A few girls in the corner don’t take their eyes off me. They don’t smile like Tempe, Reagan, or the other girls who came to the house. They scan me head to toe like they’re assessing a threat. Miniskirts mold to their hips, and they’re dressed for a party in the middle of the afternoon. Their curves make mine seem unimpressive in comparison.
If I had to guess, Hayes has history with at least one of the girls here, if not more. Our one night between the sheets made it clear he’s had plenty of experience. Maybe that should scare me, but Hayes’s wild side is what drew me to him. He was a breath of fresh air, and I was drowning.
He was freedom when my entire life I'd been locked in a cage.
As I pass by the girls, one of them whispers to another, “That’s her.”
“The girl Soul knocked up?” another girl asks.
“That's the one.”
“I guess it was bound to happen, right? What hasn't Soul done? Or better yet,whohasn't Soul done?” The girls laugh. “I'm surprised it didn’t happen sooner. I guess that explains why he's been so boring lately.”
I meet one of their gazes, and they immediately stop talking. I’m tempted to defend myself, but what’s thepoint? They’ll think what they want. They’ll judge. Only he and I know what happened.
A door at the other side of the room swings open, and Hayes steps through, finding me right away. He holds it open, and I take that as my cue. Only once I’m in the kitchen does he shut the door, then it’s just the two of us. His earthy cedar scent is overwhelmed by his mint gum clouding my thoughts.
Hayes looks so good I can barely make eye contact. His dark-blond hair is swept back off his forehead. He’s wearing a sleeveless shirt under his cut, and it shows off every tattooed inch of his arms.
“Where’s Charlie?” he asks, his gaze sweeping over me.
“She’s still with Reagan. I called ten minutes ago, and she was napping, so I figured I’d check off a few more things before picking her up.”
“Like sneaking into town?” His eyebrow hitches.
“I wasn't sneaking anywhere. I drove straight up to the gate. It’s not like I was climbing over it.” I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “I wasn’t aware I had to report my every movement to you. Am I your prisoner now?”
Hayes’s back stiffens. “This isn't a cage, Emery. You really want to go out there and grab something, then I'll drive you myself. But I will be by your side the entire time you’re gone, and my men will be watching as well. You’re not going alone when your uncle is probably waiting for the chance to find his way in. It’s too big a risk. You know I'm right.”
I swallow hard, wishing he weren’t. “Are his men still watching?”
“They haven’t stopped.”
His brows furrow, drawing out the circles under his eyes. He’s clearly not sleeping, and I wonder what’s keeping him up at night. He’s no longer the carefree man I met on the casino floor. There’s a weight on his shoulders, and it’s all my fault.
“My uncle isn’t going to give up, Hayes. Not until he has me back.”
“He wasn’t going to give up long before that.”
“Maybe I should—”
“Don’t finish that thought.” He shakes his head, cutting me off.
“I need to, and you need to hear me.” I take a step forward, placing my hand on his arm and wishing the warmth of his skin wasn’t so comforting. “He’ll ruin you and your club to get to me.”
“We can take care of ourselves.”
I’d like to believe him, but he has no idea how ruthless my uncle can be. If he wants them gone, he’ll make it happen. Just like if he wants me back, he’ll find a way to get me out of here. There is no stopping him.
“You’re safe, Emery.” He’s the one who steps forward now, and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. “But you’re only safe within these gates. Outside them… not so much. I don’t know what your uncle is planning yet, and until I do, I need you to trust me. Please don’t leave the compound.”
The fear in his eyes makes me pause. He’s not being overbearing or controlling. He’s genuinely worried about my safety.
“Okay.” I back down. “I’ll stay here. But I need some things from the store, so if there’s someone who can get them…”
“You can have anything you want.”
Anything I want.
