Blade and Ripper appear in the doorway, looking around like they were just dropped into a combat zone. There’s a knife in Blade’s hand, and Ripper’s got his resting just inside his cut, ready to draw iron at any moment. A young man with a hipster beard and corduroy pants looks between the bunch of us before deciding to leave the store in a hurry. I don’t blame him.
It only takes a few moments for Alpha to relay what happened. Just enough time for me to sink into an overstuffed chair in one of our reading nooks. My arms and legs are tingling, and I make a conscious effort to breathe like they taught me in therapy.
Alpha looks at me with a frustrated expression. “If you hadn’t made that stupid fucking video, none of the shit would’ve happened.”
“Don’t put this on me,” I snap. “I was living my life, and the next thing I knew you guys were in my house and telling me I’m in danger. For all I know, they were shooting atyouand I just happened to be there. I run a bookshop, make little crochet animals and play D&D the first Friday every month.”
“You’re also the only daughter of a guy the president of the Pit Vipers wants to suffer,” Blade says without a trace of mercy. “This was a warning. They know we’re here and they wanted to send a message Eagle-eye can’t ignore.”
“I’m scared,” breathes Nicky, her voice shaky. The reality of MC life is sinking in, and I don’t think she’s ready for it.
“What if I give you the tape? That’s what you were looking for, right? Is that what they want?”
Alpha sighs. “I don’t think it’s that simple anymore.” The three of them share a look, conveying a whole conversation without saying a word.
Even Ripper doesn’t look like he’s about to crack a joke. “You’re on their radar now, babe. Even if they get the tape, they’re not going to forget you’re here. The safest thing for you to do is let us take you back to the compound.”
“No way! I’m not leaving my entire life for who knows how long!”
“You’d rather fucking lose it?” Blade snarls. “Those assholes make us look like choir boys. What do you think would’ve happened if Alpha hadn’t been with you? Either your brains would be all over the street or they would’ve grabbed you and you’d be having a hell of a worse conversation right now.”
A tear slips down my cheek and I dash it away before it can multiply. Why does it feel like betrayal that they are all ganging up on me?
“She gets it, man,” Ripper says.
“Does she?”
Alpha sinks down, putting one hand on my leg and using the other to make me look him right in the eyes. It’s too intimate, but I can’t look away. “We’ll check in and give you a couple days to decide, but we’re not going anywhere. Your fault or not, your life changed and you can’t just wish it back to the way it was.”
“This is a mistake,” Blade grumbles, but with a flick of his wrist, his knife disappears up in his sleeve.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” I yell after them with a burst of false courage as they leave. They’ll be back, and that actually feels a teeny tiny bit comforting.
“You going to be okay?” Nicky’s trembling, but she hugs me tight. She’s a romcom girl thrown into a dark romance, and it’s a little more exciting than she’s ready for. Not that this is any kind of romance. Not with those jerks. “Do you want me to stay over tonight?”
For a moment, the memory of Alpha wrapping himself around me to keep me safe as he rolled us over the fence makes me wish he was the one that asked that question. He saved my life. I should’ve thanked him for that. Would it be safer to have them in the house with me?
No, there’s no guarantee that they aren’t targets as well. Maybe even more so than me. For all the Pit Vipers know, I’ve already handed everything over. The shots were just a warning. It’ll be fine.
“Thanks, but I’ll be okay. I think I’ll close up shop for today, though. You should go home.”
“What? Faith, if those guys come back—”
“Go home. I’d never forgive myself if you got dragged into this, okay? Sorry about ruining the biker fantasy for you.”
Nicky snorts. “I’ve always been more partial to cowboys anyway. But seriously, maybe you should have them stay over, and I don’t even mean so they can take turns keeping you entertained, if you know what I mean.” She produces a little smirk. “They might be more trouble than they’re worth, but those guys are sex on legs.”
She’s not wrong. My very first crush was one of the youngest prospects back before everything went to hell, and there’s something about the intensity of those pre-teen emotions that sets something in your brain. I might’ve spent the past ten years pushing it down, but I’m not blind.
What I am, is too smart to forget.
6
RIPPER
“So what thefuck’s the plan now?” I duck around the corner of Faith’s building where we have our bikes stashed, and turn on Blade and Alpha. “Keeping her breathing would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d let us stay close. Did you get a look at the assholes who shot at you?
Alpha shakes his head. “No, but we know it’s the Vipers. The question is, were they aiming at me, or her? Either way, we can’t let that shit fly.”