“Is this safe with the new threats?”Jasper asks.
“I’ll make sure Little Fox is safe,” I respond before I can think better of it.I clench my jaw, trying to make it sound less like she’s mine.“I'm installing an entire security system in the café.I’ll make sure it’s just as safe as the saloon or the body shop.”
“Anything else?”Porter addresses the entire room.When no one answers, he nods his head.“I’m closing the assembly.I have some assignments I want to hand out.I want some of you patrolling the town more than normal.I want some to do a little more.See me before you head out of the clubhouse tonight so I can tell you what you’re doing and when.”
As soon as Porter’s finished, chatter erupts around the room.The guys are fired up about the possibility of another club trying to come into our territory.It’s common courtesy to communicate with an established club before you ride through their area.It’s an unspoken rule because no one is stupid enough to do it.
I talk to a few of the guys before I head out and towards my apartment.I just want to hold Dixie in my arms and go to bed.It’s been a long day.
Chapter 20
Dixie
“Whatisgoingonwith you lately, Rox?”Oakley asks softly.
“Nothing!Why do you two always act like there’s something wrong with me?”Roxy runs her fingers through her long hair.It’s something she’s always done when she’s stressed out.
“Because you’ve been snapping our heads off at every turn lately!What are we supposed to think!”Gone is the soft and caring version of Oakley.Now, she’s riled up and ready for a fight.
“Let’s all just calm down,” I try, anything to keep them from going at each other.
We’ve had more than one emotional day end in a physical fight in our family.When you grow up around a bunch of tough guys, you don’t shy away from it as much as most girls would.There wasn’t a whole lot of crying in the Reeves household.We’d punch or kick when we got angry.Oakley and I learned to control ourselves for the most part, but Roxy never seemed to learn that talent.
“I am calm,” they both growl at the same time.
I hold up my hands and take a step back.I don’t want to get involved, especially when this has nothing to do with me.They can fight it out all by themselves.
I head back to my room and ignore the yelling.It’s not going to stop any time soon.I don’t know how Storm tolerates living next door to us.I'm sure he can hear all of this.
Seconds after I collapse on my bed, a head peeks out from my closet, making me scream and fly up into a sitting position.
“Shh, it’s just me, Little Fox.”Storm chuckles as he emerges from my closet.He reaches for me, but right before he makes contact, I hear feet racing towards my door.
“Hide!They’re coming in here!”I shove him towards the closet, hoping he’s hidden before the girls see him.
He stumbles, hitting his elbow on the door frame and slips behind one of my long dresses right as the door flies open and Roxy storms in with Oakley on her heels.
“What happened?”Roxy asks.Gone is her anger and in its place is worry for her sister.
“I, uh… I saw a mouse.”I point under the bed and shuffle closer to the closet, wanting to make sure I cover Storm as much as possible.
I'm not sure if he snuck back into his apartment yet, but I don’t want the girls to notice the door he put up yesterday either.
“Are you seriously shrieking like that over a mouse?”Oakley plants her hands on her hips and pins me with her best disappointed glare.
“Oh my gosh!”Roxy shrieks and leaps into my arms.I'm barely able to catch her and I stumble when she slams into my body.
I start to fall backwards, but strong hands keep me from losing my balance.Thankfully Storm stayed, because if we had tumbled to the ground, I have no doubt Roxy would’ve seen the door.
“Are you seriously scared of mice too?”Oakley rolls her eyes.
“That wasn’t a mouse!It was a skunk!I don’t want to get sprayed!”
“Nope!I'm not dealing with that!I’m getting Storm!”Oakley races out of my room.
Storm pats my lower back before his hand disappears.A few seconds later, I hear Oakley pounding on his door and screaming for him to answer.
“Get us out of here, Dixie!Why are you just standing there?”Roxy clings to me even harder.
