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She’s still shaking her head, and I worry she’s going into shock.
“That’s not true, and you damn well know it,” I tell her gently. “If you were just a nobody, I would’ve already fucked you and forgotten about you.” I whisper those words and hope they comfort her.
She laughs, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Crass but sweet.”
“Good, now listen to me carefully, Letty. Go home. Go straight home and don’t make any stops. Don’t run any errands, nothing. Just straight home. Got it?”
Letty shakes her head, a defiant look on her face.
“No. I’m going home, but I have a few errands to run first. I need to stop at the store for one.”
I sigh and shake my head. “That’ll have to wait, Letty.” I know she’s not going to listen. “In fact, I’ll follow you home, make sure you’re safe. Come on.” Damn stubborn woman.
She nods and swallows hard, fear swimming in her eyes. “Okay. But what’s going on? What does he want with you?”
I don’t answer her question, just get her to focus on her own damn life. “Good. And tomorrow? Call in sick. Don’t go to the church unless I’m with you. Do you understand?”
She shakes her head, refusing me. “No. I don’t understand. I just started my job, Shades. I can’t call in sick. There’s too much work to do, and I need to make a good impression.”
“Hard to make any impression if you’re dead, sweetheart.”
“Dead?” Her head shakes back and forth in disbelief. “You’re just trying to scare me.”
“I am. But, if you’re scared, then maybe you’ll listen to me and be careful. Can you please just trust me on this, Letty? Trust that all I want to do is keep you safe?”
“Yeah. Yes,” she nods. “I trust you.” Her blue eyes bore into my own, and she sighs.
“Good.” I walk her back to her car, scanning the area for anyone watching the shop or Letty.
“Will you tell me what this is about? Does it have anything to do with the church?” She has too many questions and none that I can answer.
“Later,” I tell her insincerely before changing the subject. Again. “I’m going to be right behind you, but if you see anything strange that worries you, tap your brakes or flash your lights. Yeah?”
Letty blinks in slow motion, but she nods to let me know she’s listening. “I’m kind of freaked out, Shades.”
“You should be. And I’m sorry you’re involved in this now.”
She sighs and nods. “I know. You did tell me last night—or tried to anyway.”
“I’ll keep you safe, Letty.”
She smiles up at me like I’m some kind of goddamn hero. “I know you will.” Her hands land on my shoulders and push up until we’re face to face, and she presses a kiss to my cheek. “Thank you for worrying about me, Shades.”
“Dakota,” I growl. “My real name is Dakota.” I don’t know why I tell her that, but I do. “Get in. I’m right behind you.”
“Dakota,” she smiles up at me. “It suits you, but for a man who spends thousands of dollars on sunglasses, Shades is the perfect name.” She slips behind the wheel and starts the engine.
I knock on the window, and she lets out a startled yelp. “Lock the doors.”
She nods, and a second later, the automatic locks click. Her smile is nervous, but I know she gets how serious this shit is, so not surprisingly, she’s waiting at the exit for me.
I follow her home, smiling that she hasn’t tried to stop anywhere else. Letty can be stubborn, but she’s not stupid.
Letty slips inside her house, shooting me a wave before she shuts the door. I fight every urge, every instinct to follow her inside. But I have too much work to do.
“Fucking Iron Kings,” I growl and ride around the block, checking for any activity before I head back to Ace Motors.
“Shades and Letty sitting in a tree,” Joaquin begins to sing as soon as I step inside the garage, and a second later, the other guys join in, laughing and singing.
“Fuck off,” I growl, but that only makes the assholes sing louder.
Coop claps me on the back. “Shades has a girlfriend. Will wonders never fucking cease.”
I shrug his hand off me. “Cut the shit. We need to figure out what the Kings want with me and then do our best to keep it away from them.”
Those words sober them all up, and we head back inside the garage for an impromptu club meeting.
