“Demons,” he said. “But that’s a story for another day.”
I bit my lip. “Sorry, I’m being nosy.”
“Nosy’s not a problem, Letti. Just can’t share everything.”
“Okay.”
“Number twenty-two,” sounded over the loudspeaker and Jasper left the table to pick up the food.
For the next thirty minutes, we didn’t really talk about anything of significance as we ate. I couldn’t remember a time I’d felt so comfortable with someone. He was laid back, but there was an edge about him as well. I just had to figure out if that edge was something I could live with.
“You got plans tomorrow night?” Jasper asked as he gathered our trash.
“I’m locked down.”
“Yeah?”
“Yep. My father has swung the gavel and I am sentenced to the compound until further notice,” I said. “I have a break in between classes tomorrow, though. We could do lunch again.”
“Yeah, that works.”
He smiled slightly and it didn’t register for me to ask him why. I mean, why would it? I was blinded by his Viking hotness and the way he stared into my soul. I didn’t think to ask him what he knew that I didn’t.
Therefore, a date was set for lunch the next day, and Jasper drove me back to school. I was blissfully unaware that my life was going to implode in T-minus six days.
* * *
Saturday morning, Iawoke feeling a lot better than I had the weekend before. It could have something to do with the fact that it was family night, so everyone I loved would be at the cabin, plus I’d finally get to meet this new prospect Dad had been talking about. Maybe if he had a new victim to inflict his grumpy wrath upon, he’d calm the fuck down and loosen the chains to my cell.
I slept in, then took a long shower and dressed in dark jeans, motorcycle boots and a Harley T-shirt. I left my long, blonde hair down and looped a scrunchy around my wrist in case it got in the way.
About an hour before everyone was due to arrive, I headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Mozart’s wife, Nellie, was already elbows deep in soapy water and I grinned, hugging her from behind because she couldn’t object. Mozart and Nellie were in their fifties, had two kids who were old enough to look after themselves, and were totally, completely into each other.
“Get off me you psycho,” she squealed. “I’m not above spraying you with this water.”
“You’re no fun.” I laughed, letting her go. “Do you need help?”
“Not yet.” She grinned. “You meet the new guy?”
“Is he here?”
“Yeah. He’s in the meeting room. It’s open. Go introduce yourself. He’s cute, babe. You’ll like him.”
“Stop trying to set me up,” I ordered.
“No promises.”
I rolled my eyes and walked out of the kitchen. Usually the meeting room was the holy of holies and no one but bikers were allowed entry, but on family nights, it was open to everyone.
I made my way down the hallway and heard male laughter, making my heart lighter with every step. Everyone was obviously in a good mood, which meant the party was going to be even better than I expected.
Stoney was in the doorway and grinned as I approached, hugging me gently before guiding me inside. “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey, Stoney.”
“You gave me the slip last week. Gonna remember that.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re lucky it was me and not Wrath.”
A more accurate truth had never been spoken. If Stoney was like a favorite uncle, Wrath was like an adopted brother who was a hundred times more protective than my own. But, whatever, they’d just have to deal with me growing up. Besides, Wrath had his own issues with the object of his current desire, Sierra. She was Raquel’s bestie and decided Wrath was enemy number one in her book.
