Page 87 of Tempest’s Torment

"And Lilah?"

"Hmm?"

"Nobody comes through that door."

I give him a look. "I have managed to live alone before."

"I've seen your locks. I'm aware."

"Then stop worrying."

"Not happening."

I should probably be irritated, instead, I smile. "Go." He kisses me once more before reaching for his cut, I watch him pull it on.

Kai disappears beneath leather and patches so easily that I finally understand what Natalia meant. The club gets Tempest, I get Kai, and apparently, Savage gets stuck babysitting me.

I'm still smiling when I carry the plates into the kitchen. It's ridiculous. Kai's been gone less than five minutes. Savage will probably be here before I've finished cleaning up, and then I'll spend however long Kai's gone being watched by another enormous biker who'll pretend he isn't watching me.

I rinse the plates and leave them in the rack, putting his mug beside mine. I look at it and smile again. Jesus Christ, this is embarrassing. My phone buzzes on the counter and I grab it far too quickly.

Not Kai. It’s Natalia.

Natalia: So?

I stare at the message and then three dots appear.

Natalia: Don't you dare pretend you don't know what I'm asking.

I laugh, absolutely not. I put my phone face down without answering. It buzzes again, and I ignore it. She can torture me later.

I wipe down the counter, put the milk back in the fridge and check the time. Savage should be here soon, I take my coffee into the living room and drop onto the couch. The television is still paused on the comedy from last night.

A knock sounds at the door, I glance toward it. "That was quick."

I set my mug down but then stop. Kai's voice is practically inside my head.

Check first.

I reach for my phone and open the hallway camera. The feed loads and I frown. It's not Savage; it’s Jinx standing outside my apartment. For half a second, I'm just confused, but then he turns his head and I see blood running down the side of his face.

I shoot to my feet. "Shit."

I hurry toward the door but stop before touching the lock. Instead, I tap the microphone on the camera. "Jinx?"

His head comes up and he looks straight at the camera. "Lilah."

"What happened?"

He wipes at his face and looks at the blood on his fingers. "Don't open the door."

Every part of me goes cold. "What?"

"Don't fucking open it."

I step back. "Where's Savage?"

His eyes move toward the stairwell. "I don't know."