every calorie, every gram of carbs and sugar in it.”
Autumn laughed, then took a sip of her coffee.
“Where did you bump into him? God, I still can’t believe what a schmuck Bret is. I mean, who the fuck asks his brother to break up for him? I still can’t wrap my head around that one.”
“I was at Chianti’s”—she put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands—“with Bret’s brother.” Autumn groaned.
Sadie’s eyes sparkled. “This is getting good. What were you doing with his brother?”
“Having dinner,” she replied weakly.
“Duh … but why were you having dinner with his brother?”
“Because I’m stupid and on the rebound and so fucking mixed up about all this.” Autumn stifled a smile as she sat back in the chair.
Sadie giggled while pointing at her. “You’ve got the hots for Bret’s brother. I fucking love it! How long has this been going on?”
“Since I met him at the clinic. I ignored it because I was still with Bret, but I felt some kind of connection with Chains right off the bat.”
“Chains? That’s his name?”
Autumn looked down at her half-eaten pumpkin bread. “That’s his nickname. His real name’s Chet, but he goes by Chains. The name suits him much better.”
“Uh … it’s kind of strange, but the whole family’s a little odd, right? I mean Bret’s mom is like some Nazi homemaker, the sisters are like replicas of mommy except they wear better clothes, and the dad has ‘mass murderer’ written all over his face with all the suppressed anger he’s got going on.”
Autumn laughed. “You are so bad, but I love it. No matter what’s going on in my life, you always bring humor to it.”
“I just say it as I see it. So tell me more about Chains.” She giggled. “It sounds so funny.”
“He’s in a motorcycle club—a scary one.”
Sadie’s eyes widened. “It has to be the Night Rebels, and that just fits into my description of the family.”
Autumn nodded. “The Night Rebels. Fuck … He’s the guy my parents warned me about when I was growing up.”
“And that makes him even more exciting. I’m guessing he’s gorgeous and sexy as sin.”
“Totally, but he’s sweet too. He loves his dog—”
“So we know he’s not serial killer material since he likes animals,” Sadie cut in with a chuckle.
Autumn smiled. “And he’s been super supportive during this whole breakup. He’s so pissed at Bret for doing this to me”—she held up her hand—“and he went to the engagement brunch because his mother asked him to. I think that’s commendable, especially since he doesn’t get along with his dad or Bret.”
Sadie’s forehead crinkled and she cocked her head. “Was he the tall guy in tight black jeans who didn’t have an ounce of fat on his muscular body? The one with a hint of a beard?”
“That’s Chains.”
“He’s hot. I noticed him, but he didn’t stay very long. Why the hell are you even debating this?”
“That’s the problem—he’s hot. No problem getting a woman, you know?”
“Bret was a major flirt. Is he like that?”
Autumn thought for a minute. “I don’t think so. He’s never looked at any women when we’ve been out. The hostess at Chianti’s was very pretty with a cute shape, and he didn’t give her a second look. Bret would’ve been all over her.”
“In that case, the only way you’re going to get to know him better is to go out with him. Just because a guy’s good-looking doesn’t mean he’s going to cheat. Mitch is handsome, and I don’t doubt him for a minute.”
“But Chains is a biker—I think that makes it different. Women are always throwing themselves at those guys.”
Sadie shook her head. “Look at some of the rockers or actors who’ve been in long-term marriages. A lifestyle choice doesn’t change who the person is inside.”
“That’s true. But how can I date my ex-fiancé’s brother? That’s too weird, isn’t it?”
“I’ll admit it’ll be awkward at family functions.”
“Chains isn’t really involved with his family. I was with Bret for over a year, and I never even met him until the brunch.”
“Then you don’t have a problem. I say go for it. What’s the worst that can happen—you have great sex and awesome memories?”
“Or that I fall hard for him and suffer one of the worst heartbreaks of my life.”
“Could you keep it casual, like an arm’s distance thing and not get too emotionally involved?”
“Not with him,” Autumn whispered. “There’s something exciting and dangerous about Chains on a deep level. It’s much more than how hot he is. Dating him would be putting my heart at stake, and I don’t know if I can take that risk.”
