The Biker's Fate Chapter 379

Grace

Breaking away from Flea, I moved to the back of the crowd and hugged the chain-link fence. The closeness of the mass of bodies made me feel like I was being crushed and I suddenly couldn't breathe.

My eyes searched the crowd for Flea, but I'd lost my lighthouse and it was all too much. My head knew this was what Merrick had signed up for, but my heart couldn't deal with the violence of it all. I closed my eyes and visualized peace, touched each fingertip with another to stay connected to my body, and took deep breaths as I tried to talk myself out of a panic attack. As the din grew louder, I used the distraction to slip away, back into the building and down the hall toward the bathroom.

Quiet. I needed quiet.

As I passed an open doorway, I suddenly felt like my soul left my body. I don't know why, but terror on a level I had never felt before took over and I couldn't move. I was frozen to the floor, fear swamping me, and I had no way out.

"Fuck," someone whispered, and then strong arms wrapped around me and I was being guided away from the doorway.

Still, I couldn't bring myself out of my trance. I tried. I fought to surface like I was drowning in black water, but my brain had completely shut itself down.

"Grace."

I heard the voice again. Tried to get to the man attached to it, but I lost the trail.

"Grace." Rough but gentle hands cupped my cheeks and lifted my head. "Grace, look at me."

I swallowed.

"Grace," he repeated. "Hey, you need to look at me."

I blinked, glancing up and seeing Flea's face come into focus, then I fell into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding on tight.

"Okay, baby, I've got you," he said, and wrapped his arms around me.

Gulping in deep breaths, his scent surrounded me, and I calmed almost immediately. We stood there for several minutes. Not once did he seem weirded out that a virtual stranger had just accosted him in the bunk room, or that some crazy chick was sobbing into his T-shirt. I didn't want to let go, especially when he started to stroke my hair. All of it felt nice. Safe.

"Grace!" Poppy called, and I pulled out of Flea's arms.

Flea walked to the door and stuck his head into the hallway. "She's in here."

My best friend rushed inside and stalled. She glanced at Flea, then back at me again. "You saw."

I nodded, forcing back tears. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"What did she see?" Flea asked.

"Ashley got a new gun," Poppy explained. "She was in the green room showing it to a couple of the girls."

"Goddammit!" Flea snapped.

"It's okay. It's not her fault," I rushed to say. "She has every right…"

"I'm gonna deal with it," Flea said.

I shook my head. "No, don't. Please, Flea."

But I was talking to dead space because he was already out the door.

"Gracie? How's your breathing?" Poppy asked, and I focused on it for a second.

"I'm not going to pass out," I promised.

Poppy knew how much I hated to be touched after one of my 'spells,' so she kept her distance, but I could tell it was killing her. Poppy was a hugger. It was how she showed her love, but the fact she was always willing to give me what I needed proved she loved me best of all. Well, at least more than most. Devon was her number one and had been since we were twelve, but I was okay with being second to him, because he gave Poppy what she needed.

A knock sounded on the door and Poppy smiled gently. "It's probably Devon."

I nodded, but still found myself walking toward the wall.

Poppy opened the door a sliver. "Hi, honey. Yep, she's here."

"You okay, Grace?" Devon called through the door.

"I'm good," I said.

"Let me in," Maisie demanded, and I gave Poppy a nod.

She opened the door slightly to let her mom in and I saw Hatch through the crack. He stared at me like he wanted to pull me in for one of his bear hugs, but he also knew it would break me. I tried to give him an encouraging smile, but I'm not sure I succeeded.

"We'll be out in a bit," Poppy said to the small group, and closed the door again, turning to face me.

"Darling?" Maisie said quietly and approached me. "What can I do?"

I shook my head. "I'm okay."

"I'm going to touch you," she warned, and I stiffened, but let her approach.

Maisie settled her palm gently against my cheek and I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. "Okay, love, I'm going to wrap my arms around you now."

Before I could react, her sweet, motherly arms slid around me, and I instantly felt safe. Maisie had saved my life ten years ago, and she was always my safe place to land whenever I needed her. I hugged her back and she kissed my temple.

"You're okay, darling. I've got you."

"Open this fucking door!" Merrick bellowed from the hallway.

Apparently, Poppy had locked it.

"You better do it, Poppy," I said, and she pulled it open.

My brother filled the doorway, his face contorted with both concern and rage. His arm was wrapped around his stomach and his face looked like it had gone a couple of rounds with a wood-chipper, but he still managed to bellow, "What the fuck happened?"

Poppy closed the door again, but not before Flea pushed his way back inside. "Finch, brother, you need to calm down," Flea warned.

I really hoped Flea hadn't jacked Ashley up. She was the president's daughter, but besides that, I liked her. She shouldn't have to adjust because I was crazy.

"I don't have to do anything except find out what the fuck happened to my sister," Finch growled.

"Watch yourself, Finch," Flea warned. "You're upsetting your sister. You're also close to disrespecting your elder."

"I'm okay," I said, my face now flaming from embarrassment. Why the hell did I have to do this publicly? I thought I was over this. I'd worked for years to get to a place of health, and with one incident, I was right back where I started.

My brother stalked toward me but didn't reach out to touch me. "What happened?"