Hell's Riders MC

MIA

“Daddy, I’m going to the Academy of Arts and Academics in Oregon. I got accepted.” I ran down the stairs, holding up my acceptance letter with a huge smile on my face.

My dad didn’t look pleased. “Oregon? When did you apply there, Mia?”

My smile dropped. Since Mom died, he’d been avoiding me. Every time I talked to him about leaving home or about art, he would shut me out. I knew I reminded him of Mom. He hated being around me. I just wished he would listen to me.

“I’ve been trying to tell you about it. You won’t listen,” I tried to explain.

“Mia, I don’t have time for this. I have to get ready for the run to Northern California.” He stood up from the table and shoved his arms through the holes in his sleeveless cut.

“Daddy, I’m going to Oregon to study at this art school. I’m almost nineteen. I’m an adult now. Why can’t you support me in this? Mom would have!” I yelled out my frustration.

“Do not talk about your mother. You’re not going. I don’t have time for me, or my guys, for that matter, to follow you up at some dumb school. End of discussion. I’ll see you in a few days.” With that, he walked out the door.

I couldn’t hold back the sobs of disappointment and anger. I missed my mom so much it was like my heart twisted into knots. If she was still alive, she would’ve backed me up all the way. I loved my dad, the guys in the club, and the old ladies. But right now, I needed to do something for myself. I ran up to my room to pack all my things.

It took me only an hour to put everything I needed into my little black Honda. In the kitchen, I left my phone and credit card on the table. Without them, it would take Tracker a lot longer to track me down, and by the time he did, I’d be far, far away.

I got into my car and took off. As I started to drive by the clubhouse, more tears came rushing down my face. “Goodbye, Daddy,” I whispered as I drove off.

***

“Do you remember the time you came home from school and told your mama and me about some school dance? I think you said it was Homecoming. You begged us to let you go.”

Is that…my dad?

“We said you could go. That was until you started to talk to your mama about some boy who asked you to go. I changed my mind, of course. No way was I letting some young punk take my princess out.”

I heard him talking as if he was replaying a memory.

“You were so overprotective of me.” My voice sounded scratchy as I forced myself to wake up.

“Mia. Mia, oh my God, you’re awake. You scared me, princess.” His strong arms enfolded me, and I winced at the pain in my ribs.

Why am I in so much pain?

“Water, please?” I croaked out.

“Sure, princess. Right away.” He handed me a cup of ice water.

The cool liquid soothed my parched throat, and I took a greedy gulp.

“Slow down,” he said. “You’ve been out for a few days. Take it easy.”

I managed to make myself take only a few sips. I handed him the cup. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“Princess, what happened to you?”

I knew he was going to ask. Only I wasn’t ready to tell people yet. I hated lying to him, but the words came out anyway. “I’m sorry, Daddy, I don’t remember.”

“Don’t you push yourself to remember. I’m gonna get the doctor and tell him you’re awake now.” He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room.

I knew I should have told my dad about Caleb, or at least what had happened to me over the last four years. I just couldn’t talk about it. I remembered everything about that night, no matter how much I wished I could forget.

Usually, Caleb had only hit me when he was drunk. This last time, he was completely sober. I couldn’t stand to think about it. I was still so tired. As everything faded away, I closed my eyes and decided to rest.

***

I hadn’t been home in a year. I missed my dad like crazy, but I needed to do this for myself. Art was my passion, and I wasn’t going to give it up. I loved my classes and the friends I’d made here in Oregon.

My best friend, Lexi, was a drama major. She was gorgeous—long blond hair with green eyes and a great body. Lexi was energetic, beautiful, and talented—the type of girl you’d love to be around. We had English class together our first year and automatically hit it off.

She’d moved into my townhouse over summer break, and I was glad for the company and the help with rent. Before, I’d been alone over breaks and holidays, and it got lonely. I missed everyone back home, and it was hard to stop myself from reaching out. Not with Lexi here, though. She reminded me all the time of how important it was that I finish school. She was always true to herself, and she was teaching me how to be the same. I loved her for that.

This Christmas, she’d decided to stay with me instead of going home. I was excited I didn’t have to be alone for another holiday. Together, me and my bestie hung the decorations Lexi had insisted we get. Putting the star on the top reminded me of holidays before my mom died. My heart was heavy, but Lexi kept me laughing as we danced to Christmas songs and hung our stockings on the back of a chair in place of the fireplace we didn’t have.

“Let’s go to Starbucks. I could really go for some hot chocolate.” Lexi grabbed her coat.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I could use a break too.” I grabbed my own, and we headed out.

