Saving Mia

by Michelle Woods

  Mia laughed. “He’s going to be mad about that I think.”

  “Most likely.” Charity said with a little shiver. Her smile didn’t faultier in the least so Mia didn’t worry about her new friend.

  They pulled up to another cabin about five minutes later. Mia helped Charity unload the bolts of cloth and other sewing supplies as they entered the large farm house. She learned that it was like the clubhouse in Devils Falls. Prospects were immediately taking the loads of cloth from them and took over unloading without even being asked.

  “Mia, I’d like you to meet Cindy, she’s Alex’s mom.” She indicated a woman who looked to be in her early forties. She had blonde hair and a sweet smile. “Maria, she’s Conner’s mom.” She indicated the dark haired beauty with dark gray eyes. “And this is Lucy, she’s Cindy’s oldest.” She indicated the young girl who looked to be about seventeen.

  “Hi, nice to meet you.” Mia said as they sat down with the other women.

  “Is this Ratchet’s new woman?” Cindy asked, looking surprised.

  “Yes.” Charity answered for her when she blushed.

  “Huh, thought she’d be a leggy blonde. He always went for the tall blondes.” Cindy muttered as she cut out the pattern she was making.

  “Mom!” Lucy cried.

  Mia wasn’t sure if what the woman had said was supposed to be an insult.

  “What? You know it’s true. He always went for those airheaded bitches. Glad he ended up with someone with a brain rather than the bimbo I expected.” Cindy said looking at her daughter.

  “Don’t mind her. She’s never had a filter.” Maria said shaking her head.

  “It’s okay. I’m glad she thinks I have a brain.” Mia smiled at the woman who looked up with a grin.

  “I think you’ll fit in here nicely. So Mia what’s it like in the city’s fancy district. Charity told me that’s where you’re from.” Cindy asked.

  She answered questions from the four women about the city for over three hours. When they began talking about the club and the fact that they were missing a teacher at the school in the town since Vera had been the one to teach the six year olds. It was brought up when Charity asked Cindy who was teaching the six year olds now since she taught the eight year olds at the school. They’d been discussing the fact that there wasn’t anyone to take over the classes and the other teachers were each taking on a few of the younger students. Mia offered to help, she’d taught in the city before Uncle Tristen had died. That was how she ended up with a job. She found over the next few weeks that she loved it.

  Ratchet and she settled into a routine after that day and she was very content. Christmas came and went the moment that night by the Christmas tree when it had started snowing had been magical and one of the happiest moments of her life. She wasn’t sure what had happened in the last three months to change all that. She’d been so happy. Yet lately every time she turned around the man was gone. And when he was home they were fighting over him being gone or having sex. It was always on club business that seemed to bring home a grim almost cold Ratchet.

  He was slowly pulling away from her, she thought sitting in the large armchair in the living room waiting on the man to show up. She’d had enough. This time the man had been gone for eight days. She’d have been okay with that if the man had at least called her to let her know he was still alive. She knew he was okay only because Charity kept her in the loop. Tick was with Ratchet and she asked about him for Mia.

  Mia had had it with his lack of care for her feelings. If the man wanted to be such a dick then fine. He could be a lonely dick. She’d never agreed to be treated as a sex doll he took out when he felt a little horny and then shoved back into the closet when he was done. Maybe she was being a little harsh in her thinking. When he was here they didn’t fight. They were happy then, but when he left he never called to let her know he was okay and it hurt her that he didn’t think of her feelings. She’d told him that she worried and wanted him to call, but did the man call?

  No, he told Tick to tell Charity he was good. How dare he? Had the man even called to tell her that he was going to be home tonight after eight freaking days of being gone? Nope. He’d told Charity to call her. How dare he! She was done with this. Just done. She’d been stewing all day about it. She heard his bike pulling up and stood waiting. She was going to tell him she’d had enough of this bullshit.

