19-Crow
1140 Words
The following morning, the sound of a door creaking open pulled me from my restless sleep. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I sat up to see Leo standing in the doorway, his thumb in his mouth and the blanket Crow had found for him clutched tightly around his shoulders. His eyes were wide and fearful, and my heart clenched at the sight of him.
"Hey, little man," I said softly, patting the bed next to me. "You okay?"
He nodded, his thumb bobbing up and down as he shuffled closer. "I had a bad dream," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Wanna tell me about it?" I asked.
He shook his head, his eyes dropping to the floor. "It was about the fire," he whispered. "I don't wanna talk about it."
I pulled him into a tight embrace, feeling the tremble in his small body. "It's okay, Leo," I assured him. "You're safe now."
"But our house..."
"I know, buddy," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "But we're gonna get through this, okay?"
He sniffled and nodded before climbing into bed with me, his head on my chest. I wrapped the blanket around us both and held him close, the warmth of his body grounding me in a world that felt like it was spinning out of control.
As we sat there in the early morning light, I couldn't help but feel the weight of our situation pressing down on me. We were hiding in the enemy's lair, and every moment we stayed there, we were getting more entangled in the dangerous world of motorcycle gangs.
"Hey," I whispered, tilting his chin up to meet my eyes. "We're going to get through this. I promise."
Leo leaned into me, his breathing evening out as he drifted back to sleep. As I held him, my thoughts drifted to Crow and the Renegade Riders. What had started as a desperate attempt to save my brother had turned into something so much more complicated. The line between love and danger had blurred, and I was no longer sure which side of it I wanted to be on.
But as I lay there, listening to Leo's soft breathing, I knew one thing for sure: I would do whatever it took to keep him safe. Even if it meant playing by Crow's rules.
Later that day, after Leo had gone down for a nap and the house had fallen into a tense silence, I found myself in the kitchen with Mel. She was chopping vegetables with a ferocity that spoke volumes about her own fears and frustrations.
"You okay?" I asked, leaning against the counter.
Her eyes met mine, and she took a deep breath before setting the knife down. "Yeah," she said, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Just trying to keep busy."
"Me too," I admitted. "It's just...so much."
Mel stepped closer, her eyes searching my face. "What's going on with you and Dad?"
I took a step back, my heart racing. "What do you mean?"
Her expression grew serious. "I mean, the way you two look at each other, it's pretty damn obvious somethings up between you two."
I tried to laugh it off. "Come on Mel, you’re just imagining things,” I told her.
"Don't lie to me, Oce," Mel said, her eyes piercing through me like a knife. "I know you better than that."
"Look," I began, trying to find the right words. "It’s…complicated."
Mel took a deep breath before speaking again. "You know, he knew who you were before you ever walked into the bar."
I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. "What does that mean?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. But I've seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching."
"Mel…" I trailed off, unable to find the words.
"It’s okay," she said quickly. "Just...be careful, okay? As you know, Dad can be pretty intense."
Frowning, I asked, “What are you saying? That he can be…mean?”
Mel laughed, “He’s a biker, Oce, of course he can be mean. But if you’re asking if he can be abusive, then, no way in hell. He’d kill a man for abusing a woman, or a kid.”
After her reassurance, Mel grabbed a dishtowel, then wiping her hands, she stated, “Okay, gotta head out. Working the bar tonight.”
I stepped over to her, pulling her into my arms. "Be safe out there, okay?”
Mel looked at me solemnly, then nodded before walking out.
The kitchen felt too quiet after Mel left. Leaning against the counter, my thoughts raced. What if Mel was right? What if Crow’s feelings for me weren’t just s****l? What if there was something more?
The door to the living room opened, and Crow stepped in, his boots thudding heavily on the floorboards. He looked at me, his eyes searching my face. “You okay?” he asked, his gravelly voice filled with concern.
“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just...thinking about Mel’s words.”
He nodded, coming closer. “You know, I was kind of watching you before you and Mel became friends."
I gaped at him. "What, are you a pervert or something?"
Now sitting on the kitchen counter, Crow nearly fell off of it laughing. "Pervert? Hardly," he managed to get out through his laughter. "But I knew you were Phoenix's kid and I just wanted to make sure you and your mom were never in need of anything."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because you're known for your charity work."
He sobered up a bit, his eyes serious as he looked at me. "Oceano, I meant it. Your mom was family to us, and you... well, you're family now too. And the fact your Mel's friend, well, it just...complicates things that much more,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“Does it have to?” I found myself asking, my voice barely above a whisper.
Crow’s gaze softened, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. “You’re family now, Oceano. And family is what we protect. No matter what. And that means even from me. Oce, I'm old enough to be your dad, and f**k, you haven't even experienced life yet.”
My heart pounded in my chest, his words resonating through me like a bass drop at a concert. "But I've seen enough, Crow," I whispered, leaning into his touch. "I know what I want."
He sighed, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. "You don't know what you're saying."
"I'm not a kid anymore," I insisted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "I know what this life is about. And I know that I want you."
"Oceano," he growled, his hand dropping to his side. "Don't."
- Writer
