“But I’m also...” She shook her head. “I’m also recognizing that you came back. You risked your standing in the club to be honest with me.” She looked up at me. “That means something.”
“Does it mean you forgive me?”
“I still need time to process.” She closed the box again. “Everything you’ve told me changes the equation. I need to thinkabout whether I can build a life with someone in your world. Knowing what I now know.”
Time.The word landed like a fist to the chest. She wanted time, and time was the one thing I couldn’t give her. Somewhere out there, the Wolves were counting down the hours, and every minute Indira spent in this apartment was a minute she was exposed.
“The deadline is tonight, Indira.” I leaned forward. “Come back to my house with me. You can have it to yourself. I’ll stay at the clubhouse. But I need to know you’re somewhere secure.”
She hesitated, and I saw the fear she’d been hiding crack through her composure.
“You’ve got prospects on me,” she said. “I’ve seen them. They’re out there right now, aren’t they?”
“Yes. But prospects in a parking lot aren’t the same as you being behind compound walls with armed brothers on every corner.” I held her gaze. “I’m not asking you to make any decisions about our future tonight. I’m asking you to let me keep you safe while you think.”
She didn’t answer. But I watched her face as the silence stretched—watched her weigh independence against reality, pride against fear. And underneath all of it, I saw something that looked like fear she was trying to hide.
“Why weren’t you at work today?” I asked.
Something flickered across her expression. “Something felt off this morning. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but...” She shrugged. “I called in. Stayed home.”
“Your instincts were right. They were watching you.” I leaned forward. “Please, Indira. One night. That’s all I’m asking. Tomorrow, when this is resolved one way or another, you can go wherever you want. But tonight—let me know you’re protected.”
She was quiet for a long moment. I watched her weigh it—her pride against her fear, her need for independence against the reality of what I’d just told her.
“Your house,” she said finally. “Not the clubhouse.”
“My house,” I confirmed. “I won’t set foot inside unless you ask me to.”
“And tomorrow I can leave.”
“Tomorrow you can do whatever you want. I won’t stop you.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. Let me pack a bag.”
Twenty minutes later, we were rolling out. Indira’s car in the center, surrounded by bikes—Colt on her left, Glitch on her right, Handful and Holden bringing up the rear with the two prospects behind them. I rode point, cutting through traffic, my eyes scanning every intersection, every side street, every parked car that might contain a threat.
The gates opened as we approached, and I felt something loosen in my chest as we crossed onto club territory. Here, at least, I could control what happened. Here, she was safe.
I walked Indira to my front door, unlocked it, and handed her the key.
“Everything you need is inside. Fridge is stocked.” I stepped back, giving her space. “I’ll be at the clubhouse. If you need anything—anything at all—just call.”
She looked at the key in her hand, then up at me. “Thank you for telling me the truth. Even though it took a crisis to get us here.”
“I should have told you sooner.”
“Yes. You should have.” She stepped inside, then paused. “Get some sleep, Jacob. You look terrible.”
Despite everything, I laughed. “Thanks.”
She closed the door.
I stood on my own porch for a long moment, staring at the door that separated me from the woman I loved. Then I turned and walked to the clubhouse, where my brothers were waiting.
The clubhouse was tense when I walked in. Brothers scattered around the main room, some cleaning weapons, others just waiting. The deadline was hours away, and nobody knew what the Wolves would do when it expired.
“She’s settled,” I said to the room at large. “Handful, I want you on the house. Eyes on every entrance.”
