Duncan (8 page)

“Let’s get something to eat before heading out.” Duncan reached out taking her hand when she stepped out of the bathroom.

She took his hand but stopped him. “I really want to get this over with.” Pam searched his face, her hunger fading at what was before her today. “Could we just go?”

“You need to eat.” He shook his head. “And I need to get you out of here without every reporter in the Cincinnati area following us.”

“I forgot about that,” Pam moaned, allowing Duncan to lead her out of the room. Nearing the kitchen, she was glad they were stopping to eat. The smells lingering in the hallway smelled delicious.

“It’s about time.” Sid frowned their way. “I thought you were expecting breakfast in bed, and well, that would’ve been a long disappointing wait for you.”

Duncan grabbed a plate piling everything on it before handing it to Pam. “Here.”

“I can’t eat all of that.” Pam’s eyes widened. “I can make my own plate, but thanks anyway.” Pam looked at the massive amount of food in front of her face trying not to gag, her stomach dipped, feeling queasy.

“You need to eat.”

“And I will, but if I eat all of that I’ll get sick.” Pam pushed the plate away, grabbing one of her own.

Duncan plopped the plate on the counter with a loud clatter. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

“I’m fine.” Pam grinned. “I just have to take it slow in the mornings. Some things make me sick, so I have to be careful what I eat.”

Duncan frowned looking around at all the food. “Is there anything here you can eat? If not, I’ll take you somewhere else.”

“Jesus. Calm the hell down, bro.” Sid pushed him out of the way. “Let her breathe and get her own damn food. She’s pregnant, not taking her last fucking breath. If there isn’t anything she can eat, I’ll make her something else.”

“But…” Duncan pushed back at Sid to get closer to Pam.

“But…” Sid mocked, then rolled his eyes. “Sit the hell down and eat,” Sid ordered.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Duncan shot back with a deep growl.

“Honestly, it’s a fucking mystery to me, ‘cause you sure as hell aren’t talking like your badass self.” Sid snorted shaking his head. “More like Nervous Nellie Nursemaid.”

“Fuck you!” Duncan got in Sid’s face, his fists clinched.

“Hey guys.” Pam held her empty plate to her chest, watching the scene unfold before her.

“No.” Sid took a step forward and jabbed a finger in Duncan’s chest. “Fuck you!”

“Guys.” Pam tried again, a little louder.

“You got a problem?” Duncan growled.

“Yeah, a big ugly one,” Sid growled back.

Pam gave up with a roll of her eyes. Grabbing a slice of toast, she walked to the table and sat down just as Jared walked in.

“What’s their problem?” Jared stopped beside her, looking at Duncan and Sid.

“I honestly don’t know,” she replied with a shrug of her shoulder.

Jared grinned. “Well, just ignore them. It’s been pretty intense around here lately.” He sat down across from her. “So how you doing, fatty?”

Not in the least offended by Jared calling her fatty, she grinned. She had missed his friendship and sense of humor. “Good.” She nibbled on her toast avoiding his gaze. She had been far from good. She was a mess of nerves and emotions she could hardly contain.

“You never could lie worth a damn, Pamster.” Jared eyed her with a frown, but let it go when Duncan and Sid broke up their attitude contest.

“Is that all you’re eating?” both Sid and Duncan asked at the same time.

“I could use some orange juice if you have any.” Pam watched as both men went to get her request.

Sid threw up his hand stopping Duncan. “I got this.”

Grabbing the plate he had initially made for Pam, Duncan growled one last time at Sid, before sitting down next to Pam. “You got plans today?” Duncan asked Jared while digging into his food.

“Not really.” Jared snatched a piece of bacon off Duncan’s plate. “Tessa is spending time with Gramps, and then she has to work. Why? What’s up?”

“We’re going to Pam’s old apartment today and need help getting out of here without a posse of reporters following us.” Duncan grunted with a frown.

“You sure she’s ready for that?” Jared asked without even looking at Pam.

“Well, since she’s sitting right here, why don’t you ask her?” Pam replied pushing her plate away clearly irritated.

Jared grinned with a wink her way. “Sorry, but you know how protective we Warriors are.”

“And I appreciate it, but I do still have a voice. I may be jumpy here and there, but I’m determined to be back to the smartass Pam you all loved to hate.” She also grinned feeling more herself.

