The Biker's Fate Chapter 429

Finch

After finding some of Grace's body wash and girly shampoo shit, I left Remington to relax and headed back to the kitchen for my phone. I dialed my sister.

"Is she okay?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, sissy. She's here and she's safe."

"But is she okay?"

"She's getting there."

"What happened?"

"Not my story to tell, Gracie."

She huffed. "Fine. Be a gentleman."

"You wanna bring her bag over here for me in the morning?"

"Why?"

I grabbed another beer and popped the top. "Because she's staying here until this shit's sorted."

"Is she okay with that?"

"She will be."

Grace sighed. "I'm going to ask her myself."

"Go ahead."

"And if she gives me a different story—"

"She's still gonna stay here," I said and took a swig of beer.

"Merrick."

"You gonna bring her bag by tomorrow?"

"If she wants to stay, yes."

"Okay, sissy, I'll swing by and pick it up then."

"Oh my god, Merrick, you're being insane."

"I'm gonna let you go, Grace."

"Don't force her to do something she doesn't want to do."

This pissed me off and I scowled as I ground out, "Grace, have I ever forced anyone to do something they didn't want to do?"

"Well, no, but you seem a little off-kilter when it comes to Remington, so I'm saying it out loud, in case."

"Got it. Gonna hang up now."

"I love you, big brother."

"Love you too, Gracie. Conditionally."

She giggled and hung up, then I fired off a text to Flea. I'd let him deal with my sister. I headed into my guest bedroom and stripped the bed.

My sister had been staying with me while she figured out what to do with her life after college, but since our grandmother had hurt herself, Grace was staying with her in the interim. Although, Flick seemed to be relishing the job, so it was more accurate to assume Grace would be at Flea's more often than not.

I probably should have changed the sheets earlier, but I didn't really have any plans for anyone to visit other than my sister. Now, I hoped Remington would stay for as long as she needed to feel safe, so I domesticated-up and made the bed.

I saw that Grace had left a robe hanging in her closet, so I grabbed it and made my way to my bedroom, pushing open the door and calling out, "Rem, I have a robe for you. I'll leave it on my bed."

"Thanks, Tweety."

I fucking loved how she called me Tweety. I'd never let her know that, but it was cute as hell and I noticed she only used it when she felt comfortable. Even if she was comfortable and pissed at me.

I headed back to the living room and settled onto the sofa. It was almost four in the morning, but I didn't have a heavy case load at the moment, so I could take a day to make sure Remi was good, and maybe catch up on some sleep.

"Hey," Remi said quietly, and I craned my neck to look at her.

"Hey. You good?"

She smiled. "I'm so good. That bath is amazing."

I grinned. "I told you."

She made her way to the sofa and sat facing me. "Thanks, Merrick."

"You're welcome."

"So…are you okay if I stay here tonight? Well, this morning as the case may be."

"You can stay here as long as you want," I said. "I changed the sheets in the guest room."

She raised an eyebrow. "You changed the sheets?"

"I do have some knowledge of domestic shit."

"Apparently."

"You have to promise me something," I said.

"What?"

"No running off in the middle of the night. If you want to leave, you're free to go, but just let me know first, okay?"

"Like, really free to go?"

"You're not a prisoner, Rem."

"But if I said to you, 'Tweety, I'm gonna go to XYZ,' you'd just let me go?"

"Of course I would."

I narrowed my eyes. "Tweety."

He sighed. "I'm not saying you wouldn't have a recruit on you, or I wouldn't be tracking your phone…"

"Aha!" I exclaimed, pointing a finger at him. "I knew it."

"Want you safe, Rem. That's all."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay, Tweety. I can give that to you."

I nodded. "I appreciate that. Come on, I'll show you where everything is."

Remington

I followed Merrick down the hall and into what was obviously Grace's room. In fact, some of her things were still there.

"I'm sure Grace won't mind if you borrow something of hers, but if you need anything specific, let me know."

"A T-shirt would be appreciated," I said. "Grace is quite a bit smaller than me."

That was somewhat of an understatement. I was almost an E-cup in the boob department and had to wear both a minimizing bra and a chest binding contraption on dance nights in order to stay balanced. It was an ordeal, but one that I endured gladly, because ballet was my life.

He smiled. "I'll grab you one of mine."

Merrick returned within minutes with one of his black club tees. I took it from him and smiled. "Thanks."

Giving me space, he leaned against the doorframe. "You okay?"

I bit my lip. "Honestly?"

"Always."

"I feel safe."

His eyes got soft and he smiled. "I like that, Remi."

"When's Grace coming back?"

"Not for a while. You can stay here as long as you need to."

"I should go back to my place tomorrow. I can't hide forever."

"How about you stay here until Vitaly's dealt with?"

I tried to hide my elation. "You wouldn't mind?"

"Fuck, Rem." He frowned. "Just how freaked are you?"

"Freaked," I whispered.

"Really wanna touch you right now." He held a hand out. "You okay with that?"

I blinked back tears and walked into his arms. He held me gently and stroked my back as I burrowed into his chest.

"I'm really sorry I didn't call you back."

He gave me a gentle squeeze. "I'm working on forgiving you for that."

I gasped and glanced up at him. "It was a one-night—" I saw his smile and cut off my admonishment, wrinkling my nose to cover a smile and burrowing back into his chest. "You're an ass."

Merrick chuckled. "Got you to smile, though."

"Whatever."

The sound of his doorbell interrupted our moment and Merrick stiffened. "Close the door and don't open it until I come and get you."

My heart raced. "Why?"

He reached for my doorknob. "Just do it."

I leaned against the door and waited.

And waited.

I heard low voices and cracked the door slightly to listen better.

"I want to see Remi," Grace demanded, and I smiled.

Lordy, she and her brother were cut from the same cloth. I opened the door more and walked out to the front room.

"I'm here," I said, and Grace made a dash for me. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving."

"We'll talk about that later…when I can verbally spank you," Grace threatened.

"Can't wait." I smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Merrick thought you might like some of your things, so I brought your bag."

Well, that was seriously sweet. I avoided looking at him, lest I swoon and ask to suck his cock, and focused on Grace. "Thanks. I didn't think I could bring myself to borrow a pair of your undies."

She rolled her eyes. "Well, you could have…but you would have had to keep them."

"Fair enough."

"Are you okay, honey?" she asked. "You're welcome to come back with me and Flea."

I covertly glanced at Merrick, but he was in a conversation with Flea in the kitchen, so I relaxed. "No, I'm okay here. I really am sorry I ran out. I just felt overwhelmed."

"I absolutely understand that emotion." Grace squeezed my arm. "If you're sure you're okay, I'll take Flea home and do unspeakable things to him."

"I heard that," Flea called.

"I was hoping you did."

I chuckled. "Go. I'm really okay."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Flea said, already moving toward us.

Grace hugged me and then she and Flea left without any fanfare.

Merrick grabbed my bag and carried it back to the room and I followed.

"I'm gonna get some sleep," he said. "You should too."

"Okay, Merr. Thanks."

"If you need me, you come get me."

"I won't need you."

He seemed disappointed by that, but quickly covered his expression with a smile. "I'll see you when I wake up."

"Okay, Tweety. Thanks."

He stroked my cheek gently, then headed to his room, while I closed my door and dressed for bed…keeping his T-shirt on.