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His eyes lift to mine when she says that, but his face doesn't give a single clue of how he took it. I have no idea if he's pissed at me for telling her, but I might strangle her when we're by ourselves for that little stunt.

We both turn to walk at the same time, not acknowledging Piper's comment in any way whatsoever.

The drive back to the clubhouse is filled with Piper asking him questions about the members. Blade doesn't give her much information, only replying with the simplest of answers when he has to. I can already tell she is going to drive his overbearing ass insane with her constant desire to live for the moment. It's what I love most about her, but in this instance, she's going to test the ever living shit out of this man. It should be fun to watch.

"I'd like to shower as soon as we get back." Blade looks at me through the rear view mirror, continuing to watch me with those blue eyes that I only noticed when I met him at Turbulence. It's not a feature I remembered from all those years ago. It was dark and what six year old remembers details like that?

He finally nods with a lift of his head as he rubs his hand over his chin, listening to Piper some more. Switch hasn't said a word back here in the back seat of the truck with me. He's a quiet one. I let my eyes wander over to him as the street lights pass, trying to catch a better glimpse of his features. I can't make out the tattoos on his arms, but can tell he's covered. The heated feeling of being watched has me turning to look out the window until we get there. I think he just caught me looking at him; either that or Blade did.

Blade pulls the truck into his large garage. The one I'm very familiar with from the other night. Piper and Switch step out of the truck as soon as he kills the engine. Blade moves so that our eyes meet again in the mirror. Watching his eyes like this is so raw and real. He's pulling me toward him and I'm not even sure I want to fight it. His deep voice grumbles through the cab.

"You can use my shower upstairs and then it's time we talk. I want you to tell me everything." Nodding, I reach for the door handle and make my way into the clubhouse. He follows me inside and motions toward the stairs for me take to his room.

I don't hear his footsteps following, so I know I'm alone as I enter the only door to the top floor of the clubhouse. It's huge and so different than downstairs. I didn't get to see this part of the house when Piper had me in here last night.

If his bedroom tells me anything, it's that he's a perfectionist. Everything is in its place and the bed is even made. Hell, I don't even make my bed every day. I sit my bag on his bed and begin to walk around the giant space slowly, trying to get to know a man I feel like I've known my whole life.





Chapter Twelve

Blade



This shit is going to get tricky. I need to spend time talking to Tori without anyone else, but I need my sister to stay the fuck away from my guys. Right now Switch and Trap are the only guys in the house, but that shit always changes as the guys tend to roll in here late at night. How the fuck am I going to manage this one?

I motion for Switch to meet me outside and he follows my lead instantly. "Piper, Tori took the upstairs shower if you want to grab one in the back bedroom. The room isn't finished yet, but the bathroom is ready." It's one of those renovations I need to rush now. I can make that my room and give the girls the upstairs floor if we have to make this a long term thing. It won’t take long for the crew to finish it up, they were just waiting on me to make the final decisions on color and shit I don't have time for. Hell, that's something I'll make the girls do.

"You have the place to yourself right now, but the guys will start rolling in before long." Pulling the door closed, I stand before Trap and Switch outside, already pulling out a cigarette to light.

"I need some time with Tori tonight. She has some shit from her past that is possibly a reason that this shit happened tonight. I need to know what she knows and she's not going to talk with all of us around. And I love my fucking sister, but she won’t let Tori talk, or should I say, Tori doesn't seem to be talking around Piper. Piper has told us what she knows, but it's not enough to get any real details of what we're looking for. I'm hoping Tori can give me something."

"You gonna share what you know so far with us?" Switch looks at me with a curious look.

"I will in the morning. Call church in the chapel with the officers first thing. Maybe by then Beast will have something, or fuck.... maybe we'll be able to rub two god damned sticks together to get one fucking clue of who I get to kill."

"Which two of our guys went down tonight?" Trap hasn't been in on the loop, so I let Switch tell him as my mind starts to think about every detail. There were too many guys there for this to simply be an attack on Tori. What do they want with her and how does she remember more men that night? I'm starting to blame myself for not taking care of it all back then, but I had no idea and it's not like she was talking at the age of six. Hell, I'm not even sure she said one word to me that night.