Chapter 3 - First Draft

A hand on her shoulder jolted her awake.

“Get up, princess.” Nev’s voice was different from usual. It had an edge to it, a thing Lynn could only place as unease, or maybe worry, but laced with something darker. She sat up and rubbed her face. Nev walked around the room shoving things inside a backpack. Blinking, she realized it was only her things.

She swung her legs off the bed and pinned him with a glare. “What the fuck is going on?”

Nev stopped, returned a glare of his own. “I’m taking you to the Fang.” Then he zipped the backpack shut like he was also zipping his own mouth.

“That’s it? You’re not gonna’ tell me more?” Lynn was stunned, but the beginnings of outraged anger were building inside her. “You really think I—”

“Lynn, I need you to work with me here. No bratty shit. This is serious.”

She reared back like he slapped her, disbelief etched on her features. “Bratty?! Oh, I’ll show you—”

Nev dropped the backpack and kneeled in front of her, which was shocking enough to shut her up. Grabbing her hands, an expression she’d never seen before on him, he said “Listen to me. Some shit is about to go down tonight. Gang shit. You hear me?”

He closed his eyes briefly, took a steadying breath. “Since I’m with the Venoms, I have to be there.”

He squeezed her hands. Was he trembling a little? “And since you’re with me, people might come looking for you. Got it?” Lynn’s breath hitched. She started pulling her hands away, Nev only held them tighter. “It's a far chance, Lynn. But I’m not taking any.”

His voice turned pleading. “Babe, I need to know you’ll be safe during this. I need to be sure you won’t run into any trouble, or that trouble won’t come running for you.”

A whirlwind of emotions and thoughts warred for attention inside Lynn. She knew the risks when she started dating Nev. She even liked the slight edge of danger that came with it. She knew what this city actually survived on.

But this? Running away in the middle of the night because someone might come for her? Fuck, it was like a slap back into reality.

Because this was Nev, the annoyingly charming guy she fell for. Nev, riding a beautiful Harley in a leather jacket like he was untouchable. Nev, who brought her food when she was too obsessed with a bike, only to drag her to bed kicking and screaming because she didn’t know when to stop working.

But in that moment, Lynn remembered he was also the guy that was gone the whole day doing who knew what sort of shit for the Black Venom MC.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Nev. Read the genuine worry and fear in the lines of his face. She threw her arms around his neck, then buried her face in his shoulder. “Okay. Okay, I get it. I’ll go.”

She realized in that moment that despite everything going on lately, Nev loved her. And in her own way, Lynn loved him too.

***

Nev was speechless for a moment as they entered the garage. With the new paint and polished chromes, his old Harley was almost unrecognizable now.

“Happy early birthday,” Lynn said in a low, almost timid voice, studying his reaction.

“I thought you were only fixing the battery thing.” The awe in his tone, the slow smile spreading across his face, made Lynn breathe a little easier.

“Well, I thought this old beauty needed some upgrades,” Lynn said averting her eyes. “It was supposed to be a surprise. I didn’t touch the engine too much, but I replaced what looked the oldest. Honestly, it’s a miracle it hasn’t yet come apart while you’re riding it—" She was rambling, trying to hide how flustered she was.

Nev whirled on her. Slipping his hands under the jacket and around her waist, he pulled her close to rain kisses on her face. “I love it. I love you. Thanks,” he said between kisses. Chuckling, Lynn basked in his affection.

As Nev mounted the bike, still with that awed expression all over his face, Lynn hesitated. “Today was supposed to be the test ride.”

Catching her meaning, Nev pursed his lips. “That’s unfortunate.” A small, proud smile graced his lips as he added, “but I trust in your skills.”

That statement alone rattled the lock on a tiny box long hidden in a corner of her mind. As welcomed as Nev’s praise was, Lynn couldn’t turn away from the voice that told her it wasn’t deserved. The one that also said she would never be more than a cheap mechanic for her boyfriend's friends.

“Hop on, babe. We need to get moving” Nev urged her. She did, and he took off into streets of Mudwater Bay, eerily silent when normally they would be brimming with night life.