Jesus Christ, this woman. She was so damn stubborn, and it was such a fucking turn-on. I wanted to lay her down on the mat and sink my cock into her.
“I claimed you at the table.”
Her head snapped up, and she stared at me. Her mouth hung open for a second before she closed it, then opened it. She did that three more times, and I smiled. For once, she didn’t have a smart-ass comeback.
“Why?” she asked when she was able to speak again.
“Steele is dead. And he wasn’t your father. There’s no reason we can’t be together now.”
She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. She blew out a breath and finished ripping the tape off her hands a little more aggressively than she had been.
“Why are you fucking mad now?”
“You don’t get it. You never will.”
“Then fucking explain it to me!” I barked. Nothing I did made this woman happy. If I didn’t fucking love her so damn much, I’d walk the fuck away. But I couldn’t do it.
She wadded up the tape and stomped over to the trash can. Tossing it into the garbage, she ignored me as she walked toward the locker rooms.
“Grace!” I rushed over and stood in front of the door. “Tell me what to fucking do here.”
She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. “I’ve been telling you for years, King. All I’ve wanted is for you to pick me. Just once.” She held up her hand, her fingers curled, all but the index finger, which stood straight up.
“I’ve been picking you since the first fucking night I saw you, Grace. I haven’t been with anyone since that night at the bar.”
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before they turned hard, and she glared at me, shaking her head. “Why can’t men think with the head on their fucking shoulders and not the one between their fucking legs?”
“Jesus Christ, woman. Stop talking in fucking riddles and be straight with me!”
“Figure it the fuck out.” She shoved through the door to the locker room once again, leaving me with my thumb up my ass, wondering what the fuck I did wrong.
Chapter Twenty
Grace
I ducked into the locker room and sat on the bench. King left me so confused. First, he told me nothing had changed, then he claimed me at the table in front of his brothers. I didn’t know where I stood anymore. At least before, I knew what to expect.
I took a shower and went upstairs to man the bar in yoga pants and a T-shirt. I didn’t have much to choose from as I hadn’t been home since Johnny brought me here after the shooting at the bar. I sent Joey off to find something else to do. Tank and Keys should be coming home soon, which meant Johnny, Archie, and Jonah would be around to help shoulder the burden.
The front door opened, and the sheriff walked in. He went straight to King, and I watched as they began to argue. Ravage and Karlyn returned with Nav, Eros, Indigo, and Sypher. King and Declan’s voices rose with every point they each tried to make.
“She needs to be put in protective custody, King!” Declan yelled at King. “You did not see what that sick son of a bitch did! We still can’t find the rest of the body!”
King groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t disagree, Dec, but I’m telling you now, he won’t allow her out of his sight.”
“It’s not his choice!”
“Won’t allow what?” Ravage asked as he walked over to them, and Karlyn sat on a stool at the bar with Eros and Indigo.King and Declan lowered their voices, making it hard to hear what they were saying.
Ravage walked over to the bar as King walked down the hall. I imagined he was heading to his office. It was where he went when he wanted to hide, like the coward he was.
“Baby, I need to go help the sheriff with something. Stay with Indigo and Eros,” Ravage said quietly to Karlyn. I tried not to listen.
“Is everything okay?”
Quickly kissing her, he whispered, “No, but it will be soon.” He looked at Eros and Indigo and ordered, “She doesn’t leave your sight. If anything goes wrong, get her the fuck out of here and disappear. I’ll find you.”
Both men nodded but said nothing. I could see the wariness in Karlyn as she watched Ravage leave.
