“Listen here, Miss Priss, go get ready, or I’m going swimming without you.”
She stomps her little foot. “Fine.”
She huffs and picks out the outfit she wants to wear over the swimsuit I already put on her.
I look out the window and see Harley pulling up in her truck. I pick up Oly and grab several of our bags before stepping out the door.
“Can you take Miss Priss, please?” I ask, handing Oly to Harley as I reach the bottom step.
I put Oly’s hair up in braids today, then twisted them into buns to keep them from getting wet or sandy. Her hair is so thickit takes forever to dry, and she hates sitting still while I blow-dry it.
I rush back up to the apartment for the rest of the bags and lock up behind me. I’m trying to get out of here before Jim corners me again.
Harley is buckling Oly into the car seat she insisted on buying for her truck, just for when we ride with her. I step to the back of the truck and start sliding our bags under the tonneau cover. Harley comes around and helps me with the last of it.
“Is that it?” She laughs at me.
“I know it looks like I’m moving out, but when you have a kid, you’ll understand. I have to plan for every scenario.”
I have our go-bags with me. I’ve been carrying them everywhere lately, ever since that constant feeling of being watched set in. Holden taught me what to pack and insisted they stay ready at all times.
“Are those extra clothes in case you spend the night?” Harley points at the go-bags.
I turn away from her so it’s easier to lie. I hate doing it because I respect her, but I’m not ready to burden her with my truths.
“Yep, just in case.”
“Okay. All locked up.”
“Just a moment,” I say, realizing I forgot my cell phone.
I rush back upstairs, unlock my apartment, and grab my cell off the coffee table. I walk out and lock the door again. By the time I make it to the bottom of the steps, Jim is waiting for me.
His eyes trace my outfit, and I fight back a shiver of revulsion. I’m in high-waisted black shorts and a black T-shirt I cut the bottom off over my bikini. My hair is up in a bun at the back of my head, with a red handkerchief wrapped around like a headband. My arm and leg tattoos are on full display.
“You going out for the day? Thought I’d see if you and the kid wanted to go see the fireworks tonight?”
I hate that he calls Oly “the kid,” but it reminds me that Rylan always uses her name or calls herbeautyin French. I still need to ask him about speaking French.
“Um, thank you, but I can’t. I have plans with my friends.” I wave my hand toward Harley in her truck.
“You still seeing that?—”
“Ready, Marn?” Harley interrupts him, and I’m so glad.
I run over to the passenger side and pull myself up into the seat.
“Thank you so much, Harley. He’s so creepy,” I tell her as we back out of the spot.
“I’ll have one of the guys come talk to him. Let him know you’re under the protection of the club now.”
“Oh, no, don’t do that. I don’t want to make things worse or make waves.”
“It won’t. Men like him don’t take hints. They need to be told straight up the rules.”
I don’t tell her that after her brother basically claimed we were dating, Jim started cornering me and telling me Rylan was a criminal. I don’t doubt that Rylan has probably broken the law, but he is nowhere near as evil as Jim is. I was raised by men like Jim. They think just because you’re pretty, they can do whatever they want to you. They also think that women shouldn’t have rights, only the ones a man gives them.
I take a deep breath and release it, then change the subject.
