My entire body trembled as I realized I was here alone without any help or protection with two small children. I didn’t even text Patriot or Bodie when I got here. Nobody knew I left the Crossroads.
This was a monumentally bad idea. How could I be so careless?
Holding my phone and ready to hit the emergency call button for 9-1-1, I peeked outside of the front room window and noticed something small was on the porch. The lightbulb wasn’t working as I flipped the switch and I immediately remembered this afternoon and the missing bulb at my apartment next door. No way was it a coincidence.
The last of the sun’s rays had slipped below the horizon and it was too dark to make out the shape. I inhaled three deep breaths and decided I should have a weapon before I opened the door. Running for the kitchen, I grabbed one of the largest and sharpest carving blades and headed back toward the front, clutching the knife in my palm hard enough to hear my knuckles crack. My heart was racing in my chest as I listened to the two kids teasing one another upstairs.
They had no idea what was happening and I intended to keep it that way.
I would protect them with my life.
When I inched the door open, I expected someone to jump out at me but the porch was empty except for the lump on the wooden surface. I scanned the yard and both sides of the house before I decided to inspect what was on the ground. Something wet was pooling around what appeared to be a burlap sack. Dark scarlet liquid gleamed in the low light as I bent down to inspect the object.
To my utter horror, the bag contained the missing cat, minus the head which was placed beside the body. A scream of pure terror was torn from my lips as I backed away and dropped the knife, then my phone in my mad scramble back inside. Feeling like a complete idiot, I bent down fast and snatched the knife and the phone, barely realizing I sliced a finger in the process.
Blood dripped from the wound but I was so shocked that I didn’t notice.
“Sasha!”
The door was wide open when I saw Bodie hop the fence and run into the yard, sprinting up the steps as he rushed inside and shut the door with a slam. Shaking, I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Fuck, baby. Are you alright?”
He pulled me into his embrace and gently pried the knife from my hand, frowning at the cut. At the same moment, the kids ran down the stairs, calling my name.
“Hey,” Bodie greeted them both, hiding the knife behind his back, “Do you all have popcorn? I came over to watch a movie.”
Blinking, I stared at him not quite comprehending what he was saying.
Rev jumped down the last few steps and headed into the kitchen. Olivia’s eyes were wide.
“Why did you scream, Sasha?”
“She thought she saw a mouse,” Bodie explained, holding me tight against his chest as I swallowed hard, my gaze focused on the door and entryway. “Why don’t you grab a couple of bowls?”
She nodded with a small smile and left us alone.
“The cat,” I finally whispered.
“I saw. Give me a second.”
Bodie let go and walked into the kitchen, sliding the knife into the sink without the kids noticing. A moment later he was back with a wet washcloth that he wrapped around my finger. “I’ll find a bandage in a minute.” Tugging his phone from his cut, he fired off a series of texts.
After a few minutes I heard someone on the front porch but he didn’t seem alarmed.
“Rael is gonna take care of it. Kids won’t ever know.”
Nodding, I didn’t trust my voice.
Bodie shoved the device back into one of his pockets and lifted his hands, cupping my face. “Everything is going to be fine. Rael is staying here and he asked Patriot to come over and keep watch for the night. We’re gonna watch both apartments.”
“Why is the cat dead? Who would do something like that?”
“I’m going to find out,” he promised.
It was hard to believe he didn’t have any idea. After all, the club had plenty of enemies. I knew that firsthand.
Choosing to trust him, I didn’t press for answers.
The kids picked out some animated movie with monsters and settled in next to me and Bodie. Olivia was snuggled into my side. Rev sat next to Bodie and somehow got him involved in a popcorn tossing competition. It was kind of adorable. Most of the kernels ended up on the couch and floor instead of their mouths but both of them were laughing before it was over.
Watching them it became surreal how seamlessly Bodie could transition from normal moments like this to his biker lifestyle and the Reaper. Cool, calm, and affectionate one moment. Rough, deadly, and serious the next. He wasn’t the only one. All of the guys in the club seemed to be the same.
Olivia fell asleep before the movie was over and Rev’s head kept bobbing as he tried to catch himself and stay awake. Eventually they were both breathing evenly and out for the night. Bodie carried Rev upstairs and I followed with Olivia. She was a light little thing and not hard to lift at all. Once they were both tucked in, we tiptoed back downstairs and sank onto the couch together.
Bodie tugged me into his lap as my head rested on his shoulder. “You should get some rest.”
“Aren’t you?”
“I will but I’d feel better knowing you were comfortable first.”
“You’re too sweet to me,” I whispered with a yawn, ready to close my eyes.
“Sasha?”
“Hmmm?”
“I’ve got you, baby.”
“I know,” I assured him, sighing with contentment as he wrapped his arms tighter around me.
With Bodie near, I wasn’t afraid of anything.
I didn’t tell Sasha the truth.
Part of me felt bad for not revealing what I knew, but the rest of