  Ratchet was bone tired. They’d been after a group of Jackal’s they’d thought were running the Juice shipment they were looking for. Only two days ago when they caught the little bastards they’d discovered they were a fucking decoy. He’d been away from Mia for eight fucking days. Eight fucking days, chasing those idiots to find out that they’d been on a wild goose chase. What the fuck?

  He’d ridden almost all day with Tick to get back here. They’d both wanted to be home. Ratchet was glad that he was finally going to be able to hold Mia tonight. He’d missed her terribly. He was so glad that he was finally home. She’d hold him and kiss him and make the anger that seemed to burn at a low simmer under his skin lately go away. It was a good thing when he was with her he didn’t feel it because it making him want to rip into something at every turn. He needed to hold her. It always seemed to put his anger on the back burner when he held her.

  She would want a fight in the morning he was sure. He grinned. She always started complaining that he didn’t let her know he was alive when he was gone. This time he’d told Tick to let her know he was okay when they were on the road and he’d stop to be sure Max and Charity were okay. Tick had looked at him oddly and asked, ‘You sure that’s the way you want to go?’

  Ratchet had nodded. Talking to her made it hard not to rush back to her without dealing with the shit that needed to be taken care of. He wanted to be with her all the time. He didn’t want to be off chasing Jackal’s and hearing her voice would only make that worse. He wasn’t used to needing to check in either. He knew that she’d still be a bit ticked that he’d let Tick tell Charity instead of calling her, but she’d forgive him when he explained why he didn’t call her.

  He pulled up to the cabin getting off the bike his head spinning with his need to hold her. He entered the living room to find her standing by the armchair she loved to curl up in. She was hugging herself and he wanted to know what was wrong. He dropped his bag and moved towards her only to see her raise a hand to warn him off.

  Surprised, he demanded, “What’s wrong? Tell me.”

  He knew that his voice was dark, but he couldn’t help it. Mia was really upset and whoever had made her that way had better watch out because he was going to kill them for upsetting her.

  “You should eat first. I left some chicken and dumplings on the stove for you. Then we can talk.” Mia told him still looking upset and it made him angrier that she was sitting here upset and she wanted him to eat. Was she out of her mind? He needed to know what had upset her. She should never be this upset.

  “No, tell what the hell is wrong!” Ratchet roared.

  “Fine. You didn’t bother to call me. It’s been eight days Ratchet. And you didn’t call.” Mia looked so heart broken in that moment that he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss it better. Shit, he hadn’t thought it would hurt her like this. He’d never wanted that. Maybe he’d been selfish not calling her because it made him miss her more. He opened his mouth to tell her why he hadn’t called her but her next words made him see red.

  “I’ve had enough, Ratchet. You have no respect for my needs. I asked you the last time you pulled this crap to let me know you were okay. You didn’t even call me once!” Mia screamed.

  “What are you saying Mia? That because I didn’t call you you’re leaving me? Because that is bullshit. If you leave it’s because you choose to. I made sure Tick told Charity to let you know I was okay, damn it!” Ratchet couldn’t believe that she would throw away what they had because he hadn’t called her. That was just fucking bullshit.

  “Yes! That is what I’m saying. I obviousl
y don’t matter to you. That’s what you were telling me! You couldn’t even bother calling me. For all I know you’re with another woman!” Mia wasn’t sure why she’d said that but maybe that was part of her fear. That because he wasn’t concerned with her feelings he wasn’t as in love with her as she was him. Wait, had she just admitted to herself that she loved him? Oh, god. She did. She loved him.

  “That’s what you think! That I am such a fucking dick that I would fuck around on you while I’m away. Fuck, Mia. That’s insulting.” Ratchet grumbled, hurt that she could say that to him.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Ratchet.” Mia said, her lips trembling as tears started rolling down her cheeks. She meant fighting with him, but what he said next nearly ripped out her heart.

  “Fine.” His jaw was clenched and his hands were fisted by his sides. “Get your shit.” He yelled at her even as his heart clenched at the thought, and his inner voice was screaming that he was an idiot.

