Lyla

Tardiness has always been a weakness of mine. It's not something I have ever done on purpose, but being a single mother, with a job that requires you to spend twelve hours helping to save lives, sometimes makes it a little hard to be on time for everything else.

I check the time on my dash once more as I pull into the courthouse parking lot. It's twelve twenty-seven and court started at twelve o'clock. After everything that has been happening lately and Shane not being around for the last couple days, it was a little hard to get out of the house leaving Miles with Adrianna. I trust him, but Adrianna was questioning why Shane still hadn't come back to us.

Knowing there was someone from another MC watching our house is enough to have me worrying over Adrianna while I'm at work. Shane hasn't completely ignored us, he's called each night which I'm grateful for. He was listening when I told him to at least keep in contact with me. Shane told me about needing some space and as much as I wanted to know why, I didn't question him. He has some demons and I know sometimes he has to sort those out on his own.

"Miss Monroe, lovely for you to join us." The judge announces when I run into the room assigned for us for the day.

"So sorry I'm late." I apologize and straighten my clothes. Looking over on the other side of the room, I spot Rory and his mother who is glaring over at me.

"I was just explaining to Mr. Mitchelson here, that I have decided to approve partial custody." My heart falls out of my chest and I hold onto the chair for support as I feel my knees weakening.

"Your honor¡­" I try to explain but I immediately get cut off by his palm in the air.

"I understand that when you went to visit him that there was a camera crew. I also know about the visit to her school, and although I am not happy with those facts, I can't deny that he still has a right to see his daughter. So, for now, you are allowed visitation rights and once an amount of thirty calendar days pass, we will transition that into partial." He bangs the gavel then stands and heads to his back chambers.

My body collapses onto the chair and I place my face in my hands. I can feel Rory walk up next to me and I lift my tear stained face to stare at him, hoping to somehow make him combust with my eyeballs.

"Lyla, I know you don't trust me, but I deserve to get to know my daughter." He whispers. I stand up and get right in his face, not missing the bailiff starring over at us.

"You don't get it Rory. She's the most important thing on this planet to me and knowing I must now share her with someone that clearly doesn't even want her, is devastating. Do you know why I was late today?"

His eyes simply move back and forth from his mother and lawyer, then back over to me.

"She's sick. She was born with a weakened immune system and so every time she is sick, it's like she has the flu. She's in bed right now at home miserable, and I can only imagine how she will be at your house."

"I'm not a fucking monster Lyla. I care about her, and don't give me shit about not knowing her. You took care of that all by yourself." He says behind his teeth attempting to not be heard. Unbelievable. He is fighting for the rights to be in his daughter's life and he still can't let it be known that he doesn't always have it all together.

"How should I know that Rory? I know you found out about her a while ago. I also know you have an election coming up. I'm sure reuniting with her will make you seem like the ideal candidate, but I won't let you manipulate her." I don't actually know any of that information but once I saw the camera crew, I made sure I put that fact in my statement to the judge. Too bad it didn't work.

"Look, what's done is done. Adrianna is mine just as much as she is yours. I know I look like a slime ball but¡­. but when I saw her, when she spoke, I just¡­." He shakes his head and I look deep into his eyes.

"It's fine Rory. I'll wait for your lawyer to draw up the visitation days." I grab my purse and walk away but stop when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around with force and push him right off me. "Don't fucking touch me. Ever."

Rory holds his hands up in the surrender pose and backs up. The bailiff is no longer in the room, but his mother and lawyer still are.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch you, I just wanted to know if there was anything I could do." I narrow my eyes on him in confusion and take a step back. "I meant about her illness. You said she was sick, is it serious?"

"Yes, but don't worry, I'll make sure she is fine by the time the camera's roll. In the meantime, the next time you come to my home drunk looking for her, I will have you arrested." I sneer then turn around and walk right out of the room, out of the building and straight to my car where I let the tears roll.

Minutes pass when I finally work up enough strength to drive back home and when I do, I see Shane outside waiting. I park my car and stare at him through the thick glass. I haven't gotten my seatbelt off by the time he has my door open and reaching in for me.

"Shane? What's going on? Is it Adrianna?"

"She's fine babe, taking a nap." I blow out a deep breath and nod my head. I look up at him and take in his deep dark eyes. Shane has always had the look of a man with too much weight on his shoulders and I can tell he has been having a lot more weight added on lately.

"I'm glad you're here." I whisper laying my head on his chest as he holds me. The cool afternoon air gusts by and I shiver causing Shane to hold me tighter.

"Me too babe. Me too." I look up and kiss him, giggling a little and ending the kiss way too soon when I feel his beard that he has grown out, tickle me.

"Funny?"

