by D. D. Prince
Spencer’s motorcycle was parked in front of the shop.
“We’ll head to the clubhouse,” he said, getting a helmet out for me. “You need anything from home?”
“Huh?” I asked.
“Spendin’ the night at the clubhouse. You need anything from your brother’s place to get you through the night? If not, I can take you back there in the morning before bringin’ you here for work.”
“I’m not staying at the clubhouse,” I told him.
His eyebrows arched up high. “Fine.” He cleared his expression. “We’ll hit the clubhouse and grab some of my shit and stay at your place.”
“I’ll go stay at my parents.”
“Yeah?”
“Yep.”
“Fine. I’ll drop you off there.”
My face went hot. I had no intention of staying at my parents.
“My Dad is picking me up at nine. You can just follow me to my place and see me safely to my front door and then I’m good.”
I was lying my face off. And I knew I was playing with fire. Lying was something I usually avoided as it always had consequences, but I really just needed to be alone.
“All right. Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow and bring you here.”
“I’ll drive.”
“If your Dad's driving you, why do you need your car? It’s safer here, where Ride can keep an eye.”
“Fine.” He was foiling my plan.
He put the helmet on me and got onto the bike (not before looking at me with what might’ve been suspicion).
I put my arms around his middle, hating how much I didn’t hate the close contact, and he drove me home.
He followed me upstairs to check to make sure the apartment was safe. He checked the bathroom and the closet and then he went to the door.
“Lock up. Both chains. And you don’t go out without an escort. You hear me?”
I glared at him. “Why are you talking to me like you’re my dad?”
“Because I got a feelin’ you aren’t taking shit seriously. What the fuck were you thinking this morning?”
I gulped and looked away.
“Those fuckers could’ve hurt you.” He looked furious. Actually, it was like his fury was rising. Saying his thoughts, thoughts that he’d been stewing on all day, was making things feel even more real.
“I didn’t know they’d be there. They were just there so I did what I had to do to get rid of them.”
He put a hand to my face. I flinched.
His eyes got close. So close I could see the swirls of amber in their depths.
“But, then you went on your merry way and said fucking nothing.” He was angry, but he was looking at me searchingly, like he was trying to figure me out.
I shrugged. “I just… when things fuck with my head, I…” I didn’t finish. He didn’t need insight into the innerworkings of my mind, the fact that I didn’t ask for help, that I tried to fix stuff myself all the time when I had no business trying to fix it.
Like with Joe.
“You can’t fuck around with the Wyld Jackals, Pippa. Please, hear me on this.”
“I hear you, Spencer.”
He touched his lips to mine. I jerked back and pulled my lips tight, turning my head to the side.
He shook his head like he didn’t know what to do with me.
I scratched my nose, as if that was why I’d pulled back, then I opened the door for him to go. He went down the stairs.
“Chains,” he said.
The bottom door had a lock he could twist on his way out, but I followed him to the bottom to get the chain on.
“Text me when you get to your folks’.”
“Why?”
“So, I know you’re safe and in for the night.”
“Fine.”
“And then again in the morning when you get to the salon. You need a ride, let me know. Don’t be on your own.”
I nodded with a ‘duh’ look on my face, making his eyes narrow before he turned and stalked away.
I twisted the lock and put the chain on and then went back upstairs. I locked and chained that door, too, and then curled up on the sofa and cried. I cried for ages. Not ugly sobbing, but just couldn’t stop the tears from coming and coming, rolling down until I’d dash them away.
I did not feel safe here.
I did not feel like me anymore.
I felt so low, so incredibly hopeless.
The tears went on until I got a headache (probably dehydrated from shedding all those tears) and took a couple of Tylenols. I then stared at television blankly for ages until catching a nap, just a short one, but long enough to dream that I was running, barefoot in that cobbled alley between the salon and the bakery, but it was endlessly long, and all these on-fire motorcycles were chasing me.
I was half in my head, half paying attention to the TV when my phone made a noise. I went to my bag and lifted it out.
Spencer: He didn’t pick you up?
How did he know? Shit. It was 9:30 already.
Me: Not yet.
Spencer: Because he’s in North Carolina, maybe?
Damn. How did he know where Dad was? I didn’t even know where Dad was.
Spencer: Open the door. I’m downstairs.
I went downstairs and opened it.
He was standing there with a backpack slung over one shoulder, holding a leash.
Chakotay!
“Hi!” I said to the dog and squatted to pet him. His tail thumped, and he butted my knees with his head. Spence side-stepped me and shut the door.
I looked up from my squat. Chakotay, his big and beautiful black and brown German shepherd, put his head into my lap and I stumbled backwards until my butt was on the bottom step and he was practically on my lap.
I laughed and started scratching behind his ears.
Spencer was not looking amused.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Your brother told me your dad’s outta town. Chakotay, upstairs.” Spencer let go of the leash and pointed and the dog ran up the stairs, his leather leash dragging behind him. The upstairs door was half-open, so he went right in.
“C’mon.” he motioned up the stairs as I sat there still, on the bottom step, blocking him.
