Page 52 of Bolt (Iron Thunder MC 1)
“But what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to help him?”
“You can keep trying to talk to him, that is all you can do at this point. You can’t physically drag him to a shrink, and you can’t lead him back to us.”
When I didn’t speak, Bolt kissed the side of my face.
“I know he’s your brother and you want to help him, but there isn’t much more you can do. Not without risking the wrath of the MC. Drax and the others won’t be too happy if they find out you’ve been indulging Chip.”
“I choose you over him. I’ve already done that, and he knows it. I just hoped he would’ve learned his lesson by now.”
“Maybe he has, maybe he just needs some more time.”
After that, Bolt was falling asleep. I knew he worked hard. These guys worked just as much as they partied at night. It was a lifestyle I was still getting used to but was enjoying. I liked being part of what felt like a community.
I stared at Bolt as he slept, and knew I was happy. If only Chip was able to sort himself out, I would be completely at peace.
I was going to apply for a loan with my bank, and failing that, I had already decided I would sell the cafe. I would do the right things necessary to not lose the house. It was our family home and I wasn’t willing to give it up. But I wouldn’t dream of betraying Bolt and the MC the way my brother had.
I fell asleep at some point in Bolt’s arms. In the morning, I would wake up beside him again and feel happy knowing he was always there.
Now I had someone I could rely on, someone I could trust. This was something that had always been missing from my life. Other than my mother, I hadn’t been able to rely on anyone else.
The elements of Bolt’s lifestyle, the violence—were things I pushed to the back of my mind for now. Those are problems I wouldn’t have to deal with just yet. Right now, the only thing I needed to focus on was our happiness and our relationship.I was working in the cafe the next day as usual. It was busy and I felt like I didn’t have a moment to breathe. I knew Bolt was at the office this morning, just a few blocks away. It was his turn to man the office, and it also meant he’d be close enough to drop in for lunch later when he had some time.
I was looking forward to seeing him, so I could take a much-needed break.
“I knew the two of you had something going on. No wonder he was hanging around here all the time,” Carol said. She was working the espresso machine today and I was at the cash register, smiling at the customers who walked up.
“We weren’t together then, but yeah, I guess we always had chemistry,” I replied, blushing.
Carol put down a cup of espresso for someone to collect from the counter and she turned to me.
“I’m glad to see you make some time in your life for someone else. You definitely deserve it. You look happy.”
“Thanks, Carol,” I said, just as the cafe door opened and a man walked in.
I looked up and knew he was a biker immediately. He had the same look as everyone else from Iron Thunder. Beard, tattoo, leather cut and chains hanging off his jeans. He wasn’t a very tall man, neither was he muscular, but he had a big beer belly.
A few weeks ago, I would’ve disapproved of his presence in my cafe immediately. I would’ve been suspicious and maybe even a little bit frightened. But I smiled at him now.
Almost everyone associated with the MC knew me now and were aware of this cafe. So I didn’t find it so strange that someone had finally decided to stop by and check out the place.
He was looking around.
“Is he a family friend?” Carol asked with a grin. I shrugged.
“I don’t recognize him, but if he’s here, he must know Bolt somehow.”
I hadn’t caught his eye yet, he was staring at all the people at their tables. My customers glanced at him too because he stood out like a sore thumb. But I didn’t care what people thought anymore. If they wanted to abandon my business because some bikers were going to start hanging out here, then it was their problem.
When he finally looked at me, I smiled, inviting him over to the cash register.
“You Cassie Maxwell?” he asked, walking up to me.
“Yes, I am. Are you Bolt’s friend?”
“Yeah, sure, something like that,” he said.
Carol moved away and I continued smiling at him.
“What can I get you?”
He looked past me at the menu behind me on the wall. I figured he was studying the options available to him, but he took his time. I had other customers to attend to, and I wanted to nudge him to hurry up.
