The week passed peacefully enough as Tess fell back into the rhythm of the MC. She tried to focus on her job as event coordinator and joining in on as many rides as she could. She was increasing in her patch number for rides attended, and if anyone needed her or couldn’t find her, she was usually out riding on the time track to improve her time.
Tonight, she was hosting at an event to promote Turbo’s new bikes that he had been working on. Several other MC’s had been invited from the New York area to come and she was thrilled with the turnout. They were dancing outside with a stage set up next to the garage where Turbo’s bikes were on display. Nitro was standing nearby the doorway with Butch and some of the other enforcers to make sure that everything remained safe.
“You feeling okay, sweetheart?” Nitro asked at one point while the live singer continued to sing Radiohead on stage.
“Yeah, I’m alright. So happy with how many people are here tonight. It’s great, isn’t it? We’ve only been here an hour and there’s already like fifty people on the guest list.”
“You girls outdid yourselves with the marketing on this one, babe. I’m really impressed!” Nitro smiled at her and leaned over to take her in his arms. “And see, nothing bad is gonna happen tonight. You’re surrounded by a bunch of big, burly bikers that would kill anyone who’d lay a finger on you.”
“He’s not wrong, sis,” Butch agreed. “You’re in good hands here.”
Tess knew they were right, but for some reason she kept looking towards the entrance even as there was a lull in people coming in. She had heard from her brother in Philadelphia that Will had been poking around to find her location. The more calls she got from home, the more afraid she was for her ex-boyfriend to breeze through the door and come after her.
Halfway through the evening, Tess gave the greeting duties over to Lucy, one of the ol’ ladies in the club, and stepped away from the crowd with Nitro. She needed a break and wanted to take advantage of some alone time with him.
“Sweetheart, you’re okay, really. Why are you so afraid?” Nitro asked, stroking her arms gently up and down.
“I just… I’m scared of him coming in and making this whole thing about us instead of what it’s supposed to be. It…”
“Well, it’s nice to see you miss me too, sweetheart.” The voice made her sharply turn her head and she braced against Nitro, trying to stay steady on her feet.
“Will, I presume?" Nitro asked, gripping Tess in his hold as he glared at the man. “You’re not welcome here, man. Stay the hell away from Tess.”
Butch and Turbo walked over then, seeing the confrontation building. They looked from Nitro to Tess and then over at Will, seeming to put the pieces together.
“She’s mine, buddy. Don’t even think that your little army will protect her. Someday she’ll be all alone again and won’t have any of your little buckle bunnies to help you.”
Tess glared back at the man that she had once loved, trying to remember what it was that had drawn her to him in the first place, but she couldn’t. Now she was just terrified and didn’t think she could move. She had absolutely no words.
“She’s not yours anymore. She’s mine now, pal. Get the hell out or I’ll make you get out.” Nitro looked over at the guys and said, “Deal with him. We’re going back to the crowd.” He then started to walk away with Tess tightly in his embrace, and Tess watched as Butch and Turbo approached Will and she didn’t even want to know what they were going to do with him.
Tess fell in her arms as they neared the crowd and cried against him. She was shaking and couldn’t seem to calm down, so he led her over to a bench and sat down with her, leaning her against his arms.
“I’ve got you, baby… I’ve got you. He’s gone,” Nitro insisted, and Tess clung to him for dear life, trying desperately to believe him.