The Biker's Fate Chapter 436

Remington

Nine days. That was how long I'd been home, and how long it had been since I'd heard from Merrick. He'd called a couple more times, but didn't leave another voicemail and I was both relieved and saddened by that fact. I missed him. Horribly. But I wasn't willing to drag him into my shit storm of a life. No one deserved that.

"Earth to Remi," Kennedy droned, snapping her fingers in front of me.

"Oh, sorry, what did I miss?" I asked, taking a sip of my margarita.

Michelle and Kennedy had organized girls' night out, and I'd insisted we avoid anywhere that one of Merrick's 'brothers' might frequent, but I couldn't stop scanning the space a hundred times a minute.

"You're missing everything," Kennedy said. "Like the guy staring at you…three o'clock."

I rolled my eyes. I didn't miss him at all. He just wasn't my type. "Pass," I said.

"She needs more booze," Michelle said, and I laughed.

"No amount of alcohol will make me want that guy." I slid out of the booth. "But I do need to pee. I'll be right back."

Grabbing my purse, I headed into the ladies' room and did my thing, then pulled open the door to head back to the table.

"Miss me, baby?"

I squeaked and tried to step back into the bathroom, but Merrick wrapped an arm around me like a vise and tugged me gently out. "Not this time."

Oh my god, he was here. Really here. I wanted to crawl inside his leather jacket and snuggle, but I refused to let him see my elation.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as he pushed me against the wall.

"You seriously asking me that?" he challenged.

"Merrick," I whispered.

"Yeah, Rem?"

"What are you doing here?" I repeated.

"What did I tell you?"

I met his eyes. "When?"

"Right before I buried my dick in your pussy."

I dropped my head. "I don't remember," I lied.

"Cute, Rem."

"You shouldn't be here."

"You want me to leave?" He lifted my chin and frowned. "And be honest. Don't give me some bullshit answer that's gonna piss me off."

I licked my lips. "You don't have to stay."

He sighed, kissing me gently. "Pain in my ass."

I wrinkled my nose. "Hey, that's my line."

He shook his head. "You need to promise me you're gonna fucking stay put, Remi."

I gripped his jacket. "I promise, I won't run away from you again."

"You in this with me?"

I knew this question was one of finality, which meant I needed to make sure my answer was just as final. The truth was, this man had gotten under my skin…in a good way. But I was afraid to trust. Afraid I'd make yet another bad choice, and he'd hurt me.

"Rem?" He stroked my cheek, drawing my focus back to him.

I decided to take a leap of faith and breathed out, "Yes, Toucan Sam, I'm in this with you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Toucan Sam?"

"Because you're nosy."

He dropped his head back and laughed. "Fuck me."

"Yes, please."

He kissed me again. "We need to talk, so you're gonna say goodnight to your friends and I'm gonna take you back to the compound."

"Compound?"

"Club."

"Is it a super-secret biker lair?"

"Don't think it's all that secret, but, sure, we can call it a lair."

I slid my hands up his chest. "Are you really here?"

"Yeah, baby, I'm really here."

"I'm so sorry, Merrick."

"We'll talk when we get somewhere quiet. You can explain everything to me then."

I frowned up at him. "Do you hate me?"

He stroked my cheek. "Do you think I'd be here if I hated you?"

I shrugged. "Promise me, that tonight, after I tell you everything, if you want out, you'll leave. Okay?"

"No."

"Tweety," I breathed out.

"Come on. Let's tell your friends you're leaving."

"Wait," I said, and gripped his jacket again. "One more."

He grinned as he leaned down to kiss me, then took my hand and walked me back to my table.

I was highly disappointed Merrick drove me to the lair in a very sensible rental car instead of a bike, but he'd said he got in a few hours ago and hadn't sorted out one to borrow.

"You really just got here?" I asked.

"Yeah. Flew in at seven."

"Why?"

He frowned at me as he stopped at a red light. "You seriously asking me that right now?"

God, I sound so fucking needy.

"Never mind."

He shook his head, facing forward again and we drove on. We didn't speak again until we arrived at a huge barn surrounded by tall fencing. He slid his window down and the guard gave him a chin lift and opened the gate for him.

Merrick had said that the compound was housed in an old tobacco barn on almost thirty acres, but there were newer, smaller buildings surrounding it. Fencing and concrete walls made the compound impenetrable, along with the armed men guarding it.

"I feel like we're heading into a jail."

"It's definitely as secure as one," Merrick said. "But you're free to go anytime you want to. In theory, anyway."

I smiled. "Brat."

He parked next to a couple of pickups and we headed inside. Linking his fingers with mine, he led me into a huge room and I let out a quiet whistle as I spun to take in everything.

The main room of the barn was all wood and open, probably like it had been back in the day. There were three sets of stairs, one off the main room, one off the kitchen at the back and one off the foyer.

"It's beautiful."

"Yeah, it's a hell of a lot cooler than Portland." He squeezed my hand. "But don't repeat that."

I grinned. "Lips are sealed."

"Finch, man. Hey."

We turned toward the voice and I saw a tall, dark and bearded man walking toward us, holding a beer. God, he was gorgeous.

"Hey, Alamo. Jasmine kick you out?" Merrick joked.

Oh! Alamo. This is the man who killed Thomas.

Alamo chuckled. "She's on her way here, actually. This must be Remington."

"Hi," I rasped, finding it hard to find my voice.

"You okay?" Alamo asked.

I bobbed my head up and down. "Yep."

"Sorry I'm late," a feminine voice called out as she rushed for Alamo and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hey, Firefly." He grinned, leaning down to kiss her. I recognized Jasmine immediately. Her red hair gave her away.

Jasmine Buckley was gorgeous. Curvy, sassy, her red hair matching her personality perfectly, and she was sweet. Not a pushover, but very kind.