Rev’s face lit up. “You mean it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Mmm, let me show you just how happy you make me.”
When his head dipped between my legs, it was him making me very, very happy.
TWENTY
ANNABEL
Things continued to speed along with absolute perfection for Rev and me. A few days before Christmas, we got our first tree together—hand cut by Rev himself from the woods behind the house. We spent Christmas Day at Mama Beth’s, where both Alexandra and I helped her prepare a huge feast. As I sat around the table so full of delicious food that I couldn’t breathe, I once again had to thank God that going through hell had led me to the most divine existence I could ever imagine.
As New Year’s Eve approached, Rev and his brothers were busy planning a huge party at the roadhouse. I found myself at home sitting around the tree while working on my admissions essay to the veterinary program at the University of Georgia. I had already talked to an adviser, who, after reviewing my transcripts and work experience, put me at ease about having missed almost a year of school after what had happened to me.
When Rev suddenly burst through the front door, I didn’t have to ask what he was doing home. His darkened expression told me something bad had happened. “What’s going on?” I demanded as I rose off the couch.
He didn’t even stop to look at me. From the kitchen he called, “I need to you pack up enough clothes and personal items for a week or two.”
I didn’t bother arguing with him that most of my possessions were still en route from Virginia. My parents were more than happy to have some of the maids box up my belongings.
As he blew around the house, snatching and grabbing things, my chest tightened with worry. “Rev, please talk to me.”
At my pleading tone, he set the items down on the kitchen table and turned to me. “The club is going on lockdown.” When I stared blankly at him, he asked, “Do you know what that is?”
“Like on campus if there was a threat of a gunman we were put on lockdown in classrooms until the police could get there?” I said.
He nodded. “It’s somewhat like that. When the club receives a threat, we go into protection mode where everyone comes together in the compound, including wives and children.”
My mind whirled as I processed what was happening. “If we stay within the compound, why can’t we stay here?”
“We just can’t risk it.”
“But why?”
Rev’s expression darkened. “Because the last time we thought our houses were safe, Case got blown up and killed.”
I didn’t have any response to that.
Once again, I remained rooted to the floor as I tried not to be overwhelmed with this aspect of Rev’s life. Then a thought came to me—one that made me shiver. “What was the threat?”
“Nothing you need to worry yourself with.”
When he refused to look at me, I closed the gap between us. “Rev, who did the threat come from?”
The moment his haunted eyes met mine, I knew. Mendoza. Rev’s involvement with my past had come back to haunt his club. His family. “Please tell me everything. We’ve been through too much together not to be honest with each other now.”
After jerking his hands through his hair, Rev sighed. “The El Paso Raiders’ clubhouse was attacked today and two guys were killed.”
I gasped in horror and felt sick. I couldn’t help thinking of the Raiders who had come to the hospital to see me. They had been so kind to me. “One of the ones we knew?”
Rev shook his head. I could tell our conversation was having an effect on him. He was becoming visibly rattled. “No. It wasn’t one of them.”
The relief I felt was fleeting. “How did they know it was Mendoza?”
When Rev shifted uncomfortably on his feet, I knew I needed to brace myself for more horrible news. “One of Mendoza’s men called. He said unless they gave up the information where Roja was, more of them would die.”
Hearing Mendoza’s demand caused my knees to buckle. I would have sunk to the floor if Rev hadn’t reached out and caught me. He eased me down onto the couch. Although I hated myself for my weakness, I began to sob uncontrollably.
“Shh, Annabel, it’s going to be all right.”
Jerking my head up, I stared at him in disbelief. “How can you possibly say that? Two innocent men were killed today because of me. They could just be the tip of the iceberg if Mendoza gets his way. Some of them could be your brothers. . . . It could even be Deacon or Bishop.”
Rev brought a hand up to cup my cheek. “Listen to me. You are not to blame for what happened today. You never asked to be kidnapped or to be Mendoza’s slave. Rescuing you was the right thing to do. This was all done to you, not by you.”
“I wish I could feel that way.”
“My Raiders brothers and I aren’t going to just sit back and let Mendoza win. We’ve been in church since the call came through from El Paso.” At what must’ve been my questioning look, Rev replied, “Church is what we call our meetings.”
I nodded in understanding. There was still so much of his world I had to learn about. “So you have a plan?” When Rev only nodded and didn’t seem ready to fill me in, I growled in frustration. “Be honest with me, dammit! This is your life and mine we’re talking about here.”
“Fine. You want to know all the details? Then here it is. Mendoza is a lieutenant for the Rodriguez drug cartel. If anyone can make him listen or take him out, they can. To get them on our side, we have offered them all our gun trade. The supplier we used to run guns for would simply ship to Texas and then go on to them in Mexico. At no charge.”
“Isn’t that bad for the Raiders businesswise?”
“It cuts us off at the knees in one way, and then in another it ensures that we go legitimate.”
“You’re willing to do all of that just for me?”
Rev smiled. “I would do all of that just for you, but in this case, it’s for all of us. We’ve been working to go legitimate for several months. It was a promise Deacon made to Alexandra to get her to marry him. It was also something we all wanted to do to honor Case’s memory.”
As I stared into Rev’s handsome face, I couldn’t help feeling like my love for him would overflow beyond the confines of my physical body. He was so loyal, so strong, and so honorable. I wanted their plan to work so much for him, for his brothers, and for me. Most of all, I wanted to stay strong for him.
Rising off the couch, Rev said, “You just have to have faith. In the meantime, we all need to lay low in case Mendoza knows more than he’s letting on.” He held out his hand. “Now hurry up with the packing. I need to be back to the roadhouse to supervise as soon as I can.”
When I stood up, Rev drew me back into his arms for a moment. “The only thing you need to be worrying about right now is how well you’ll handle being cooped up with a crowd.” He stared intently into my eyes. “Mendoza will never hurt you again. I swear.”
As I brought my lips to his, I wanted to believe him, but I just couldn’t seem to drive away the dark feeling of foreboding that enveloped me.
Three days into the lockdown felt like thirty days. Although I loved my new MC family, it was hard being cooped up together with tension weighing heavy in the air. I also couldn’t help feeling like people were staring at me because I was the source of the trouble. I didn’t bother voicing my concern to Rev because I knew he would say I was just being silly or paranoid.
Considering how laid-back everyone usually was, life during lockdown ran on a pretty strict schedule. There had to be order to ensure that everyone got fed, showered, and slept. Most of the men were housed down at the warehouse, since it was poorly insulated and heated. Rev and I barely had time alone since Bishop slept on the floor in our room with his flavor-of-the-week club whore. His bedroom had been given to Mama Beth, who was bunking with some of the older women.