by Simone Elise
Then it hit me. "This is why your brothers hate me, isn't it?"
His expression was blank. "They don't hate you."
"Yes. Yes they do, and this is why. You would have dragged them into this mess too. Oh my God. What were you thinking?" I was frustrated and furious all at the same time. Couldn't he see how dangerous this was?
Chase's hands fell on my shoulder, and he stilled me. "Chloe, I care a hell of a lot about you and I wasn't about to let it slide that he hurt you. I couldn't let him think it was okay." His eyes focused on mine, and his forest green eyes were painted in calm.
"You care about me?" I stuttered out.
"A hell of a lot." His lips twitched into a smile and his hand moved from my shoulder to cup my cheek, causing me to tilt my head back. "Now calm down. I told my mom we would be there for lunch. She wants to thank you."
"Thank me for what?" I frowned and reached out, running my hands up his toned arms. His skin felt so welcoming.
"For the hospital."
"I didn't do anything."
"You got one of the best doctors on staff to look after her. She hasn't stopped talking about it. So lunch, you okay with that?" Chase's hands ran down my arms until he linked his fingers with mine.
"Okay." I blew out a breath. "So why did you tell me?" It seemed like he was going to keep it to himself.
His smile fell. "We have to leave earlier than expected now."
"Because of what you did?"
"That, and I'm needed at one of the clubs."
"So when do we leave?" Leaving seemed like the best option. The farther I got away from home, the better.
"Tomorrow." Chase said. "But don't worry about it."
"I should pack." I let go of his hands and sighed. "I'll be in the bedroom if you need me."
***
Should I be relieved that my stepfather got what he deserved? Should I feel something about the fact that Chase went to that much effort to make sure justice was served? He hadn't reported it to the police; he had dealt with it himself. I recalled his bloody fists that still weren't healed.
Guilt washed over me. The last thing I wanted was for him to be in pain because of me. The knocking on the bedroom door snapped me back to the moment, and I turned just in time to see Chase enter.
He was wearing a tight-fitted black sweater and jeans and his hair was slightly wet. He must have had a shower. His eyes widened when he took me in.
It wasn't anything special, just a black leather dress. It popped out my cleavage. I was wearing it with a metal cross around my neck. For the first time ever, I wore a cross, but it went with the outfit.
"Hey." I smiled and zipped the last suitcase. Jess and Sammie had suggested buying the suitcases. I didn't think that far ahead, and I was lucky to have them.
"You look..." His words dried up.
"Overdressed for lunch?" I finished his sentence. I should change. Immediately I went to unzip the dress, but he was standing in front of me before I could move my fingers.
"Perfect. That was the word I was searching for." His fingers locked with mine, taking mine off the zipper. "Come on, they'll be waiting for us."
Chase's Point of View
Chloe was sparking with confidence. She was laughing and keeping up with what was going on at the table. She was sitting in between Jess and I.
She looked stunning today and smoking hot in that dress. The boys had noticed, and I had to keep kicking Declan under the table for staring. Just how good-looking she was hadn't gone unnoticed.
The fact she was so young and didn't pull away from me caught me by surprise every time. Her legs were pressed against mine, and I was dying to just reach out and feel her creamy thighs.
I was sipping my beer trying to listen to mom when I felt her hand on my thigh. My jaw clenched. I had to keep in mind she was young and didn't know what she was doing. Even though I knew better, my hand went under the table and rested on hers.
Her blonde hair was to the side so I couldn't see her face, but I could hear what her and Jess were talking about.
"So, you broke up?" Chloe said.
"I don't know." Jess answered, not sounding like her normal self.
Now I noticed Jess's untouched food and the way she was moving it around the plate.
"Jess, you alright?" I asked at the same time Chloe's phone, which was on the table, started buzzing. She glanced at the caller ID and picked it up.
"I'll be back," she said, pushing out her chair and answering the phone.
I wondered who it was. She didn't know that many people here, so it would have to be her doctor friend.
"I'm okay. How are you, Chase?" Jess answered me, and I had to recall what I had said to her.
"You're not eating your food." I stated, giving her a pointed look. Jess loved food, especially any kind of home-cooked meals.
"I said I was fine, Chase." She rolled her eyes and put her fork down. "How are you?" She gave me a challenging expression.
"Fine."
"So, what's going on between you and Chloe?" She smoothly changed the subject.
"Nothing."
"You don't normally help women, Chase."
"What's that meant to mean?"
"Well, you're like any other male and only care about one thing so don't sit there and tell me nothing is going on," she snapped at me.
"You're in a mood."
"You know what? I think I'm done." She pushed herself away from the table and stormed off. Everyone stopped what they were talking about and watched her leave. That wasn't like Jess; she didn't snap, and she didn't compare me to other people.
Just as Jess stomped up the staircase to her bedroom, Chloe appeared.
Jess's door slammed and mom’s eyes were on me.
"What? I didn't say anything." I said to her. As if I would upset Jess on purpose.
