“Karina,” I snap. My sharp tone dries up her tears and she faces me. “Tell me, now.”
She takes a few deep breaths. Her quivering bottom lip sends a jolt of rage through me. Whoever upset my girl is gonna fuckin’ pay for it. “I got called down there, because someone made an anonymous call to the school and told them I was living with you.”
“So?”
“So, Mr. Hackett said he’s going to call DCS and have them investigate you.”
I laugh without much humor. This Hackett doesn’t know who he’s messing with or what he just brought down on himself.
“I’m so sorry, Dante. Please don’t be mad at me. It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t tell him—”
“Hey.” I reach out and pull her into my arms. “I know it’s not your fault. I ain’t mad at you.”
“But—”
“Honey, I don’t give two fucks about some high school suit or some stupid agency. Where were these assholes when your dad was out on the road for days at a time, neglecting you?”
“I don’t know.”
“You let me worry about this, okay? I don’t think it’s an issue. You’re eighteen. You can live wherever you want. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll run it by the club’s lawyer, okay?”
She sniffles and finally smiles. “Yeah.”
“Anyone comes to the house, I’ll deal with them. Now put it out of your head.”
She glances down at her book bag and nods.
“Before you start your homework, I want to talk to you. Athena told me about you being second in your class, but purposely trying to drop your grades so you don’t have to give some speech?” My words are teasing but her jaw drops and she shakes her head.
“I was not. She’s such a liar. It doesn’t matter now anyway. Mr. Hackett said I couldn’t be Salutatorian, because I have ‘poor moral character.’ Even if I have the GPA, he won’t let me speak at the ceremony. He threatened to call any college I apply to and inform them of my “behavior.”
Seems I ain’t gonna be throwing Mr. Hackett the beating I was planning. No, I’m gonna be throwing him for a cement block nap in a fuckin’ lake. It’s a good thing I’ve got years and years of training myself to stay completely still when I’m raging inside.
“He tell you who called?”
“No. He said a concerned neighbor.”
That could mean anything and nothing.
“Dante, you think it was Logan? Another attempt to break us up?”
Yes, that’s exactly what I think. “It’s possible,” I say carefully. “Maybe your dad?”
She shakes her head. “Maybe. I never told him who I moved in with though.”
Somehow, I bet her father already knows. “I need you to call him for me tonight.” I pull her new phone out and hand it to her. “He should know that you’re okay.”
I honestly don’t give a shit if the father knows she’s okay or not. No real man neglects his daughter the way he’s neglected Karina. As far as I’m concerned, he’s lost the right even to be her father.
Suddenly, her hand tightens around my forearm. “Dante,” she squeaks out in a panicked voice. “Logan said…When I told him about the man who hurt me. He swore up and down he didn’t know anything about it. He…he suggested my dad did it. He also said my father was the only reason he broke up with me. My dad didn’t like Logan being part of your MC. But then, he said my father is the one who introduced him to you guys. Do you know my dad?”
Fuck me. “Why you just telling me this now?”
She shakes her head, her question about my relationship to her father forgotten—for the moment. “I don’t know. We got distracted at the clubhouse and I forgot until just now.”
“Tell me exactly what he said.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I was so scared, I don’t know if I can remember everything. He said he needed time. He wanted to earn money with the club to buy a place for us. That my dad threatened him to stay away from me. But that’s bullshit because Logan knew my dad was never home.”
“Babe, prospects don’t earn much money and they ain’t got no time to hold down another job. He’s been living at the clubhouse—”
“Yes, that’s what he said, that I couldn’t live there with him. But he could have explained this to me instead of being so mean.”
Yeah, a real man woulda figured something out. Not broken her heart, and left her all by her fuckin’ self when he knew damn well how shitty her home life was. Fuckin’ Hemi’s ten times the douchebag I thought he was.
“All right, call your dad. And don’t forget to call Athena later. Actually, can she give you a ride after school tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. Probably. Why?”
