“Yeah, nothing. I’m just happy.”

I held her in my arms and it wasn't long until our gentle strokes turned into more and before long, we making love, slow and sweet. After she ran her hands over her vest, we slipped it off. Her fingers traced the Bleeding Scars insignia.

“What’s this mean?” she sleepily asked.

“It’s something Ace said to me. When I met him, I was in a bad place. I hated Hades. I couldn't find you. I felt so lost, and then Shane was there. I was wasted one night and he said something to me that I’ll never forget. I was telling him to just let me be. I was too fucked up, had too many scars, and he said we all have scars, some scars bled brighter than others. It made so much sense to me. When we met Ace and decided to start our own club, Ace had his own set of demons he was running from. One day, he takes off his shirt and I see this scar he has running down his chest. The thing is angry,Jagged. He’s never said what happened, but I know it was bad and that’s when I was reminded of what Shane said about some scars bleeding brighter than others, and so that’s what we were, Bleeding Scars.”

“I like that.” her eyes turned downward, and I know she was reminded of her own scars.

I tilted her chin upwards. “Don’t hide from me. We all got scars, Mouse and you’re one of us now.” I kissed her tenderly, and held her close until exhaustion took us both. It was only hours later, when the phone rang and the voice on the other end completely burst our happy bubble.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Help,” the raspy voice begged.

“Mom?”

Chapter Twenty-Eight Charlie

I heard a ringing phone and I blinked. I didn't think I was asleep for long. Gunner got up and fished his phone from his jean pocket. “Hello,” he said and his body visibly tensed up. I sat up behind him and put my hands on his shoulders. The tenseness in his rigid back told me that whoever was on the phone, it was not good.

“Right. Where are you?” he clipped, paused and then said, “Stay there. Keep your head down, and I’ll send some guys.” He hung up the phone and immediately started dialing.

“I need you to pick up my mom. She needs a cage and a doctor. Use caution. I don't trust her. Bring guys. Bring back-up, but don't make ‘em known. She’s hiding out at a gas station on Decanter Street.” He disconnected the call and sat with his head in his hands. I gave him a few minutes to collect his thoughts.

“Gunner?” I picked up on some of the conversation, but I needed him to fill in the blanks. “What’s happened with your mom?”

He sucked in a breath and then slowly released it.

“She’s hurt. She said she got sober and tried to leave Hades, but he didn't take to that so kindly, so he beat the fuck out of her. She’s sitting in a gas station with no one. Fuck! Part of me wants to leave her there like she left me when those fucking Hades bastards beat the shit out of me. The other part of me, can’t do it. Deep down, she’s my mom, you know? My club’s going to get her, and bring her here. I don't trust her, but I can’t let them find her and kill her if she’s telling the truth, that is. Fuck! This is so messed up. Let’s get dressed, go to the main cabin, and fill Shane and Ace in.”

“You okay?” I asked.

His eyes left mine and looked at the door, “I really don't know, Mouse.”

I quickly dressed as did Gunner, and as we were about to walk out of the cabin, Gunner handed me my new patch, as he called the vest. “You wear this, when you’re outside. You wear this, when we’re around my brothers. You wear this pretty much always unless we’re fucking and even then I might still want to see it on you. Got it?”

I smiled at him, and wagged my fingers, showing off my new engagement ring. “And this too,” I said meaning I’d wear that always, as well. Then, I pulled him down to kiss me.

Inside the main cabin, Knuckles, Donnie, Anthony, Lachlan, and Mary were still up quietly playing cards and drinking beer. Gun was nowhere to be seen, and I surmised that he was in our room, since Ace and Shane were taking the other room. Reggie was asleep on the couch.

Taking in the scene only lasted a few seconds before Knuckles leapt up and clapped Gunner on his shoulder, hollered like it was the most exciting thing ever and then picked me up in a huge bear hug saying, “Welcome to the family.”

Reggie woke up from the noise and sat up abruptly, He rubbed his eyes then said, “What the fuck? You ain't supposed to be back ‘til the morning.”

The room’s jovial congratulations stopped, when they realized that Reggie was right. Gunners face said how pissed off he was. “The guys in there?” he nodded to the other room.

“Yeah, Shane’s been asleep for a few hours, and Ace just went to bed a little while ago,” Lachlan said.

“Be right back, babe,” Gunner kissed me.

As he walked away, Mary walked up to me. “Congrats. I know something’s going on, but that doesn't mean we’re not all excited and happy for you. I’ve known Gunner a long time, and I used to hear whispers about him looking for some lost love. I’m glad he found you.”

I smiled at her. She was older than me, by at least fifteen years. She had gray streaks in her long signature biker braid and she wore a patch similar to mine. She had on black jeans with small jewels over the pockets and some kick ass black boots.

“Thank you,” I said smiling through the uneasiness in my belly over Gunner’s mom’s return to our life.

Both Ace and Shane had pissed off looks on their face as they followed Gunner out. I got it, no one liked to be woken up. Ace spotted me with the patch on first and quickly came over to me, gave me a hug, then whispered quietly, “Thank you. He needed you.”

As Ace moved away, Shane loudly exclaimed, “Looks even sexier in our colors.” Then, he swooped me up in a big hug, and Gunner shot him a dirty look. Shane set me down. I couldn't help but grin at the boys. I was glad Gunner had them.

Shane changed again. His mood suddenly much more serious. “Alright, now what the fuck is going on that you had to wake us up?”

“I got a call from my mom,” Gunner explained everything he knew and that he sent some of his brothers to go and get her. Just as he was finishing, his phone rang again. He took the call and I silently waited for him to finish and let us know what happened. “It was Briggs. They have her. Everything went smoothly. They’ll be here in an hour and a half.”