Kodiak hesitated."They want Lydia back."
Silence slammed between them.Baddy's jaw locked.
He shook his head."Not happening."
Kodiak held up a hand."Let me finish.They're offering to give back the money you paid for her.All of it."
"Don't care about the money."
"And," Kodiak added, "they're willing to overlook you breaking into Sonny's apartment if they get the girl back."
"That's what he's pissed about?"Baddy's pulse thudded in his ears."If he has a problem, he can meet with me.But Lydia's off the table."
Kodiak sighed."Their message was clear.They want her handed over at noon tomorrow.Same location."
Baddy stepped closer, voice low and sharp."Absolutely not.I'm not giving her back.A deal was struck.There were witnesses."
Kodiak met his gaze."Deals don't mean shit to Cusclan."
Baddy already knew that.He'd known it the second he'd walked into that meeting and seen Sonny's smug face after he slapped Lydia.Cusclan didn't honor deals—they enforced their own agendas.They didn't negotiate—they took.
But Lydia wasn't going back.Not to Sonny.Not to Cusclan Motorcycle Club.
"I'll hand myself over before I let them get close to Lydia again."
Kodiak studied him for a long moment."You sure about this?"
"Dead sure."
Kodiak cleared his throat."Then we need to prepare."
Baddy understood exactly what that meant.Cusclan wasn't going to walk away empty-handed.
And tomorrow at noon, when he wasn't there with Lydia, they'd come for her.
He turned toward the door, mind already racing."When I'm working, I'll find other Royalla members who have the time and can do me the favor of protecting her."
"The diner is close to the compound."Kodiak picked up the mug of coffee off the bar and walked out of the clubhouse with him."You'll have to expect them to get in your face."
"I'll be ready."He stopped at his Harley."I'm going to swing by Hunter's place and see if he can help.He's got the best eyes."
"Might want to check with Duke and Cash, too.They're not on the schedule this week."Kodiak looked across the lot."When you round up a crew, let Cruz know."
"Will do."He slipped on his helmet and pulled forward, turning toward the gate.
Once he lined up others to watch over Lydia when he couldn't be there, he'd stop at the diner and talk to Patty.It wouldn't be the first time she had to watch for trouble, considering the close distance to the Royalla compound.
He hadn't meant to get involved with Lydia, but he had.There was no going back.
