Red Devils MC: Saving Mia Part 8

Chapter 13.

Lisa was bagging a woman's purchases when she spotted him. Mia waved at Lisa to let her know she'd be right back. Ratchet had just headed off with one of the prospects, so she couldn't let him know where she was going. She ran after Matt one of Marcus's friends.

"Matt, wait." She called. He stopped and turned facing her. He looked confused until she was almost standing in front of him.

"Mia?" Matt said staring at her like she was an apparition.

"Hey, ca..." She began but was jerked into a hug before she could say anything more.

"Thank goodness you're okay! Marcus and Raven have been freaking out. We were all worried when they came searching for you in the Slums. They were sure that you'd escaped there to hide. Where have you been hiding? You look very...different." Matt threw at her in a rapid fire not allow her to answer one question before he was asking another.

"Matt, stop." Mia said laughing. She'd always liked Matt. He was only seventeen, and he'd been following Marcus around since he was about fourteen much to Marcus's dismay. "I need you to get a message to Raven and Marcus. Tell them that I'm okay. I'm living in Devils Falls with Racheal and Pearl. I don't know how, but they found out I was working with Tray and came after me. The Red Devils saved me."

"You're living with bikers? Is that safe?" Matt asked concern worrying his brow.

"Yes, I'm safe." Mia told him. "Tell Marcus and Raven, okay. I don't want them to worry." Mia told him. Then added. "Tell them to get a message to my mother that I'm okay."

"Okay. I'm glad you're okay Mia." He smiled and the beauty of it made her heart ache. d.a.m.n the kid was such a sweetheart. Giving him another hug she headed back to the booth to find Ratchet back. He was yelling at the prospects. He had one of them held by the front of his s.h.i.+rt, and he was right in the man's face.

Ratchet was ready to kill the little f.u.c.ker who'd let Mia run out of the stall. When he'd gotten back to find Mia missing a few moments ago he'd felt panic unlike any he'd felt before seize him. He'd demanded to know where she'd disappeared to. He was afraid that someone from the city had taken her. One of the two idiot's who were supposed to be protecting her while he took a call from Bone had just muttered that she'd run after someone.

Like it wasn't his problem. That made Ratchet even angrier than he'd been a moment ago. He grabbed the little b.a.s.t.a.r.d by the front of his s.h.i.+rt getting in his face.

Yelling at him, "Where the f.u.c.k did she go? You were supposed to be watching her! What the f.u.c.k? If anything..." He stopped talking when he heard her voice from behind him, turning to take her in. Thank G.o.d she was safe was the only thought he had as he rocketed towards her.

"Ratchet." Mia called, knowing he was talking about her. It wasn't their fault that she'd run off. Ratchet turned dropping the hold he had on the other man. He was beside her in seconds.

"Are you okay, baby?" He demanded, clutching her to his chest. Mia let him hold her. She could hear his heart racing against her. Making her feel like bad about running off after Matt.

"I'm okay, Ratchet" Mia told him needing to rea.s.sure him. She grabbed his hair pulling his head up so she could kiss him. She wondered as his tongue tangled with hers about how a few weeks ago if someone had told her she would stand in the middle of the market kissing a man without feeling embarra.s.sed about the public display. She would have called them crazy then laughed as she walked away.

Except here she was kissing Ratchet in the middle of the market, and she refused to be embarra.s.sed about it. She refused to be held back by a cla.s.s system that wanted to prove they were better than everyone else. When he finally released her, kissing her face several times before pulling back and glaring at her.

"Don't run off like that," Ratchet must have seen the glare she was prepared to give him because he quickly added. "I can't handle it."

Deciding to forgive him, Mia just nodded. Ratchet kissed her forehead then walked her back to the booth. Lisa was trying to hold little Travis while talking to a woman who was asking questions about the skirts she was purchasing. Mia walked into the stall taking over for Lisa so that she could give Travis a chance to run around for a bit. She understood why Lisa was saying that she might not bring him anymore. It seemed the young mother had too much on her plate with the little b.u.g.g.e.r trying his best to get away from her.

It was two hours later when Ratchet pulled her into his arms asking, "Can you watch the booth while we load this stuff in the truck, or are you going to run off again?"

She gave him a look that warned him to watch it. He just grinned and nodded to two of the prospects. Those prospects continued to lean on the fence that was a few feet away while the others went with Ratchet to put the stock back into the truck. Lisa had already headed back to the truck with Travis. She wanted to let him run around in the small play area near the vehicles.

