“Okay,” she says, nodding. “Now? I’ll choose something and wait for you.”
“Okay,” I say, standing up. “Where’s Helen?”
“She’s staying at her friend’s house,” she says, shrugging. “They have some assignment to do.”
I nod and walk up the stairs of the house, wondering what the hell I’m getting into. Did she ask Helen to go? Or is it me being paranoid right now because I don’t want to fuck shit up with Jo? When did my life turn into a fuckin’ soap opera?
I do a check of the house, testing the locks, and then walk around the perimeter. Honestly everything looks pretty good, with the exception of two windows I want to put new locks on just to be safe. Maybe a dog will make her feel safer? Like the ones the Wind Dragons have. I particularly like Tracker and Lana’s German shepherd. By the time I make it back to the couch, she’s sitting there with a bowl of popcorn and the remote in her hand, waiting for me.
“Everything looks good,” I tell her, sitting down. “Just two windows that I’ll fix up tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Cam,” she says, pressing PLAY on the movie. I’m not in the mood to watch anything, but I guess I have no choice. It’s going to be a long night. I pull out my phone and send a text to Jo.
I miss you. What are you doing?
She replies after a few minutes.
In bed watching TV. She doing okay? I miss you too.
I glance up at Elizabeth to find her watching me.
“Are you going to watch the movie or be a phone snob?” she teases, and for a moment I simply wish I was snuggled in bed with Jo, watching whatever she is. I bet it’s better than what Elizabeth has picked for us, some college movie. I reply to Jo to try to prove my point.
What are you watching? Yes, all good.
My phone beeps instantly.
Supernatural.
Fuck.
See? She really is perfect for me. There couldn’t have been a better response. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here watching some other crap.
What season?
I put my phone down on the couch and grab some popcorn from the bowl, shoving a few kernels in my mouth. I feel like I’m at a sleepover, and not the kind I’d enjoy. Elizabeth’s watching the movie, ignoring me, for which I’m grateful. She doesn’t seem scared. I’m being an inconsiderate, selfish asshole here, and I know it, but if she was scared she has so many options, so much help that can be offered to her.
“How are your parents doing?” I ask her, hoping that they can relax now that their baby girl is home safely.
“They were so happy to hear from me,” she says, shaking her head. “Mom was crying, it was pretty hard to hear, you know? I never really thought about it from their point of view, but if Helen or someone else I cared about went missing it would be hell on earth. They sounded so tired, like they hadn’t been sleeping or eating. It was hard. I said I’d head out to visit them when I was feeling up to it.”
My phone beeps.
Season ten. Why? Are you going to give me shit about it?
“It would be rough for any parent,” I tell her as I write back to Jo. “Yours is a story with a happy ending though, and most people don’t get those.”
Why would I give you shit about it? I fuckin’ love that show.
“Yeah, you’re right,” she agrees, nodding. “I have to look on the bright side, I’m safe now. I can’t let what happened hold me back. It could have been a lot worse, and I know it. I wasn’t raped, although I would have been if they’d sold me off before you guys found me. I know I’m lucky—trust me, luckier than so many other women who have been in that situation. It’s just so fucked. I can’t understand how someone can do something like that, treat other humans that way, and live with themselves. They’re just pure evil.”
“They are,” I agree, sinking deeper into the blue suede couch. “And I’m glad we made a difference by saving you girls and tearing the operation down, but this kind of thing is something that will be an ongoing war.”
“You’re right,” she murmurs, moving closer to me. “Maybe I could turn a negative into a positive and try to help somehow.”
And there’s the Elizabeth I know. “I think that’s an amazing idea,” I say as my phone beeps again.
Dean or Sam?
Dean or Sam? Is she serious right now? I should spank her ass. Not for asking that question, which I find amusing, but just because I want to.
Ha-ha very funny!
