Ride or Die - A Biker Romance

Chapter One:The Chase

There she goes, speeding past me in her father's old cruiser; left to her in his will. Half of her face is covered in freshly forming bruises, one eye is starting to swell, it's a wonder Annabell can even see. I know her boyfriend has left them and I'll be sure to return the favor when I see him. I kick my bike to life, and race after her hoping she'll see me. Instead she speeds up, zigzagging through traffic, turning left onto the highway.

So she's leaving town, but where?

I pull my bike up to her window and motion for her to take the next exit, but she shakes her head wildly and speeds up. I need to get her off the road now before she gets herself killed.

When she finally slows, it's about four hours later; and we're miles past the state border. I've been tight on her tail the whole time, afraid to leave her in case her erratic driving gets her killed, or worse, whoever she's fleeing decides to chase her down. She pulls into the lot of a seedy motel, and I pull in right against her trunk, blocking her in.

She walks over to me, waiting until I have my helmet off to talk. There's a gas station and a coffee shop so we can refuel after we sleep.

"What are you doing, Damian?"

"It looked like you needed help."

She scoffs. "I didn't realize I was a priority."

"Bells, your safety has always been a priority. I left to keep you safe. But I was always around. People you don't know knew your address and would have hurt you to get to me."

She's gone nuclear early, which is fair considering this is the first time we've talked in years.

"Like who?"

"Bells, I'm the vice president of a very well known MC that has chapters in every state. We have enemies, love"

"Okay.. I guess that's valid. " She sighs.

"Bells, I'm exhausted. I just got back from a three day solo run. How about you and I grab a room; one with two beds if that makes you more comfortable. We can grab a nap, play catch up.."

"Fine."

"Can you come with me? I don't want to leave you out of my sight."

She nods and follows me into the lobby of the motel. An indian woman stands at the counter, silently eyeing us; going from the bruises on Annabell and then my leather vest. I can almost read her thoughts it's that obvious. I know she assumes I left them. I pay for our room with cash and hand Annabell our key card. When she heads outside, I turn to the judgemental clerk.

"I know what you're thinking."

"Sorry?"

Her accent is thick, her smile never leaving her face.

"Her face. I saw you eyeing us. We used to be close. She flew past me and I followed."

I know she doesn't believe me, but I don't care.

I join Bells outside, leading her back to her car so she can grab her stuff. I pull my backpack out of my saddle bags, and we find our door. It's one of those motels where the doors to the rooms are on the outside. The clerk gave us a room with only one bed, but it'll have to do. I don't feel like complaining and having her judge us more.

"Ian, I'm sleepy." Annabell mumbles.

"I know love. How about you take a shower before you sleep? You'll feel better."

Bells slips inside the bathroom to freshen up, and I look around the room. A vanity sits on the wall by the bathroom. A small dresser is in the corner and a small table is by the window. A small plasma tv is on the wall above the dresser. I turn it on, simply for the noise.

After ten minutes, Bells returns, and she seems a little happier.

"Feel better?" I ask from my side of the bed.

She nods and crawls into bed next to me. She cuddles closer, sighing softly. I pull her closer and she sniffles. She'd been crying in the shower. I'm trying not to let her see it, but I'm hurting because she's hurting.

"Bells, Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"What is there to tell? He got mad and I got in the way."

"Who was it this time?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

The thing is, I already know who. She's been going back to him for years.

Joel Ketchum.

"I need to know this won't happen again."

"It won't."

"How do you know? I've only heard about you with one person."

"I have a house he doesn't know about."

"Are you sure?"

My question goes ignored, which in a way it gets answered.

"How about you come stay at the clubhouse?"

"Surrounded by bikers? No thanks. "

"Bikers that won't let anyone near you."

"While being passed around? No thank you."

"Bells, it wouldn't be like that. Everyone knows you're off limits. Always has been, always will be."

"And why's that?"

"Because.. Because at one point you were my old lady. I didn't really want that to change. I still want you to.. But right now you need to heal from all that s**t that's happened to you. You need to get rid of all these swirling twirling thoughts. Chase off depression kitty before you fall down the rabbit hole. "

She doesn't say anything, so I continue.

"I'll do what it takes. I'll wait as long as I have to. I'll schedule your appointments and take care of you if that's what you need. I've always only loved you."

Bells buries her face in my chest and releases a gut wrenching sob. Have I hurt her already?

"Bells? Are you okay?"

She doesn't answer, just sobs harder. There's no point in trying to talk to her now. Instead I'll just let her cry it out. I'd thought she'd done that in the shower but I guess I was wrong.

After about 20 minutes, her sobs turn into quiet sniffles and she pulls away for air. Once her sniffles slow down, she looks up at me.

"Damian?"

"Yes, darlin'?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For always being there. Even if I didn't know you were."

"That's what I'm here for. To keep you safe.

She nods, yawning. She's exhausted from the adrenaline from earlier. She needs to eat, so I order a pizza. She falls asleep after eating a couple slices, and I wrap a blanket around her.

Having her here with me like this has made me genuinely happy for the first time in a long time, though I feel guilty that it's because she got beat on. Even covered in bruises shes beautiful, and I lay and watch her sleep for a bit. I don't want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than my dreams.