by Mallory Funk
I make sure that I’m careful when I get up and take care of the condom.
I lay down beside Sophie and pull her into my arms.
“Colton,” she says on a whisper.
“Shh… I know baby, me too,” I whisper back.
We both are asleep within minutes.
Chapter Twelve
Sophie
Five days later
It has been two weeks since the accident. They pulled back the meds that kept Shield in a coma a few days ago. The swelling went down enough that they could tell that nothing appeared to be damaged.
We were still in a wait and see game because he hasn’t woken up.
I can tell that everyone’s frustrated and, no matter how many times they tell me it wasn’t my fault, I can’t help but feel guilty.
Right now, I’m sitting in his room at the hospital, and all the women are here with me.
Everyone is now fully aware that I am not planning on leaving Shield’s side, and no matter how much they beg me to bake, I can’t find it in me to try.
I have read, sang, and watched movies with him. I’m not sure what I will do if he wakes up and tells me that he heard everything because all I put on were chick flicks and read romance novels; but, in my defence, I didn’t know what else to read to him.
“Has anyone tried screaming in his ear?” Stacey asks with an unapologetic shrug when everyone looks at her with wide eyes.
After a few seconds, I can’t help but laugh.
“Seriously, Stacey? Why would that even work?” Ella asks hitting Stacey on the arm.
She shrugs again. “I don’t know, but I’m tired of waiting for him to wake up. He has to some time. He got hurt waiting for us and I can’t take it anymore!” she says with frustration lacing her voice.
“No, he got hurt protecting me. None of you are at fault,” I say.
Olivia looks to me with sad eyes. “It’s not your fault either.”
I nod my head before she can even finish speaking. “It is my fault. If I had never have come here then none of you would have been in danger. Now Shield not only got stuck protecting me, but also threw himself in front of a moving vehicle that was coming to hit me. He wouldn’t be in this mess if I just had run the other way and not come here,” I say, my voice getting louder with each word.
Before anyone can speak there is a groaning and we all snap our heads to Shield and see him with his eyes fluttering open. When they open, he searches his surroundings and then his eyes lock into mine and I go still.
“Woman, it ain’t your fault,” he says slowly. Ella grabs him some water with a straw so he can soothe his throat.
I can’t help the tears that run down my face or the gasp that escapes me. My shoulders slump with relief that he’s finally awake and doesn’t seem to have any memory problems.
“Shield…” I say not willing to believe that he’s actually awake.
“Listen to me,” he says when Olivia says she’s going to get the doctor.
I barely pay attention to her leaving.
His voice is raspy and he takes a few more sips of water. I can tell by the look of him that he’s tired and fighting to stay awake, but he also looks determined.
“Sophie… It’s… Not… Your… Fault.” I instantly start shaking my head, and he narrows his eyes at me as much as he can.
“No, babe, it’s not your fault. I protected you. That’s what I do; I protect. They don’t call me Shield for nothing. You women are more important and valuable to the men than you realize. Men have fallen and crumbled when they lost their women. I will do anything to make sure those brothers don’t fall,” he says with as much energy as he can manage. When I look into his eyes, I can see how serious he is.
I nod my head in understanding. I had only recently started seeing Trigger. I don’t know what I would do if something were to happen to him. I couldn’t imagine if anything happened to any of the other couples either, considering that they have been together longer than I have with Colton.
The doctor comes in and we all leave so that Shield can be examined. Now that I know he’s awake, I hope that I can rest a little bit now. I feel like my mind has been going non-stop.
We stand out in the hall, especially when Kid and Stitch glare at us when we try to walk further. We know to stay put until our men come here. I don’t bother trying to fight it. I know how serious these men take this job.
It doesn’t take long for Trigger, Torch, Steal, and Damien to show up. I say my byes to the women and head to my man’s bike.
Chapter Thirteen
Trigger ‘Colton’
Finally, my brother is awake! I heard from Kid and Stitch what Shield had said to Sophie. I was fucking glad that he was able to say something. When I got her home that night, she seemed more relaxed and some tension had released from her shoulders.
That was at least one less thing I had to worry about. I was wondering and waiting for that fucker to show his face again.
I had it constantly in the back of my mind. Because it’s close to the fucking wedding date he chose, I know that he’s going to make a move soon. I wish I knew when that fucking was.
I made love to Sophie that night and fell asleep with those thoughts constantly running through my head.
When I woke up, I was surprised that Sophie didn’t want to go straight to the hospital since that has become our routine that I drop her off there every day before heading to work.
She actually had the urge to bake, and I was thanking my lucky stars that my woman was cooking again.