I’ll bet she’s a Sam woman though. Tall, longish hair, yeah—she’d be all over that. I smile to myself and turn my attention back to the movie. Elizabeth takes this chance to lay her head on my shoulder. I look down at her, but she’s looking ahead and doesn’t make any further movements, so I let her be. As long as no boundaries are crossed and she doesn’t think that we’ll ever be something, then all will be fine.
I just hope that she doesn’t hate Jo for being with me.
TWENTY-FOUR
Johanna
“YOU look different,” Travis says, eyeing me from head to toe.
I look down at my uniform, wondering what the hell he’s talking about. “How so?”
“I don’t know,” he says, a puzzlement flashing in his eyes. “You just do, but I can’t pinpoint what it is.”
“Well, when you figure it out, let me know,” I say, amusement filling me. I smile and continue walking down the street next to him.
He clicks his fingers. “That’s what it is. You’re smiling. Why are you smiling so much?”
I stop in my tracks and turn to him. “Excuse me, I smile.”
“You do now,” he says, eyes narrowing. “Are you seeing someone?”
“Oh, so only a man could put a smile on my spinster face?” I joke, rolling my eyes. I’m so not telling him anything. Especially that the man putting that smile on my face is a biker. Do I seem happier now? Did I not smile at all before? Ranger came over early this morning, around six, and woke me up in a way that I’ll never tire of. He also spanked my ass when he was taking me from behind, and now it stings a little every time I sit down. Jerk. Okay, I secretly loved it, but he doesn’t need to know that. It’s much more fun that way.
“Yes,” Travis says, smirking. “You don’t want to tell me? Fine. But for the record, I’m happy for you. If he hurts you though . . .”
“If he hurts me I’ll take him down myself,” I say, stopping when we arrive at our police car. “You driving?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, opening the driver’s door. He stops and looks up at me. “By the way, Jo. It’s good to have you back.”
I grin. “Good to be back.”
It is.
And my life is now better than ever.
• • •
When I arrive home from work and see what I assume is Ranger’s bike there, butterflies appear in my stomach. How long has he been here? I see him sitting on my front porch, and I grin when I notice he’s actually fallen asleep, his face pressed against his palm. I unlock my front door, then sit next to him and just watch him for a second. He looks so peaceful when he’s asleep. I put my hand on his back, shaking gently.
“Ranger?”
His eyes open instantly, and he smiles slowly, wrapping his arm around me. “Babe. How was work?”
“Let’s start with why you’re having a nap on my porch.”
“I didn’t know what time you were finishing and you didn’t answer my text, so I thought I’d drop by, and when you weren’t here I was just going to wait for you. Must’ve dozed off.”
I touch my pocket where my phone is, then pull it out. It’s on silent and there are a few missed messages. “I didn’t even bother to check. How was your day?”
“Good,” he says, checking me out in my uniform. “Better now. This is the first time I’m seeing you in your uniform.”
“And?”
“And,” he says, grinning devilishly, “I think it’s time we head upstairs. Except it’s me that’s going to use those handcuffs.”
I roll my e
yes as he stands up, suddenly awake and eager, offering me his hand.
“You must be hungry. Want to go out and get something to eat?”
I take his hand and he pulls me up. “You went from wanting to handcuff me to wanting to take me out for food?”
“Can’t let my baby go hungry,” he says, leading me to the door.
“It’s unlocked,” I tell him, earning me a scowl.
“Why is it unlocked?”
“I just unlocked it two seconds ago, relax.”
He opens the door for me and gestures for me to go inside, then walks behind me into the kitchen. I never realized how small he makes my kitchen look until right now. He’s such a tall, broad-shouldered man, and my kitchen is kind of small and dainty-looking.
“I’m not hungry now; I can wait until dinner. Unless you want something? I can make you something,” I offer. He’s obviously used to women cooking for him, which, if I’m being honest, kind of annoys me. I don’t know how the men are treated in the clubhouse, and don’t get me wrong, I have no problem spoiling my man, but I don’t know what he’s going to expect. Going by his actions so far, I don’t think I have anything to worry about, but you never know these days.