"Your beard is getting pretty thick." I rub my hand against the scruff and nearly melt in a pool of need. Oh, to feel this between my legs right now.

"I can shave it." He states.

"Don't you dare. You leave that beard right where you found it mister." I place my hands on my hips and give him a southern eyebrow raise but it all ends quickly when he throws me over his shoulder and takes off with me into the house.

Shane doesn't put me down until we are inside. My butt huts the kitchen counter and I shudder at the coolness.

"Want to tell me why you have tear tracks on your face?" He says gently touching my cheeks with his finger.

"Isn't that a song?" I joke but sober up when I see he isn't in a mood for my humor. Blowing out a deep breath I tell Shane what happened at the hearing today.

"Fuck babe. I'm sorry. I know this ain't a good thing for you, but you won't be going through it alone."

"I know, it's just been hard and knowing she will be over there where I can't protect her, scares me."

"Gonna have my brothers on her no matter where she is babe, told you, won't let anything happen to her and I meant that. He doesn't need to know."

"I hope that works out well." I huff out then place my hands along his neck. "Now, want to tell my why you look like you haven't slept in days?" When Shane told me he needed a couple days of thinking, I knew something must have come of him looking into that mysterious biker from the other night.

"My father was murdered by another MC. The president, Snake, was the man who killed him." This is the first time Shane has been open about his father's murder. I knew he was killed, but he has never delved deep into the details. "Could never get my revenge, clubs weren't at each other's throat by the time I was old enough to demand anything. Didn't help that Snake was the one that helped us figure out Psych's situation. If he didn't do that, Candice wouldn't be here today. He also helped Max get his foot out of his ass about Shawna. That man from the other night? The one that I saw on a bike? That was one of Snake's. He wanted my attention, wanted to let us know he got some intel. We had a few choice words and he told me about my old man, being a traitor to the Warriors."

My mouth opens in a wide circle as I take in this information. Of what I remember Shane telling me about his father, Gunner was loyal to the patch and to the club. He and Crusher, Austin and Max's father, had known each other since they were boys. They started the club together and raised their children together. "Are you sure Shane?"

"Not sure of anything darlin'. Went and spoke to Bone, he was patched in just a few years after my dad and Crusher brought the club to life. If anybody would know, it would be him. He was vague at first, but eventually told me enough. My dad wanted more money, hated the mutual respect between the clubs, decided to take it upon himself to change shit. Figured with Crusher dead, he would be the automatic choice for President, since they had no VP yet."

My hand finds Shane's chest and I hold it right over his heart. I can tell this destroyed Shane to hear. It's no wonder Crusher never sought revenge for the death. Snake killed Gunner for him. All these years of hating the wrong man, feeling left alone by a man you grew up respecting, only to find out in the end, he wasn't who you thought he was.

"I'm so sorry Shane." He nods his head then reaches in his cut and pulls out a piece of paper.

"Should have shown you this days ago, was tryin' to protect you, but this shit is getting too close for comfort now, need to know if this is the guy you saw that day at Adrianna's school." I look down at the black and white photo and nod my head. I would recognize his face anywhere.

"Why didn't you show me before now?" I ask looking back up at his worn face.

"Hate how this affects you babe. I can see how tired you are of this, how exhausted you are from not sleeping because the nightmares. I don't want this touchin' you. Just don't have a choice in the matter right now."

I pull his neck down to align his forehead with mine then close my eyes. I can hear his breathing which settles me.

"I know of a way you can make sure my sleeping doesn't get interrupted by bad dreams." I open my eyes when I feel his smile grow. Something he should definitely do more often.

"And what's that?"

"A nice good massage." I joke then laugh when Shane's smile grows to an all-out grin.

"Fine, but then I get to fuck you till you can't walk."

"Deal."

¡ù¡ù¡ù

My footsteps echo off the walls of the corridor as I make my way out of the hospital. Nancy had called me ten minutes ago and told me to come and pick Adrianna up early since she was throwing up. I scamper into my car and peer right out of the hospital parking lot. I can see a bike right behind me and assume it's Miles.

Fifteen panicked minutes later, I am running into the building of the preschool towards where Adrianna's class is. I had left Miles outside to wait for us just in case the women here get weary of him.

After knocking like a maniac, Nancy opens the door with a sad smile on her face.

"Lyla, thank you so much for coming. We're so sorry to call you away from work, but Adrianna was beginning to cry for you." My heart drops at the thought of her alone and scared and just needing her mother. Knowing she may do that again, but with her father, is tearing me apart.

"Thank you for calling me. I'll take her home and get some liquids in her." I nod my head afraid to say anymore or I will break down in front of this woman.

