“Why are you here?” Erik asked without hesitation.
“You know why I’m here. My car…”
“Bullshit. You’re telling me your car just broke down in this town?”
“No. On the highway. Well, kind of before that. I sort of almost crashed it when I thought someone was chasing me.”
“You crashed your car and then kept going?”
Kaity felt uneasy. She couldn't confess everything. She barely knew Erik and he had shown quite a bit of hatred toward her.
“I had to keep moving,” Kaity said. “Okay?”
“And seeing that plate? What was that about?”
“Nothing.”
“I’m going to ask this once. If you lie…”
“What?”
“Are you a cop?”
Kaity shook her head. “No. I’m not a cop. I swear.”
I worked with a crooked cop for a while… he took advantage of me… but he’s dead now… well, sort of… he haunts my dreams…
“You better not lie or fuck with us,” Erik said. “This shit going on around here is pretty serious.”
“Like a severed finger being delivered?”
“Yeah.”
“You said you were going to tell me something now,” Kaity said.
Erik finished his food and nodded. “Just to make sure you understand how serious this is… that finger out there wasn’t the first one.”
“What?”
“We received another finger in a package not too long ago.”
“Do you know whose fingers they are?”
Erik nodded with a solemn look on his face. “Yeah. Friend of the MC. He’s been kidnapped.”
Kaity stood up and put her plate down. “Then call the police. You have to help him.”
Erik put his plate down and walked to Kaity. He took her by the arms. “Look at me. That’s not how it works in this life. It’s deeper than that. I won’t say more though.”
“Because you don’t trust me.”
“Never said that.”
“You think I fucked Blaine. You are taking your anger out on me. What do you want from me then? Why did you bring me here? It’s morning. Let me go.”
“Is that what you want?” Erik asked. “Then get out.”
Erik stormed away and walked to the bathroom. Kaity stood still for a few seconds. She wanted to run down the hall and out of the clubhouse. Hell, if need be, she’d climb the gate just to get out of here.
But she couldn’t do it. She was drawn in by Erik and feared what would happen if he was alone. They needed each other. He needed to know that he was still alive and worthy, and she needed him to protect her. And keep touching her.
Kaity went into the bathroom and found Erik with his hands on the sink, his head down. The water was running, but he didn’t seem to be doing anything with it. Kaity took a chance and put her hands to Erik’s back. He looked up in the mirror.
“Listen… last night… what I thought this morning…”
“No,” Kaity said. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you for bringing me here and giving me somewhere to sleep. Thank you for helping me. Just know that I’m not some whore.”
“Did you really kick Blaine in the nuts?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s pretty fucking cool, babe. Although I’m sure he liked it. He’s into some weird shit.”
“I don’t want to talk about Blaine,” Kaity said. “I’m going to ask something else.”
“Shoot.”
“This man who is kidnapped… you said it goes deeper. Does this have something to do with your injuries?”
“My face?” Erik asked.
“Yes.”
Erik turned and lifted Kaity. “That’s a question that will cost you.”
Kaity swallowed. “Name the price.”
She touched his cheeks, feeling the bumpy skin of his scars.
He was fucking beautiful.
Kaity’s heart stopped, twisted, and raced - all at the same time.
fourteen.
Erik really had no idea what he was doing. His hands cupped Kaity’s ass. Her hands were all over his face, her eyes deep in his. He walked her to the bed and crashed down to it with her tight body clinging to his. It felt too damn early in the morning for all this emotional bullshit to be going on. He couldn’t figure out why he trusted Kaity and or why he wanted to keep her there and safe.
When they finished, Kaity rested on top of him and let out a shivering sigh. Erik reached and pulled the sheets open and Kaity climbed under the covers. Erik stayed on top of the covers, Kaity’s head resting on his chest. He could sense the fear and pain coming from her.
“What do you do now?” Kaity asked.