Mia was placing clothing off the tables into the crates they were loading things up in when she was almost tackled from behind. She heard a chorus of curses coming from the prospects who were moving to jerk whoever had grabbed her off of her. Mia realized as the woman began to speak that it was Raven.

"Oh my G.o.d, you're okay. You're okay." Raven whispered clutching her tightly. Holding her hand up to stop the two prospects from tackling one of her two best friends. She turned hugging Raven back.

"Raven, I can't breathe." Mia managed to get out. Feeling Ravens arms loosen, she took in a deep breath.

"Sorry. I'm just so glad that you're okay. We were so worried. That a.s.shole Hilconn showed up demanding that we produce you like we were hiding you in the closet or something." Raven wiped at her eyes. Mia turned feeling guilty that she waited so long to contact Marcus and Raven. She hadn't meant to cause them so much worry.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get a message to you sooner. This is the first time I've been close enough to get you a message." Mia told her hugging her friend again.

Raven hugged her back tightly. "It's okay. It would have been dangerous had you tried sooner. Hilconn the horrible was watching us until a few days ago. He was sure that we knew where you were. He was the one who got you into trouble in the first place. He followed you to that bar and took a halo vid of you meeting with Tray."

"That little s.h.i.+t! I wondered how they found out so quickly. It just didn't make any sense. Where's Marcus?" Mia snarled, p.i.s.sed that the man was the reason she'd had to leave so suddenly. Not that she minded living in Devils Falls. She liked it in fact. She was happy. The only thing that would make her happier was if her friends and her family were there with her.

"He was working and couldn't come. I'm off s.h.i.+ft today like Matt. When he told me you were alive and working a booth in the market I freaked. I was sure that he must be mistaken, but here you are. Marcus will be so relieved. He felt awful and he's been blaming himself for letting you work with that idiot. Although we both know that he wouldn't have been able to stop you." Raven told her shaking her head.

"True. I still can't believe that Hilconn followed me. I do think it worked out for the best though. You and Marcus should come to Devils Falls. Matt too. It's so much better there. I know Bone and the Devils would help you. Then things wouldn't be so hard for you." Mia told her friend really liking the idea. They would be safe then.

Raven looked at her in astonishment before saying, "But this is our home."

"Yes, but it's not safe anymore, Raven. Not for anyone in the Slums." Mia whispered.

"It's still our home, Mia. I don't think we can just leave. We'll be careful, and we can still visit sometimes. Here at the market. You can let us know when you'll be here and we can come when we're off. It will just not be as often as it used to be." Raven seemed depressed for a moment before a bright smile broke across her face.

"Okay. Only promise me that if something happens you'll come to Devils Falls so I can help you." Mia demanded.

"I promise." Raven told her.

"h.e.l.lo." Ratchet said, grinning at Raven having entered the booth from behind her.

Mia wasn't surprised that the man looked a bit stunned for a moment. Raven was a true beauty. She had an oval face with deep blue eyes that almost pierced the soul. She was blonde without an ounce of fat and the tiny beauty mark that rested above her lips only added to the appeal. And for just a moment as Ratchet smiled at her and took her hand, kissing it. Mia felt jealous of her best friend.

"Hi," Raven said looking at Mia and giggling. "Who are you?" She asked with another annoying giggle. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with her friend? She'd just turned into a giggling school girl.

Ratchet was watching Mia glare at her friend, and it made him feel giddy like a d.a.m.ned fool. He liked that she was a little jealous of him. He didn't want her to feel as if she didn't matter to him however. Which was why as he introduced himself to her friend he reached out pulling her to him.

"Ratchet," He told her still grinning like a d.a.m.ned fool making Mia want to strangle them both. Then he reached out an arm wrapping it around her pulling her close. "Mia's man." He said making Mia's heart squeeze a bit.

"Really?" Raven asked jumping up and down slightly with pleasure. "Are you the one who helped our Mia escape?"

"I am. I saved her in the nick of time. Stripped her down to her skivvies and threw her on my bike like a caveman too." Ratchet teased, laughing when the younger woman's mouth hung open in shock.

"Her skivvies? No way!" Mia glared at Ratchet who only laughed wickedly again waiting to see how she'd explain that one.

"He's overly dramatizing it. He just needed me to look like I belonged with the Red Devils. I couldn't very well be taken off with my uniform. They would have chased us down and dragged me back for punishment. So he cut off my skirt a bit and I wore his vest." Mia told her friend not telling her that she'd had to strip in front of the man, nor that her skirt had been so short she'd barely been covered by it. And she definitely wasn't going to talk about the bra.

"Well, that sounds romantic." Raven said with a breathy sigh.

"Oh, it was." The foolish man said. What an idiot. At that moment the warning bell for the gates began to sound through the market.