She was already up bright and early so that she could make muffins for me to take to work. I just knew that the brothers would be so fucking happy to have some baking made by Sophie. We had been eating store bought and ones baked from other Old Ladies; however, I’m not sure how Sophie does it, but hers are fucking perfect. I think every brother would agree.
While I’m eating breakfast, a thought comes into my head and I’m eager to share it with her.
“Hey, babe?” I say in between bites.
She hums and looks over at me with a smile.
“Yeah?”
“Your food is fucking amazing. You ever think of opening your own bakery?”
Her entire body freezes and she looks up at me completely caught off guard with my question.
She clears her throat. “Well honestly? Yes, I have. My mom and Vince always shot the idea down. They told me that baking was a stupid hobby and I would never be good enough to run a successful bakery. After that, I never gave the idea much thought.”
I try hard to hide my anger at them for taking something away from my woman. I could see her running a successful bakery. Damn, I know all the brothers would be willing to help her do it.
“Well I think you’d be great. I know a lot of brothers and Old Ladies would support you,” I say confidently.
The smile she gives me lets me know that I made the right decision in bringing this up.
“Do you really think so?” she says, her voice so hopeful.
“Yeah babe, I do. There’s an empty building beside the diner. The club owns it, and I’m sure that the club would love for you to use it,” I say.
“Oh no, I can’t ask that of the club,” she says immediately shaking her head.
I get up and walk over to her.
“Babe, trust me, the guys would fucking love to have a meal at the diner and then walk straight over to your place to eat your baked goods,” I say wrapping my arms around her.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Yeah I am. I’ll mention it to Prez today. I’ll let you know what he says.”
She nods her head and I give her a kiss before returning to my meal.
Before I know it, I have to head to work.
Getting to the shop, I see Prez talking to Damien and Bear.
I decide to talk to him now since it doesn’t seem like we are busy right now.
Prez sends me a chin lift when I approach.
“Hey Tri
gger, how’s Sophie?” he asks right away. He’s fucking loving that there are so many women that are a part of the club now.
“She’s good. Baking this morning.” I see a bunch of shoulders relax and hear sighs of relief. I can’t help but chuckle.
“Thank fuck,” Steal says coming up. Everyone nods their head in agreement.
“Well, I was wondering if you had any plans for that building beside the diner?” I ask, and Prez gives me a knowing look. I could never get anything past him.
“Think she would want the space?” he asks.
“Yeah, I asked her this morning if she would ever want to open her own place, but it turns out that her bitch of a mother crushed those dreams as well,” I say, once again getting angry for what Sophie could have had.
I can feel everyone’s anger combine with my own.
“Well it’s hers. I’d love to see her own bakery up and running,” he says, and I notice everyone agree with him eagerly.
“I’ll let her know that she can start making plans,” I say, and he nods his head.
I walk over to my section where I work with a grin.
Fuck yeah, my baby will have the best bakery there is.
Sophie
When Colton leaves, I spend the next few hours baking. I make a plan and let Crash know when I’m ready to see Shield, since he’s the one on watch today.
I made a tray of goodies for him, but I’ll make sure he can eat them first. If not, I’ll give them to someone else. Crash steals some muffins and groans out loud at the first bite. I can’t help but laugh.
“What? They’re good,” he says with a shrug and his mouth full of muffin.
I just shake my head and we walk toward the truck. I see Crash grab a few more when my back is turned. I guess he missed my baking.
We make it to the hospital in record time.
I spend most of the day visiting Shield and anyone who came to visit him.
When Trigger gets home that evening, he tells me that Prez would love it if I opened a bakery there. He told me that a lot of brothers were on board too.
I couldn’t help but clap my hands in excitement and rush over into his arms.
The kiss immediately becomes heated and he shows me what table sex is all about.
I just know that I will blush every time I glance at the table from now on.
I clean up quickly so that I can clean the table and make supper. The first supper was ruined since Colton made me lose track of time with his hand and mouth.
Everything with Colton has been amazing. Moving in together has been the most natural thing in the world.
It’s late and Colton fell asleep early. He must have had a busy day at work. I’m not quite able to fall asleep. I am too excited about the idea of having my own bakery.
I decide to get up and make some tea.
Looking out the kitchen window, I see something along the line of bushes. A shadow moves, and the light from the moonlight lets me see the last person I would want to see. When he knows that I see him, he waves and then turns and walks away.
I can’t help but gasp and race back to Colton. I shake him awake yelling his name.
His eyes open with alarm.