Adrianna all but runs over to me once she sees me. Her face is red and blotchy, and her hair is a mess from the braid that I had done this morning. She has a fresh sheen of sweat on her forehead and when I lean in to kiss it, it's boiling hot.

I say my goodbyes and walk Adrianna out to the car. I have her buckled and am driving off within minutes. Half way home I receive a phone call on my cell and when I glance down, I see Miles is calling me. I answer it immediately, praying he doesn't have a flat tire or something that might prolong me getting Adrianna home.

"Miles?"

"Lyla, need you to look in your rearview mirror." I do as he asks and don't see him anywhere. Did he break down back there?"

"I don't see you, is everything alright?"

"I'm still behind you, but there's a black SUV blocking my view. It's been following your every turn and I think it might be following you. No license plate and the windows are tinted so I can't see anyone. Do me a favor and make a haphazard turn somewhere, whatever you do, do not go home and do not pull over."

"Miles, I'm scared, shouldn't you call the rest of the guys?" I can't let anything happen to Adrianna.

"Don't you worry darlin'. I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you. Could be nothin', but I want to make sure. Make a right turn up ahead and stay on the phone with me." I can hear the wind blowing as I remain on the phone with him and make the turn as indicated.

I look back in my rearview camera and watch as the black SUV makes the same turn. I panic and look back at Adrianna who is falling asleep in an oblivious state.

"Miles, the car made the same turn."

"Yeah, I know. I'm right behind him. Do it again, make another turn, this time left." He states. I do as told and make the turn yet again, noticing that the SUV is making the same turn. "Alright Lyla, now I need you to make another turn, but make it sharp, if this fucker is following you, he's going to do whatever he can to make that turn too."

I nod my head, knowing he can't see me, then place the phone on the passenger seat and prepare for the sharp turn. I make it, almost clipping my side mirror in the process, and look in my mirror as the SUV does the same turn, nearly running into a wall in the same manner.

I grab the phone and place it back to my ear. "Miles, they are following me." I yell, stirring a sickly Adrianna.

"Know that, I've called Shane, he's on his way, as well as Austin and Slice." My heart hammers in my chest as I continue to maneuver randomly throughout the city. Finally, after almost ten minutes, I hear a few rumbles of bikes and slow my breathing when I see the SUV suddenly make a right turn and drive off.

I briefly hear Miles still on the phone with me, telling me to head home. I pull into my driveway moments later and look behind my seat at Adrianna, who has just now woken from the ride. Her face is still blotched, and her eyes are watery.

"Mommy, I don't feel so good." I hop out of the car just in time to catch her and let her vomit on the cement.

"Shit, she alright?" Shane says from behind me. He shifts us so that he is all but carrying Adrianna after she is done and leads the way into the house.

"She's sick. That's why I got off early today." I mumble as I watch him take her to the couch. I place my purse on the kitchen bar and head straight for the bathroom to get her medicine. After a few gulps, moans, and a glass of water, Adrianna falls back asleep on the couch and I head back over to the kitchen where Miles, Slice, and Shane are all speaking in hushed tones.

The moment they spot me, all whispers stop as they all turn to me.

"Anybody want to explain what that was about?" I say in anger. The only reason I am not screaming is because my extremely sick daughter, is sleeping on the couch fifteen feet away.

"Slice and Miles went after the SUV. By the time they caught up to it, the people inside were gone. Car was abandoned." Shane answers and it takes everything in my body not to punch a wall.

"We'll get them darlin'. Won't let nothin' happen to you or the princess." Slice says to me then turns to address Shane. "See you at church tomorrow morning brother. Take care of your girls." Shane nods his head and walks them out.

My phone rings from my purse and I run over to answer it before it could wake Adrianna. I know I will have to wake her soon to give her more medicine and something to eat, but for now I'm letting her rest as much as she can.

I check the collar ID and notice an unknown number. I automatically answer it knowing it's my new lawyer I hired for the custody hearing. I hated digging into my savings to do this, but I know I needed to do something. I saw the look on Claudine's face, she won't let her son stop at partial custody. I won't even be surprised if she tries to sue me for the missing time on, what I'm sure they considered his, already obtained election.

"Mr. Mahoney?" I answer.

"Yes, Lyla hello. Sorry to call you in the middle of the day, I know you're at work, but I found my current news urgent."

"Go ahead, I'm actually home. Adrianna is incredibly sick, so I had to take the day off." I say cringing at the fact that I have lost a day of work.

"I hope she's alright." He says sounding genuinely worried. When I first hired Jacob Mahoney, who was refereed to me by Ben of all people, I was hesitant. I had never told anyone besides my mother and Lisa about that horrible night with Rory, but after speaking with him, he assured me that he would do everything in his power to make sure that Rory would never be granted full custody.

