“What happened that made you want to escape?” I ask.
“My sister and I got into it. She wants me to move out,” she says, shrugging.
I shake my head and look up at the ceiling. “That’s why you didn’t wanna give me your address.”
“No,” she says with a small laugh. “It’s my place, but I need her rent money. Without it, I won’t be able to afford to live there.”
“I’m sure you can find another roommate, but your sister should realize nothing’s more important than family.”
“She’s a selfish bitch. She wasn’t always, but she is now. She keeps getting mixed up with the wrong people,” she says, finishing off her water from earlier. “Rachel, my sister, thinks the world revolves around her.”
I tilt my head and study her. Her green eyes suddenly bring back a vivid memory. I run my hands through my hair, pulling it as I shake my head. “Rachel Holt?”
Her eyebrows dip in confusion as she leans back a bit. “Yeah, how the fuck did you know that?”
Fuck. Me.
“I’m Kace’s friend.”
“Fuck,” she whispers.
I lean back in the chair, sighing, as I scrub my face. “This was fun, but I can’t do anything that could hurt Kace. I’m sorry.”
“Are you a member of Shattered Souls too?” she asks, as if I didn’t just nicely tell her to go.
“Yep,” I say.
She gets up and runs her hands through her hair as she blows out a breath. “Don’t tell Kace. I don’t need any trouble. I really like you Riley, but I like my life more.”
The idea that she thinks her life would be in danger from fucking me, pisses me off. I stand up and grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “Your life is not in danger. Kace wouldn’t kill you or me. He’d be hurt because he fucking hates your sister. She walked away when he was dying and that’s some fucked up shit. But I promise, you're safe.”
She closes her eyes as she wraps her arms around my waist. “When you’re this close, it makes me want to stay,” she whispers.
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hold her close. I’m playing a dangerous game here, but there’s something about this girl that calls to me. It’s not something I can ignore or forget. If I let her walk out the door I will probably never see her again. It’s not something I want to risk. So I do something I might regret later.
“I’d like to get to know you better, too, Gillian.”
Chapter 1
Present
Riley
* * *
Since the first day I spent with Gillian we were inseparable for months. We spent every moment we could together. Life was good. Until it wasn’t. She walked away two months ago. I silently used to roll my eyes at everyone who said they couldn’t survive without their girl. Now, I realize how damn real it is. I’m barely alive and I have no one to blame but myself.
I walk into Souls, the strip club that we own and run. It’s not only the place we make money, but it’s the place we consider home. This is where our club meets, where we spend most of our time, where we feel safe.
It’s busy as always. The girls are up on stage, drinks are flowing, and horny men are fisting singles in their hands. I grab a beer from the bar, hoping to get the memories of Gillian off my mind, and spot Zane and Kace.
“Hey,” I say, sitting down next to the SAA and our president’s nephew, Zane.
He lifts his chin. “Hey, brother.”
“Looking for some company?”
“No thanks.” Zane and Harper are two people that deserve the happiness they finally have. I’ve known both of them since they were kids and I always knew Harper was a Shattered Soul, but she was born into another club. Zane walked through the flames of hell for her, and when they were married it was a happiness we all felt.