Just Keep Running (Bulldogs MC #2) [Featured]

9: You Promised

We'd all settled into some kind of routine over the last few days. There were always at least three guys around, while the others went off and dealt with club business. I never ask what they get up to, I still think I'm better off not knowing. There'd been a few more girls around, but they weren't exactly what I had in mind. These were the girls you would usually associate with an MC: fake tan so orange it almost blinded you if you looked too close; nails so long I'm surprised they hadn't ripped them all off yet, and about three inches of makeup caked on their faces. I was impressed though. I thought Smiler would be paying them attention, but the only girl who tried to drape herself all over him was pushed away and told to find some dignity - his words. It was a good job too because I'd been about to cut the bitch. None of them had gone near him since. I'm not sure if he did it for my benefit or not, but I appreciated it either way.

I'm currently sitting at a table with Mel, Jay and Banjo, watching Smiler and Skids play pool, while Ash gets his kicks taking the piss and distracting them. Mel and I had become quite close, bonding over the stresses these idiots bring us. Pest and Philly are sat at another table with two of the new tag-a-longs attached to their faces. The poor boys have my sympathy.

I feel my phone buzz in my bra - come on girls, we all do it rather than squeeze it in a pocket in our skinny jeans - and I freeze. I reach into my bra and pull it out, with Jay and Banjo both focused on my actions. I know they're not perving though, we all know there's only one reason my phone would be buzzing. I don't know why I hadn't ditched it. I guess it was some sick need to see if I was contacted again. I don't look at the others as I flip it open to read the text.

'Their warnings won't work. Nothing will stop him getting to you.'

My hand shakes and Jay holds it, taking the phone with his other hand. He takes a quick look and puts it down on the table before looking at me.

"Ignore it. You're safe here." I nod, trying my hardest to believe him, but he can tell I don't really. He sighs. "Come on. Let's go dance. Forget about all that for now."

I smile, as honestly as I can, and let him pull me to the other end of the bar. I lose myself in the music for a while, just enjoying the distraction. We don't dance as close as we did last time, but I can feel eyes on us. A thought springs to mind and my eyes snap open wide. I turn to face Jay.

"You have to promise me something." I swallow loudly and he raises an eyebrow at me. We've stopped dancing now, just standing there looking at each other. "If they come, if they get me, you have to promise you won't let them take me alive." He goes to argue but I put a hand up to stop him. "None of the others would do it. But I'd take a quick death by a bullet over having to live through that again any day. You'd be saving me."

He cups my face in his hands but before he can speak a hand grabs my arm and yanks me away. Smiler stands in front of me, squaring up to Jay, but his hand is still tight on my upper arm. I try to get away, but his grip is tight enough to hurt. Jay sees me wince and his face contorts with anger.

"Get your fucking hand off her. You don't touch her like that!" His voice is quiet, and it's scarier than if he was shouting. The others are all silent, watching, and I shake my head at Skids, letting him know not to step in. "You're hurting her," Jay says, sounding calmer now.

Smiler turns to me, and his face drops when he sees how tight he holds my arm. "Fuck. I'm sorry, baby. I don't know what I'm doing." He let's go of my arm and goes to step away, but I grab his hand.

I look back to Jay, begging him for an answer with my eyes. He nods, but he looks heartbroken. I send him a small smile and lead Smiler back to our room, grabbing my phone off the table on the way past.