"Yes, she was born with a weakened immune system, so a small little sickness can turn into something like the flu easily. I'll have to monitor her for the next few days is all."

"That's good news." I watch as Shane comes back into the house after seeing his brothers off and heads right for Adrianna's sleeping form. "The urgent news I had for you is that Rory has officially filed for full custody, but that's not the worst part."

"What's the worst part?" I lean from one foot to the other, one of my many nervous mannerisms.

"His statement to the court was pretty raw Lyla. He mentions that you are a danger to your daughter because of who you have allowed around your daughter for the last few weeks." Dread fills my brain as I think of what Rory could possibly be trying to prove.

"He's mentioned an MC by the name of the Nightmare Warriors. There are pictures, lots of them, and in one of them, Adrianna is on the back of one of the bikes with no helmet on, unsupervised." I cower thinking of the one-time Max put her on his bike and took a picture of her, it lasted five seconds but apparently Rory had someone watching us for a long time.

"Mr. Mahoney, I'm sure the picture looks bad, but the Nightmare Warriors are friends of mine. They are no part at all, a danger to my child. She loves them, they are like a bunch of uncles." I don't mention the relationship I have with their Road Captain, figured that small bit of information would be best left out.

"I understand Lyla. I don't judge, but I'm not the one you want to try and persuade. The judge you two had, has decided to pass your case onto someone else and this new one, happened to play a round of golf with Rory's father. This isn't good Lyla. There is also a picture of you with another MC, and of what I can tell, it's a personal one. I can't read much of the picture because it's blurry, but it looks like his vest thing says Rejects MC." Shit, they must have taken a picture when that guy was threatening me and Adrianna.

"Mr. Mahoney, I can assure you they have made that photo into something it's not¡­" He interrupts me before I can finish.

"That may be Lyla, but they still have the evidence to do some serious damage. I also did some checking, you were right to assume about your ex fianc¨¦. Seems as though back home in Texas, he is running for Mayor. That could be the real reason behind the full custody battle. Legally, he can't take her across state lines if you don't want her to." I place my hand on my forehead as Shane nears me. He must have heard some of my conversation.

"Thank you for your help Mr. Mahoney. Please call me if anything changes and let me know when the next hearing will be."

"You've got to keep your head together Lyla. I understand we don't want to give up on friendships, but this is bigger than you." He says, and I hang up and bring my attention to Shane's face.

"Thought I lost you." He says placing his hands on my face. I hate this, I hate that I can't be happy with him without everything falling to shit because of who he is on the outside.

"Shane, we need to talk."

"Bout' what you just said over the phone with your lawyer?"

"How'd you know who he was?"

"Obvious babe. What did he say?"

"Rory is filing for full custody. He wants Adrianna all to himself and he has some evidence against me to show the judge. He has pictures of me and Adrianna hanging out with you all."

"And¡­"

"And? What the hell do you mean? I can't let my daughter be taken away from me Shane." I say in a panic. Even the thought of losing her is making me want to go out and hunt down Rory.

"Babe, being around people ain't gonna steer the judge into callin' you a bad mom."

"You just don't get it." I release his hands from my face and walk over to the fridge for a bottle of water. "He is having me watched and is waiting for any little mistake. Being around a bunch of bikers that have priors and that are being chased by cops twenty-four hours a day, could seriously affect this hearing I have."

"So, what the fuck are you tryin' to say?" He demands, throwing his hands in the air.

"Don't you dare curse at me. I have a right to be worried about this Shane. This isn't some fucking daddy revenge issue, this is my daughter's life." I look down hating the words I have just spouted at him. I've never been the kind of person to throw what someone has confided in me, back in their face, but this whole ordeal, the chase from that mystery SUV, the custody battle, everything is beginning to wear on me.

"I told you I was going to protect you, and that's what I'll do."

"I can't have you around us Shane,"

"Your lives are more important than a fuckin' custody hearing." He yells.

He doesn't understand, he doesn't get that her life can be in just as much danger if she lived with her father full time. "Shane, I will call Alberts right now if you don't get out." I scream, and my tears falls when I hear Adrianna call out for me. "I mean it, I want you gone. Now." I point to the door, ignoring Shane's glare.

After a few seconds he finally understands my serious tone, because he heads right out of the door and seconds later, peels off on his bike.

"Mommy is Shane coming back?" I hear and collapse right there in the cold tile of the kitchen floor. My mind on so many things I can't think straight. I feel Adrianna's warm body curl into mine and I cry for her, I cry for me and Shane, but most importantly, I cry for my fears.

Please don't let him take my little girl away.