Chapter Thirteen
They had been riding for the last half hour, but were still in River Run. Cain was just riding round, taking his time in getting to the clubhouse where they were all gathering for a big dinner. Violet was nervous, scared about what the other members would say once they saw that she and Cain were actually together. She was his old lady, and she knew that nothing short of death could change that. Violet wasn’t going to think about anything but what her future held, because worrying about her past wouldn’t have anything moving forward. Violet felt free, and rested her hands behind her, holding onto the leather seat of his bike. She may not be holding onto Cain any further, but this small bit of freedom made her feel like the world wasn’t as grim as it had been in the past. With her eyes closed she tilted her head back and breathed in deeply. Being like this felt as if she were flying, as if nothing tethered her to the world and she could just float away without any worries, and have her man by her side. God, she loved him, and he loved her, and she didn’t think anything could bring her down.
“I feel so safe with you, so free and right,” she said the words softly, not knowing if he heard her, or if she wanted him to, but she knew he did when he grabbed her hands. He held them in a tight grasp in his much bigger one.
“You should, because I’ll always protect you, always keep you by my side.”
She’d always have a tarnished past that had shaped a part of her, and although she never let the rape hold her down, or create the person she was today, it was her strength and knowing that inside she was stronger than all of that, that she could rise above it, that made her get through it. Would she always hold that inner scar of what Carl had done to her? Yes, but it wasn’t who she was. Cain didn’t help create the phoenix inside of her that had risen from the ashes of her destruction, but he was the man that had helped her, undeniably, to see that she could have what she wanted, could be who she wanted.
They were ten minutes from the clubhouse, and when Cain pulled the Harley to a stop at a set of lights, waiting for them to turn green, the sounds of Harleys filled her head. She looked over his shoulder and saw a row of motorcycles turning off of Main Street. She knew the MC that was riding right in front of them, had met The Grizzly MC and their old ladies over the years. Jagger and Sonya were leading the row of bikers, the president of the club nodding toward Cain. Brick, the Sergeant at Arms, and his woman Darra were next, and Violet could see the nasty looking scar on the man’s face. Diesel and Maggie were next, Stinger and Molly after them, Court and Lilly, and the final couple, Dallas and Hope, rode behind everyone else. But the last bike to lead the MC train was Drevin’s, the only Grizzly MC member that didn’t have an old lady. The crew headed toward Steel Corner, their hometown and stomping grounds, and Cain started driving again. The ride was peaceful, and had content filling her. This was perfection, and she knew that although her life had been scarred, and Cain’s life wasn’t anything perfect, together they were whole.
****
The energy at the clubhouse was strong, and the positive emotions running through everyone and surrounding Cain made him feel whole, at least for right now. He had his woman by his side, a belly full of food, and people he loved all around him. They had finished eating an hour ago, and the fact that his brothers in arms had embraced them as a couple, and took in Violet as Cain’s old lady, cemented the bond everyone had.
The clubhouse was a safe haven, a retreat and bunker, and had been Cain’s home when he wasn’t with Fallina. This was where he had forged a blood bond with his brothers, patched up his wounds, and shared stories of death, destruction, and also of hopes. He stared around the long banquet style table that had been erected in the center of the main floor at the clubhouse. Tatum, a one-time club pussy who was now strictly a kind of den mother to everyone, had prepared yet another family style meal. This was the first time since he had been out of prison that he had been with everyone at the club, and shared a home cooked dinner. He felt good, really fucking good, and for once there was a bigger sliver of light coming through his darkness.
Cain looked at Tatum, who was sitting over by Pierce and Rook. She smiled at him when she saw him staring at her. She was older, but so fucking sweet and kind to them all, looking after them and cleaning up their messes. He leaned back in his seat, and put his arm around Violet. She leaned into him right away, and he inhaled deeply, loving that just the scent of her could calm him like nothing else. He looked at his woman, loved that she was relaxed, calm, and right at home. This was her family, too, had been since she’d been a teenager. He looked at Lucien and Callie, the president of their club and his old lady. Kink sat beside Callie, the older club member perfectly at ease with his daughter being with the man that ran their club with an iron fist. Cookie, Kink’s old lady, sat beside the biker, her smile wide as she spoke with Adrianna, who was sitting across from them. Tuck, Rook, Ruin, and even Pierce were all in easygoing moods, enjoying this one moment where shit wasn’t hitting the fan.