“Listen, I’m fine. I’ll keep the door locked, and---”
“You’re not fine. And you lied to me. Don’t fuckin’ do that.”
I started to lose my temper. “Listen, Valentine. I appreciate you’re worried about me, but that doesn’t give you the right to barge in here and…”
“Pippa, you either come to the clubhouse and stay with me or I stay here. Pick.”
“Drive me to my parents.”
“No. Your mother ain’t home. Your brother told me she went to your aunt’s place and she took a few days off work. She’s stayin’ there until Saturday, when your dad gets back.”
“You’re talking to my brother?” I asked, mouth dropping open.
He didn’t answer me.
“Why are you talking to my brother?”
“Why are you lyin’ to me?” he fired back.
I pulled my lips tight and didn’t answer.
“Where are we stayin’ tonight?” he asked.
“You can stay wherever the hell you want,” I hissed, then opened the door and waved for him to go.
“You’re not hearin’ me on this Jackal shit.”
“I hear you. I have the doors locked. My car’s not here so it doesn’t even look like I’m home. I’m going to bed now, so don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure I check before I leave in the morning and I’ll get a cab to work. You already gave me the noisy chain alarm so that’s extra protection. There. Solved. Now, goodnight.”
He shook his head. “I’d feel a whole lot better knowing you’re safe.”
“Well, I’ll be careful.”
“Pippa, they rode by the hairdressers in formation. Intentionally. They know it’s Rider’s woman’s place. They drove by Ella’s family’s house thi
s morning and by the block where the clubhouse, garage, and dealership are. They drove by our block four fucking times. Four. In just two hours. They’re makin’ a statement, letting us know they’ve swelled their numbers again. They tell us they don’t want war, but want us and our allies to back off and mind our own business, and they’re showin’ they’ve got manpower to hold their ground. We don’t trust them. The shit with you this morning was maybe unrelated to us, but now it’s gonna be related to us, because Buddy and Nico were both in that formation when I had you against me going into the salon this morning in a way they know you’re mine.”
“I. Am. Not. Yours.” I said through gritted teeth.
He rolled his eyes.
“You need to fucking hear me, Spencer. Hear me. This has gotten ridiculous. We had sex. That’s it. It doesn’t mean you’re responsible for me---”
He opened his mouth to interrupt but I got louder.
“And even though you were there for me the night things went bad with my ex, you’re not responsible for me. Please. Go home. Send a prospect to drive by a few times overnight. Or, I’ll take precautions. I’ll---”
He slammed his palm against the wall.
I jumped half out of my skin.
His expression dropped and then his eyes went soft. “That wasn’t intended to scare you.”
He reached for me.
“Don’t fucking touch me!”
“Baby… sorry. You’re frustrating me, and…”
“Go,” I ordered.
“Sun---”
“Go!” I shouted. “Get the fuck out. I don’t need you here. I don’t want you here. I certainly don’t appreciate you using alpha male tactics and hell no to the intimidation tactics, so fuck, Spencer… take a hint. Go.”
“No.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I am not leavin’ here tonight unless you leave with me. If I left and anything happened I’d never forgive myself.”
“Then you can sleep in your truck because I’m sleeping here and you’re not.”
He shrugged. “Fine. I’ll watch your door from the truck. Who needs sleep?” He turned to go.
“Call your dog.”
“Naw, he can stay here with you the night. He’ll tear apart anybody who tries to hurt you. Not that anyone’ll get past me, because I’ll be right outside the door.”
I rolled my eyes. “You wanna be a dumbass and sleep in your truck, have at it. I’m going to sleep.”
He was probably figuring I’d cave and let him stay here. Or that I’d go with him to the clubhouse. Nope. No way.
I was fuming mad and I would not cave!
He strolled right out.
I stared at his back.
He walked to his pickup truck and got in, heaving the backpack to the passenger side.
I closed the door, locked it, chained it, flipped the double bird at it, and went upstairs.
Chakotay was on the couch, watching television.
He had his chin on a throw cushion. My anger melted away at the sight.
“Hey, boy. Your daddy is crazy.” I twirled my index finger around my ear. His tail thumped, and he panted at me. I put the chain on the upper door, then went and looked out the window. I rolled my eyes at the sight of his truck, then turned the lights out, leaving nothing but the television to light the space. I went to the kitchen cupboard and took my brother’s favorite chip bowl down, filled it with water, and put it on the floor beside the fridge for the doggy, unhooked the leash he had on, which was still dangling, put it on the table, then headed to the closet for clothes before hitting the bathroom to get ready for bed.
I called the dog off the couch and pulled the bed out. It was made up with bedding already on it, so I climbed under the blankets and then patted the bed.
He jumped up and lay down beside me.
I picked up my phone from the arm of the couch and texted.
“You’re ridiculous. Go home.”
Ten minutes went by. No answer.
I looked out the window. His truck was there, but it was dark, shut off.
It was kind of cold out.
In fact, it was also kind of cold in here. I turned the heat up two notches and then got back into the bed and cuddled up to Chakotay who was all warm. He snuggled into me.
Time ticked by. Time ticked by slowly. Too slowly. Sheesh.
