Page 10 of Infinitely Mine

“Good thing this isn’t one,” he quipped. “Need anything else?”

“Water.”

“You got it.” He cleared his throat and glanced at Heather before his focus settled on me. “I know you don’t trust me right now, and you have every right to wonder what the hell is happening, but you’re safe. We brought you to one of the properties the club rents out. It’s a good neighborhood and close to the elementary school for Jacob. Just wanted you to know that before I go.”

I gave him a tight nod.

The big biker left, and I heard his Harley roar to life and fade into the distance as he went to grab the food and water.

“I’m Rowen.” I sat on the sofa and faced her, needing answers and the truth. “I need to know what the expectation is because nobody gives stuff away for free.”

A sad smile lifted the corners of her lips. “Most of the time, I agree with you, but you’re wrong in this instance. I don’t think I can convince you without explaining a little about me. It might be a little tough to hear.”

I guess we all had shit in our past. “Go ahead.”

“I grew up a biker brat,” she laughed. “My father and my uncle were my whole world. My cousin Micah, too. He’s Jigsaw now, one of Mammoth’s brothers in the Royal Bastards MC. The point is that I’ve always been a bit of a princess.”

I had to smile at that. “Doesn’t seem like a bad thing.”

“It’s not,” she paused and sighed, “until the men who love you most can’t protect you from a monster.”

Oh, shit.

“Yeah, it’s as bad as you’re thinking. I was taken as a little girl. Touched. Ruined.” She swallowed hard and kept her gaze on mine even when it would have been easier to look away. “They found me hours later, but the damage had been done. I was never the same. My father, Micah, and my uncle? They all blamed themselves for not preventing it. It took a lot of yearsfor me to heal and a fuck ton of therapy.” She shrugged. “I can’t change what happened, only choose to live and put it behind me. I’m a survivor, and I’m stronger than the sick fuck who stole from me.”

Wow. That was brave. “I hear you.”

“That’s why I chose to be a Ghost. My callsign is Raven.”

With her long dark hair and pale complexion, I could see why she would like it. It seemed fitting.

“My job, for lack of a better word, is to help domestic violence and sexual assault victims start over and make a new life for themselves apart from the trauma they experienced. I’ve helped moms, kids, and teens. It fills that broken, lonely place inside me. Ya know?”

“Yes. I do.”

“So, when I say I know you’ve been through something, trust me when I tell you I’m here for you. You don’t have to talk about it until you’re ready. I won’t judge you. Hell, I won’t ever say a damn word unless that’s what you want.”

I could live with that.

“But,” she paused, making sure I listened, “I’m also not going to let you fall into depression, suicidal thoughts, or any of that shit.”

Woah, she went there.

“Yeah. I’ll be in your face and make you confront the past because it’s the only way to move forward.” She smirked. “I’m a lovable asshole like that.”

I couldn’t help smiling at her brutal honesty. She reminded me of Kate with the same tenacity and sweetness. My chest ached, and I blinked back tears. “I understand.”

A part of me wanted to say more, but that risked my son’s life. I was a woman on the run with a small child, and I didn’t have a clue how long I had before Dag tried to hunt me down. If he found me in Tonopah, I would have to run again.

“You have questions. Go ahead. I’ll answer as best I can.”

“There’s so much I want to know. For starters, who is that Mammoth guy? Why is he here? Do you trust him?”

“Mammoth is the vice president of the Tonopah chapter of the Royal Bastards. He’s a big teddy bear, but don’t ever tell him I said that because he’d get flustered. I’ve known most of the guys my whole life, and while I care about all of them, there are a few of the brothers who are so kind and selfless that it makes your heart ache. Mammoth is one of the best men I’ve ever known. He’ll take his shirt off his back for you if you need it, and he’s sweet to a fault. But betray him or the club? He’s the definition of wrath and vengeance.”

I never heard anyone described that way in my entire life. “I’m curious why he cares.”

“About strangers?”