Chapter 37

Candice
I look around at the women of the club. Austin told me that the club was on lockdown so I know not all of them are here but there are a few, and I feel completely out of place. When Austin asked me to help with the women I wasn't sure what to expect but now I think he was just trying to include me. It is clear by the faces these women are wearing they need no help.
"Who is watching from outside?" A woman with huge knockers, and blonde streaked hair asks.
"Dale is out there, along with Mipps and Evans." Another says coming in from the kitchen.
They all look powerful and fierce. I envy that from them. Abby walks in with a little bandage around her ankle. She gives me a reassuring smile and sits next to me, I am just about to ask her a question when the men storm out. Most of them walk around and collect their women while Austin, Max and two other men head over to Abby and me. One of the men I recognize from the hospital the other day. He has dark hair with even darker eyes. There is a little patch on his cut that says road captain. The other I do not recognize but he is a little older and has a long gray beard. Austin bends down so that he is eye level with us and turns to Abby.
"Need to where he is darlin." Austin asks Abby.
She doesn't respond right away. She looks at each brother and sighs loudly. The older man that, I'm assuming by his features is her father, comes up and starts speaking to her too.
"Know you're trying to protect him baby, but we need to know where he is. He's a part of this club, and we need to protect him." He finishes.
"He's at the old youth community center, but please, let him have his time. He will explain everything once he is back." She answers.
I am so confused by all of this, but I think this is one of those moments where I need to keep my mouth shut. Austin stands up and looks to Abby's father. They must have a silent conversation because Austin nods his head, and everyone starts walking away. Most men go outside to, I assume surrey the damage to their clubhouse, and a few stay inside. There is a guy leaning against the bar that keeps looking at me. I am getting a little uncomfortable and am just about to go back to Austin's room when Max walks over to me.
"Hey darlin." He says. I notice they all call me that. "How you doing with everything? Know this is a little confusing but we will protect you. We were thinking, you and Austin should head out now that way you stop by your place on the way to collect anything you might need." He states.
I am thrilled to be leaving this place but am a little bummed I still cannot go home. I do understand it though. Those men attacked me at my home, which means they must have followed me from the repair shop. The thought alone puts me at a state of panic. I'm pleased I can at least go home for some items. It was sweet of Abby to bring me some of her clothes, but she is a little smaller than me and shorter.
I simply nod my head at Max, noticing these guys respond to that sort of thing, and he gives me an award-winning smile. The man really is quite a looker; however, I seem to only be drawn to his broody brother. Just the thought of Austin has me subconsciously looking around the clubhouse for him. I shake my head at pinpointing him down and put my attention back to Max, who has a knowing smile on his face. I quickly try and make a conversation, so he doesn't call me out on my puppy dog eyes.
"So how are you doing with all this Max?" I ask. I remember him telling me about his PTSD, but I was curious on how he was able to go through a moment of someone shooting his club up and not feel like he is back there.
Max gives me a sad smile and rubs the back of his head. His gaze goes downward, and I feel guilty for dredging that moment up for him. I can tell none of his brothers know about the PTSD because he looks around and hen comes closer to me and whispers.
"I'm doing alright. Let's just keep what I told you between us for now, yeah?" He says, giving me a nervous smile.
I smile back at him giving him my answer, and I quickly change the subject when I see Austin walking over. Me and Max are in the middle of talking about my car's repair when Austin reaches us and steps between Max and myself.
"We're ready to head out. Can you get on the back of my bike like that?" Austin asks in a stern tone pointing at my midsection.
I just nod my head, I still have the old burner phone in my back pocket to call my mother, but I can wait until we get to his house. That will at least give me some time to come up with an excuse for why she can't come home just yet. Austin looks at me funny, probably assuming I was going to argue, then nods his head back at me. When he goes to turn around I let out a small giggle at Max, who is wiggling his eyebrows at me and Austin.
I stand up, head to Austin's room to grab the bag Max got for me, and walk back into the main area. There are men everywhere and most seem to be either speaking with Austin or circling him awaiting some type of instruction. I am not sure what to do right now so I look around, and wait patiently for them to finish with their questions and conversations. Their clubhouse is by far one of the biggest single-story buildings I have ever been in. My first assessment was that it was an old abandoned factory, and I don't believe I was wrong. I sit back on the coach that I was on earlier and that's when I notice Abby getting scald by her father. "It's a long story daddy. Please don't worry about me." She says as I walk over.
Once I get to them the conversation disperses and her father nods his head at me and walks away. Apparently head bobbing passes for conversation around here. Abby shakes her head at her fleeing father then gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach her cheeks. Hmm, she fakes it as much as I do.
