Page 70 of Spock’s Snare

“The hell it isn’t.” I soften my voice before she can bristle. “The attacks against you aren’t just attacks on DC Construction anymore. They’re attacks on the Demon Dawgs.”

“Because your club has invested in the project?”

“That’s part of it.” I brush my thumb along her jaw. “But mostly because they’re attacking you.”

Something vulnerable flickers in her eyes, but she quickly looks away.

“You matter to me,” I tell her. “That means you matter to my brothers and sisters. Nobody comes after someone under our protection and walks away clean.”

“I don’t need an entire motorcycle club protecting me.”

“Maybe not, but you’ve got one anyway,” I say with a grin, waiting until she looks at me again. “And you’d destroy me if you let something happen to you.”

Her shoulders slump.

“You don’t have to put yourself in harm’s way just to prove you can take care of yourself,” I say. “Everyone who matters already knows you can.”

For several seconds, all I hear is the faint buzz of machinery from the construction site and the occasional rush of a car passing on the highway.

Finally, Chloe releases a long breath. “I won’t confront Scaro. I don’t have any reason to speak to Scaro today, unless he contacts me.”

I study her face, searching for a loophole. “Or Blackwood?”

“I can’t promise that; you know I can’t. He’s my foreman.”

“Can’t you avoid him for one day?”

“I can try.” Her lips twitch, but then her expression turns serious. “I can promise that I won’t confront him without telling you that I’m going to do it. Does that work? I have some calls to make first anyway.”

“What kind of calls?”

“The kind that might help us figure out what he’s doing.” She holds up her phone. “My first call will be to the electrician.”

I study Chloe for another second, searching her expression for any sign that she intends to break her promise the moment I’m out of sight. All I see is determination.

That doesn’t exactly put my mind at ease, but I know better than to push her any harder. She gave me her word. I have to trust it.

“Okay. Please be careful. If you have to speak with Blackwood, don’t do it alone. Make sure you have others nearby. Hawk will be at Riversedge today. Make sure you keep him close.” I lean down and kiss her.

What I intend as a quick brush of my mouth against hers turns into something deeper the second her hand curls around the back of my neck. I slide an arm around her waist and draw her against me, savoring the soft press of her body for a few stolen seconds.

Then I force myself to pull away. If I don’t, neither of us will get a damn thing accomplished today. So, I reach around her and open the driver’s-side door. “Call me if you learn anything.”

“I will.” Chloe steps onto the running board but pauses before climbing inside. “I’m going home to change into my work clothes. I’ll be back here in an hour.”

She climbs behind the wheel, and I close the door. I step back as the engine starts, but I don’t leave. Chloe rolls down the window.

“I promised I won’t confront Blackwood without telling you first. I have no plans to go to Riversedge today. I’ll tell you if anything changes,” she assures me.

“And I’m going to hold you to it.”

“I know.” Her lips curve. “Be careful.”

“You too.”

She pulls away, and I watch until her truck turns at the end of the road and disappears. Only then do I turn and jog across the highway toward the clubhouse.

Rush and Dice come out of the main entrance as I reach the club parking lot. Both men are dressed for business in jeans, boots, and kuttes. Rush has his sunglasses pushed up on his forehead, while Dice checks something on his phone.