“If you don’t, then you’ll always wonder what could have been. I’ve know you for several years, and I’ve never seen you this into a guy during all that time, and that includes Bret. I’m just saying, you should listen to your inner voice—your gut, and stop over analyzing it. Sometimes taking a risk is what brings ultimate love and happiness.” Sadie picked up the last piece of her brownie and brought it to her lips. “I’m just saying,” she said again before popping the bite into her mouth.
“I hear you … I just don’t know.” Autumn glanced at her phone. “Crap, I have to get back. I have a full afternoon.” She drank the last of her coffee, then gathered up her things. “Let’s have dinner sometime next week.”
“Sounds great. I’ll walk out with you—I have to get back to the office.”
The two friends parted ways after setting a dinner date for the following week. Autumn rushed to her car, and within minutes she was pulling up in front of the clinic.
The afternoon was so busy that it didn’t give her a chance to think about Chains, Bret, or anything except giving the best c
are to her furry patients.
By the time Autumn finished checking on them in the recovery room, she was exhausted and grateful that Marian was the vet on call for the night. She said goodnight to Rodney and Lauren, then traipsed across the parking lot to her car.
Frost covered the windshield and she cursed under her breath as she scraped it away, making a mental note to keep a pair of gloves in the car. It was a cold night, and the chill reached into her bones. She couldn’t wait to get home and curl up on the couch and enjoy the steady warmth of the fire. Autumn loved watching the flames—they were hypnotizing. It wiped out all thoughts and was a type of meditation for her.
The sky was a matte black canvas with little to no stars painted on it. The smell and feel of snow was in the air, and frost had also covered the bare branches of the trees, making them look like waving alabaster arms.
Autumn pushed the remote for the garage opener and pulled in. She switched off the ignition, jerked the door open, and slid out of the car. With one hand on the roof, she opened the backseat door and pulled out a large tote and her purse. Shoving both straps on one delicate shoulder, Autumn closed the door with her hip, the sound echoing through the garage. An empty water bottle fell from the tote to the ground and she picked it up. Just as she straightened up, someone grabbed her around the waist from behind.
Autumn screamed out, but a hand clamped around her mouth. She struggled, then lifted one leg and kicked back hard.
“Fuck, Autumn!” Bret cried out. “I just want to talk to you.”
She yanked out of his hold and spun around. “What the hell’s wrong with you? Why did you grab me like that?”
“I should be the one asking the questions,” he growled as he bent down and rubbed where she’d kicked him.
“Get out of here. I’ve had a long, hard day, and I don’t want to deal with you.”
“I said I want to talk to you.”
“You should’ve done that before you broke off our engagement. You’re not part of my life anymore, and I don’t have to put up with you.” With one hand on the car, she walked backward.
“I just have one question—were you fucking my brother when we were together?”
White anger shot through her, and she stopped in her tracks. “I told you to get out!”
“I’ll take that as a yes. What kind of a slut are you? Whoring around with Chet and acting like the perfect woman with me. You disgust me.”
“And you’re nothing but a whiny, selfish coward. You weren’t even man enough to breakup with me face to face. I’m actually surprised you didn’t send your mommy to do it. And even though I don’t owe you anything, I wasn’t sleeping with your brother.”
“Lying bitch! I sensed something was off with you, but I never imagined you were betraying me with my brother. No wonder you didn’t want to help me out and support my business venture. How do you think I could ever be married to a woman who didn’t support me and who cheated on me?”
“I never cheated on you. And you’re telling me you broke up because I didn’t hand over fifteen thousand dollars to you? Do you hear how ludicrous that sounds? I offered to help you set up an account to raise the money, but you didn’t want to hear of it.”
“If you loved me you would’ve wanted to work for our future, but you were just playing me.”
“And if you loved me you would’ve talked to me about the problems we were having like a normal person. Chains is the one who came over and told me about the breakup. He’s been the one to support me. Where the hell have you been? Not even a fucking phone call after all the time we were together? You’re like a little boy. Your brother is more of a man than you’ll ever hope to be in fifty lifetimes.”
Bret’s face contorted and turned red. He rushed up to her, his shoulder rolling back. “You fucking bitch!” He punched her in the face with his fist.
At first she was stunned, even as her head lulled and everything went from black to white. When the white receded, the side of her face exploded in pain. As soon as he delivered the second blow she tasted blood, and rage engulfed her. Without thinking, Autumn swung back, clipping him in the throat. Satisfaction rushed through her when she heard him cry out, and she wildly grabbed the nearest thing on the shelf beside her—an empty paint can.