  “That’s all you have to say to me ‘get your shit’?” She looked so hurt he wanted to take it back and beg her to forgive him, but he set his jaw. He wouldn’t beg her to stay. If she wanted to go fine.

  “You’re the one screaming that I’m fucking around on you. I just got home after being gone for a week and I just wanted a hot meal and some sleep.” And to hold her you idiot, his inner voice grumbled but he ignored it. “So yeah that’s all I have to say.” Ratchet finished glaring at her.

  “Fuck you Ratchet!” She screamed at him as she left the room and went to gather her things.

  Ratchet walked into the kitchen smacking his head against the wall. He should go in there and fuck her into exhaustion then explain, he thought. His pride stopped him though. She wanted to believe that he’d been fucking around on her. He wouldn’t do that to her. He wasn’t that type of man. That she could accuse him of that was tearing him up. He walked over turning off the stove. He didn’t want to burn the damned house down while he was gone.

  Grabbing a spoon he dipped out a few bites. It was good. He heard her coming out of the back room with banging and thumping and went to help her.

  He grabbed her heavy duffle. Fuck had she packed everything he wondered as he took the bag out to his bike. He barely managed to get the damned thing in the saddle bag. She stood behind him, and he could hear her hiccupping little sobs which made his stomach clench, but he wasn’t going to deal with being accused of fucking around on her every time he forgot to call her. He didn’t want that type of relationship, even with Mia.

  “Get on, Mia.” Ratchet said throwing his leg over the bike and looking back at her.

  Mia stared at him in shock. She’d been the one to say she was leaving, but now faced with how easy this seemed to be for the man she loved she felt like he’d ripped her heart out and was repeatedly stomping on it.

  “No, I want to discuss this.” Mia said trying to think of a way to explain that she didn’t really think he was cheating on her, she was just angry that he didn’t want to talk to her.

  “No, get your tight ass on this bike. I’m done talking about this stupid shit. You want out. Fine, you’re out.” Ratchet bellowed. Mia startled regarding at him with wide eyes because the roar he’d let out had been so loud. She moved getting on the bike without another word. Her heart was in her throat as emotions bombarded her. They took off and she clung to him as her tears started to flow down her cheeks. It was over. He didn’t love her. Oh god, but she loved him. So much and she’d realized it too late.

  It took them only an hour and ten minutes to make a two hour trip. As she climbed off the bike at Pearl and Bear’s house. She let out a sob gazing at him from where she stood. He was jerking her bag out of the saddlebags on the bike. He dropped it at her feet without a word.

  “Ratchet please listen. We need to tal…” Only he interrupted her.

  “Fuck that. It’s been real, beauty. Have a nice fucking life.” Ratchet said, hearing himself as if in a haze. What the fuck had he just said to her? He thought as he took in the way her whole body seemed to crumple. He didn’t want to see the pain his words had caused her. He couldn’t stand it and he wasn’t going to deal with this shit tonight.

  He didn’t have the energy. He took off without another glance at her. His inner voice was calling him all kinds of stupid ten minutes later when he pulled up to the clubhouse. Fuck, he thought as he went inside. He sat down and one of the prospects asked what he was drinking. He got a whiskey. His mind circling back to that look on Mia’s face as she seemed to just fall apart. Damn this was stupid. What had he just done?

  Had he just told her they were done? Yeah, that wasn’t fucking likely. He was far from done with that woman. She’d have to fucking deal with him being an idiot sometimes. She’d needed to know that he wasn’t messing around on her. But had he reassured her? Fuck no, he’d been asinine and told her to get her shit. Fuck, he was dimwitted. Then he’d tore out her heart with his words because he knew that he loved her as much as she loved him.

  He swallowed the last swig of whiskey and stood. He was going back to Pearl and Bear’s to get his woman. He’d just taken stupid to new heights, he thought.

  “Hey, good you’re here. Was about to call you. We found the fuckers. It was by pure dumb luck too. They are running the shit under us. That’s how they’re getting it through. They’re running it through the old subway tunnels.” Tank said walking into the clubhouse.

