Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Mika Sage

The way that Raphael has spoken about his parents did not breed confidence in me before this meeting. I did work myself into an anxiety attack alongside him but I'll admit I have better control over my emotions than Raphael does, being a foster kid meant you hid your emotions so that you weren't vulnerable.

The only problem with that approach is once the potential parents see you as invulnerable, they think you're crazy or savage or would burn your house down. Especially when you were scrawny and dirty, constantly getting into fights just for the thrill of it and digging around in trash for food.

I never stood a chance until a nice warm lady with soft rolls of bread and cookies that just melted in your mouth. I loved her from the moment I met her and she was the only parent I ever had, I have a lot of big brothers who ride me all the time and they are my family but being here in a massive house with two parents trips me out.

"So, you have a little boy as well?" His father asks as soon as we're settled in the lounge, I don't even know their names but his mother seems nice.

"Yes, his name is Oliver. We found him on the streets and took him in." Raphael replies just as my phone rings, I know the name says Lexie but I know who's calling from the other side. I answer the call and just as I'm about to say hello, Ollie's loud voice shouts through the speakers.

"Dad, guess what? I played pool with Breaker today and we totally won against Rubble, right B?" He waits patiently for Breaker to answer, "Oh, forgot you don't talk! Dad is dad there? He has to know too."

"I'm here, little man, did you get any money out of him?"

"No but Rubble has to take Gem and I for ice cream so that B can sleep, I'm gonna get a whole bowl of ice cream like three whole scoops."

"Okay, kiddo, make sure you get Rubble to text us."

"Okay dads, I gotta go. Gem is hungry and when she's hungry, she's angry. See you later, love you!"

"We love you too, hijo." (son) He hangs up and I laugh, didn't even give the phone back to Lexie I bet, it's probably going to stay sat on the pink couch until Lexie realises it's gone.

We've recognised Ollie's innate ability to take things from people without them realising and there's been a growing collection of things in his room that shouldn't be there and at the end of every week Runner and I have to return all of it.

It's always fun looking at the surprise on our brothers faces when we return their possessions and tell them that our eight year old stole them.

We stay at the house for long enough to help Maria sort out her new life. She's decided to move back to Spain with her kids and live in the family's summer house and she's packing as we speak. Her kids are happily enjoying the game room, their squeals of happiness echoing off the walls.

"We have to head back to the club, we have a meeting to get to and a son to feed." Raphael says, physically dragging me off the couch that I have finally moulded to its most comfortable state.

"You will visit again, right? With the baby?" His mother asks us and Raphael looks conflicted.

"Look guys, I'm happy to see you again and I'll be happy to come back but I'd like to rebuild our relationship before bringing Ollie here. He's a sensitive kid and he's nervous around new people and if he thinks there's something between us it'll make him upset. I don't want to put him at risk."

I agree wholeheartedly with that idea. I couldn't imagine bringing Ollie to meet them until they prove that they'd stay in his life. He has had too much instability and too many people have betrayed and left him, I won't let his only grandparents do the same. Also, he is a very empathetic kid and he'd be able to pick up on Raphael's discomfort and will react in kind.

"We understand, we'll arrange to meet up again, the number's still the same." His father reassures us and watches us as we mount our bikes and start off down their long driveway the and large iron gates open just as we get there.

We race back, me pulling ahead just as we pull into the compound. "You've been riding for longer and you still lost?" I taunt and he pushes me up against my bike with a playful glare. "You seem frustrated, you okay?"

"Don't tease me, Mika." He whispers in my ear before sucking the lobe into his mouth.

"I wouldn't dare." My voice is embarrassingly breathless but I don't mind, I can never breathe or think properly when we're like this. Raphael is my safe space, he calms me and soothes me but Jesus he can rile me up so quickly that I'm surprised I have any restraint left.

"Looks like your plan backfired, osito." (little bear) He grumbles and I groan, the nicknames just make me shiver and I love it so much that I hate it. He smirks as he removes himself from me and goes inside, winking as he walks backwards through the doors.

Oh, I'm so getting him back for that.

"You took your fucking time." Bear scolds as we take a seat at the round table, the whole club surrounds us because it's time to catch the rat.

We've let him continue on thinking that he's safe, he's gotten cocky and still thinks he's a key member of this team even though he almost cost us one of our best. He thinks this is just to discuss the details of what we just did and how we're gonna cover this up considering we killed an upscale businessman who was known internationally.

"Sorry, papa likes to talk." Raphael replies, getting comfortable while I get tenser and tenser. With traitors we have to burn the tattoo from his back, each of us taking a turn to singe the skin off in order of importance. Those with titles go first, the rest wait their turn.

This comes after the trial of three. The traitor gets to choose three fighters to face in the ring and if he wins, well I don't know. They never win. Blade also thinks he's a good fighter, one of the best so he'll probably choose Rubble, Mac and maybe even me. Who knows?

He may go either way.

"We are here today to discuss the last few months. One of our own was taken from us and he has been safely returned for the second time." We all laugh as Raphael pulls a mocking face and flips us the bird, "But we now know that Bainbridge found out about Runner through a rat."

Blade's face goes white but he tries to keep up the whole I'm totally innocent act by making himself look surprised. "Do you know who it is, Prez?" Mac asks and Prez smiles viciously, without making a sound he yanks Blade from his chair and the room goes into an uproar.

'Trials!' is chanted over and over as Blade is forced onto his knees in front of the crowd. "Quiet!" At our President's command, the whole room silences while Blade shakes in fear, his eyes flicking over the crowd and widening when he sees the murderous intent in everyone's eyes.

All of us would jump at the chance to beat his ass into next week. "Choose your fighters wisely, Elliot. They will decide whether you survive the night." His name is now Elliot as he has been stripped of his road name, the patch coming off in Prez's hand and landing on the floor beside him.

He won't choose any of the B's knowing they'd kill him on the first round. He won't choose Saviour, Reign or Runner because they would rend him limb from limb without flinching. "Rubble." He spits out first and Rubble grins, cracking his knuckles and stepping to the front of crowd.

"You will face Rubble first." Prez confirms as Elliot continues to shake in his harsh grip.

"Hunter." He asks for second and I'm not surprised, Hunter is an impressive fighter but him and Elliot trained together so Elliot thinks he knows how to beat him. He forgets that Hunter has been training with Saviour recently due to Marielle's begging, his fighting style has changed.

Hunter takes his place beside Rubble and we all wait impatiently for him to decide who he will take on in the end. The next name surprises me.

"Romeo."