The Biker's Fate Chapter 380

"We can talk about it later. Please, Merrick. I'm just going to go home."

"You can't drive like this, Grace," he countered.

"Finch!" someone bellowed.

"Go, brother," Flea said. "I'll make sure Grace gets home okay."

"Mer, I'm okay," I repeated for the umpteenth time. "Do what you gotta do."

I just wanted to get out of there and hide in the dark. Alone.

My brother left (thank God) and I found myself alone with Poppy, Maisie… and Flea.

"Devon and I'll take you home, Gracie," Poppy offered.

"No. Please, Poppy, I don't… I can't…"

"I'll take you alone, then."

"Devon'll freak if you do that, Poppy. I'm fine to drive. Seriously."

"I will take you," Flea said, crossing his arms. The toothpick he seemed to constantly have in his mouth moved up and down as he spoke.

"I—"

"Not up for debate," he said.

Poppy shook her head. "Flea, she can't—"

"It's okay, Poppy," I said. "I'll go with Flea."

Her expression was one of shock mixed with concern. "Grace, you don't have to do that."

"I know." I forced a smile. "I trust Flea."

Again, her expression was one of shock, but the concern was gone.

Everyone trusted Flea. He was extremely dependable, and I knew this because I'd known him for as long as Poppy had. He was an institution, always there when someone needed protecting, so it wasn't out of the realm of probability that I'd trust him, but it still obviously surprised her. I'd never shared my thoughts about Flea or his effect on me. I'd always kept them locked up tight in my heart, afraid that if I'd voiced them, he'd suddenly disappear.

"Darling, Hatch and I will be happy to take you home," Maisie said.

"I really just need everyone to stop fussing," I said. "Please. I've already caused so much uproar, and I want to go home and sleep."

"Sweetness, you've caused no uproar." Maisie smiled. "No one even knows you're in here."

I raised an eyebrow. "The crowd outside hasn't alerted everyone?"

"There's way too much drinking and celebrating going on for anyone to be worried about you, honey," Poppy assured. "Devon's keeping everyone occupied, and I'm sure Hatch is close by as well."

"We can walk out the back and no one'll be the wiser," Flea said.

"I have my car."

"I'll drive your car to your brother's later," Poppy said. "Devon can follow me, and we'll head home together."

I focused on Flea. "You don't mind?"

He shook his head.

I nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

"I'll get your bag." Poppy left the room but returned quickly with my purse and jacket.

I pulled my keys out and handed them to her, then Flea led me down the hall and out the back door.

"You okay to ride?" he asked.

I nodded. "Merrick's taken me a couple times."

He handed me a helmet, and I pulled it on while Flea climbed onto his Harley and lifted the kickstand with his boot. I used his shoulders for balance as I jumped on behind him, then he started the engine and we took off for my brother's.

I wrapped my arms tight around his waist and held on, my heart racing and my soul suddenly flying as Flea maneuvered his bike toward home.

Flea

Fuck me, this woman was gonna be a problem. Her tight little body pressed close brought my dick to attention, but her terror earlier gave me an overwhelming desire to protect her. I'd never had the push pull of my emotions with a woman before. I'd never really had any kind of emotional pull toward a woman outside of my sister, so this was new.

And I couldn't say I was a fan.

Women were a complication I had no desire to deal with. And now one was on the back of my bike. Fuck! I'd never had a woman on the back of my bike before, so this was a new wrinkle I hadn't been prepared for.

Especially, because Grace Lundy felt right pressed up against my body.

Fuck!

I pulled into her brother's complex and parked in a visitor's spot, cutting the engine and lowering the kickstand. Grace climbed off like a pro, and I followed.

Handing me the helmet, she hid her face with her hair. "Thanks for the ride."

"You're welcome." I took the helmet and set it in a saddlebag, dropping mine inside as well.

"I'll see you—"

"I'm walkin' you in, Grace," I said.

Her eyes met mine. "No. It's okay, you don't have to do that."

"Yeah, I do. Lead the way."

She hesitated for less than a second before giving me a tentative nod and heading toward the building.

As was my habit, I assessed the safety of the building as we walked inside. I liked that she had to enter a code to get in and the doors all appeared to be in working order, but there wasn't a doorman, which bothered me.

"Do you have security here?" I asked.

She cocked her head as she pressed the button for the elevator. "What do you mean?"

"Doorman, guy with a badge type of thing."

"Does my brother look like the type who'd rent from a building with a fancy doorman kind of guy?"

"No, but you do."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm buried in student loans and haven't found a job yet, so, I feel lucky to have a brother who loves me enough to let me mooch off of him, even if it's not a building with a doorman."

"Thought you were a dancer," I said as we stepped into the elevator.

"I am. But that's not currently paying the bills, so I'm hitting the pavement to see what I can find."

"Hatch always needs help at his shop. You want me to find out if there's anything open?" I asked.

"What could I possibly do at a mechanic's shop?" she challenged.

"Cricket used to run the front counter. Believe it or not, women tend to feel more comfortable when a woman is working the front counter."

"Makes sense." She shrugged. "I've only been to one mechanic besides Hatch, but that was in Atlanta, and it was someone Hatch trusted."

We stepped out of the elevator and headed to her door, which she unlocked and pushed open.

"I'm gonna take a look around," I said, walking in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Make sure you're safe."

Her eyes softened as she nodded, and I forced down the feeling of elation I felt. Fuck me, one tiny woman looks at me with appreciation and I melt. Not good.

I did a sweep of the condo, checking window locks and escape options, finding Finch had done everything he needed to do to secure his home. He was lookin' out for his sister and I liked that.