Rely on Me - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,33
while I deal with her . . . or, I could make another trip. As Riva and I exit this house I decide we might as well go where we need to. They’d want to hear everything straight from the horse’s mouth.
New York, here we come.
Chapter Eighteen
There can be no good without evil
~ Russian Proverb
Riva
Since we left Philadelphia it’s felt like someone has their hand wrapped around my throat. Anxiety is suffocating me, quite literally. I was so terrified, fearful those people had killed my beloved pappa. Thankfully he survived and Mammoth knew what to do. He called his friend . . . called in a favor. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around what he’s involved in, but somehow, I feel like everything will eventually make sense to me.
We’re now in New York and Mammoth has said he’s on his way to Queens, to meet up with this Boss lady and talk to her about a few things. I have a feeling he’s going to be calling in yet another favor, and it makes me realize what he said to me in his bedroom back when we were arguing. He said he stuck his neck out for me, that he said I was his in front of his entire club. I never asked what it meant. I’m figuring we’re a little-ways off from where we’re supposed to be, so what better time than right now.
“You said you told your entire club I was yours. What did you mean by that?” I question, turning my head to the left. I want to watch his facial expressions as he tells me what this means . . . because right about now I think I’m grasping the fact this wasn’t anything light. It was heavy.
Mammoth takes his right hand off the steering wheel and rubs his hand over his chin, like he’s contemplating on how to explain this to me. Finally, he speaks, though it isn’t what I want to hear. “It’s a bit difficult to explain.”
I don’t know if I’m losing it a bit, but he seems like he’s nervous to talk about this again. “You told me once, just explain it more to me. I need to understand what you meant when you said you put yourself on the line . . . because it feels like you, almost like you gave up your freedom for me.”
“I did not give up my freedom. Being with you doesn’t take it away. It’s not like you’re shackling me up and chaining me down. It’s just that— fuck. I’m explaining this the wrong way.” Mammoth takes in a sharp breath, “Look, what I did was tell the entire club you’re my woman. I already told you that . . . and you’re askin’ me to go into details. Mouse, I don’t know what you’re lookin’ for here.”
“You told me Hart was Gamble’s ol’ man.” I state, hoping he’ll just give me more details behind the term. I’m pretty certain it means they’re together. I think he said something about it’s like they are married in the biker life . . . but I could be going nuts.
“Yeah, like her husband.” He mutters. The tone of his voice changes and I can tell he’s nervous, seeing where I’m taking this. “I wasn’t gonna leave you to the sharks, you know.”
“Yeah, but . . . I still don’t grasp why you went to the lengths you did.”
“I already told you. If I wanted to have the club help us with this shit, and take advantage of the alliances we have . . . I needed to claim you, Mouse. How do you think I was cleared to call Boss, and even get Lia to help save your dad? If I didn’t claim you, none of that would’ve been possible.” Mammoth informs me, placing his hand down in a relaxed manner over his leg.
I reach across and grab his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Well, I’m glad you did. I know it’s some heavy shit . . . so I . . . I’m so thankful to you for what you’ve done. To what you’re doing for me.”
Mammoth brings our hands up to his mouth and presses his lips to the back of my hand, giving it a chaste kiss. “I told you this once, and I’ll tell you again. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you. Not now. Not ever.”
“Thank you for coming when I called.” I’d be dead if it