She waited a few moments as if expecting me to say something. I didn’t, so she started walking away. She got as far as the door and I ran after her.
She pushed through the doors and was walking toward the car park. I went up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, whipping her around to face me. She turned and fell into my arms.
I lifted her up by her hips and swung her around while our mouths met with a sizzle. In that moment, all I wanted to do was kiss her. That was it. I just wanted to push my tongue into her mouth and make sure she knew how much I wanted her.
She tasted of beer and sweetness. When her feet touched the ground, I pushed myself into her, kissing her harder. I’d never kissed anyone like this before. I would never have stopped at just this, but I pulled away from her.
This wasn’t just about fucking her. I felt more for her. Maybe she didn’t get it.
Mercy clung on to my arms for a few moments and then took in a sharp breath. She was searching my eyes.
“I’ll make sure one of our guys always has an eye on you so you’re not in danger.”
She nodded.
“And if you ever need anything, you know where we are.”
She nodded again.
“Ghost…it’s just that I…I need some time to figure it all out, I guess. I want to work here, I’m grateful for the opportunity…”
“But you don’t know if this life is for you,” I said. She didn’t have to nod. I knew I’d hit the nail on the head.
I took a few steps away from her and waved.
“Get a cab. Go home. Be with your grandma,” I said.
“What are you going to do?”
I pushed my hands into the pockets of my jeans and shrugged.
“The usual.”
I couldn’t admit to her that my life had changed since I’d met her. I didn’t want to hang out at the clubhouse without her. I wanted to be back at my cabin, alone with Mercy. I couldn’t say any of those things to her and maybe I’d regret it later, I thought.
“I hope you guys find Eagle soon. I hope he pays for everything he’s done. I hope Crash feels better and gets the help he needs.”
That was all she said and then turned and started walking to the street. I waited and watched till she stopped a cab and got in. I was already making mental notes of putting three prospects on rotating shifts, watching her. I was going to send one right now to watch her grandma’s place. Never again. I would never let anybody hurt her again.
Even if I had to protect her from afar.
* * *
It was a week later and I knew Mary-Beth was avoiding me on purpose. She wasn’t happy about the fact that I hadn’t made Mercy stay. We had our usual doctor check in on Crash, but Mary-Beth claimed he wasn’t as good as Mercy. He didn’t have the ‘healing touch’ she claimed. Nonetheless, Crash was doing much better now. He even ventured out of the holding cell with Mary-Beth.
Now, he seemed like a completely different person. He was less aggressive and quieter, like he was reflecting on his actions and regretting them. The doctor said that we would have to keep a close eye on him for a few months before we could stop watching him. There would always be a chance of relapse, but for now, he was progressing well. Drax seemed more relaxed too, knowing he had made the right decision by sparing Crash’s life.
We still hadn’t found Eagle.
The guys were working day and night, following up on all leads and any information we could get on him. It seemed like he’d disappeared into thin air. I knew he was hiding somewhere close though. Like a rat. Waiting for the right opportunity to scurry out of his hole.
I tried not to think about that day I’d found him and let him get away. I was acting in the best interest of Mercy, hadn’t given a shit about Eagle that day. I’d just wanted to find Mercy and make sure she was okay. Maybe if I didn’t have feelings for her, Eagle would be in our captivity now. Maybe I would have shot him dead on sight. But I hadn’t been focused on anything.
I was aware that most of my brothers in the MC were disappointed, although they hid their disappointment well. They wished I hadn’t acted the way I did that day. They wished I hadn’t prioritized a stripper who I wasn’t even in a fuckin’ relationship with. Yeah, I wasn’t sure myself why I’d acted the way I did. Why I felt a fired-up need to protect her from everything.
But Drax understood. He said nothing on the matter and that was enough for me to know he understood why I did the things I did.
As for Mercy, I did now have the three prospects watching her at all times on rotation, so I always knew where she was and what she was doing. It seemed like she was staying mainly indoors, spending time with her grandmother.
I didn’t know what she was doing for money or work because I hadn’t contacted her. Maybe she had a plan? Either way, I planned on sending her another round of the medical supplies she’d bought for her grandmother that day and maybe some groceries. I just hoped she wouldn’t be too fuckin’ proud to accept it.
* * *
I was working on my bike out at the back of the clubhouse when Sophie walked up to me like she wanted to say
