Blood At The Gate

The ride back from the truck stop felt longer than the two hours it actually took. I sat in the cage again, but this time the silence between me and Jax wasn’t awkward — it was electric. Every time Colossus glanced over from his lead position, our eyes locked through the tinted glass like we were the only two people on the desert highway. That crooked almost-smile of his flashed once when he caught me staring, and my stomach did a full loop-de-loop. By the time the compound fence came into view, my skin was still buzzing from the garage kisses and the promise he’d growled against my neck: Tonight. My room. No fear. I was halfway out of the van before it even stopped rolling. Colossus was already there, swinging off his Harley and reaching for me with those massive hands that had learned exactly how to hold me without breaking. “Missed you on the back of my bike,” he rumbled, pulling me close the second my boots hit gravel. One arm banded around my waist, the other cupped the back of my neck like I was something he couldn’t bear to let go of. “Next run, you ride with me. Vest or no vest.” I rose on my toes and kissed the underside of his jaw, tasting road dust and salt. “Careful, mountain man. Keep talking sweet and I might start thinking you’re going soft on me.” His low chuckle vibrated against my chest. “Only for you, wrench girl. Everyone else still gets the scary giant.” Rogue walked past and fake-gagged. “You two are disgusting. Save it for after church or I’m gonna need therapy.” Colossus flipped him off without looking away from me. That rare, boyish grin was back — the one that made the scar on his collarbone look like just another story instead of a life sentence. “Ignore him. He’s jealous I finally found someone who doesn’t run when I growl.” Before I could fire back a tease, the gate prospect sprinted toward us, face pale under the floodlights. “Colossus! Prez! We got a problem at the front fence.” The easy warmth between us snapped to ice. We moved as one. Colossus kept me tucked against his side, his hand never leaving my hip as we rounded the corner to the main gate. Marco was slumped against the chain-link, bleeding from a split lip and a nasty gash on his forehead. His shirt was torn, knuckles raw like he’d been in a fight he didn’t win. Two Shadow Reapers idled their bikes just outside the fence line, watching with smug grins. Blade sat on his own ride, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the show. Mom stood a few feet away inside the gate, mascara streaked down her cheeks, wringing her hands. “Lena, baby, they jumped him when he came to talk sense into you. He’s your brother — please.” Colossus’s entire body went rigid beside me, but his hand on my hip stayed gentle — a silent anchor. “He’s not coming inside,” he said, voice low and deadly calm. “And your mother doesn’t get to cry on my property after she let him drain you dry.” I stepped forward anyway, wrench already in my back pocket like a security blanket. “What the hell happened, Marco?” He lifted his head, one eye swelling shut. “Reapers… they said if I didn’t bring you out, they’d make sure I couldn’t gamble again. Ever.” His gaze flicked to me, desperate and manipulative in that way only family can manage. “Sis, I f****d up. But blood’s blood. Help me.” Blade laughed from outside the fence. “Cute family reunion. Pay up what you owe us for the ‘protection’ we gave your brother, Voss, or we start taking it out on the Titans one bike at a time. Starting with that pretty custom chopper you’re building in their garage.” Colossus moved before anyone could blink. He planted himself between me and the fence, massive frame blocking the Reapers’ view of me completely. “You want her talent? Come take it. But you’ll go through me first.” The chemistry that had been simmering all day flared hot and protective. I slipped my hand into his back pocket, grounding him the way he always grounded me. His fingers brushed mine once — quick, grateful — before he focused on the threat. Viper appeared at our side, voice hard. “Gate stays closed. Marco can bleed out there until he learns loyalty doesn’t come with a price tag. Lena’s one of us now.” Mom started sobbing louder. “Lena, don’t be heartless—” “Enough,” I cut her off, voice steady even though my chest ached. “You chose him every single time. I’m choosing me. And the man who’s never once asked me to pay for his protection.” Colossus glanced down at me, gray eyes soft for just a heartbeat amid the storm. That look said everything: I’ve got you. Always. Blade revved his engine. “This ain’t over. We’ll be back when the giant gets bored and crushes his new toy like he crushes everything else.” They peeled out, leaving Marco slumped and bleeding on the gravel. Colossus turned to me, both hands framing my face right there in front of the club. His thumbs stroked my cheeks, gentle as always. “You don’t have to fix this,” he said quietly, only for me. “Not him. Not her. You’ve already rebuilt enough broken s**t in your life.” I leaned into his palm, heart full and aching at the same time. “I know. But watching him bleed still hurts. Old habits.” He pressed his forehead to mine, beard tickling my skin. “Then let me carry it with you tonight. My room. Door locked. No more guilt. Just you, me, and whatever this is turning into.” The promise in his voice — rough, hopeful, a little nervous — made heat pool low in my belly despite the blood on the ground. “Deal, mountain man,” I whispered. “But if you go all gentle on me again, I’m calling you soft in front of the whole club.” His laugh was low and real, the kind that made Rogue roll his eyes and Jax cheer. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” As prospects dragged a cursing Marco to the infirmary wing (under Viper’s orders — “He stays locked down until we decide what to do with him”), Colossus kept his arm around me the whole walk back. The Reapers wanted my hands. My family wanted my guilt. But the giant walking beside me like I was the only thing worth fighting for… he wanted my heart. And tonight, I was finally ready to hand it over.