“No hate involved, babe.” Jared grabbed another piece of bacon from Duncan’s plate and almost lost a hand.

“Get your own damn plate, and her name is Pam, not babe,” Duncan hissed at Jared before turning his attention to Pam. “No one here hated you, but you were a smartass.” A rare grin broke across his face at his own teasing.

“Oh, ho ho.” Pam laughed. “The mighty leader does have a sense of humor.”

Duncan stopped the coffee cup halfway to his lips, his eyes watching the genuine smile play across her face, her laughter musical. “You are absolutely beautiful.”

Pam blushed, Jared cleared his throat, and Sid set down the biggest glass of orange juice Pam had ever seen. “Thank you,” she said, but no one knew exactly who she was thanking.

Taking a big gulp of coffee, Duncan avoided eye contact with anyone.

Jared stared at the large glass of orange juice. “Geez, why not bring her a damn bucket, bro.”

Pam tried to lift the glass with one hand, but had to use two. She giggled. “It is a little big.” When she saw disappointment in Sid’s eyes, she quickly put it to her mouth and took a drink. “But perfect. Thank you.”

Sid smiled at her then turned and flipped Jared off before walking back to the stove.

Jared shook his head laughing. “Asshole.” Then he turned serious as he looked at Duncan. “I got a plan that I think will work. Be back in a few.” With that said, he pushed away from the table snatching more bacon off Duncan’s plate.

“Dammit.” Duncan tried to snatch them back, but was too slow.

“You had a half of a pig on your plate.” Pam smirked. “I can’t see how missing a few pieces is going to hurt you.”

“I’m hungry.” Duncan took a huge bite of eggs.

“That’s because you didn’t eat in three months,” Sid replied from the stove. “No matter what I made, he wouldn’t eat.”

“Shut up, Sid,” Duncan growled before taking another drink of coffee.

Pam frowned, feeling awful she had put him through that. “I’m sorry.”

Duncan shot Sid a nasty look, but before he could respond, Jared came back in with Damon and Jill following. “What’s the plan?” He pushed his empty plate away, his focus on Jared.

Jared pulled Jill in front of him. “From a distance, Jill can pass for Pam.” He put a baseball hat on her head and handed her the small pillow he’d been carrying which she put under her large shirt. Damon handed her an oversized coat. “Adam is bringing the car around front. Once he’s in front, we will surround her and put her in the car. You guys can leave through the back. We’ll follow and meet you at the apartment just in case they catch on and follow.”

“Two flaws in that plan, friend.” Duncan shook his head. “First, there are reporters surrounding us, and second, the back entrance is for our bikes. She is not riding on the motorcycle.”

“As soon as they see Pam, aka Jill, every reporter will rush to the front. They have watchers that will let them know, believe me. And why in the hell can’t she ride on the bike?” Jared responded, not liking that his plan was being questioned.

“Because she’s not.” Duncan’s tone was final.

“Why not?”  Pam replied. “I would love to ride on the motorcycle.”

“Pregnant women should not ride on motorcycles,” Duncan replied as if it was law.

Pam frowned. “Who says?”

“Everybody.”

“I didn’t say that.” Jared smirked. “I actually suggested it.”

“Yeah, I don’t see what the problem is,” Sid piped in.

“You’re one of the safest riders I know.” Damon added his two cents with a shrug.

“It will be fine, Duncan.” Pam looked his way. “I really want to…”

“I said no dammit,” Duncan yelled.

Pam snapped her head back, her face paling a bit. Her stomach pitched violently, but her eyes were on Duncan. She knew this man would never hurt her, he just yelled. Yelling wouldn’t hurt her. Duncan would never hurt her. She repeated that last part to herself.

“Ah, okay. Do you have another plan?” she asked Duncan, surprised her voice held strong.

“Give me a minute.” Duncan frowned.

“Why don’t you go out front with them, and I’ll ride to the apartment with one of these guys,” Pam added with a nod toward the other Warriors. Pam did lean back at the look on Duncan’s face. His expression scared her more than his yelling.

“Over my dead body.” He didn’t yell, but his lowered tone of voice warned her she may have pushed a little too far.

“Damon…off with his head.” Sid broke the silence with his usual smartass comment. “I’ve got things to do, and I’m tired of waiting.”

“Shut the…”

“Fuck up, Sid,” Sid finished for Duncan. “You guys seriously need to come up with something new.”

