Out of the corner of her eye, she had seen their mother’s car come to a stop. Train hadn’t made a move to exit the car, giving them time to talk.
Penni had stood when Shade had, grabbing his hand before he’d moved away.
“So you don’t love me?” Penni had asked curiously.
“I feel for you as much as I can feel for Mom and Dad. Mom sent me to psychiatrists when I was in elementary school because I wasn’t making friends. She thought it was because we moved around so much and because she had depression, so she couldn’t bond with me. I see her watching you the same why she watched me. I thought I’d save you from sitting in a doctor’s office once a week.”
He hadn’t answered her question.
Staring up at her brother, she had understood the words he’d left unspoken. Bravely looking into his beautiful blue eyes, she could see the soul he kept from everyone, including himself.
“Well, we didn’t move around when I was a kid, so she can’t blame my father like she did yours. We inherited it from her, didn’t we?”
“I think so.”
Penni had nodded.
He hadn’t removed his hand as they’d walked toward the car.
“Shade … Do you think you’ll ever love someone?”
“No.”
Tightening her hold on Shade’s hand, she prevented him from opening the car door.
“I think you’re wrong. We can love. I love Mom, Dad, and you. I know you love me …” Penni had rushed to say, not giving him the chance to deny her words. “We are different; I agree with you there. We may not love a lot, but when we do, they’re special. You’re special, Shade, and one day, you’re going to find the woman who proves it to you. Just like I will find the man who proves it to me.”
“Like Train?”
Penni had elbowed her brother in his ribs. “It’s a secret. He doesn’t know it yet.”
“Believe me, he knows.”
Confidently, she had shot him a calculated smile. “Not yet, but he will.”
17
The slamming of the door had Jackal jerking awake. He was halfway out of the bed, one hand searching behind him for Penni. She was gone, and the room was filled with Last Riders.
Viper was standing at the small table, picking up his gun and tucking it into the back of his jeans.
His gaze then went to Shade, who must have been the one to slam the door since he was standing in front of it.
“Where is she?” Jackal asked.
Shade leaned back against the door, folding his arms across his chest. “Heading to Treepoint.”
Jackal picked up the alarm clock on the bedside table, throwing it at the wall across the room. She had left without telling him good-bye.
“Tell me you’re not stupid enough to think you could keep her?”
Jackal remained silent, putting on his socks and boots.
Shade shook his head at Viper. “Yes, he was.”
“What do you want, Shade?” Jackal huffed. “You have Penni back. I didn’t harm a hair on her head. I’m thinking we don’t have shit to talk about, so get the fuck out of my room.”
Shade lost his indolent air. Striding across the room, he shot out his fist, punching him in the gut. “I think we have a shitload to discuss.”
Jackal doubled over, his hands going to his thighs, wheezing out, “That the best you can do? I’m not going to fight you when you have a dozen of your brothers waiting to take their turns.”
“None of them will touch you,” Shade promised. “It’s one of the perks of being the enforcer for The Last Riders. And it was my sister you were snuggled up with in that bed.”
“Like I said, I didn’t touch her. I was here to protect her. She was kidnapped by—”
“I know what shit went down. The Last Riders will deal with Hennessy and his men when we get back to Treepoint. Viper sent some of the brothers to escort the Road Kingz; we don’t want to keep them waiting. Get your things. I don’t want to be far behind them.”
“I’m not going to Treepoint.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Viper told him. “When Ice didn’t call Shade, it became the Predators’ problem. King paid the Predators for protection, and what did the club do? Get her the hell out of there? No, you dragged her to a rally to make sure the Road Kingz didn’t lose their ass in a drug deal a five-year-old could have pulled off. You nearly got her killed and would have if The Last Riders hadn’t bailed you out. When we showed up to get you out of the shootout, the Unjust Soldiers thought The Last Rider’s became involved to get a share of the money you stole from them.”
Jackal shook his head. “You’ve lost your fucking mind. I got her out of there myself with no help from you or The Last Riders.”