Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
His arm tightened fractionally around my waist. “Is that what you’re doing? Staying?”
The question hung between us, weighted with possibilities I’d never allowed myself to consider. For the first time in my life, running felt like the harder choice.
“Yeah,” I said finally, the single word carrying the weight of a promise I wasn’t sure I knew how to keep. “I think maybe I am.”
Chapter Six
Darby
Three days locked up in the Kiss of Death compound and I’d had enough. To be fair, it wasn’t only me. The guys had all the women of the club on lockdown, from the old ladies (a term I’d found out was same as being the wife of one of the bikers), to the club whores. I admit the latter had my back up for a whole couple of hours, but I’d decided there were a few of the whores who weren’t too bad. You just had to set boundaries with your man.
Despite the good company and appreciating Sully wanting to keep me safe after the whole Jenkins incident, rules never sat well with me. They itched like a tag on new clothes, constantly reminding me they were there, constantly begging to be cut out. I watched the gate from my perch on the second-floor balcony of the warehouse that housed Sully’s apartment, counting the minutes until I could slip through it unnoticed.
The compound wasn’t a prison. Not technically. I could leave whenever I wanted; Sully had made that clear. I just couldn’t leave alone. Someone had to be with me at all times. For protection, he said. Because of who my father was and because he’d announced rather loudly around the city that I was his daughter when he’d been frantically looking for me, assuming he wasn’t full of shit.
I still wasn’t sure how much I believed the guy. Admittedly, though, Tonio Miles wasn’t pinging my bullshit radar. He’d come to the compound every evening. Just… hanging out. Sometimes he’d approach me. Sometimes I’d even talk to him. It was hard to admit, but I was actually coming to really like the guy. Both he and Sully assured me that, once they were sure no one else was gunning for me, I could do whatever the fuck I wanted. I had the feeling they were trying to give me a false sense of security because I couldn’t see either of those men letting me be vulnerable in any way. I’d already put my lot in with Sully, but Tonio Miles was worming his way under my skin too.
I grabbed my jacket and the small purse containing the credit card Tonio had given me before I’d run away from his house. He’d called it an emergency fund. I called it guilt money. Either way, shopping!
Getting through the gate was almost too easy. I waited until the guard turned to check something on a clipboard, then walked straight through like I belonged there, like I wasn’t breaking Sully’s number one rule. No one stopped me. No one even noticed.
The late afternoon sun felt glorious on my skin as I jogged down the trail away from the compound until I found a motorcycle parked on the sidewalk. I was pretty sure it was Ranger’s. He liked to stop by and see the woman who worked in one of the security offices nearer the dock. When he did, he parked in this area. I got the feeling he didn’t want her knowing he rode a bike or something. Not my business. What was my business was his bike. I needed wheels. The club provided. I’d apologize later.
Thankfully, Ranger often left the keys with his bike. Knight had them all jacked so it wasn’t like he couldn’t find it with one phone call. Besides, with all the shopping I planned on doing with Daddy’s credit card, I’d need a ride home anyway.
I ended up at The Mall at Green Hills. Normally it was the kind of place where I’d be on the lookout for people with more money than good sense and seeing what I could grift from them. Instead, I entered a shop with a smile and started doing my worst.
The first shop was all about jeans and T-shirts. I only chose the really expensive ones, because credit card abuse is fun when it’s not your money. After that, I bought some stuff for Sully’s room. And some equipment for the kitchen. There were enough women in the compound who loved to bake and cook; they needed a kitchen upgrade. Also, I think the new bedroom suite I got for me and Sully was a bit much for the small apartment, but I’m sure someone could use it. ‘Cause, you know. Not my money.
It wasn’t until I noticed the lengthening shadows that I realized how much time had passed. Sully would be looking for me by now. In fact, I figured by the time I had all the shit I’d bought brought to the mall entrance, someone would be pulling up next to the bike. The thought sent a jolt of excitement through me. ‘Cause honestly. I’d been very naughty today.