The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(50)

I wondered how she knew, and my open mouth and gasps did nothing but prove her point.

“How did you know?” I asked.

“You know I was your father’s wife,” she said, “There’s a reason there weren’t any other motorcycle clubs around when you were growing up. And, I was there for most of them. Why aren’t you with Buck right now?”

“He sent me home, he didn’t want me there,” I said honestly.

“He didn’t want you there because he couldn’t stand the possibility of you getting’ hurt, Tara.”

I knew what she was saying was the truth. Buck really did love me, and I just seemed to slap him in the face every time he showed it.

“I gotta go, Momma,” I said as I ran to the closet and threw on my jacket.

“Take the shotgun with you,” she said, “I won’t need it.”

I did as I was told, and lumbered out with the shotgun in tow. My heart raced as I knew that was I had planned on doing was incredibly crazy. I also was scared of what Buck would do if we actually survived this.

I rode as fast as I could; I didn’t really know where. But, the place that was most famous for settling disputes was the old quarry. I wondered what I would do when I got there. Sometimes it’s best not to know.



7.

I was still half a mile out, and I could hear engines in the distance. The roaring thunder of motorcycles gathered in mass. It was impossible to make that sound any other way.

Rounding the corner, I saw Buck and the gang standing in a stalemate on the north side, while Connor and his gang were lined up on the south side. I could see the two men yelling at each other, but couldn’t make out what they were saying over all the noise.

I cut a path through the bikers, heading straight for Buck, coming to a screeching halt just in front of him.

He looked at me with rage.

“What the hell are you doing here,” he shouted.

“Why the hell wouldn’t I be here,” I shouted in response.

“Because I need to know you’ll be okay, get the hell home, now!”

“I’m not leaving your side, not until this is all through,” I said.

I took my place next to him, lifting the shotgun under my arm. Connor looked over at the two of us and laughed.

“I guess you guys really do love each other,” he said.

I looked up at Buck who didn’t change his expression in the slightest.

“I won’t ever leave my man,” I shouted.

Buck leaned over and pulled me in for a hug. I forgot how strong he was; it felt like he would break me in half with the force of it. I didn’t want him to stop, and I don’t think he wanted to either.

“Buck, I thought you loved me,” I heard a screeching woman’s voice say.

Looking over, I saw that Gracie had decided to come. I wanted to put her in her place, but I didn’t want to be the person pulling the trigger first.

“Gracie, you better crawl back into whatever hole you just crawled out of,” I shouted, only for Buck to throw his hand over my mouth.

“I can speak for myself, Tara,” he said.

He took a couple of steps forward. The lights of the other cycles were near blinding, and I couldn’t make out anyone’s face behind Connor and Gracie.

“Gracie, you know what we did. We weren’t nothin’ more than a good afternoon. Just tell your brother you’re done, and this whole feud can come to an end.”

Gracie started laughing.

“You think we were just some afternoon fun? I thought we were something more than that. My brother is going to kick your ass,” she said.

“Connor, can you control that woman? I don’t think she speaks for you,” Buck said.

Connor rubbed his forehead and clenched his teeth.

“Gracie, shut the hell up. We’re tryin’ to hash this out without people getting’ killed and you’re just makin’ things worse,” Connor said.

“You’re takin’ his side, instead of your own sister,” Gracie said, “what the hell is wrong with you, Connor?”

Connor turned and gave her a good smack across the cheek.

“You heard me, Gracie. Stop talking,” he said.

Gracie panicked. She started pounding her fists into Connor’s chest, but he didn’t budge. She cried and wailed, then collapsed to her knees a crying mess.

“Connor, I got no beef with you or your gang. I just want us all to walk out of here and forget any of this happened,” Buck said.

Connor thought for a moment, looking to his sister crying on the ground. I could see his embarrassment at having her by his side.

“Gracie, get up,” Connor said.

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the loose gravel. She didn’t resist, and just seemed to have lost all interest in what was happening.

Connor pulled her back and sat her on his motorcycle. She sat without a sound, motionless. Then Connor turned back to Buck and me.

“Buck, I got nothing against you. I was just tryin’ to do right by my sister. When you said you were gettin’ married to Tara, I thought you were joking. I had a feeling you were just saying that ‘cause you didn’t want to end up with Gracie. I don’t blame you; if she weren’t family, things would have been different.

“Get outta here, Buck,” Connor said.