“It’s getting worse.” He strokes my shoulder. “Axel can tell you’re getting restless too. We’re riding out first thing tomorrow.”
“Already? What did the others say?” I ask, surprised to be heading out so soon. “Luca, who’s coming with us?”
“Your parents, you, and me. We’re leaving the prospects here with the other brothers.”
“What, why?!” I jerk back, looking into his eyes.
“You aren’t the only one who feels it, Oats. Axel thinks we’re being watched too.”
“And you?” I cover my mouth with my hand when he gives me a single nod. “By who?”
“The feds? Hard to tell, Oats, but your Pops wants to get you somewhere safe so you aren’t targeted if he’s right. It’s not forever, but-” He sighs. “We’re heading to the safe house.”
“Why didn’t he tell me? I’m not a damn child anymore.” I stand to march over to the room my parents, Axel and Liza, are sharing for the night.
“He didn’t want to worry you.” Luca steps into my path, placing a hand on my shoulder. “He told me right before I came into our room. Said he wanted me to sleep and to have our things loaded up on the bike by nine.”
“The ride home isn’t easy.” I smirk, knowing we are both a little excited for the trip, even under these circumstances.
“Yep, it’s a canyon carver.” Luca grins, taking my hand and walking us to our room. “Come on, my little back-warmer. We need to get some rest.”
Locking us in, Luca kicks off his boots and pulls back the blankets on his double bed. Just before he climbs in, I admit, “Luca, I don’t want to sleep alone.”
“I figured as much. Come on, Oats.” He flops into the bed with a chuckle, pulling me against his side.
Tucked warmly under his arm, snuggled in close with my best friend, I let out a yawn, finally feeling safe enough to rest.
“Better?” he asks softly.
“Much. Love you, Luca.”
“Love you too, Oats. No more nightmares, okay? Tomorrow we ride.”
When Luca’s breathing levels out and I finally begin drifting off to sleep myself, I hear it. A soft, almost sweet masculine voice drifting through my subconscious, ‘Why are you fighting it, Love? Help us find you.’ Then, I am lost to my dreams.
2
Luca
We pull into the nearly empty Taco Bell parking lot and climb off our bikes, stretching. This late, the only people grabbing tacos are drunk college kids and, well, us.
“About time, Pops. I’m starving.” Oats grins, linking her arm with mine. Appearances are everything, and to everyone watching, she’s my girl. No one would think we are only friends. Best friends. I want to roll my eyes; I’ve been in love with her since we were twelve. Tamping down my true feelings isn’t easy, but it’s safest for Axel’s daughter to appear claimed even if it’s tough for me. So, she’s mine.
Axel gives me a slight nod, indicating he needs to talk to me alone, so I pull her against my side, placing a kiss on her head before handing her my wallet. “You and Liza wash up and get whatever you want. We’ll meet you inside after we secure the bikes.”
“’Kay,” she smiles, and we watch as the girls head inside before we talk openly.
“What is it?” I ask, not waiting, knowing any of the other brothers would never address Axel so bluntly. At least, not without losing some teeth in the process.
Arching a brow, he smirks, shaking his head. “Still have balls of steel. Ya know that’s why I kept ya, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, old man.” I chuckle. “What do you want?”
“Now I gotta want something?” He elbows me and then exhales slowly, all humor draining from the moment. “The day I found you two-” he pauses, scuffing his boots in the gravel. “-you protected that girl like she was all ya had in the world.”
“Because she was.” I nod.
“Was?” He lifts his chin, gaze drilling into mine.
“Is.”
“Yeah.” He finally nods, looking back to the restaurant, confirming what I suspected he’s known for quite some time. “You’re in love with her.”
“I am.”
“And you will keep her fucking safe.”
“We always have.” I nod.
“Not we, son. You. You will keep her safe. This is where our paths split.”
“It’s that bad?” I step in closer. “Who?”
“I don’t know, Luca, but I can tell you I feel eyes on us. When Liza comes back out, we will load up and leave without a word. No goodbyes, no hugs. Just gone.”
“Oh, Oats will love that.” I drag a hand down my face.
“She will be pissed, and you will listen to her complain. You will not tell her anything until you get to the first stop on your map.”
“Plan Z? Fuck, man.”
“I know. I don’t want to separate, but you know what’s at stake and what to do. Burner, cash, and new IDs are in the inner pocket of her bag. This isn’t forever, just for now. Okay, son?” He places a hand on my shoulder, a rare show of affection for a man like Axel, and I nod. “We raised you for this. It’s not your first rodeo, just your first time calling all the shots.”
“Yes, sir.” I stand taller, knowing he’s right. Oats has always been my number one. This changes nothing.
When Liza walks back into the parking lot, they both quickly climb back on Axel’s bike, and she places a small apprehensive hand on my forearm.
“Tell her I love her and I’m sorry. Power the phone on at the normal check-in times. Love our girl, and keep her safe.” She gives my arm a small squeeze and lets go. “Good luck, Luca.”
Oats comes out of the restaurant as they clear the corner at the end of the strip and disappear from our sight. “They left us, didn’t they?”
“They did.” I drape an arm around her shoulders and lead her back to our bike.
“Why?” she asks, a slight tremble in her voice, but maintaining a convincing look of indifference for anyone who may be watching.
“You feel it, Oats, just like he does. You already know why, but we can’t do this here.” I exhale harshly, climbing onto my bike and handing her helmet over to her. “Let’s finish up this leg of the trip, and we can talk over an actual meal.”
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she lays her head against my back and nods once. Spitting up gravel, I make a scene of going in the opposite direction her parents did when we leave the parking lot and place a hand over hers as she trembles with a soft cry behind me. This blows, but it’s better than getting caught.
3
Ottilie
“No, I don’t understand!” I shout into the burner phone later that evening from the semi-privacy of our crummy motel room. Okay, that’s a lie. I know why they left us. Pops has done some pretty messed up things, and staying together meant we were more likely to get picked up. No one expects us to split.