"Thank-you for the clothes." I say to her. "Is everything alright?"
She blows out a long breathe then sits on the nearby sofa. I go and sit next to her, she seems to need a shoulder to cry on. I don't know if I can be that, I've never really had close friends, but I want to try. Especially giving how emotionally wrecked she looks at the moment.
"Everyone is a little weary of Chance right now because he disappeared right after the shooting, but they shouldn't be. I know Austin trusts him, but it just looks bad. The truth is, he just needed to release some tension, he just shouldn't have done it without speaking to his president." She says looking in Austin's direction.
I don't say anything to her, simply nod my head and turn to look away. I don't know any of these men, but Chance is the one I would trust the least. He is so scary and intimidating and it just proves my point when he disappeared after the shooting. I knew Austin was in charge, Max told me as much, but hearing it out loud like that still surprises me. He seems so young to be in charge of men so much older than himself. I place my gaze on him, ordering men around and watching them do whatever he happens to say. A small smile appears on his face when he speaks to one of the brothers.
I turn to Abby and put my hand on her shoulder. I can tell she is a little infatuated with Chance, but I hope she doesn't get herself hut by waiting on him to notice her. Abby eventually gets up and leaves when her father beckons her. She looks back at me and gives me a little scrap piece of paper with her phone number on it, letting me know to call her when I get sick of these thickheads, her words not mine. I giggle with her when her father growls at us and she leaves out of the door.
The guy that was at the hospital with Austin that day walks over. He is a very good-looking man. He has copper hair and almost dead black eyes. He is tall and muscular but there is something about him that makes me a little Leary. He has a strange vibe about him. He is the one at the hospital that looked like he wanted to eat me.
"You look mighty lonely over here beautiful." He says.
I give him a small smile. The guys usually call me darlin or honey or my name. He is the first one to call me beautiful and all it does is send unwelcome shivers down my spine, if anything I feel like he is tearing off my clothing one tiny fabric at a time with his eyes. There is something about this man that makes me feel uncomfortable.
"Just observing." I say, hoping he will get the hint and leave me alone.
"Know there is a lot going on around here that your pretty little head can't quite understand, but don't worry, good ol' Psych is here to take care of ya if anything happens." He says in a southern drawl reminding me of our intern we had a few months back that was from Baton Rouge.
I just give him a small nod and pull my gaze over to Austin. Austin must feel my apprehension because he goes from talking to a brother to looking over at me and Psych, then walks over to us. I breathe a bit of relief in and when I glance over to Psych, he is looking at Austin with a bit of agitation. I wonder what that is about.
"You good to go Psych?" Austin asks in an accusing tone.
Psych looks a little extra hard at me then eventually pulls his gaze to his boss. He gives Austin a chuckle then walks past him patting him on the shoulder. Okay. Must be another one of those silent conversations. Maybe I should walk around patting these guys on their shoulder, nodding my head, and grunting, just to indicate I am more than ready to get out of here.
"Don't mind him. He tends to act like the creepy guy next door that you don't let your kids trick' or' treat at." Austin says causing me blow out in laughter.
I laugh so hard I start hiccupping which only causes me to laugh even harder. Austin has been absolutely serious this whole time that we have been together. I know his club is going through a crazy ordeal but hearing him make a joke allows me to breathe a bit of fresh air.I don't feel so stiff anymore. It's bittersweet. When I finally pull myself together I look over to Austin who has the strangest look on his face, I know I have an annoying laugh. It's one thing I was always teased about growing up. I tend to laugh so hard I snort, like, a lot. I used to try to not laugh when I was younger because I was so sick of the constant bullying.
Austin is not looking at me like I disgust him though. His face has more of a wholesome feel to it. I wipe my eyes and clear my throat. When I stand up I make a motion with my hand to grab the bag letting him know I am ready. Austin looks down at the bag then up to me.
"Yeah, I know you're ready to leave. Let me just speak to my brother about Chance then we can head over to my place. I have to leave for a bit after that but when I return I'll take you by your place to grab your shit. Just grab things you absolutely need. Nothing more. I don't want them knowing you are staying with me. We need to make it look like you're still home. We have a lot to talk about and I know you're exhausted and still sore, but if you can just hang on a little longer, I'll treat to my world-famous chili." He says blessing with a smile that I can tell I will already begin to crave.
I nod my head at his request. I wait until Austin is walking away to breathe again. I have never been on a motorcycle before. I have seen people ride them, but never thought of what they may be experiencing as they ride. The only thought I've ever had towards them was not running them over with my car when they zoom past me on the highway. Now here I am getting ready to get on the back of Austin's bike and the only thing stopping me from screaming hell yeah loudly, is the fact that this man is driving me to his home for protection. I do not want him to think he has to babysit some crazy girl.
