Wed to the Bad Boy(91)

I nodded. I understood. I wanted the destruction as badly as Bones did. I needed it.

“Our first run with the River Serpents is tomorrow morning. We’ll be working labor on their timber crew.” It was a shit job, but it was just a cover. Still, it was worth it for the advantage we would get, and for the final result.

For the release it would bring.

The reach of this particular gang was still an issue. What if they sent in reinforcements?

I didn’t let it worry me. Bones would have thought of that too.

How bad could it get?





Layla

I sighed as I pulled the door to the shop closed behind me and sifted through my keys to lock up. The night was already dark and the chill of the air crept up around me like a ghost, reminding me of how alone I really was. This was all so new to me, this entire life. Even though I’d lived it before, it felt alien now.

The heavy wad of keys was surreal. It was like I was living in a world that wasn’t even mine. A house, a job, neither of which I had earned. I got it all through the club. Gift with a cost. Loyalty.

It was all so clinical, it sent chills down my spine. Loyalty for a gift? What kind of loyalty was that? What kind of gift?

A voice suddenly broke my thoughts, startling me. “What are you doing here so late?” It was Cullen.

I forced myself to look him in the eye as I explained, “I was putting a system in place.” I fumbled a bit with the keys. That kiss had happened hours ago, and here I was, as shaky and shy as a girl with a crush. I fought to regain control of the situation. “You know, I might have been handed this job, but I do intend to take it seriously. I’ve set up an entire filing system with my time today. It should be a lot easier to find incoming and outgoing invoices from now on.”

I had a college degree in accounting. The least I could do was put it to good use. It wasn’t like I was just some temporary employee. If I was going to be held captive with the club, I was at least going to do what I wanted and do my job right. Hard work. It mattered.

I didn’t tell him that I’d found some things written in my brother’s hand. I was just work things, but I had taken them for myself. His fingerprint was on one of those little pieces of paper, the motor oil leaving a little impression that could never be made again. I wanted it for myself. Another memory.

Cullen was looking out over the lot. “Makes sense, but you don’t need to work that hard.” Whatever his real thoughts were, he was keeping them to himself.

“I want to. Work this hard.” I insisted, blushing as his attention shifted back to me. “It helps.” It was more effective than bashing someone’s skull in anyhow.

Cullen just shrugged and changed the subject. “How are you getting home?”

“I figured I’d take the bus and then walk. Sean's truck is in the shop.”

“I know, I saw Thrash take it in. What’s wrong with it?”

“When I parked it, I had a hard time getting into neutral.” It was a stick shift. There was probably something wrong with the differential.

“Can you drive a motorcycle?” We both knew I could ride, but I was surprised to realize that he didn’t know whether I could handle one on my own. I had thought he knew everything about me.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Donna’s old man taught me, but it’s been a while. She said the daughter of an MC President had to learn.”

“Tomorrow, take Sean’s bike. It’s in the garage. I’ll take you home tonight.”

I hesitated. That meant that I had to put my arms around him again, and that was something I wasn’t sure I wanted to do. I didn’t think I could handle the consequences of his touch. Not again, not for him just to push me away.

“I’d rather take the bus.”

“In Braddock? That isn’t safe, and you know it. You walk to the bus stop and get mugged, and it’ll be on me. Besides, my house is quite a hike from the bus stop down there in Turtlecreek.”

“I can walk. I don’t think anyone will bother me.”

“You’d be surprised. Those assholes who killed your brother are still out there, and I won’t take any chances. Come on, you know it’s the safest option.”

I knew at that point that it was hopeless to fight, unless I wanted the entire MC pissed at me if something were to happen.

“Fine. I’ll ride with you.” My pulsed raced at the thought of holding him close again. The idea that I’d be touching him, my body up against his. I hoped he would mistake my shaking hands for shivers. Better cold than ridiculous.

“Don’t sound so excited,” he said as I followed him over to his bike. Was that a smile I heard in his tone?