“If anything happens to her, I will kill every single one of you.” Duncan grabbed Pam’s hand, ignoring everyone as he led her out of the room.

“I don’t think he meant you.” Jared put his hand on Jill’s shoulder. “Then again, if things go bad, I’d hide out for awhile.” Jared tapped the front of Jill’s cap down over her eyes as he passed her.

*****

Duncan led Pam into the garage that held their bikes. This was a bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea, but yet, here he was, going along with it because the idea of her riding with anyone else drove him absolutely insane. He’d just threatened to kill his fellow Warriors over it. Poor Jill probably thought she was a part of his kill list. God, he had to get a grip.

“This one?” Pam pointed, and when he nodded, she tried to lift her leg over to straddle the seat, but her belly got in the way. “Wait a minute.”

Watching her try to figure out how to get her beautiful pregnant body on the back of his bike, did him in. He watched the frustration line her face as she tried hard to prove her point that she could ride.

“This isn’t going to work.” Pam’s eyes shot up to his, full of disappointment. “But I want to ride with you. I’ve always wanted to ride with you. I was so jealous of Nicole when Damon would take her for rides. Then I would see you pull up to the warehouse on your bike, and I wanted so badly to ask you for a ride, but I couldn’t. Now that I can finally ride with you, I’m…I’m too fat!” She threw her arms wide, a disgusted look on her face.

Duncan couldn’t help it, he laughed pulling her to him. Her words meant more to him than she would ever know. She had wanted him back then, and that made him soar. “You are not fat. You’re gorgeous.” He hugged her, placed a kiss on the top of her head. Climbing on the bike, he started it up. After it hummed to life, he crooked his finger at her.

A large excited smile brightened her face. She took a step and stood next to him. “Really?”

“Yeah…” he winked, “really.” In truth, he had wanted her on his bike. He had felt the same when he watched Damon and Nicole take off for long rides. He had yearned to do the same with Pam, and even though he was a little nervous and protective over her, he felt the same excitement she had. They didn’t have helmets since they never wore them, and it wasn’t law in Ohio to wear one, but he would take no chances with this woman, ever. He would ride with care.

Pam clapped her hands and laughed. “How do you want me?”

Duncan moaned at the thoughts that question brought to mind. Instead of answering, he grabbed her hips and turned her around. With ease, he lifted her onto the bike in front of him, sitting her sideways, her legs propped over his. Pulling her into the V of his legs he grabbed her arms wrapping them around him. “Don’t let go.”

“I won’t.” She looked deeply into his eyes as if she was not only answering for the bike ride, but for her trust in him also. After a few minutes of just staring at each other, their eyes saying more than words ever could, she laid against him, her head resting where his heart used to beat.

Chapter 9

They arrived at the apartment much too soon for Pam. She knew she wasn’t ready, but she was done with the poor me attitude. She had to get her act together before the little one came. She had no choice.

Jared and Sid were already there, sitting on their own bikes. As soon as she and Duncan pulled in next to the Warriors, with a coolness that would make any woman’s heart flutter, they stepped off their bikes. Jared waited until Duncan parked before carefully picking her up and setting her down so Duncan could step off.

No one said a word. It was if they all knew something major was about to happen, at least something major to her. Without thinking twice about it, Pam reached out and grasped Duncan’s hand tightly. She was scared, scared to death. She was about to step into a past that terrified her.

Walking in the door, she stared straight ahead, swallowing the bile that hit the back of her throat. The smell was the same. She hated the smell of this hallway. It smelled like pain, fear and defeat to her.

Duncan stopped. Immediately, a few steps behind them, Jared and Sid stopped too, waiting for Duncan’s signal. “You don’t have to do this.” He looked down at her, his eyes searching her face for any sign of retreat.

Gratitude filled her, but she shook her head. “I do have to do this, Duncan. I have to take back my life. It’s just an apartment…right?” She forced the small smile on her face, but he didn’t return it. He just squeezed her hand gently.

They stopped in front of apartment 3. Pam made no move to open the door. Clearing her throat, her eyes steady on the door, she dropped Duncan’s hand. “I don’t have a key.” She was thankful that no one said anything; she would have lost her nerve to speak if they had. She felt their eyes on her. “I wasn’t allowed to have a key. If he wasn’t here, I waited outside until he got home.”