Ky’s facial expression turns dark, deadly, and murderous. “What?”
“If the going gets bad. Like, real bad, you get Liv the fuck outta here and protect her until you know she’s safe. Lock her up in a damn tower if you have to, just promise me you’ll keep her alive.”
Ky considers my request. “You know I will.”
“That’s all I care about. I’m expendable.”
“You are not expendable.” Ky nearly drags me across the table. “You’re my best fucking friend, and I’ll lock you in a damn tower to keep you safe if I have to. Pony is not going to win. That slimy gangster is going to get what’s coming to him.”
“That’s what I’m also afraid of. I don’t want to start a war over this.”
“Sometimes you have to fight for your family, whether you like it or not. I learned that lesson the hard way. But I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I’m not going to turn my back or walk away. I’m not going to lose a friend or a Squad member either. So we do what we can in the time that we have. Deal?” Ky extends his hand to me.
I don’t want to take it. I don’t want to agree, but I don’t think I have much of a choice. He isn’t going to take no for an answer. He’s just trying to be civil for appearance purposes.
“Deal.” We shake.
“Good.” He’s satisfied. “And I’m definitely going to make Liv keep babysitting you. I think it’s a good idea.” He winks.
“Yeah, she’s going to be thrilled,” I reply flatly, recalling the oh-so-wonderful “friend zone” conversation we had earlier.
“If I know you, she’ll be thrilled eventually.” Ky arches an eyebrow, picks up his burger, and eats away.
12
Liv
A real-live Malibu Barbiehelps me unpack.
“So, let me get this straight. Your mom is married to Gerard Parish, and you are engaged to Ky?”
“Precisely.” Kira hangs up one of my shirts. “I know it’s kind of weird, but it totally works for our family.” She turns and smiles as she grabs another shirt from my suitcase. Her hair is this gorgeous shade of sun-kissed blonde, and her eyes a deep, soulful shade of brown. Beautiful people can sometimes be intimidating, but as soon as she said hello, I had a feeling I was going to like her, and so far, I do.
I first met Kira in the lobby when Hawk and Fender moved Knuckles and me from the Paradise Motel to the Downtown Grand. It’s way nicer by leaps and bounds. I’m actually not afraid to leave the room at night now, and Kira has been by my side since my arrival.
“How did Gerard meet your mom?”
“He fixed her car. It’s an older Vette that used to be my grandfather's. She’s crazy over it. I guess his garage advertised that it specialized in older cars.”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “Gambit loves his vintage toys. He was always tinkering with one growing up.”
“You grew up around the club?” Kira turns around, fascinated.
“Yup. I grew up with both Ky and Damon. They were the big brothers I never wanted.”
“What was it like?” Kira’s brown eyes sparkle with curiosity.
I sit down on the bed and think about the best way to describe it. “Testosterone-filled.”
“I’m sure.” She sits as well, intently listening.
“But it was fun. I remember every Christmas Eve, Gambit would pick a hospital to go to, and we’d hand out toys to all the sick kids who couldn’t go home. And we did a pet adoption one time. That was fun, seeing all the rough and rugged older members who liked to scare us, turn to mush over an adorable puppy.”
“Aww, that sounds so sweet.”
“It was. But mostly it was just us getting to hang out with our dads.” An arrow of sorrow hits me straight in the heart. “That was the best part. Riding on the back of their bikes getting pizza and ice cream.”
Kira picks up on my change in tone. “Is your dad not around anymore?”