I heard a vehicle start up. I got out of bed and tiptoed to the window and looked out. His lights were on, and his truck was running.
I chewed my lip.
He wasn’t pulling out. He was turning his heat on, probably.
He was a stubborn little shit, wasn’t he?
I looked at the clock on the microwave. 1:45.
These late nights were not my jam. I was usually asleep by ten o’clock, sometimes nine. And I’d been up since before six that morning, so I was feeling bone tired.
I yawned and got back into bed.
I heard a motorcycle and it made my heart trip over itself. Shit. Was I being stupid by insisting on staying here? And, oh God, what if I just put him in jeopardy by leaving him out there?
I ran to the window and peered out. It was two Dom brothers, pulled up beside Spencer’s window. One was Jesse, I wasn’t sure who the other was.
Rider’s car also pulled up and Rider got out and passed Spencer a paper coffee cup and a paper bag from the coffee shop.
I breathed a sigh of relief and watched for the few minutes they were there until the car and motorcycles left. He turned his lights off, but his truck was still running.
I climbed back into bed.
Something dawned on me. That junkie, Justin, knew where I worked. He was in with the Jackals and Spencer said they knew Rider’s girlfriend owned the salon. Had they targeted me on purpose to get to Spencer or to the Doms in general?
Shit. I was here in bed. Warm. Comfortable. While he sat out there in a truck at almost two in the morning, because he was worried about me.
I’m being a bitch.
Yes, he was being all alpha male badass biker today, but out of worry for me because these Wyld Jackals were evil.
I got up and put my robe and slippers on and padded to the door.
Chakotay’s tags jingled as he jumped off the bed, heading to me.
“I’ll be right back. Just goin’ to talk to your daddy.” I petted him and unlocked the door. He tried to come with me.
“Stay,” I said, closing the door over to block him from going down the stairs.
He barked at me, startling the heck out of me and then butted his head against the door.
“Okay, sheesh. Bossy like your dad.” I opened the door and he trotted down the stairs and waited for me. I unlocked and opened the bottom door, ready to grab for his collar in case he tried to run, worrying about him running out onto the street. I should’ve attached his leash to his collar. But he wasn’t trying to run. He was at my side. I looked around, seeing the street was dead-quiet, not even any cars on the road, and seeing Spencer’s truck was dark, except for the glow of a cigarette that became visible when I approached.
He opened his window.
He was listening to the radio.
The dog sat beside me. I looked down and patted his head.
“Hey,” I said.
Spencer’s eyes were on me and I couldn’t read them.
“You can come in out of the cold,” I offered.
“I’m good,” he told me.
I bit my lip. “It’s freezing out here.”
“Yeah. Pretty cold in there, too, I’m betting.”
Ouch.
“I’m sorry I was bitchy. Come in. Please. I’m feeling guilty.”
“Oh yeah?” He sipped from the paper cup of coffee and dropped his cigarette in a Coke can that was in the other cup holder beside it.
He’d said that, but was looking like he didn’t give a shit.
And for some reason, it made my chest start burning.
“And it could be dangerous for you out here. I don’t want you to get hurt.”<
br />
His expression softened, but only marginally.
I continued, “I got thinking too, and wanted to say that the junkie told them he was sure I was who he thought, because he knew where I worked and he was the one that owed the money to them, so if they knew where I worked, there’s a chance you’re right, that they did target me on purpose, knowing Jenna works there. I’m not sure.”
His eyes went more alert. “You didn’t know Justin before this morning?” Spencer asked.
“No. He told them he’d seen me with Joe in public a few times and I guess he must’ve followed me to work or something. It made no sense, but I didn’t think that much on it at the time.”
“That junkie’s in the same circle as the little fuck that threatened to carve a swastika in Ella’s face, robbing the Circle J.”
“Shit,” I said.
“All right. Thanks for letting me know.”
I shivered. “You should come inside. You can sleep on the sofa bed with me, but no monkey business. Just friends.”
He stared at me blankly.
“Spencer, it’s cold out here. Come on in.”
I turned and slapped my thigh and his dog turned to come with me, then paused and barked at Spencer.
Spencer wasn’t moving.
“Fine, I’m leaving the door unlocked. When you decide you’re done being ridiculous, come inside to the warm apartment and the soft bed.”
I went inside and left the door unlocked. I climbed into bed, shivering.
A minute later, I heard him come in.
“Down,” he ordered, and the dog jumped off the bed and I heard him plop onto the floor with a heavy sigh.
I then heard Spencer undressing.
My heart was speeding up.
Time to give myself a pip talk. Yep, a pep talk, but my mom coined the phrase way back, because pip-talks were exclusively for me; often because she was trying to pull my head out over something I was being clammed up about.
No. Don’t have sex with him. Keep boundaries established. Make it clear that this is not going where he wants it to go.
My desire to keep him from getting too close couldn’t affect my safety, or his. I had to reason with him.
He climbed in and rolled right to me, pulling me directly against him.
I squealed. His body was icy cold.
“Fuckin’ freezin’,” he told me.
“Omigod, you get away from me, you’re like ice.”