“Your car should be ready. I won’t be able to get there on time. But if she could drop you off at Romeo’s garage, that would work. I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay.”
“Go ahead. Call your dad.”
I stay right where I am so I can listen to the call. Unfortunately, the fuck doesn’t answer and it goes to voicemail. “Hi, Dad, it’s me, Karina. I, uh, just wanted to check in. Haven’t heard from you in a little while. I wanted you to know I’m good and make sure you have my new number.”
She rattles off the number and then hangs up. “Typical,” she says. “He’s not much of a talker.”
While she calls her girlfriend, I get up and make us some food. Her girlish chatter is nice background noise in my house and I stop what I’m doing to watch her. She catches me staring at her and smiles. A few minutes later, she hangs up and joins me.
“You didn’t have to get off the phone.”
“Oh, I thought you were annoyed I was taking so long.”
Jesus. I cup her neck with my hand and run my thumb over her cheek. “You never annoy me.”
Her lips twist into a frown, like she doesn’t think that’s possible.
“I mean it, baby girl. Like having you here. I never really spent much time here before. Mostly stayed at the clubhouse. But I like coming home now.” Now that it actually feels like a home. Because of her. But I keep that extra-mushy shit locked down.
She looks away and I can tell she still thinks I’m full of shit. “It ain’t about fuckin’ you either. I can do that at the clubhouse.”
Fire’s flashing in her eyes when she turns back my way. “I know.”
“Good. Now help me finish dinner.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
I don’t even want to go to school the next morning. But Dante forces me out of bed and tosses me in the shower.
“I thought bikers were anti-school,” I whine while he watches me shower.
“I ain’t the one going. You are,” he answers with a smirk. Not even some seductive teasing with my shower puff interrupts his mission.
“Can’t let those fuckers win, Karina. You gotta go in there with your head held high.”
When he pulls up to my school, I groan when I see the three bitches clustered on the front steps.
“What’s wrong, baby girl?”
“Nothing. That blonde one? Called me biker trash yesterday. She’s an uppity bitch.”
Dante narrows his eyes and glares at the girls. “That Addison Turner’s daughter?”
Now it’s my turn to narrow my eyes. “Yeah, Jayne. Why?”
“She looks just like her mama. Next time she hassles you, you let her know her mama’s been fuckin’ biker trash behind her daddy’s back for years.”
“What? Who?” God, please don’t let it be Dante.
“Slim. You ain’t met him yet.”
“Well, thanks for the tip. You made my day.”
The corner of his mouth curls up in a sexy smirk. “Glad to help. Don’t let anything get you down today. You got a few more months and then this place is history.”
Shit, is this big, scary biker giving me feel-good advice? “Thanks, Dante,” I whisper.
He takes off and I stare after him, wishing I were still on the back of his bike.
“Hey
!” Athena yelps as she’s running over the grass. She’s out of breath by the time we catch up to each other.
“Did I miss hot, scary, biker man?”
“Yes.”
“Still need me to drop you off at the clubhouse today?”
“Not the clubhouse. His friend’s garage.”
“Oh, poo.”
I roll my eyes, because she says the weirdest shit sometimes. “The president of the club owns it. He’s hot, but way too old for you,” I tease, because I know it will drive her nuts.
“Old like your guy old? Or really old?”
“I don’t know. I think he’s older than Dante. He’s kind of a pig though.”
She waves her hand in the air. “Meh. Got enough of that around here. At least high school boys can still get it up.”
“Yeah, but they don’t last a minute,” I snark back.
Jayne and her friends are gone by the time we reach the stairs. Even though Dante handed me some fantastic ammunition to hurl back at her, I’d prefer to skip any more drama today.
Although I keep repeating Dante’s advice to “keep my head up” all day, it’s not easy. Especially when I pass Mr. Hackett in the hallway and he sneers at me like something that overflowed from his toilet.