“Fucking slut!” Bret reached out and pulled her hair.
The pain seared through her scalp, but Autumn ignored it, and when he came in closer for another blow, she clobbered him as hard as she could with the empty can and sprinted to the door leading into the house.
Momentarily stunned, Bret cried out, “Get back here. I’ve got shit to settle with you!”
Autumn pushed the door open, then slammed it and hurriedly bolted it. For extra measure, she dragged one of the kitchen chairs over and secured the back of it under the doorknob. With a pounding heart, Autumn pressed her ear against the door.
Nothing.
A small breath of relief escaped through her bloodied lips.
Cinder stood next to her, the cat’s copper eyes glued to the door and tail thumping against the floor.
“It’s okay, honey,” Autumn whispered. “He’s gone now.”
Bang!
“Shit!” Autumn’s hand flew to her chest as she jumped back.
“Open this fucking door or I’m going to break it down!”
“I’m calling 9-1-1.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he said, pounding on the door again.
“I already called Chains. He’s on his way over.” Faster than a speeding bullet, she fished out her phone from the tote.
“Fucking bitch! I never should’ve touched you!”
Autumn heard crashing and commotion in the garage, and she suspected Bret was destroying the place.
Then, it was quiet.
In the distance, the low rumble of an engine penetrated the silence.
She stood by the door and waited for a long time, then sank to the ground and sobbed. Cinder rushed over to Autumn and nuzzled against her. She grabbed the cat and held her close.
After what seemed like hours, Autumn pushed up from the floor and walked around the house, checking all the locks on the windows and doors. Her head pounded and her face was on fire. She trudged up the stairs and went into the bathroom, then gasped when she saw herself in the mirror: a swollen face dotted with angry red marks, a bruising eye, and dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
“I can’t believe this.” She turned on the faucet and started to clean the blood from her battered face. No man had ever struck her before, and this certainly was the first time Bret had hit her. It was still unbelievable. He’d never exhibited any violent behavior during their relationship. What the hell happened tonight? He was like a different person.
After Autumn had taken care of herself and changed into a fleece nightshirt, she curled up on the couch and stared at the fire. Cinder snuggled in her lap after having been fed, and the images of the beating kept flashing through Autumn’s mind. What if he comes back? What if he’s watching and sees that the cops or Chains haven’t come yet? A shudder of fear crept up her back. Without thinking, she tapped in Chains’s number.
“Hey.” His deep voice soothed and caressed her.
“Hi. I’m sorry to bother you—”
“Don’t ever apologize for calling me.”
She pressed her lips together, then winced as pain shot through her. Debating on whether to tell him about Bret, she simply said, “I’ve got the jitters tonight.”
“You want me to come over?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m on my way—hang tight.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m always there for you, baby.”
Tears trickled down Autumn’s cheeks as she put the phone on the coffee table. How could Chains be so selfless and kind, and Bret—so selfish and cruel? How could they come from the same parents?
The warm fire made the house toasty and cozy, and knowing Chains was on his way gave her a sense of security
. Before Autumn knew it, her eyes had closed and she drifted off to sleep.
The loud roar startled her awake and panic seized her with thoughts that Bret had broken down the door and was in the house. Then Autumn recognized the familiar sound of Chains’s motorcycle, and she jumped off the couch and rushed to the front part of the house and looked out at the street. Seeing him get off his bike, she flung the door open and rushed down the walkway.
Chains looked up and lifted his chin at her; then, she ran to him and collapsed in his arms. He caught her, and they stood there like that, frozen into a promise: he’d catch her, shield her, no matter what the world threw at them. Autumn buried her face in his chest as tears streamed down her face.
“What is it, darlin’?” he asked, his hand running through her hair.
“I feel so lost and alone,” she said between sobs.
“No reason to—I’m here. What’s got you spooked?”
“Just hold me,” she whispered.
“Okay, but let’s go inside. You’re shivering real bad.”
With his arm wrapped around her, he guided her into the house and gently sat her down on the couch. She kept her head bent, fearful of what he might do to Bret when he found out what had happened.
“Do you want me to get you a drink? How about something warm?”
She shook her head, and he sat down and pulled her into his embrace.
Chains Page 15
