Wrecker rubbed a hand over his face, exhaled through his nose, then tried again, like he was negotiating a business deal instead of trying to keep his club off reality TV footage while we handled a guy who’d put hands on Star.
“Twenty minutes,” Wrecker bargained.“Even if we’re not done, you turn them back on.”
Mac sighed deeply.“I get you’re doing this for Star, but I literally can’t shut the cameras off, Wrecker.They can only do that back at the studio.”
Wrecker stared at her for a long beat.The room went quiet except for the distant sound of voices from the clubhouse.
Then Wrecker’s mouth twitched.
Not a smile.
A decision.
“Fine,” he said.“We’ll just go with plan B, then.”
Star’s head lifted from my chest, and she raised her hand like she was in class.“Uh, and what would be plan B?”
Wrecker smirked and nodded at me.We had all hoped it wasn’t going to come to plan B, but we had no choice.
“Hold on,” Mac called, sitting up straighter.“I, too, would like to know what plan B is.”
Wrecker ignored her, already moving toward the office door.“We need to go now.”
I nodded automatically.
Star turned in my arms to look up at me, her eyes wide and searching.“Do I want to know what plan B is?”
I pressed a kiss to her lips.“You’ll find out eventually,” I murmured.I looked at Mac.“You both will.”
Star’s brow furrowed.“Is plan B going to get you in trouble?”
I chuckled under my breath, because if we were measuring trouble on a scale, the Fallen Lords lived in it.“I guess we’re going to find out, babe.”I brushed my thumb across her cheek.“Stay in the clubhouse, okay?Freak and Brinks will be here.”
She nodded, but her fingers caught my shirt like she didn’t want to let me go.“Okay.Just… be careful, okay?”she whispered.
I leaned down again, kissed her forehead this time.“Always.”
That was a lie and the truth all at once.
Mac’s gaze darted to me.“You’re not telling me what plan B is?”
Wrecker opened the office door and glanced back over his shoulder.“Nope.”
Mac let out a breath that sounded like she wanted to swear but was torn about being upset since this was all for Star.“Jesus.”
Star groaned and covered her face with her hands.“This is the worst.”
Wrecker’s voice softened just a fraction when he looked at her.“It’s going to be fine, kid.”
Star lowered her hands.“That’s what everyone says right before it’s not fine.”
Wrecker’s smirk returned.“Yeah, well.That’s why you’re staying here with your mom and the girls.”
I paused in the doorway and looked back at Star one more time.
She gave me a small nod.
Like she was letting me go.
