Cleo darted her gaze between Ace and Inez. She glanced up at Wraith. He hardened his stare.Oh now, you want me to save you? He should’ve left her on her own to sink or swim. Disobeying either Inez and Ace came with consequences, and Cleo knew it.Fuck!He lifted his chin toward the stool. Once she was seated, she clasped her hands on her lap.
“Go wait outside!” Inez barked.
Wraith drew in a breath, subtly shaking his head.
Cleo’s brows hiked to her hairline and pressed her hand over her chest. “Me?”
Inez’s temper was already at an all-time high. This wouldn’t serve Cleo well.
Wraith stepped forward, and Cleo looked over. “Yeah.” He pointed to the door. “Go.”
She scurried past him, brushing against his arm in the tight quarters. She was gone within seconds with the door latching in place.
“You wanna tell me why you’re even fucking entertaining this bullshit of her living here?” Ace asked with a venomous hitch in his tone.
“Why don’t you tell me why that girl is so fucking desperate to get outtayourhouse.”
Wraith gripped his hips, and shared a look with Cross, who’d remained silent.
“What the hell happened?”
“Nothing,” Wraith said.
Inez shifted her gaze to him. “Don’t wanna tell me then fucking don’t. I don’t give a shit. But I’m gonna tellyousomething. You can’t keep that girl locked up in your tower forever, Wraith.”
“Protecting.” He growled.
Inez slowly arched her brow with a small smile playing on her lips. She hummed, drawing her cigarette up to her mouth, eyeing him. She took a long drag.
“Protecting? Or keeping? ’Cause there’s a goddamn difference.” She paused a few seconds and waved her hand. “You really think I need another fucking headache?” She scoffed and shot out her arm, pointing toward the door. “That girl has been trouble since Knox brought her in.”
Gent laughed, leaning against the doorframe to the small hallway off the living room.
“Trouble, Inez? Come on,” Gent taunted, chewing on the toothpick in the corner of his mouth.
“You got this girl randomly disappearing from my apartmentand now Olson’s. She’s so damn desperate to be free, and none of you fuckers can see it.”
Inez grabbed her glass, chugging half of it. “Give you boys two choices. Either you keep her close in Killcreek and let her live at Grizz’s. Or I’m having one of the vacant apartments cleaned, and her ass will be moved in by tomorrow. You pick.”
“Inez.” Wraith growled.
“Son.” She narrowed her eyes. “Be thankful I’m giving you a goddamn choice. You want her three miles away or three hours away?”
Wraith had a retort ready, but she shut him down. She held up her finger, silencing him.
“You wanna keep that girl?” Inez pointed at the door to the hallway. “Then loosen that fucking leash.”
Fuck!
Chapter Seventeen
No one spoke a word when they filed out of Inez’s apartment. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if she could say goodbye. She didn’t. In the end, it was probably the smartest move. Cleo was already in enough trouble with the club, especially Wraith. He wouldn’t even look at her.Oh, the irony.She’d been avoiding his eyes for the last few days. And now? All she wanted was for him to look at her.
Cleo followed the club out to the parking lot, keeping her distance from Wraith. It would be a long and awkward ride back to Killcreek on his bike.
Wraith, Ace, and Cross veered off separate from the others and were circled in the parking lot, talking. Cleo was too far away to hear the conversation. But from the hand gestures and their expressions, none of them appeared happy.
She made her way to Wraith’s bike, ignoring the stares from the brothers. She knew what she’d be met with. Disappointment and possibly anger. Except for Gent. He never missed an opportunity. Unfortunately for her, he was parked next to Wraith’s bike. When she peeked up through her lashes, he was grinning.