“Only hungry for one thing right now, babe,” he says, licking his lips. “Never thought I’d find a cop uniform so fuckin’ sexy, but you surprise me at every turn.”
Feeling playful, I grin and start running to my room. He chases after me, grabbing me by my waist and throwing me in the air and over his shoulder.
“Do not even think about slapping my ass,” I growl at him, making him laugh.
“I didn’t even spank you hard, and it happened like twice. Didn’t take you for the dramatic type.”
“I have a sensitive butt.” I pout. “And I’ve never been spanked before, so excuse me for being a little dramatic about it.”
He throws me on the bed. “Did you like it though? Because you were wet.” He pauses. “Really wet. But if you say you don’t like it, then I’ll never do it again.”
He waits, watching me, arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
I say nothing.
He throws his head back and laughs. “You shy all of a sudden, Jo? You’ve sat on my face but this you’re shy about?”
I purse my lips. “I’m not shy, I just don’t want to encourage you. Who knows what you’ll come up with next.”
“You’ll love it. Admit it or I’m not going to go down on you right now.”
My eyes widen. “You using sex as a weapon, Ranger?”
He laughs harder, falling onto the bed. “Yeah, I am. You don’t tell me if you liked it or not, I’m going to take this huge dick away from you, teach you a lesson.”
“I deserve that dick,” I announce, huffing. “And you like fucking me too much, so it’s an empty threat.”
“Someone is cocky today,” he says, resting his arms back behind his head, eyes dancing with amusement. “But you’re right, I do love fucking you. In fact I seem to like everything about you.”
The humor of the situation fades into something else, something much scarier. Deeper.
Something real.
Something worth fighting for.
I lick my lips, the tension between us building, the air thickening.
“Ranger?”
“Yeah?” he asks, his heavy-lidded gaze pinning me in my place. “Do you have something you want to say to me?”
“Nope.”
“You’re stubborn,” he states, lip twitching.
“You not strong enough to handle me, biker?” I tease, starting to undress. His eyes lower to my fingers as he watches me pop each button.
“Oh, I can handle you,” he says with easy confidence. “I’m here right now, aren’t I?”
I smirk, shaking my head at him. “We haven’t even had our first real fight yet. We’ll see how you so-called handle me then.”
“You’ll probably go all silent and withdrawn, and try to walk away. I’ll chase you down and drag you home like a caveman, and then we’ll talk it out until everything is right in your world again, followed by the best makeup sex. What do you say? I’m kind of looking forward to it now,” he says, winking at me.
He makes light of everything, but I like that about him. Before I met Ranger, I was treading water, gasping for air. Just looking at him stirs something inside of me, something I never thought was in the cards for me. Such a surprise, a wonderful one. One I don’t really know how to take. One that I’m scared will disappear the second I look away.
I know we have obstacles and nothing will be perfect. My cousin might hate me. Ranger may even hurt me in the end, but it’s a gamble I’m willing to take. If I’m guarded all the time, if I don’t take a chance, then nothing in my life will change. I’ll continue to live for others and not for myself, and I will never be happy. I’ll never have anyone who loves me, a connection, an understanding, and I crave all these things just like the next person. It’s hard to find someone to trust these days—it’s like everyone is replaceable to everyone, and I can’t stand that, so I kept to myself.
No one ever caught my eye, and to be honest, no man ever made the effort to break through my wall and to get to know me. I wasn’t easy, so I wasn’t worth pursuing. Ranger saw me and wanted me right away. He took everything I threw at him without so much as a blink and pushed through my guards. But what happens now that he’s in?
“Well, keep annoying me and I’m sure it will happen,” I say, sliding my shirt off, exposing a black lace bra. I had no sexy lingerie while we were away looking for my cousin, and he didn’t seem to mind, but now that I’m home I can put in a little more effort. It’s not just for him: I feel sexier, and it’s a powerful feeling.