“Luck, need you to gather some intel on someone for me,” I ask first thing when I stroll into the clubhouse after dropping Karina off.
“Yeah, whatever you need.”
“Hackett. VP at the high school.”
He cocks his head and gives me a curious stare. “Okay.” He doesn’t question me though. That’s not how this brotherhood works.
While he’s busy gathering information for me, I check in with Romeo to see where he’s at with Karina’s car.
“Nothin’,” he says. “Unfortunately the little fuck wasn’t dumb enough to leave any clues.”
“Of course,” I mutter.
“You still meeting with Hade?”
“Yeah, at two. Karina’s friend’s droppin’ her off at your shop to pick up her car. You gonna be there?”
“Should be.”
“Good. I don’t want anyone hassling her.”
His mouth tips up into a cocky smirk. “Including me?”
“Especially you.”
That makes his grin wider for a brief second. Then he turns serious. “How is she?”
“Okay.”
“You get any more info out of her?”
“He’s got an aunt in Wyoming. I’ve got a contact running that down.”
“Good. You still up for Thursday’s trip?”
I’m not really in the mood for a run to Santa Fe, but I’m the only one who can get the job done quickly. Plannin’ to ask Luck to watch Karina, but I ain’t discussing that with Romeo. “Yeah. Won’t take long.”
He nods and picks up a key. “Room upstairs is all ready for you two lovebirds. Even had the prospects move your stuff up there.”
I arch a brow, because he knows I ain’t keen on people touchin’ my shit. Not that I keep anything important here, but still.
“Except your bed. Figured you’d want something with a stronger headboard to tie her down to.”
“Jesus, you’re a fucking asshole.”
“Just tell me on a scale of one to ten, how fucking crazy is she in the sack?”
“Would you knock it the fuck off?”
“Shit, you’re really serious about her?”
Seriously fucking annoyed with my president is what I am. “Yes.”
He sits back in his chair with a sigh. “How do you think that’s gonna work? She’s a fuckin’ kid.”
“What’s it to you?”
He stares at me for a minute as if he’s trying to figure out what to say, then lets another cocky smirk loose. “Don’t wanna see you get your heart broken, brother.”
“Yeah right, dick.”
He finally stops prying into my love life and we discuss how things need to go down Thursday. When we’re finished, he walks me out into the main room.
“I gotta head to the shop. Need anything, call me.”
He takes off and I go meet Luck at the bar. “What’d you find out?”
Luck’s got a photographic memory. Makes him perfect for jobs like this. He never needs to write down an address, or anything else incriminating. “Lives in a nice area north of Thunderbird.”
“Neighbors?”
“Yes. But not too close.”
“Family?”
“Son’s in college. Wife left shortly after the son.”
I nod, thinking over my plan. “You wanna come with me?”
“Yeah, whatever you need, brother.”
Cracking my knuckles, I stare at Luck so he understands what I’m looking for. “Need to have a conversation with him. Threatened my girl yesterday and threw some other bullshit on her.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Karina? Why?”
“He got an anonymous tip ‘bout her living with me. Told her he was gonna call protective services or some stupid shit. She was in fuckin’ tears when she came home.”
Luck’s face darkens. “Motherfucker.”
“Yeah. Also said some shit about not letting her speak at graduation because of her ‘low moral character.’”
Now, Luck’s really pissed. I knew he’d be the right guy for this job.
“You’re thinking Hemi’s the one who tipped him off?”
“Yeah, that’s the other reason I want to have a chat with him.”
Luck snorts at the word “chat.” Any talk we have with Hackett’s gonna involve my fists and his jaw. “I got a meet with Hade, get the schedule, and do a pick up. Then I’m meetin’ up with her at Romeo’s shop.”
The corner of Luck’s mouth twitches.
“Yeah, I don’t want her alone with him longer than necessary. Let’s meet here at eight and ride to Hackett’s together.”