"Oh, I better go. They will be closing the gates soon. I'm so glad you're okay, Mia. I will get a message to your mother. I'll also look forward to seeing you again soon. We've missed you so much." Raven said giving her another tight hug.

"Remember what I said and think about it okay. I want you to be safe too." Mia whispered earnestly. Ratchet wondered what she was talking about, but it didn't matter as long as she wasn't trying to run off on him. He'd have to paddle her a.s.s if that was the case.

"I will." Raven called before she headed to the gates.

"She was sweet." Ratchet said kissing her forehead. Then smacking her a.s.s, he growled. "Get to work woman. I want to get back." Mia glared at him, but started packing up again with a slight grin on her face.

Chapter 14.

Ratchet walked into the clubhouse with Tick both of them stopping at the table where a prospect waited to take their guns. He'd talked with Tick about Mia. Tick had been concerned when he hadn't returned to the Dixon farm in three weeks. He'd explained that he was staying because Mia didn't want to leave yet. They were staying with Pearl and Bear in the guestroom. Although, Bear was getting a little grouchy with him in his s.p.a.ce but the man would have to deal with it he wasn't leaving until Mia did.

They moved away from the table headed into church. Taking their seats waiting for Bone who was absent to start. Tank leaned forward looking at him, grinning.

"Your girls a feisty one isn't she?" The man asked.

"Yeah, she is." Ratchet told him his own grin felt like the dopey ones he'd seen on other men's faces and made fun of. Only he didn't give a s.h.i.+t. His woman was fine, and he loved her feisty nature.

Bone entered slamming the door. s.h.i.+t, that wasn't a good sign, Ratchet thought grimly. They all watched wearily as Bone paced back and forth. f.u.c.k, this really wasn't good at all. When Bone was this agitated it was never a good sign.

"I just discovered from Tiny who went out yesterday on a fact finding mission that those f.u.c.king Jackal's are running that s.h.i.+t though our territory. How the f.u.c.k they are doing it is a d.a.m.ned mystery. I can't f.u.c.king deal with this bulls.h.i.+t. I think we need to discuss eliminating the Jackal's completely." Bone's voice echoed off the walls, and the silence in the room was almost deafening.

They all knew what this would mean. War with the Jackal's. The possibility of them losing men, and family. None of them would make this choice lightly. All of them wanted to find a peaceful solution to this problem, but they weren't going to get a choice. The Jackal's weren't going to be allowed to run drugs through their territory. It wasn't going to happen. They'd put up with a lot this past three years from the Jackal's and every time they knocked them back the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds came at them harder.

They'd all known where this was leading over a year ago when they'd been attacked in t.i.tusville. Only none of them wanted to think about the way it was ten years ago when they were engaged in battle with them before. They'd lost a lot of good men. It would happen again. They'd lose people, and that would not sit well with any of them. Tank's brother's had been lost in the last war, so Ratchet knew that for him it would be hard to choose to go into combat again.

Ratchet looked at Tick, and knew the man was on the same page. War wasn't what they wanted but it was the only way to protect what they had. It was fight or lose more than just a few men. Because every club trying to make a name would be after them and their family if they continued to allow the Jackal's to edge into their territory.

"They've been getting bolder every year. We can't letting it keep happening." Bear spoke up from the wall where he leaned. Earning nods from a lot of the older men who sat stood near him.

"We have tried the high road. Only handling what they throw at us, but it's getting worse not better." Rock spoke up his voice grim.

"I know that Annie's mother will supply what we'd need." Tank's voice was firm though his jaw was clenched.

"There has to be another option." Bull muttered. It wasn't surprising that he was speaking against fighting. He'd lost everything in the last war. His two sons and his old lady had been killed. He'd almost died too. Not that Ratchet was sure he didn't wish he had. He couldn't imagine losing so much.

"There's not. Bull, I know what you lost in the last battle and I get why you're arguing for peace. But you know as well as we all do sometimes peace isn't an option." Tank spoke again.

Many of the men in the room nodded. Ratchet knew that almost everyone was going to vote to go to war with the Jackal's. They were tired of playing nice. If the Jackal's wanted a fight they were going to get it. The Red Devils weren't allowing them or any other f.u.c.ked up group to take what they had built. They'd fought for what they had and knew the value of it. They wouldn't lose it because some jacka.s.s thought he could come in and take it.

"We need to step back and think about this. It could mean some of the woman and possibly children dying." Bull's heated voice fell into the silent room.

