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Not pleased with the truth, Niki whines my name under her breath.
Enough.
Peeling her off my lap, I set Niki on her feet and hop off the stool. I wrap my arm tightly around her waist and escort her from the room to get her as far away from Kit as possible. “Sorry. Be back in a sec,” I call over my shoulder.
When Viper passes us in the hall on the way to my bedroom, I punch him in the shoulder, bro style. “The woman who’s in the common room, babysit her for a bit, will ya?” I don’t await his confirmation when we continue our journey to get Niki dressed and gone. The quicker she’s outta here the better.
We pass Kai in the hall outside Big’s room. His back rests against the wall as he plays on his phone. When I hear water running, I stop, then backtrack a few steps to check on Prez. Niki comes along for the ride, glued to my side, practically vibrating with lust. “What’s Big doin’?”
Kai doesn’t look up from whatever he’s swiping on the screen. My guess—a stupid game. “He’s in the shower,” he mumbles.
That’s what I figured. Then why isn’t he in Big’s bedroom keepin’ an eye on him? Isn’t that what I said to do?
“Did you take his phone?” I check.
Kai stows the cell in a pocket to give me his undivided attention. “Did I what?”
Christ, is he an idiot?
“When you brought him back here, did you take his cell?” I ask, as Niki rubs a tit against my arm and tries to slip a hand down the front of my pants. Not letting her get far, I seize her wrist and don’t let go. She moans, thinking this is our brand of foreplay. Truth be told, it can be. Just not now.
“Why would I do that?” Kai glances at Big’s door with guilt, knowing damn well he screwed up.
Right on cue, the pitter-patter of female steps echoes against the floor of the hall. I’d know that sound anywhere. Their owner comes into view a moment later. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun. Dark circles encase familiar eyes. She’s in pajamas—one of Big’s oversized Harley shirts that reaches her knees, and striped bottoms. Placing Niki against the wall, despite her whiny protests, I go to my favorite person in the world and pull her into a hug. She fits perfectly against my pecs, her cheek resting there.
“Hey, Baby Doll.” I pepper the top of her head in kisses, then sigh in contentment as her warmth and love seeps into me, calming my racing heart.
“Hey.” Bink yawns.
The door to Big’s bedroom crashes open and the tall, tattooed, asshole is buck naked when he steps into the frame. Big reaches out for Bink’s forearm and I release her before things get ugly.
“Sugar Tits,” my oldest friend groans as he wraps his old lady in his arms and drags her into his bedroom like a caveman. The door slams shut in his wake, the lock clicking into place, as I turn my annoyance onto Kai, who looks surprised by the turn of events.
I point to the closed-door evidence. “See. What did I tell you?”
“He texted her.” Kai sounds defeated.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Fisting both hands down at my sides, I wanna punch him in the mouth for not following direct orders. “Yeah, dumbass. He did. And she loves him, so she’ll let him smother her all fuckin’ night long, no matter what. This isn’t what she needs.” What she needs is an old man with his head screwed on straight. Not a needy Big. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what she’s gonna get tonight. She’ll be lucky to leave his sight to pee, let alone do anything else. Her female parts will be raw come morning.
“I didn’t know.” Kai blinks in confusion.
Bullshit.
“Yes. You. Did. I fucking told you. Didn’t I? I walked you through the whole thing,” I grit when I should be handing him his ass for the stunt he just pulled. VP or not, I’ve been here longer and know a helluva lot more. He should be taking cues from me, not acting like he’s some hotshot know-it-all. Not that he does, or thinks that, per se. Kai’s a stereotypical surfer boy—chill to the core. Too chill sometimes.
“It was a mistake,” he amends with a singular nod and look of remorse, as if that’ll wash away his indiscretion.
“You might be new, Kai, but we can’t afford mistakes.Youlet Bink kill people.Youdidn’t take her in the house.Youdidn’t protect her.Youput her in harm’s way. Now Big’s fucked up ’cause of it, and he’s taking it out on her ’cause you didn’t take his cell phone.” That’s reality. The bitter ugly truth of it all. He can swallow a slice of humble pie, or he can’t. The choice is his. It’s nobody’s fault but his own. He found her roaming the grounds in the middle of an attack when she was trying to bring her Sacred Sisters back to her house for protection. Little did she know men were infiltrating the walls of our goddamn compound. According to them both, Kai carried her back to her place over his shoulder, intent on getting her to safety when shit hit the fan. Thus putting her in the line of fire. When he could’ve taken her into the nearest house—Deke’s.
Not appreciating the truth exploding in his face, Kai’s head rears back. “You can’t blame me for this.” He rubs with the edge of his cut between two fingers, his chest pistoning for air. “She was out there by herself last night. Don’t pretend Bink’s innocent here, Gunz.”
“Not anymore she’s not!” I growl, taking a step forward, ready to make him pay for his sins, fist to flesh. Pain on pain.
Butting her nose in where it don’t belong, Niki steps between us like she’s afraid I’ll beat the tar outta Kai. She ain’t wrong. “Babe, I think you need to calm down.” Her palm flattens between my pecs and I swear I see red. It’s a blip, a mere second, but it’s there. The rage, the frustration, everything I do my best to keep in check fades out and rushes back in all within a breath. It scares me, but not enough to relent. Not from this.
“I don’t need to do shit, Niki.” My tone icy, I pry her hand off my chest and push it back at her. “Mind your own business, please.”
