Free Storm (Storm MC) by Nina Levine Page B

in desperate need of a smoke.
    ***
    T en minutes later I was considerably calmer, having had two cigarettes and some time to give myself a pep talk.  J was smart enough to give me that space to get my head together and I was just about to head back inside when he stepped outside.
    “You’ve missed a call,” he said, handing me my phone before going back inside.
    I checked to see who had called and smiled when I saw it was Serena.  Shit, I was supposed to call her when we arrived.  I called her back and waited for her to answer.
    “Bitch, I was worried!” she screeched.
    “Honey, calm down.  I’m sorry I didn’t call.  I got sidetracked by Scott and Dad who are being their usual bossy selves.  And, god, don’t get me started on J.”
    “Oh, please do get started on J,” she quipped.
    I laughed and just like that, she had broken through my anger and hurt and reminded me just how much I needed her in my life.  “He is making me crazy!”
    “Mmmm, what is he doing?  Besides getting your girl bits in a tizz?”
    “He basically said that if I hadn’t dated Nix, none of this would be happening.  He blames me for Bec and Georgie’s deaths,” I answered her, the words tearing at my heart.
    “Wow.  Holy shit.  He might be a hot guy but what an asshole,” she said, “I hope you told him where to go.”
    “He caught me off guard.  I never expected him to say something like that to me.  He is confusing the hell out of me.  One minute he says horrible things like that, but at other times it feels like he still cares.  I just don’t know what to make of it.”
    “Just keep him at a distance, okay.  Do what you went there to do, and then you can come home and forget all about him again,” she suggested, not realising that this option wasn’t possible anymore.
    I sighed.  “I wish I could, honey, but I’ve made a decision.  I’m going to move back here to be close to Crystal and look out for her.”
    “I thought you might decide to do that.  You’re a good woman, Madison Cole, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, especially not J,” she said, and I loved her a little more for her unconditional support.
    “I’m going to miss you.  Maybe you should move here too,” I said, meaning every word.
    “Never say never, huh. Gonna visit you real soon, though,” she replied, “And I’ll kick J’s ass if he is being a fucker to you.”
    I had no doubt about that.  “Okay, I’d better go.  Can you tell Blake I will call him tomorrow?  I love you, honey,” I ended the phone call.
    “Will do.  Love you too, girl,” she said and hung up.
    I took a deep breath and went back inside, hoping to say goodbye to Crystal and convince J to take me back to the clubhouse.  I didn’t want to hang around here for much longer.
    Brooke and Crystal were back in the living room with J, and they were all laughing at something on the television.  J looked over at me and then tapped Crystal on the shoulder.  “Say goodnight to Madison, angel.  We have to go in a minute,” he said, and I was relieved that he had the same plans as I did.
    Crystal gave me a long hug and I whispered in her ear, “I love you, baby girl, and I’ll be back to see you soon.”
    She kissed me and then left with Brooke to go to bed.  Brooke nodded at me as they left the room.  I wasn’t sure what that meant but she didn’t seem to be as hostile towards me as I thought she would be.
    “You ready to go?” J asked, without as much as a glance in my direction.  He was already heading towards the front door, my answer clearly not even important. 
    I didn’t bother answering him, simply followed him out to his bike.  Without uttering a word to each other we rode back to the clubhouse and my resolve to stay away from him was strengthened.

Chapter 10
    J ason
    I collapsed onto the bed, thankful as fuck that today was over.  I didn’t have it in me to bother heading home so I was just crashing in my room at the