Ten minutes later we are walking out of the clubhouse. Austin walked over and grabbed my bag from me and indicated for me to follow him out of the door. I walk up to the beast of a bike and stare at Austin like he has lost his mind. This thing may look as big as a bus but there is no place for me to put my bag. Austin walks over, grabs my bag and puts it into a little compartment. He jumps on and starts the bike up, the roar of the giant piece of shiny metal startling me. He shows me how to get on the back of his bike with my arms around his hard tone body and we take off. I swear I could ride with him like this forever. There is something about the giant beast beneath our bodies, roaring under us, vibrating our connection to the road. It's freeing. I understand now the saying about an open road. It's exhilarating.
We pull up to a beautiful home not thirty minutes later. A little too soon for my liking. I was enjoying having this muscular man between my thighs. Austin lives kind of in the middle of nowhere. There are no other houses near him. His home is a one-story cottage. There are little steps leading to the deck that has a cute little rocking chair on it. I see little potted flowers to the right of the chair and for a brief moment I wonder if he is married. I just realized I know nearly nothing about this man. Yes, I know his name, the fact that he has a brother, that he is the president of a motorcycle club, but other than that I have no idea who Austin Stone is. What if he is married? What would his wife think of me? Oh God, what if he has kids?
Austin pulls the motorcycle to the side of the house and cuts the engine. I get ready to get off the bike, but Austin gives me a pat on the leg indicating for me to wait. I peel off the helmet he gave me earlier and try patting my hair down while he studies our surroundings. Last thing I want is to look like a scarecrow in front of his wife. Austin does the same with his helmet and turns back to look at me with a smile on his gorgeous face. What was I thinking agreeing to living with this man? Of course, he has a wife, or at least a girlfriend that is way hotter than my stiffy ass.
"Alright babe, hop off slowly, watch the exhaust pipe." He says.
I do as he indicates and get off the bike. Austin does the same, then walks over a couple steps until he is directly right in front of me. I tilt my head up meeting his gaze. Austin must be over six feet easily because I am five ten and he feels like a giant next to me. He gives me a panty melting smile and I secretly scald myself for allowing to linger at his face when he could very well be married. I try to get a good look at his hand to search for a ring but see none.
"You want a tour?" Austin asks.
"Your wife could give me one. Or girlfriend, if she's home." I say putting my head down and scalding my inner bitch. I have never been one for being subtle.
Austin snickers and when I look up at him again he is shaking his head like I said something bizarre. I am about to ask him what the hell is so funny when he takes my hand and walks with me into his home. I though the outside was beautiful. The inside is amazing. It is an older home, but I can tell it has been newly remodeled. The living room is huge. There is a sectional black sofa and a huge flat screen tv mounted to the wall. I see a hallway to the right of the television that I'm presuming leads to the bedrooms. The kitchen is straight ahead and there is a dining room table to the left of the kitchen.
The first room we come to is his guest bedroom. It's nicely decorated with canary yellow walls and white frames everywhere. There is a floral bedspread on the queen size mattress and an old antique white dresser in the corner. He hasn't exactly told me that he doesn't have a wife or girlfriend, but I cannot imagine Austin Stone, big badass biker, super-hot when he takes control of his club, shopping for floral bedsheets. I turn to him while in the guestroom and snicker at his posture. His arms are crossed at his chest along with his feet and he is leaning against the doorframe of the guest bedroom. God this man is hot.
"Mom likes to come here and decorate. Not my idea, couldn't care less what the hell the room looks like, but it makes her happy, so I let her do what she wants to it. Don't have a woman babe. Not yet anyways." He says the last part with a seriously long gaze at me.
I walk out and follow him along to the next bedroom, ignoring the comment for now. I'll obsess over it once he leaves and I'm alone with my thoughts. Austin shows me his bedroom next. It's huge. There is all dark mahogany colored furniture, a huge flat screen television is hung on the wall and there is a huge bathroom located in the right corner of the room. He explains that there is a bathroom in his room, so the guest bathroom is mine to do with as I please.
I take a closer look around the whole house and see little touches of his mother, it really is sweet that he lets her come over and decorate. Austin clears his throat and when I turn, he has his keys in his hand.
"Going out for a bit darlin. When I get back we will swing by your place and pick up your shit. Make yourself at home and eat some food. I'll see ya soon." He says opening the door then heading out.
Yep, Austin Stone is definitely a fixation in my mind.