“What’s wrong Sophie?” he asks grabbing both of my arms since they are shaking uncontrollably.
“V-Vince… he’s outside,” I say scared out of my mind.
“Fuck!” Trigger curses.
He grabs his gun from the nightstand and quickly puts pants on before racing out of the room telling me to stay put. He yells at me to call Bear before he’s outside.
I do as he says. When I tell him that Vince is outside, he curses the same way that Trigger did and hangs up saying that he will be right there.
I sit in the middle of the bed scared out of my mind. I hear a bunch of bikes pull up, and shouting.
I stay where I am, but I don’t think I could move if I tried. My knees would probably give out.
It feels like it has been hours since they pulled up.
Trigger comes back into the room, still only in his jeans and boots with his gun in hand.
He is shaking his head in frustration.
“Fucker got away,” he growls.
That scares me more.
“He’s coming for me, isn’t he?” I ask, my voice shaking.
He comes to me, pulling me into his arms. “No baby. I’m not letting that fucker get you. You’re mine, you hear me?” he asks, and I nod my head, but I have a feeling that Vince will go to any lengths to get me back.
I’m scared of what that might mean.
Chapter Fourteen
Trigger ‘Colton’
I’ve been spending the last couple days going over everything in my head and searching for this fucker who had the nerve to show his face to Sophie. After she told me how he waved at her, I had lost it.
He’s so fucking cocky and confident. I am wondering what his plans are. I know he’s up to something, I can just feel it. I don’t have a good feeling when it comes to him. Something big is going to happen and I hate sitting around feeling like a fucking sitting duck waiting for it to happen.
“Trigger!” I hear yelled when I walk outside. I see Stacey run towards me.
When I give her a questioning look, she smiles. “Can you help me out? I ordered something for Tyson, I mean Torch, but it will be too heavy for me to lift. Can you come with me?” she asks motioning to her SUV just in the parking lot.
I nod my head at her. Even if I’m exhausted and excited to get back to Sophie, I would be a dick if I said no.
I climb in the driver’s seat since I’ve heard about Stacey and her driving, and we head out to the mall.
We pick up Torch’s gift, and I drive her to their place. They have an acreage just outside of town. Stacey said that Torch was at the club, so we have time to drop it off without him coming home.
It doesn’t take long for me to unload the box. There are no markings on it so I can’t tell what it is, but it’s fucking heavy.
I sure hope that he likes whatever the fuck it is after all this hauling.
We get back in the vehicle to drive back to the clubhouse so that I can get my bike.
Stacey seems to be very proud of whatever she has planned for Torch, but I just want to fucking get back to my woman.
We get into the truck with Stacey going on about how she and Torch have their anniversary coming up. She hopes he likes what he got her. She’s really nervous about it.
I just nod my head to her words. She’s a fucking good woman for my brother and clearly loves him, but all I can think about is getting home to Sophie and losing myself in her.
I don’t see the vehicle coming until it’s too late.
Stacey screams when the truck is hit.
The next thing I know, the truck is rolling over in the ditch.
“Trigger!!!” I hear Stacey scream before everything goes black.
Sophie
I spent most of the day inside my uncle’s house baking. Aunt Sasha has stayed home with me so that we can bake.
I was scared to be by myself ever since Vince had made himself known. I know that I always have a club member with me, but I needed to be around more people. Aunt Sasha was more than happy to spend some time with me so that we could get to know each other.
I learned that she and Bear couldn’t have kids and were happy just helping take care of me; that is, until my mom took off on everyone when my dad died. Sasha told me that it was like she lost her own daughter right along with her best friend.
I am glad to be back in their life. Knowing that they tried to see how I was doing from time to time helped. It was unfortunate that my mom would always lie and tell them that I was fine. I don’t think I’ve ever been fine since my father passed away.
I’m betting that the only reason she still kept in contact with them was because they were sending money for me. Of course, I’ve never seen it, so I knew automatically that my mother just used it for herself.
Gettin
g to know my aunt and uncle today has been amazing. They had told me stories about my dad and showed me more pictures. It was exactly what I needed. When I first came, I wasn’t exactly in the right frame of mind to be soaking all the information in.
The day passes faster than I’d like it to. I end up cooking supper for my uncle and auntie.
When the sky darkens, I start to get worried. Colton should have picked me up by now.
I look at my family and Uncle Bear grumbles, “I’m sure he’s fine and just running late at the shop.”
I give him a pleading look which causes him to roll his eyes and grab his phone.
I swear I don’t take my eyes off him when he tries to call Colton. When he frowns and pulls his phone away from his ear looking at it, I start to get worried.
