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Jake laughs, “Yeah, pretty much.”
When he moves away to answer some questions from Mara, I turn to Charlotte. “I’m starting to feel like the guys all got together and set this up.”
“I’m sure they did,” Charlotte agrees.
Heidi raises her hand. “Oh, I can confirm they did.”
Trinity faces me with a much more serious attitude. “They both grew up around MCs. So did I. We understand the life.”
I’ve never pried into Trinity’s past before. I’ve just always been drawn to her nice-but-no-bullshit attitude. Her realness. Now I’m curious, but afraid to probe too much.
“You and Hope didn’t. This life can be rough on women.” She glances over at Hope and the kids. “I can safely say our men would kill to protect us, no matter what.”
Such a powerful statement said in such an easy manner. I’ve never had anyone I trusted with my life the way I trust Z. Or believed anyone cared about me with that kind of intensity.
“But we also live in the real world. There are more than just threats from other MCs. All you have to do is look around and see it’s not always safe everywhere.”
How true that is.
“We also have to live our lives, go to work, go out. They just want us to be able to protect ourselves as much as possible. So, cavemen or not, they’ll put our safety above all.” She lowers her voice and holds her arms out in an imitation of a caveman, “’No man touch my woman’.”
“Now,” Heidi says, “if Jake put his hands on any of us like that outside the gym—”
“You’d find me floating face down in the Hudson River,” Jake says over his shoulder.
Heidi chuckles.
“Or never find you at all,” Trinity says under her breath.
While Charlotte and Heidi sort of drift away to talk wedding stuff, I stick with Trinity.
“Trin, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, anything, Lilly.” She bends over to slip her sneakers on. “What’s on your mind?”
“Does that…” I can’t seem to find the right word. “That hypervigilance to protect us… How does that work with other members of the club?”
She frowns at me. “You mean, one of the brothers? Our brothers? LOKI?”
“Yes.”
“Did someone bother you downstate?”
“Why do you assume I mean downstate?”
She narrows her eyes. “For one, you’ve been spending most of your time there. Two, property patch or not, no one upstate would ever go near another brother’s girl intentionally. It just wouldn’t happen.”
“Okay, so yes, hypothetically—”
“Jesus, you sound like Hope.”
“What would happen?”
“If a member disrespected another member’s old lady? He’d probably get his ass kicked.” She touches my arm. “Be honest, are you worried about someone?”
The last thing I want to do is get a reputation for starting trouble within the club. I have no doubt if I say something to Trinity, she’ll tell Wrath.
“I was just curious.”
She stares at me for a few extra beats.
“Shadow creeps me out a little,” I finally admit.
“I knew it.” Her expression twists into something almost murderous. “He is a creep.”
“It’s just a few things he’s said. Coming from anyone else, they might be compliments.”
“But you felt like you needed a hot shower after talking to him?”
“Basically.”
She tilts her head. “I’m surprised he’d try that with you. I imagine Z’s made it clear you’re together.”
“Practically rubs himself all over me every time we’re at the clubhouse. And he had words with Shadow last time it happened.”
“Hopefully he learned his lesson.”
“Not really. They got into it over one of the club girls last week.”
Trinity raises an eyebrow. “Really? How’d that go down?”
I give her brief outline of the night. She smiles and shakes her head. “Gotta love Z. How’s the club been since that?”
“Fine. Everyone went back to normal. I haven’t been there much since.”
“What’s wrong?” Charlotte asks as she and Heidi approach.
I glance around, but we’re far enough away from everyone else that no one should overhear me. “Nothing, I just had some questions for Trinity.”
She drills Charlotte and Heidi with a harsh stare. “Shadow bother either of you when you’ve been down there?”
Fuck my life. Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut?
“I’ve only seen him once or twice,” Heidi says. “I’ve mostly been staying at the house when I’m down there. But I heard what went down with Serena.”
“That asshole. Not only is he an asshole to the girls,” Charlotte’s voice is little more than a harsh whisper, “No one said it directly, but based on stuff I’ve overheard, I’m pretty sure he’s responsible for Teller getting shot.”
Trinity raises an eyebrow.
“What?” Charlotte shrugs. “Isn’t that the whole reason we’re down there? To protect Z and pay attention? Let him know if anyone’s going to threaten or challenge him while Sway’s out?”
I’m not sure if she means “we” as in members from upstate or if she literally means “we” as in Teller, Charlotte, Murphy, and Heidi. Either way, I love them for having Z’s back.
“Of course,” Trinity answers. “Just be careful.” Her gaze shifts my way. “Who you talk about it with.”
I’m not offended by Trinity’s warning to Charlotte. There’s always the chance I accidentally say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. You know, like this moment right here.
“It sounds like Z handled it. Hopefully that’s the end of it and everyone falls in line.” She sighs and focuses on me. “You’re bound to overhear stuff hanging around the clubhouse or even from Z himself. Don’t ever repeat any of it to a brother and be careful which old ladies you share anything with down there.” She nods to Charlotte and Heidi. “You can tell us anything. And of course, you can tell Hope. But anyone else, be careful.”
“We try to watch out for her,” Heidi says. “When we’re there.”
My gaze swings to Heidi.
“Tawny’s still gone and only Angie still comes around.” Heidi’s nose wrinkles. “It’s mostly club girls.”
“Yeah, definitely watch what you share with them,” Trinity warns. “You don’t have to be cruel to them, like Tawny was, but watch your back. A lot of them would kill to be in your place.”
“Good to know,” I mutter.
What about Z? Would any of the brothers
kill to be in his place? Would Shadow?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lilly
Z assures me Shadow’s been on his best behavior since the Serena incident. Even so I’m a little hesitant to attend tonight’s party.
I love him and I trust him, but I’m not convinced Shadow is no longer a problem.
The club’s loud, the brothers rowdier than usual. More girls than ever seem to fill the place. Maybe news spread throughout the club girl grapevine that Z had cracked the whip and they could come here to party without the threat of being roughed up.
Z’s alternated between sliding his hand over my ass and discussing an upcoming road trip to Texas with one of the brothers all night, so I’m not worried about the extra muffler bunnies.
When he takes a break, I lean in. “I want to call and say good night to Chance.”
“I’ll come with you.” The deep rumble of his voice suggests he’s interested in more than a quick phone call to our son.
As if on cue, Hustler slams his beer down next to Z’s. “A word, Prez?”
Laughing, I lean in and kiss Z’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
The hallways are full of the usual noises. A few doors are open and I may or may not take a peek inside as I walk past them.
Our hallway is quieter. Normally, I prefer that when we’re trying to sleep. Tonight, it gives me the creeps for some reason.
My skin prickles and I hurry to open the door, locking it behind me.
Heidi answers right away and we talk for a few seconds before she calls Chance to the phone.
He only has a few short answers for me before giving the phone back to Heidi.
“Thanks again, Heidi.”
“No problem. How are things there?”
“Pretty chill, actually.”
“Good.”
We talk for a few more minutes and I say good night to Chance one more time before hanging up.
I stop in the bathroom, fix my lipstick, and run a brush through my hair. My slippers are calling my name. The five-inch platform heels are killing my toes. But they look much better with this dress than slippers will.
Chuckling to myself, I close the door to our room and lock it like Z asked.