  “Fuck, thought they’d sealed those before we were even born?” Ratchet said as he shifted from one foot to the other. He didn’t want to go out after these mother fuckers. He wanted to go hold his woman and tell her he was an idiot.

  “They did. But those fuckers dug it out. But a prospects stumbled on them today and we’re moving in to prevent them from the run. Fuckers won’t know what hit them.” Tank told him grimly.

  Fuck, it looked like he was going to have to go with them but when he got back. His woman better be prepared because she wasn’t staying with her aunt. She was bringing her tight ass home where she belonged, and he wasn’t going to fucking allow her to think ever again that he was fucking around on her. Nope, wasn’t fucking happening, he thought as he walked out of the club house behind Tank.

  Chapter 20

  Mia fell as Ratchet roared away. She collapsed onto her knees in the grass outside Pearl’s home. Her heart broken as she screamed Ratchet’s name and watched him leave her. She was such an moron. Why had she done this tonight? What had she been thinking? She’d hadn’t wanted him to leave her.

  “Mia, honey it’s okay.” Pearl said as she tried to help her up off the ground having come outside to see what was going on. “Come on, sweetheart. Come inside.”

  Mia wanted to get up but she couldn’t seem to move. She was still watching Ratchet as he disappeared into the night. He’d left her. Oh God, he’d left her.

  “Bear, help me get her inside. What the hell’s wrong with that boy dropping her here like that?” Pearl grumbled.

  “He’ll be back. I give him an hour, tops.” Bear told her as he lifted Mia into his arms carrying her into the house. Pearl was following. Mia buried her face in his shirt and cried her heart out. She hadn’t meant for this to happen.

  “Put her on the bed, hon. I’ll lay with her.” Pearl told him as they entered. “You give him hell when he gets here. She’s sobbing like he broke her heart.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make him work for it. Boy’s always let his mouth run away with him.” Bear’s voice trailed off. Mia continued to cry because she thought they were wrong. He wasn’t coming back because she’d accused him of something horrible and now he’d left her.

  Pearl rubbed her back and lay beside her making clucking sounds. She was about to fall into an exhausted sleep when she heard Bear telling Pearl that he was headed out to meet the club. They’d found the Jackal’s they’d been looking for. She prayed as she cried herself to sleep that night that Ratchet would make it home tonight. She had a lot to talk about with that man. And if he thought
the last words he’d say to her were ‘have a nice life’ he was going to find out that he had another thing coming.

  Mia woke the next morning and asked Pearl if she could take the truck back to Ratchet’s house. No way was she giving up that easily on the man she loved and when he got home after whatever he was handling for the club was finished. She was going to be there waiting and the man was going to talk about their fight whether he wanted to or not.

  Pearl laughed and told her to go get her man, and make him pay for making her cry like that. She headed back to the cabin with a determined resolved to make him understand that she wasn’t going to deal with his giving up on them. She’d been home about an hour when there was banging on the door. She opened it expecting to see Charity or one of the other women.

  She was shocked to see Raven and Marcus. They held another man between them who was a mess he had been beaten badly. A woman looked who fearful stood behind them. Three prospects who didn’t look very friendly were standing with them on the porch.

  “You know these four?” Tanner, one of the prospects asked

  She gasped. “Yes, it’s okay they’re friends.” She told him. He nodded and the three prospects left.

  “I’ll send Doc over to look at the boy.” Tanner called as they went.

  Mia ushered them inside where they lay the man on the couch. That was when she realized that the man they’d been carrying was Matt. Dear God. He was beaten so bad that she barely recognized him.

  “You said if we needed a place to go to come here. And last month you told us you were living at this farm. So we came here and they wouldn’t let us in at first. Then when Lacy started crying I told them to take us to Mia and they did. We didn’t know where else to take him.” Raven said, tears were hovering in her voice.

  “What happened?” Mia demanded.