cheek.
“I told you I had your back,” he said. “I would never let anything happen to you. A few minutes after you crossed the street, I knew that something was wrong. It should have only take you a second to start the car and come meet me. So I immediately called the boys over. They came as fast as they could. They weren’t going to let anything happen to my girl.”
A smile finally began to cross my face. Despite the danger that Tommy had inadvertently put me in, he also had been man enough to save me. He redeemed himself from his mistake, and just like he had promised, he had had my back.
“Come on,” he said, as he helped me up from the bed. “Let’s go home.”
My legs trembled as I walked, my muscles still burning with adrenaline. We stepped out into the parking lot, my eyes squinting as the summer sun washed over me.
The crowd of biker’s made a path for us, giving Tommy a nod as we walked past. It was clear that they all looked up to him and it made me feel like a queen who was walking beside her king.
I held onto Tommy’s hand as we crossed through the maze of motorcycles that filled the parking lot. Tommy gently lifted me up and set me on the back of his bike. Then he got on himself and started it up, letting the engine roar.
“Thank you for saving me,” I whispered in his ear.
Tommy looked over his shoulder. I expected to see his playful smirk, but a serious look was on his face instead.
“I shouldn’t have brought you here,” he said. “ I put you in danger. I’ll never, ever do that again. I promise you, Chelsea. I’ll protect you.”
I put my hands around his waist and then took a look around, watching as all of the other bikers started their engines. Tommy took off down the road and the entire gang followed us, creating a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the small, vacant town.
As we rode home, I closed my eyes and placed my head on Tommy’s shoulder.
What am I doing here? I want to leave, but I also want to stay. What should I do?
I felt so lost. A part of me wanted to go home and try to resume a normal life once again. But a part of me was also telling me to stay in California. Something about being with Tommy felt so right, even though it was clear how dangerous it was. But the danger was quickly becoming secondary to how I felt about Tommy. He made me feel different than Justin ever could. He made me feel sexy and alive, but most importantly, he made me feel free.
Chapter 12
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W hen we finally pulled back up to the house, Tommy parked the motorcycle in the garage. Two of the other men parked besides us, while the rest of the group continued onward, the sound of the engines slowly fading off into the distance.
“Come on, baby,” Tommy said, as he helped me off of the bike.
He led me back into the house and the other men followed us. Once in the living room, Tommy introduced me.
“Guys, this is Chelsea,” he said. “Chelsea, this is Phillip and Billy. They’re two of my best guys and they’ll always look out for you, just like I will.”
I held out my hand and they each shook it. They both stood as tall as Tommy, but neither of them were quite as muscular. Still, though, they were just as intimidating, with every inch of their skin, besides their face, completely covered in tattoos.
“Tommy seems to have taken a liking to you,” Phillip said. “I don’t know of anybody else who he would have ever called us in to save. Especially some girl.”
I smiled and looked up at Tommy, whose serious look was still plastered on his face.
“Yeah, well it was my fault that she was there in the first place,” Tommy said, before I could respond. “And I’ll never do that again. That was fucking stupid.”
I squeezed Tommy’s hand assuredly.
“Tommy, it’s okay,” I said. “Nothing happened. I’m fine. And plus, you guys got away with a lot of free merchandise.”
Phillip and Billy nodded in agreement.
“Speaking of which,”
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