As we walked, Lexi and I stopped to look in some shop windows. She sounded hesitant when she spoke. “It’s been over a year, Mia. You still haven’t called him or mailed him that letter?”

I had told Lexi all about my family back home—mainly my dad and how I hadn’t talked to or seen him in a year. I hadn’t mentioned that he was the president of the Hell’s Riders motorcycle club. I’d quickly learned that what had been normal to me was a little wild to other people here in Oregon, and I wanted to fit in.

“I don’t know what to say. ‘Hey, Daddy, how are you doing? Sorry I ran off like that, but I’m doing good, love you.’ Yeah, no, Lex. He’d come up here after me to drag me home.”

I loved Oregon. There was so much life here—all the trees, mountains, and even the snow. I didn’t want to leave, no matter how much I missed my dad and the rest of the guys.

“He’s never reached out to you, ever?”

I shook my head, and a lump formed in my throat. I knew my dad would’ve been able to find me, if he really wanted to. Tracker could’ve done it in a day or two. The fact that it had been a year told me everything I needed to know.

“He must not want to. Ever since my mom died, it’s like he can’t stand me. It’s better this way,” I told her.

We finally reached Starbucks. It was where I’d met my boyfriend of nearly a year, Caleb.

As Lexi went to save us seats, I reminisced about that first meeting. I’d been heading toward a table to sit down when I walked right into someone, and everything we’d been holding fell dramatically to the ground.

I had yelped and apologized, then bent down to start cleaning up the mess I’d made.

“It’s okay. It was my fault anyway,” the handsome man had said, and he’d helped me up.

I could still feel the way my heart had stuttered as I stared into his gorgeous, chocolate-brown eyes. Dark hair fell over his forehead, and his smile showed off straight white teeth. His strong hands gently gripped my arms as I got to my feet, and he held on a little longer than he really needed to. I hadn’t minded. Something about him had called to me from that very first meeting.

Having a best friend and a gorgeous boyfriend should have made my life in Oregon feel perfect, but I always felt like something was missing.

“After this, do you want to go see the Christmas lights downtown?” Lexi asked.

I shook my head. “Can’t. I’ve got plans with Caleb.”

“Things must be getting serious with you two,” she said teasingly, but I didn’t miss the worry in her eyes.

Too bad neither of us knew how right she was to worry.

***

The flashback faded away. I was brought back to reality when I heard the doctor talk.

“Hello, Mia, I’m Dr. Taylor. I’ve been taking care of you while you have been here. How are you feeling? Any pain at all?”

The doctor looked too young and skinny to be in charge, but his calm voice and touch reassured me as he checked my vitals. A sudden rush of fear made me wince as he probed my sore ribs, and I looked at my dad to keep myself from freaking out.

“My arm is throbbing, my chest feels like it’s burning, and my ribs are killing me.” I grimaced as he pressed gently again on my aching ribs. I didn’t want to think about why they hurt so much or why I was here.

“On a scale of one to ten, what’s your pain level?” Dr. Taylor asked.

The door opened. Uncle Mason walked in and sat next to my dad. My heart leaped at the sight of my mom’s older brother.

“My arm is about seven,” I said honestly. “My chest is kind of the same, but not really. My ribs are an eight.”

“Your ribs were damaged, but we were able to wrap them. That should help. And your arm is broken in two places, so that pain is to be expected. I want you to be prepared for the possibility you might need surgery.” He paused as though I might protest, but I was glad for his bluntness. My dad had always taught me to face the worst. Dr. Taylor gave me a gentle smile. “The pain in your chest is from a large cut you have. That pain and burning feeling should go away within a couple of days.

“Okay, thank you. When can I go home?” I’d hated hospitals ever since my mom died.

“We are going to keep you here for a few more days. Just to keep an eye on you since you lost quite a bit of blood, especially with your pain level still somewhat high,” the doctor said as he wrote something in my chart.

A few more days didn’t sound so bad, but I shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable. “Oh, okay. Thank you, Dr. Taylor.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll have the nurse come in and give you something for the pain,” he said, then walked out.

I turned my head to look at my uncle and dad. My emotions swelled. I’d missed them so much. I had never wanted them to see me like this.

At that moment, the nurse came into the room to give me some pain medicine.

I closed my eyes against the needle’s sting. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the pain in my mind…and my heart. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” I whispered as the medicine started to help.

The last thing I felt was his hand gently taking mine, and I let myself sink into sleep. With my dad here to take care of me, I knew I’d be safe for now.

But what about the future?