"It's not you, it’s her boyfriend," Chloe said, walking around the table and then taking the seat next to me.
Everyone shrugged it off and went back to their conversations. Chloe reached for her wine.
"You alright?" I asked her. Her cheeks were flushed; she had a frown on her face and was fixing it all by drinking, and she had barely eaten.
"Max just told me something," she muttered before finishing her drink.
"That being?"
She had picked up her fork and was stabbing her leftover food. Like Jess, she hadn't eaten much either. She was worrying. I could tell by the look on her face, and I couldn't help if I didn't know what she was worrying about.
I reached out for her hand and pulled it under the table. "Tell me what's wrong." Everyone else was too busy with their own conversation to notice Chloe having a meltdown.
"Doesn't matter." She looked at me, and then pulled her hand away. "Thanks for lunch everyone, I really enjoyed it." She got up. "Chase, you should spend some time with your family. I'll see you later."
I watched her walk away. I knew something wasn't right.
"Isn't she a lovely girl?" Mom said, and my head snapped in her direction.
"Yeah, she is, Mom."
She was more than lovely, but something wasn't right. Should I go after her? Should I let her have her space? I reached for my beer and finished it off. Something was telling me to go after her so I got up, told everyone I'd see them later, and went after her.
***
I knew something was wrong when I opened the front door and saw the packed suitcases. She was running, and it wasn't with me.
"You were meant to stay with your family." Chloe was standing in the foyer with her arms crossed.
"You going somewhere?" I was pissed. She knew I would look after her, hadn't I proved that?
"Don't start, Chase. I have to."
"Have to what? Leave now?"
"YES!" She threw her arms in the air. "Right now. This very moment, and it can't be with you."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because w
hy?"
"Max called me."
"I'm starting to like this Max guy less and less." I closed the front door and stood in front of it. She would have to get through me to leave, and I wasn't letting her go.
"Joe knows who you are. In fact, he knows where I am so me being here puts you in danger."
"Who is Joe? And I can handle myself."
"My stepfather. I'm not going to be the one that puts you behind bars."
I scoffed. "That won't happen." I crossed my arms. "Do you really think you will be safer without me?"
Didn't she see that I was willing to do anything to make sure she was safe? I wasn't about to let some nobody arrest me or get to her.
She swallowed hard and just stared at me. Moments passed and she didn't say anything.
"I suppose not," she finally said. "But what am I meant to do, just put you in the middle of something that has nothing to do with you?"
"It became my problem when I took you on. Believe it or not, Chloe, my world isn't crystal clear. So what if I gave some dirty cop a beat down? He can't do shit, and I'm not letting you run out of here thinking you are doing me a favor."
She stilled as a taxi pulled up out the front and tooted.
"You aren't going to let me past, are you?" she finally said, deflated.
"No."
"Then can you tell the taxi driver to leave?" She uncrossed her arms.
I was doing the right thing stopping her, wasn't I? I opened the front door and stormed down to the taxi driver. I was surprised he even found the place.
"You aren't needed so fuck off." I said to him, and then turned back around.
Chloe was still standing in the same spot when I closed the door.
"You're mad, aren't you?" Chloe sighed.
"I just need some time, Chloe." I walked past her and went back to my guns. If there was one thing that calmed me down, it was cleaning my guns. Even though they were already cleaned, I decided right then I needed to clean them again.
"I'm sorry."
I ignored her.
"I'll just be in the bedroom if you need me."
I could hear she was upset in her voice but I didn't look up and I didn't turn around. I was too furious. I had put everything on the line for her, even the date to when us boys would leave. I was needed in a club a day ago, but I stayed so she would settle. I didn't want to rush her into leaving.
I heard her bedroom door close and I pulled my gun apart again.
She might have thought she was putting me first, but it was me doing that for her. I might be able to see her point of view later, but right now I needed to calm down before I spoke with her, otherwise I might say something I'll regret.
***
Hours had passed and it was now dark. I had lit the fire and was sitting back on the couch drinking a beer. I hadn't seen Chloe. She had stayed in the bedroom for the whole afternoon. It took me less than an hour to cool off, but I didn't go and see her because I knew she was hiding from me.
I glanced up at the clock - it was after nine. I guess I could go to bed.
"Hey."
I looked up. "Hi." Like always, something in my gut twisted when I saw her. She had her hair pinned to the side and was wearing my shirt. "Didn't the girls make you buy PJs?" I couldn't think of a reason why she would still be wearing my shirt when they went clothes shopping.
"They did." She unfolded her arms from around her back and walked towards me. "But I like wearing this."
My stomach twisted again. This time, a wave of pleasure washed over me. Looking at her in my shirt just stirred something in me - as if by her wearing that, it made her mine.
"Well, it looks good on you." I said, watching her curl up on the end of the couch. I wanted her next to me. I wanted to run my hand up that shirt to feel her firm breasts. I swallowed hard. She was going to kill me slowly.
"Thanks, but I think it would look even better on you." She smiled at me. "So, are we okay now? I know I really upset you. I just thought I was doing the right thing. Max kind of freaked me out."
