Page 41 of Torrent’s Treasure

“Yes, I got some cut flowers for a vase, but Willow also helped me plant an aloe vera plant that we can use if anyone gets a burn. I thought a couple other plants were pretty, but Willow said they were poisonous to cats. I don’t want Reaper getting sick,” Calliope said, her fingers gesturing excitedly.

Seeing Torrent nod and listen intently to Calliope relaxed Cecilia. Here at the farm, she realized she was still so on edge at the clubhouse. Hanging out here for lunch and looking at the farm had her breathing deeper.

“When am I going back to school?” Calliope asked.

Cecilia stared at Calliope, trying to figure out if she was asking because she wanted to return or wanted to know the answer.

“Right now, I’m not sure. Do you want to go back to school? We live in a different town now,” Cecilia admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“You could always transfer to the school in town,” Harley suggested.

“I don’t want to go back to school if it means going back to my old school. I’d rather learn from home or go to a new school,” Calliope said softly.

“Would you miss your friend?” Sally asked.

“No, I don’t think she’s really my friend. If she was my friend, she wouldn’t have left me alone with him,” Calliope confided, looking down at her lap.

Torrent patted Calliope’s back. “You’re right. How about you, Cecilia, and I talk about a plan tonight? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I want you to be safe, but also, I want you to feel safe.”

“Anybody else love that Torrent actually talks in full sentences now?” Maverick teased, grinning around the table.

Torrent picked up a squeeze bottle of ketchup, flipped open the cap, and squeezed it—shooting ketchup across the table and all over Maverick’s face.

“What the?” Maverick sputtered, blinking through the red mess.

“You’re so pretty,” Torrent deadpanned, setting the bottle down without breaking eye contact.

Cecilia joined in the laughter as everyone had a laugh at Maverick’s expense.

Maverick wiped the ketchup off his face. “At least you didn’t hit my cut,” he muttered.

Cecilia finished her food and then helped Willow clean up while the guys did some work that Willow needed. As Sally and Willow loaded the dishwasher, Cecilia put the leftovers away.

“If you think Calliope would have fun, she could stay overnight here, and I could bring her back for breakfast tomorrow,” Willow offered.

Cecilia paused to think. Would Calliope be safe?

“Willow has a state-of-the-art alarm system, but Dragon still likes having a little extra protection. Two of our Prospects are always on duty at night—one at the back gate and one at the front. She’ll be as safe here as she would be at the compound, but if you’re not comfortable with it, then don’t do it,” Sally reassured her, her tone full of understanding.

“Can I let you know later? I want to discuss it with Torrent, and then I’d need to ask Calliope. I don’t want to tell her she has to do anything,” Cecilia said.

“Oh, of course. Text me or call me later and let me know,” Willow agreed warmly.

Cecilia wanted to be comfortable letting Calliope stay with Willow, but there were times that she wanted a little confirmation for her decision.

Torrent had said he wanted to take her on a little longer ride on the way back if she wanted it and she did.

The ride here had been freeing. The wind in her face and Torrent taking care of her. She didn’t understand how she could be starting to feel something for him after what had happened, but she just knew she could trust Torrent.

Torrent might not say much but he said what he meant and meant what he said. There wasn’t any double talk. If he couldn’t tell her, he told her it was club business. He didn’t try to couch it in a lie.

She stood at the screen door in Willow’s kitchen watching the men. Dragon was leaning on a fence, pointing at where he wanted the guys to put something. Maverick had taken off his shirt and had a baseball cap on his head backward, but Torrent was the one she couldn’t take her eyes off of. He’d taken off his cut and shirt. His back had a huge tattoo of the club’s logo. The dark black of the tattoo accented his muscles. She’d seen the tattoo on the front of his chest. The gold chain he wore around his neck that she’d never seen him take off glinted in the sun.

She felt a faint stirring in her lower belly. After what had happened, she had wondered if she’d ever feel anything again, but watching him work, with the light sheen of sweat on his olive skin, mesmerized her.

She stood in the quiet kitchen thinking through what she wanted for herself and for Calliope. It was too soon for big decisions, but she had some to make whether she was ready or not.

She was leaning toward Calliope moving schools to Hazard. Although Harley was older and in a different building, the elementary, middle, and high schools were all on the same campus. The school Calliope would be attending was close enough for Cecilia with Torrent or Monster to walk her there or for Torrent to drop her off on his bike.