Walking Shelby back across the street, I grab the bags of food off the sidewalk, making sure it’s still good and I don’t need to replace it. The last thing I wanted was to have her see any of this shit. I feel like an asshole for scaring her. I can only imagine what that looked like to her. Doing this shit to Thomas burns my insides and I feel like hell. I sure as fuck didn’t want Shelby to witness it.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, beautiful.” I’ve said it at least five times already and that doesn’t feel like enough.
Shelby shakes her head. Concern laces her features. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Thomas pulled his punches,” I respond, and it may not have looked like it, but I know he did. Which hurts like hell.
“I don’t understand any of this, King. I know you care for Thomas. You saved his life. There wasn’t another donor in sight and the hospital reserves were gone. He would have died without you. Not only that, but you were by his side the entire time.”
She’s right. I had to be there for him. Thomas thinks it was merely dumb luck I was compatible.I know better. It’s more shit I have to deal with later.
Shelby reaches for my face but pulls her hand back at the last second. I can feel the throbbing where it’s split, not to mention the dull ache in my jaw. I’m lucky Thomas didn’t hit me full force. If he had I probably would have lost a tooth. Walking away from a fight with him with only a wounded ego and bloody lip is better than what could have happened. I didn’t want Shelby to witness any of this crap, but it feels good to have her worrying over me.
“It’s club business, babe,” I say, shaking my head. “I can’t talk about it.” Shelby frowns. I can see the hurt in her eyes, but there’s something else I don’t understand reflecting in them.
I wouldn’t tell her even if I could, especially being on the street out in the open like we are. The last thing I want is to put a target on her back and having her here with me when there are so many prying eyes is not a good thing.
Fuck! I hate this. I hate all of it.
I can still picture the pain in Thomas’s face too. That shit was harder to take than I imagined. T is one of the strongest mother fuckers I know. He’s a good man. I hate that I used his insecurities against him to make this shit seem real to anyone watching. Even though I know I’m lying, there’s enough truth there to cut. I’ve despised all things Savage Brothers and Dragon West for way too long to forget it overnight. Meeting T changed a fuck of a lot. I know I’ll have to do some work to repair the damage this shit is causing. I’ll put in the work for that. I can only hope T gives me the chance.
“I better get back to work,” Shelby says, shuffling her feet as she glances around. The vibe between us is off now.
I’ve just started to get her to open up to me, and I know I’m fucking ruining my progressMaybe I should’ve taken Ford up on his offer to stop this...
My head and my heart at war with what’s right and what I want.
“Where are you parked?” I ask.
“I’m not, I walked. The hospital is only a couple blocks away,” she says, nodding her head in the direction she came.
“That can still be dangerous.” I’m worried about the Mason guy from her past. I still need to get some intel on him.
“You’re being silly. It’s broad daylight,” she says, shaking her head.
She doesn’t realize that I’m going to be that way when it comes to her. I’d rather be overprotective of her than sorry that I wasn’t. If I get my shot, I’ll be teaching that piece of shit that came before me never to hit a woman again. I have this urge to protect her. To take out any motherfucker who stand between us. Shelby will see that she’s going to be mine and I take care of what’s mine.
“Come on,” I coax. “I’ll drive you over there and drop you off. We’ll put the food in my saddlebags. I respond, waving the bags of food I’ve secured in one of my hands.
“Fine, but I still think you’re being silly.” She sighs but I see the smile starting on her full lips.
I’ll take her not arguing as a small win. I don’t think bringing up the reason she should always watch her back would help put her at ease with me again—especially after what she witnessed. So, I stifle what I want to say and shift gears. “Humor me. Besides, I like having you on the back of my bike, babe.” I’m ready for one of her quips to shut me down, but she surprises me.
“I like it too,” she admits.
I lean in and kiss her forehead, leaving my lips there for a second longer than necessary, just breathing her in.Vanilla and sugar…She thought it was the cookies the other night that made her smell sweet, but she still smells like home to me.I wish life was simple.Simple enough that my only worry was making sure Shelby was happy.
Fuck, do I wish that was the case. If we can figure out why the BMRR’s are gunning so damn hard for us and who is bankrolling them, then maybe it can…
Her arms go around me. She settles against me. Those big tits pressed up on my back. Her thighs clenching me. Fucking perfect.
Chapter13
Shelby
Istare at my phone again, willing King to call me. I have no idea what the protocol is with us. I want to call him, but I don’t have his number. Realistically even if I did, I’m fairly certain I would be too scared to call. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s the one who made the decision to find me. I don’t know if whatever we’re doing is safe enough for me to reach out to him now. Mason hated it when I tried. He said I was too clingy. I’d like to make sure he’s okay after yesterday’s fight. And I’m curious what his life is like when I’m not around. Am I fooling myself thinking King is safe?
That I’m safe with him?