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I looked up, and his gaze told me we would be discussing the Natty situation. I really didn’t want to, so I blurted?—
“You said everything that needed to be said when you handed Natty your jacket and left with her on your bike. I’m not playing these games anymore, Killian. Move.”
Pulling myself free from his grip, I tried to shove him off again, but he moved with me.
“So that’s it? You won’t hear me out? You pretending not to care again, Daisy?”
My face was red, my chest flushed. A flash of hurt and pain was still laced around my heart, making patchwork out of my fears. He knew I cared for him, and now he was making jokes of it.
“Go deal with your club, Killian.”
“Not until we talk. Now I can follow you and carry your things for you, like a gentleman. Or I can throw you over my shoulder and take you where I want to go. Choice is yours, either way we’re talking.”
I scowled up at him, and realized he wasn’t moving and regardless of what was going on with his club, and all of its members, he was going to deal with this first. Some tiny thrill shot through me as the reality of his actions sank into my heart. It felt like quicksand, and this stupid feeling wasn’t going to budge no matter what.
“Fine, lead the way.” I crossed my arms, still feeling defiant.
With another smirk, he dipped to grab my duffel, pulling it up on his shoulder. Turning, he veered for the stairs, and I followed, taking the steps one at a time. Once we made it to the main level, sunlight crept in through the tall windows, stroking the hardwood bar top and floors. Red was in the kitchen somewhere, prepping food, so was Natty.
She saw me and paled.
I turned to leave, but she was rounding the bar, heading right for me.
“Laura, wait.”
I didn’t want to. I couldn’t stand there and hear from the two of them about something that might have been going on for far longer than I even realized.
I saw Sadie gathering her coat, still wearing those ridiculous shorts. Her friends Jasmine and Tess were with her.
Killian continued moving toward the front, and I knew we were headed to the apartment. I was a few feet behind him with the girls all gathered in a group and Sadie shot her arm out, gripping my wrist.
“Laura?”
I turned, which made Killian stop by the front door. I didn’t catch his expression, but Sadie flicked a nervous glance his way.
Empathy had me peeking over my shoulder at Natty. Her face looked stricken as she searched my face. I didn’t want to talk to her at the moment, but I knew I would eventually hear her out. She had rejected his jacket, that meant something, and she was important to me.
“Later, okay?” I said quietly before returning my attention to Sadie.
“We just wanted to thank you. No one has ever protected us like that…none of us have property patches, we know our role and where we rank. But we like this life, and we like this club. So, thank you for standing up for us.”
Tess stepped up and threw her arms around me. “You’re our girl, Laura. Whatever you need, we got you.”
Jasmine was next, looking a little misty-eyed. “He could have killed us if he wanted to. Everyone seemed so scared of him…but not you. I’ve never seen anyone storm out there like they weren’t afraid of anything. It was like, even if he shot you, you didn’t care.”
Killian made a sound from behind me, but I ignored him. This feeling in my gut, this exhilaration, it was the best feeling I’d ever had. It was as though those moments growing up in my parent’s circles, with the vicious debutantes and upper class who always gossiped and made me feel less than, was all being covered in one proverbial bandage. One made of leather, denim and loyalty. This was where I fit. Where I wanted to fit. For the first time since arriving, I didn’t feel like I was riding on Callie’s coattails, or just existing in the background. I felt seen. More than that, I felt wanted.
“Thank you,” I whispered back, hoping each girl understood how much their gratitude meant to me, “I’ll always have your backs too.”
Pulling away, I saw them each smiling at me and then waving. “We gotta go get some rest before our shifts tonight, but we’ll see you later.”
I knew they all worked as dancers in the neighboring town, Pyle. I hated that Strings, the closest strip club, was so far away, and from what I understood, it was in Raider territory, which made it especially dangerous for them, knowing they chose to spend their time here with Stone Riders.
A warm hand suddenly found mine, fingers lacing through mine. Killian was gently tugging me behind him.
I tried to ignore how good his hand felt and how safe it made me feel with his imposing stature in front of me, and his broad back shielding me. He was a force of nature, and I was merely a dandelion, at risk of losing myself to him.
We exited the club, veering for the apartment. The early dawn stretched across the sky with streaks of gold and a lingering layer of fog. It was beautiful and made my breath hitch. I was curious about which members were already up, wanting to talk to Killian. I had yet to see anyone aside from Giles, the kitchen crew and Sweetbutts.