I remove the rest of my clothes and stand there naked, bold and confident in front of him, while he still lies there, hands behind his head, eyes darker than I’ve ever seen him.
“Come here,” he demands.
And this time, I don’t argue.
TWENTY-FIVE
Ranger
“SO you fixed locks on her windows yesterday, and today she texted you again asking you to come over?” Faye asks, throwing a knife into the target. “Are you going to go? If she’s really scared, why don’t you ask her to come and stay in the clubhouse? It’s not like the old days where we had heaps of shit to hide. We could bring her in for a while.”
“I can ask her,” I say, shrugging. “Maybe she’ll go for it.”
“And then you can spend more time with Jo.”
I don’t know how Faye ends up figuring everything out—it’s like she has a tracker on everyone. Nothing escapes her.
“I feel like a bastard because that’s exactly what I want to do,” I admit, picking up a knife from the grass and giving it a try. I hit the target, but not the bull’s-eye like she did. She sends a smirk in my direction and my eyes narrow. I don’t like to lose. I’ve never trained in knife throwing before, but it looks like I’m going to have to do a little practicing. I can’t let a woman have one up on me, although I’m smart enough to not admit that out loud, especially in the presence of the woman next to me.
“You’re in that new stage,” Faye says, pushing her hair out of her face. “All you want to do is be with that person.”
“When does that stage end?” I ask, curious.
“I’ll let you know when I find out,” she says, winking at me.
I hide my grin, picking up another knife. I can only hope to have something like what she shares with Sin. The two of them are a power couple, and strong in a way where they haven’t changed each other. Nothing but pure love, acceptance, and understanding. If I didn’t see it for myself, I’d never have believed it existed. That type of trust and loyalty is something I never thought I’d get, but that was before I laid eyes on my blond bombshell.
“I’ll run it by her, see what she thinks.”
Although I have the feeling the answer is going to be a no if she finds out I plan to spend my nights with Jo.
&nb
sp; “She obviously just wants you around. If she was actually scared, she’d call Jo or go and stay with family,” Faye says, glancing at me out the corner of her eye. “What’s the deal, Ranger?”
“Does this stay between us?” I ask, even though I doubt she and Sin have any secrets between them.
“Always.”
“She doesn’t know about me and Jo and we don’t know how she’s going to take it, because apparently she’s been talking about me over the years,” I try to explain. “But she called me Cam, and Jo only knew me as Ranger.”
Faye’s eyes widen and she freezes mid-throw. “So Elizabeth has a thing for you, Jo didn’t know, fell for you, and now you guys are too scared to tell Elizabeth because she’s vulnerable and you don’t want to hurt her?”
“Something like that,” I admit, cringing. “It gets worse. Apparently the reason she was at that damn bar in the first place is because she was trying to find me.”
Faye’s expression loses all of her usual good humor. “Are you kidding me? How did she think that was safe? She’s clearly stupid. Or a stalker. I’m glad you aren’t choosing her. She wouldn’t fit in here.”
I don’t think I really fit in here either, but I keep that to myself.
“She made a mistake,” I say, having no idea why I’m standing up for her. I guess I feel sorry for her. At the end of the day, she’s still my friend, and the reason I met Jo. I don’t want to hurt anyone, I’m not a dick, and Elizabeth has been through enough. Sometimes the situation feels like it’s not a big deal, especially when Jo and I are alone, and at others it feels like it’s something that’s going to end very badly. It’s fucked-up, is what it is.
What if Jo’s conscience tells her that I’m not worth losing her cousin over? Or what if this whole fuckin’ thing goes the other way and Elizabeth doesn’t care. Maybe she just needs a new man to be infatuated with.
I study Faye, knowing that if you want to scheme with anyone, it’s her.
“I know that look,” she says, turning to me and giving me her full attention. “What’s the diabolical plan?”
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