I didn't like this Max. I didn't like any other man talking to Chloe or freaking her out.
"It's alright. You thought you were protecting me. I get it."
"You were right though. I wouldn't last a second without you." She was playing with her fingers. "I really have to thank you, Chase, and I am truly sorry."
I put my arm along the couch and gestured for her to come to me. I half expected her not to but when she slid across the couch, I was filled with pleasure again. She curled into my side, tucking her legs underneath her.
"So, are your guns cleaned?" she asked, looking at the coffee table which had about four different kinds of guns on it.
"Yeah, thanks to you."
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I overreacted." When she was leaving, I was thinking of her as a girlfriend breaking up with me, but she wasn't my girlfriend, and I knew she never would be because why would a young girl like her want to be with a man who was thirty and stood against the law?
She deserved a life better than what I could give her.
My hand was on her side, and while touching her was everything I wanted to do, I knew it would just make it harder to put distance between us. I had to stop this before it went too far and emotions got involved. Oh, who was I kidding? I already had feelings involved.
I liked her. Fuck,
"We should go to bed." I got up, letting go of her.
"Yeah, you're right." A disappointing expression captured her face.
Seeing it filled me with immediate regret so, without overthinking it and going against my better judgment, I put my hand out for her.
She took it and stood up.
"Do you think Jess will be okay?" she asked as we walked down the hall.
"Jess is made of tough stuff."
"She didn't seem that tough today." Chloe stopped at my bedroom door.
I looked at our intertwined hands and I didn't want to let go. I wanted to drag her to bed and have her feel safe to fall asleep with me.
"I'll walk you to your room." I said, and she nodded her head.
Chloe's Point of View
I took a staggered breath in. "Chase?"
He turned around near his bedroom door after casually walking there. "Yeah?"
"Can you um…sleep in here with me?" I stood nervously at my bedroom door. "I don't feel safe."
He cocked a smirk at me. "You want me to sleep with you?"
"Yes, and maybe bring one of those guns you like to clean so much." I looked nervously at the ground then back up, only to have him standing in front of me.
"You don't have to ask me twice." His words were gentle and even though there was a clear debate in his eyes, he wasn't fighting it.
I opened the door for him and walked in. I had never slept with someone before, not even for a sleepover.
He pulled a gun out from the back of the waist of his jeans and placed it on the bedside table.
"You sure you are okay with this?" He was watching me closely. Expecting me to freak out, I would imagine.
I nodded my head and pulled back the comforter and slid into the bed. I watched with complete delight as he took his top off. His muscles were so defined and I wondered how much time he spent building them. The tattoos were across his chest and stomach. Firm black ink. He turned around, and I saw the Horsemen MC tattooed across his back.
He pulled his jeans down and revealed a pair of boxers.
"You still sure about this?" he said, turning back around, and I started to think it wasn't me having the freak out, it was him.
"Just get into bed, Chase," I said calmly and gave him a smile. "You are doing me a favor. It really freaks me out knowing Joe is around here, and knows where I am." I was fiddling with my fingers.
His hand covered both of mine. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
I looked into his eyes and they told me the same thing. He
wouldn't let anything hurt me. What I didn't understand was why. No one had ever put my safety first. No one ever cared if something happened to me. So why did he?
Why did he care if something happened to me?
I slid down the bed and his arm went behind my head. Laying my head on his arm, I closed my eyes and said, "Thank you, Chase."
I felt the softest kiss on the top of my head. His other hand was on my hip and I was settled firmly against his chest. I hoped he was as comfortable as me.
Chase's Point of View
"Chase."
"Chase."
I felt something poke me in the neck. Groaning, I opened my eyes to see a big pair of green ones staring right back at me.
"Jess, what the fuck are you doing in here?" I whispered/yelled at her. I glanced at Chloe, who was still soundly asleep on my arm.
The clock said it was four in the morning.
"I'm in trouble."
The curtain was cracked open and the moonlight was shining through, which showed me her tear-stained face.
"What's wrong?" I whispered, then slowly and gently pulled my arm out from under Chloe. She moved, but didn't wake.
Jess started to silently cry, so I got out the bed and grabbed her by the arm. We didn't speak until we were out of earshot from the bedroom.
"What's up?" I said again.
She started babbling.
"Jess, if you don't speak clearly, I won't be able to help you."
She handed me the phone. "He won't stop. I keep telling him it's over, and he just keeps sending threat after threat."
I scanned through the messages, all from Harris. "Does he know you have brothers?" I finally spat out after reading the disgusting things he was planning on doing to my sister. Threating her was one thing, but going into detail about it was another.
"No, he only knows about Sammie."
"What's his address?"
"11 Clover Street. Chase, he has a gun."
"I know that, Jess, because he has threatened to use it on you." I handed Jess her phone back.
"What are you going to do?"
"Handle it." I walked back up the hallway. Not wanting to disturb Chloe, I went into my room, threw on a pair of jeans, a shirt, and my leather vest.