"Bull, do you think any of us want this?" Pretty Boy asked, glaring at him. "We all knew for the last three years this was coming. It's not a surprise to any of us. Even you. We knew that dealing only with the smacks they've tried to give us wouldn't last. h.e.l.l, we took out half their f.u.c.king club in the last three years alone and still we're getting s.h.i.+t from them. None of us want this." He slammed his fist down on the table.

"It's true. We've tried like they said to take the high road, and where has it gotten us other than p.i.s.sed on. They just keep coming back for more. If we take them out completely then we stop f.u.c.king around and get to breathe for a while before some other f.u.c.ked up club decides to come at us. It's going to happen. We all know it." Trick growled.

Ratchet leaned forward adding his voice to the mix. "Bull you already know that they're right. I get it. Losing what you did you think there has to be a better way, but you know there's not."

Bull looked defeated as he slumped into his chair. "f.u.c.k, I know. I know. I just don't want any of you to suffer what I did." The gruff man had tears in his eyes. d.a.m.n, Ratchet thought he hadn't meant to break the man.

"Life doesn't come with any guarantees. Even if we didn't go to war we'd lose people. Vivi proved that. Life isn't going to give us any breaks, and sometimes we have to fight." Tick spoke from beside him, and Ratchet felt pride in his friend fill him.

He'd suffered a great loss when Vivi had died and yet he'd fought his way back into the world for his son. He'd been given a second chance with Charity and he wasn't against going to war because he knew the truth. Not choosing to engage didn't mean they'd all walk away. It just meant that they wouldn't go down fighting.

Bone's voice rang out over the room, "We need a majority vote. I don't think we have a choice anymore. It will look like weakness if we don't act now."

Ratchet stood a few minutes later walking from the room beside Tick. He looked at his best friend his face grim. "To war then. What are you going to do to protect the farm?"

"What I've always done, my friend. Take my brother home with me to plan." Tick said meeting his eyes. Ratchet nodded, yeah it was about time he headed home. Now if he could just convince his woman to go with him.

Ratchet walked into Bear and Pearl's house to find Mia in their room. She'd just taken a shower and was sitting on the edge of the bed drying her hair. Ratchet felt his guts clench in need. f.u.c.k, she was s.e.xy. Even like this with her hair wet, and her causal jeans and t-s.h.i.+rt. He watched her from the doorway a soft smile on his face. This was why he'd voted to end this standoff they were in with the Jackal's. Her. She was the reason he'd fight till he died. To protect her and whatever made her happy.

She seemed to sense his stare, looking up. She smiled brightly and he was taken aback by her utter beauty. He shut the door moving into the room he leaned down to kiss her. His lips found hers when she lifted her head to accept his kiss. She smelled like vanilla and woman, and he'd never smelled a s.e.xier scent. His hands pulled at the wet strands of her hair, and he deepened the kiss. She was moaning her hands lifting to pull at his cut. He let her pull him onto the bed on top of her as she lay back.

Moaning, she pulled back. "We can't," she moaned "I told Pearl we'd go to dinner with them."

"Humm... when." Ratchet asked kissing her neck his mouth nipping at her skin his hands sliding under her t-s.h.i.+rt to encounter her warm b.r.e.a.s.t.s which were still bare.

"In half an hour, so we don't have time." She groaned as he found a particularly sensitive spot. He rubbed his thumbs across her nipples.

"Plenty of time." He managed to growl before he lifted her s.h.i.+rt taking her breast into his mouth. She arched off the bed a mewling cry tearing from her lips.

It was about forty minutes later that they stumbled into the living room to find Bear and Pearl sitting on the couch. Pearl was in Bear's lap and the man growled roughly.

"'Bout time you let that girl out of her bed."

"Stop, Bear. You're embarra.s.sing Mia." Pearl said, smacking him in the head as she stood. "It's fine we were young once too. Well I was at least." Pearl jeered earning a smack on the a.s.s from Bear.

"Are you two ready to go?" Pearl asked.

"Yes, we're ready." Mia said, a light blush staining her cheeks as Pearl looped an arm through hers. The two of them walked outside.

"You ask her yet." Bear asked staring at him.

"Ask her what?" Ratchet asked watching the other man.

"A few things come to mind, boy. But in this case I was referring to the fact that you need to head back to the farm." Bear asked as they turned out the lights and locked the door.

He shouldn't be surprised that the man already knew about him returning home. But he was. It made sense that he'd guess with what the club had decided today. They were all on edge.

"Not yet." Ratchet told him as they walked towards the women who stood next to the bikes.

As they neared Bear considered him for a moment then nodded. "Just don't f.u.c.k it up, boy. She can stay here if she wants to. "