“You got it.”
CHAPTER NINE
It was total wishful thinking on my part that Athena would just pull up and let me out at Romeo’s. Nope. After her last class, she went to the trouble of changing into a pair of short-shorts that would make Jessica Simpson blush.
“Really?” I ask as she approaches.
“What? It’s hot out.” She grins wide and devilish. “Don’t roll your eyes at me.”
A kid I recognize from school and the clubhouse greets us when we get to Romeo’s shop. “Hey, Karina, right? Romeo’s inside. Dante called and said he’s on his way.” My heart kicks when he says Dante’s name. He only dropped me off at school a few hours ago, but I miss him.
My gaze is drawn to the open door to the shop’s office. With his arms braced against the doorframe, Romeo fills up the entire space. He really is a good-looking guy. He knows it too, which somehow makes him less attractive.
“Well, hey there, little Karina. Who’s your pretty friend?”
Athena glows from the compliment, but she’s too tongue-tied to respond. “Romeo, this is my best friend, Athena.” I’m not sure how to introduce him. Dante’s friend? The president of the Iron Bulls MC? I’m saved by Romeo introducing himself.
“You go to school together?” he asks.
I want to figure out a way to work in that she’s only seventeen, but it seems sort of inappropriate. And honestly, it’s not my problem.
The rumble of Dante’s bike draws all of our attention to the front entrance. The galloping of my heart is nothing compared to the fluttering in my tummy when he gets off his bike and removes his helmet. His eyes find mine right away. My body’s compelled to run to him, but I’m afraid of embarrassing myself in front of Romeo and Athena, so I keep cool.
Cool only lasts a few seconds. The way his body moves as he swaggers my way. The sexy smirk. His deep voice when he calls out, “Hey, baby girl.” My feet are headed in his direction before my head knows what’s going on.
I close the distance between us by throwing myself against him. His arms wrap around me and our mouths meet. Romeo’s catcalls and Athena’s giggling ar
e like a bucket of ice water over our heads.
“I missed you,” I whisper when we part.
His nose brushes against mine. “Me too.”
Panties. Soaked.
He loosely wraps his arm around my shoulders and steers me to the garage. Romeo snickers, then turns his attention on Athena. Dante seems to remember she’s still here too. He lifts his chin at Romeo. “Find anything wrong with it?”
“Nope. No clue.”
Dante opens the door and pulls out my backpack. He hands it over with a knowing smile and my cheeks flame. I’m also sickened remembering being trapped in the car with Logan, afraid of what he might do to me. The slamming of the car door makes me jump and then Dante’s wrapping his arms around me. His lips brush against my ear. “You okay?”
I nod and shake my head at the same time like some sort of cracked-out bobblehead doll.
“On second thought, I think I’m gonna find her a different car,” he says to Romeo. His eyes meet mine. “Want to make sure my girl’s safe.”
Athena’s eyes are wide. But for once, she keeps her mouth shut.
“Yeah, I can help you out. What were you thinking?”
“Maybe a small SUV.” Dante runs the back of his hand over my cheek. “Does that sound okay?”
“Whatever you think is best.”
He nods then glances at Athena. “Do you mind giving her a ride home? Maybe you two can hang out together for a while?” He flips open his wallet and hands me a couple bills. “Grab some pizzas or something.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve got a thing tonight. Won’t be back until around ten.”
I wonder what the “thing” he has to do is, but I’m not going to ask in front of Athena and Romeo.
“Wow,” Athena sighs when we’re back in her car. “He really…he’s amazing.”
“Who?”
She cuts me a look. “Your man. You know I’ve been worried he was like some creepy older dude taking advantage of you, but he’s so…nice. Well, nice for a big, scary biker dude.”
I can’t help chuckling at the way she sees him.
We decide to look for prom dresses. Well, Athena decides I need a prom dress. She’s had one burning up space in her closet since freshman year.
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