She opened the doors, and the clean air helped her breathe easily again. Nat stared at the rows of Harleys parked in the lot, at the barbed-wire fence that surrounded the compound. A fortress. That was what this place reminded her of.
It was as if Razor and his club expected someone to wage war on them any day now. She shivered, both from the cool wind that kissed her skin and the cold that settled deep in her bones. Goosebumps appeared across her arms, and she wished she remembered to grab her jacket.
What was she really doing here? Back when Razor told her he’d keep her safe, she believed him because she had nowhere else to go. He wouldn’t fault her if she decided to run. She could still take that shot. Nat had a couple of bills in her wallet.
She could buy a bus ticket to God-knew-where. Start somewhere new where no one knew her. Then she thought of Vulture and how he’d react once he found out she was alive. He’d hunt her down to the ends of the earth. Vulture was ruthless and relentless. He’d never stop until he was sure Nat was truly dead.
The best choice of action was to lay low here. Right now, this was the safest place on earth. Even the Black Dogs MC wouldn’t dare step foot on Ruthless Reapers MC territory unless they were ready for war.
Rat and Vulture frequently talked over her like she wasn’t there. Nat knew the Black Dogs MC had plenty of enemies to worry about without starting fights with a new one.
“There you are. Been looking all over the clubhouse for you,” said a familiar voice. Sensing Razor coming up behind her, Nat slumped against him. Relief filled her as he wrapped his arms around her.
Safe. That was the emotion she associated with Razor. Nat couldn’t deny her insane attraction to the biker either. For a couple of seconds, neither of them spoke. Trapped in his embrace like this, Nat’s worries felt irrelevant. Being with Razor made it easy to forget she was screwed.
“Your skin’s cold,” he murmured.
“How did your conversation with King go?” she asked.
“Well enough,” Razor answered with a shrug. “I convinced him you’re not going anywhere. That you’re staying here with me.”
“I want to know the rules,” she told him.
Razor released her, then touched her shoulder. He spun her gently so she faced him. She looked into his narrowed steel-colored eyes.
“Did something happen?” he asked her. “Someone bothered you?”
The possessive tone in his voice made her open up. Lies kept her alive with Vulture. With Razor, she found herself telling the truth. “I met Sally when I went downstairs looking for the kitchen,” she said.
When she finished, Razor scoffed. “Don’t believe a single thing that bitch says. Sally’s spiteful. She gets jealous of the new girls all the time.”
Nat bit her bottom lip. “She hinted I was just one of many. That you’ll get sick of me eventually.”
Razor gripped her shoulders. “That’s bullshit. I’m not known for my bleeding heart. I don’t just offer my protection to damsels in distress for kicks. You’re the first woman I stuck my neck out for. You want to know the reason why?”
“Tell me,” she whispered.
Razor was right. Sally put all kinds of doubts in her head. Confronting Razor and talking things out had been the right thing to do.
“You’re special to me, Nat.” He kissed her slow and steady. When he stopped, her heart hammered. “And you want to know the rules?”
“I do,” she said with a nod.
“There are none. Even though you’re living with me, you’re free to do whatever you want. You’re not my captive,” he said.
“So you won’t have any complaints if I go looking for jobs in town?” she asked. In the back of her mind, she continued to form a possible escape route.
Being with Razor was wonderful, but she still wasn’t sure she could accept his lifestyle. It was clear to her that the MC meant everything to Razor. He would never give it up.
If Nat managed to find a job, she’d save every penny just in case she did decide to leave Grace and start somewhere new. That thought filled her with dread. She didn’t want to leave Razor, but she had to have options.
Razor looked at her for some time without saying a single thing, and she wondered if he could somehow read her mind. Sweat trickled down her back. Of course, Razor can’t do that, she reminded herself. Nonetheless, she felt incredibly exposed under his inquisitive stare.
“Baby,I would’ve given you anything you wanted. You don’t need to work, but if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you,” he finally said.
Strands of red hair had come loose from her hastily tied ponytail. He gathered them and tucked them behind one ear, the gesture wonderfully sweet. This man, she mused, could be soft with her when he wanted.
“Actually, come to think of it, I remember Grizzly’s aunt was hiring someone. She runs a café in town,” Razor said thoughtfully.
“I appreciate that,” she said.